Irene E. Ethridge

Published 12:24 pm Thursday, February 22, 2018

Irene E. Ethridge

February 20, 2018

Irene E. Ethridge, 96, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

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The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at Eldorendo Baptist Church with Rev. Harold Burrell and Rev. Jerry Harrell officiating.  Interment followed at Eldorendo Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family received friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to: Eldorendo Baptist Church, P. O. Box 7095, Bainbridge, GA 39818 or Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society, 1250 Cox Avenue, Bainbridge, GA 39819.

Irene Ethredge was born January 4, 1922, in Baker County, Ga., the daughter of William Bartow Ethredge and Berlie Mae Phillips Ethredge. She married Henry C. Ethridge, who preceeded her in death, and made her home in Eldorendo. She retired from Bainbridge State Hospital and was a member of Eldorendo Baptist Church.

Irene was considered the Mayor of Eldorendo. (Being the oldest active member of Eldorendo Baptist Church for many years probably earned her that title.) She enjoyed cooking and anyone that sat at her table would testify, “She could make dirt taste good.” Everyone was always welcome at her table and she had to shoo some away if she was serving chocolate pudding or pound cake. Irene was jovial by nature and would tell a joke in a heartbeat. She drove fast and always had a word if she was the navigator. Her children crowned her “Best Back Seat Driver Ever”. One thing for sure, Irene had a green thumb and kept her yard in immaculate condition.

Survivors include her children, Janice Brewer and her husband, Roy, of Dothan, Ala., Paula Simmons of Lake Seminole, Ga., Cleve Ward and his wife, Gina, of Climax, Ga., Connie Sue Boss and Jerry Ethridge, both of Albany, Ga.; her nine grandchildren; her ten great-grandchildren; and her seven great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, Irene was preceded in death by her siblings, Jack Ethredge, Bo Ethredge, Ben Hill Ethredge and Grace Ethredge Summers; and her grandson, Mike Faircloth.