Gerald Richard Ethridge Sr.

Published 10:21 pm Monday, August 15, 2011

Gerald Richard Ethridge Sr., 60, of Ty Ty, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Aug. 14, 2011, at Tift Regional Medical Center.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, at First Baptist Church of Ty Ty with friend and chaplain, Dr. Danny Ray, officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 tonight at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors. Employees of the Tift County Road Department and James Young will serve as pallbearers.

Gerald was born May 15, 1951, in Irwin County to Johnny Ethridge and Marie Tucker Ethridge, both of whom preceded him in death.

Gerald attended school in Chula and often spoke of “running” home from school and many times arriving before the bus. He professed a deep faith in Jesus Christ and daily spent time listening to Christian radio and internet preaching, then sharing the “word” he heard with those he loved. He found great comfort in knowing “being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

Gerald spent the last 14 years pridefully working for the Tift County Road Department, believing in hard and honest work, while rarely missing a day. He also was a skilled woodworker and loved building and working with his hands. He enjoyed cooking special meals for his family and exchanging recipes with his friends. Gerald loved to fish with his son and unselfishly gave his time and talents to those he loved and those in need.

Gerald was married for 40 years to the love of his life, Doris Gibbs Ethridge. They shared a biblical marriage of loving each other greater than self. Along with his wife, Gerald is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Dennis Sledge of Ty Ty; and one son and daughter-in-law, Gerald (Buck) Ethridge Jr., and Melissa Ethridge of Ty Ty. He adored his six grandchildren, Allie, Annabelle, and Ansley Sledge and Conner, Gerald III (Trey) and Tucker Ethridge, who lovingly called him their “Pop Pop.” He also leaves behind one brother, Johnny Jack Ethridge of Ty Ty, and two very special friends, James and Terry Young of Moultrie.

Gerald’s family wishes to extend a special “thank you” to Dr. James Graham and Patsy, Dr. Neal and staff, as well as Dr. Wesley Walker and staff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the fund for Emily Warren, an eight-year-old child receiving treatment in Atlanta after recently being diagnosed with leukemia, at the following address: The Medical Fund for Emily Warren at The Bank of Alapaha, 201 West Marion Ave., Nashville, GA 31639.

You may sign the guest registry at www.albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com. Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.