JoAnne Whitley Anderson, 86, of Tifton died at her residence on Thursday, November 13, 2014. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, 2014, at the graveside at Oak Ridge Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest. The Rev. Jay Roberson and the Rev. Benjy Varnell will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the graveside.
Born October 18, 1928 in Tift County, Mrs. Anderson was the daughter of Walton Jemes Whitley and Bessie Edwards Whitley, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Jimmy Whitley and three sisters, Claudia Cumby, Grace Tolbert and Louise Vorbroker.
Mrs. Anderson retired from ABAC in 1994, where she served as a Senior Secretary in the Science-Mathematics Division. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tifton, where she was a member of the Christian-Covenant Sunday school class for 58 years. She was also an active member of Tifton United Methodist Women Circle #2, which supported the Wesley Glen Ministries. The Wesley Glen Ministries was created by the Methodist Church to develop residential services for mentally challenged persons. Mrs. Anderson was also an associate member of the Tift Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, after having served as a Pink Lady.
Mrs. Anderson is survived by one daughter, Janie Anderson Whitley; and one son, Dr. Greg Anderson (Lynda Lee); five grandchildren, Tarah Scarberry, Kellie Tucker, Austin Anderson, Shelley Anderson and Kate Anderson; and three great-grandchildren, Tyler Scarberry, Jacob Scarberry and Triston Scarberry.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Linda Gray’s Caregiver Staff, Laura Dean, Rachael Alexander, Tina Brown, Katrina Hurley and Terrell Davis, for their extraordinary care of our mother.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Wesley Glen Ministries, 4580 North Mumford Road, Macon, GA 31210.