Mary John Rodgers Reinhardt, 92, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at Maple Court Senior Care in Tifton. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Tifton with the Rev. Chip Grantham officiating. Mrs. Reinhardt will be laid to rest at the Reinhardt Family Farm in Sycamore in a private family burial service. The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Mrs. Reinhardt’s grandsons and George Branch will serve as pallbearers.
Born August 8, 1928 in Sycamore, Mrs. Reinhardt was the daughter of the late John Carr Rodgers and Georgia Pauline Henderson Rodgers. She was also preceded in death by her childhood sweetheart and husband of 61 years, George Robert “Bob” Reinhardt, Sr.; and one son, George Robert “Rob” Reinhardt, Jr. She received her B.A. degree in English Education from Georgia State Woman’s College, which is now Valdosta State University where she was President of her Senior Class. Mrs. Reinhardt was the oldest living charter member of the Tallahassee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She taught school in Commerce, Georgia, while her husband, Bob, attended law school in Athens, Georgia. She was a devoted member of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church where she served in various leadership roles for decades. She taught and hosted the women’s Bible study group, Circle 7. Mrs. Reinhardt served a term as President of the United Methodist Women. She taught a number of Sunday School classes of various ages also. She enjoyed cooking, playing bridge, and having a house full of family and friends.
Mrs. Reinhardt also owned and managed her family’s farm for decades in Turner County, Georgia. She was named Conservationist of the Year by the Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District in 1992, for soil and water resource protection in Turner County.
Mrs. Reinhardt is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Kathy Dunlap Reinhardt and Bill and Lisa Dickens Reinhardt, all of Tifton; daughter-in-law, Susan Langstaff Reinhardt of Athens; eight grandchildren: Ree Reinhardt, George (Ashley) Reinhardt, John Paul Reinhardt (Kristen James), Elizabeth (Bobby) Golden, Sam Reinhardt, Will (Allison) Reinhardt, Charlie Reinhardt, and Georgia Reinhardt; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Tifton Memorial Fund, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, GA 31794; or Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794.