Athleen McAllister Fletcher, 86, of Tifton passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Southern Care Assisted Living in Tifton. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at Liberty Baptist Church in Tifton with Rev. Steve Tucker and Rev. Gary Cadwell officiating. Mrs. Fletcher will be laid to rest at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, April 20, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Larry Tidwell, Jeremy Chambless, Garrett Chambless, LaDon Chambless, Terry Nichols, Zach Stone and Milton Rousey will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Cleo McAllister Sunday School Class and the Adult Ladies Sunday School Class at Liberty Baptist Church in Tifton.
Mrs. Fletcher was born January 10, 1929 in Tift County, the daughter of T. J. and Cleo McAllister, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James “Buddy” Edgar Fletcher, Jr; a grandson, Trent Fletcher; two sisters; and two brothers.
Mrs. Fletcher loved her family and was so proud of each one. She also loved Southern Gospel music. She used that love and her talent to sing in serving her Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today she sings in the “Heavenly Choir”. Mrs. Fletcher and her husband started a local singing group called “Heaven Bound”. They used every opportunity to share God’s word through song. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Tiftarea Auto Club, and the Kitchen Band and 55 Club of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. She supported war veterans with great passion. Mrs. Fletcher was a long-time member of Liberty Baptist Church in Tifton and was a faithful member until health issues prevented her from attending.
Mrs. Fletcher is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Darwyn Fletcher of Cape Canaveral, Florida and Ricky and Sue Fletcher of Tifton; four grandchildren and their spouses, Lindsey and Mike Wynn of Irwinville, Josh and Anna Fletcher of Florida, Chad and Allison Fletcher of Florida and Lauren and Jonathan Johnson of Texas, as well as six great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Southwest Georgia Regional Office, 225 East Second Street, Tifton, GA 31794.