Mildred Morene Ethridge Edwards, 86, of Tifton died Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at Tift Avenue Baptist Church. Rev. Terrell Roberts and Rev. Edwin Dillard will officiate with burial to follow in Waterloo Baptist Church Cemetery. Mark Brooks, Dewayne Turner, Kevin Fox, Curtis Howell, Tim Jerry, and Mark Dean will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the trustees of Tift Avenue Baptist Church, Leo Walker, Randall Stone, Ronnie Hand, Gordon Burgess and John Gurley. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 11, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mrs. Edwards will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Edwards was born on May 15, 1925 in Irwin County and was the daughter of Delmer Ethridge and Ruby Dobbins Ethridge, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Grace Irene Edwards; two brothers, W. R. Ethridge and Clarence Ethridge; and one sister, Thelma Ethridge. She was a sitter for Amanda Barfield, Hunter and Jonna Daniels and, in her later years, a volunteer at Leroy Rogers Senior Citizen Center. She was also a homemaker and a member of Tift Avenue Baptist Church. She had lived in Tifton for 40 years. Most of all, she loved her Savior and was a witness to many of His saving grace. She was a loving wife, mother and a faithful friend to many.
Mrs. Edwards is survived by her husband of 67 years, Curtis Edwards of Tifton; one son, William Raymond Edwards of Tifton; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Frances Walker of Inverness, Florida, Janice and Frank Sutton of Tifton and Linda and Earl Howell of Madison, Florida; two sisters, Sara Turner of Enigma and Geraldine Brooks of Chula; 13 grandchildren, Theresa Kersey, Cathy Cuatt and Aaragon Walker, all of Inverness, Florida, Tim Walker of Shreveport, Louisiana, Cindy Gay and Jody Jerry, both of Tifton, Mary Ann Williams of Lenox, Kristy Welch of Swansea, South Carolina, Robert Edwards of Nashville, Laron Edwards of South Carolina, and Becky Fox, Curtis Howell and Benjy Donham of Madison, Florida; 17 great-grandchildren, Dustin Kersey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Amber Davis of Lakeland, Florida, Andrew and Amanda Cuatt and Joshua Walker, all of Inverness, Florida, Brianna Walker of Orlando, Florida, Brendon Walker of Florida and Renee Smith, Dale Gay Jr., Joseph Gay, Kathrina Gay and Miranda, Elizabeth and Kelli Jerry, all of Tifton, Nicole Fox of Madison, Florida and Jacob and Summer Howell of Orlando, Florida; and two great-great grandchildren, Madison Davis of Lakeland, Florida and Haley Fox of Madison.