Glenda Marie “Ginger” Lawson Brodie, 76, of Suwanee, formerly of Tifton, passed away on July 24th, 2019, at the home of her son in Lawrenceville.
Services will be held on Friday, August 2, 2019, at Bowen and Donaldson Funeral Home in Tifton. Family visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. Graveside service will proceed on Saturday, Aug. 3rd, at Tabernacle Baptist Church Cemetery in Kitchings Mill, SC, Aiken County, at 6:00 p.m. Burial arrangements are being handled by Blizzard Funeral Home in Wagener, SC.
Ginger was born in Paris, TN, Oct. 1, 1942. She graduated from Central High School in Camden, TN, and went on to receive a bachelors degree in English Education from the University of Tennessee, Martin, in Martin, TN. She was also awarded two masters degrees; Reading Specialist and English Education from Mercer University in Macon.
Ginger met her husband, the late Malcolm Eugene Brodie, “Coach Brodie,” at UT Martin. They were married on July 26, 1964, and were together for 38 years until the time of his passing.
Ginger was a Language Arts teacher and cheerleader coach for over 40 years. Early in her career, she taught in Columbus and Macon, moving in 1976, with her husband and three children to Tifton. There, she joined the English Department at Tift County Jr. High School as a Reading Specialist until 1982, eventually teaching Literature and English classes at Tift County High School. After retiring from public school teaching in 2009, Ginger joined the faculty at Moultrie Technical College in Moultrie, and also taught English and Literature at Tiftarea Academy where she produced musicals such as “Grease.”
While at Tift County High School, Ginger won numerous teacher of the year awards. She was a published author and artist, and member of the National Educators Association and the Georgia Educators Association. She lead her cheerleaders to competitive awards and was the driving force and producer of many spirited school and community events. Known by many as “Miss TCHS,” she shared both her knowledge and her heart, and selflessly ignited her students to strive for the best.
Ginger’s family describes her as a beautiful, loving woman, inside and out. As a devoted and giving mother, grandmother, sister, and wife, she faced her hardships with dignity and grace. Even on her toughest days, she was always smiling, with a positive outlook on life. She never gave up! She was an inspiration to so many, leaving quite the legacy. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.
Ginger is survived by her daughters and sons in law, Gena and Tracy Robbins, Stacey and Robert Cooper, son and daughter in law, Malcolm Brooks and Amber Parks Brodie, sisters, Dorene “Dody” Lawson Billingsly, Nancy Lawson McDonald, grandson, Brodie Cooper, and step grandsons, Jacob, Aaron, and Allen Harris.
Ginger is proceeded in death by her mother, Sue Swenny Wood Lawson, her father, Ruhl Herman Lawson, her husband, Malcolm Eugene Brodie, and one sister, Frances Lawson Brown.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gene Brodie Memorial Scholarship c/o Athletic Dept., Tift County High School, One Blue Devil Way, Tifton, GA 31794.