ROSEMARY BELL HUTSON

April 22, 1946 - February 7, 2022

Rosemary Giles Bell Hutson passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 7, 2022, after suffering cardiac arrest at work last Thursday. She was 75. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center at Perry United Methodist Church. Funeral Services will be on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary at Perry United Methodist Church with Reverend Jamie Hill and Reverend Tom Carruth officiating. A Private Interment will be in Perry Memorial Gardens. Flowers will be gratefully accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Elko United Methodist Church, c/o Carolyn Harrison, 220 Ellis Road, Hawkinsville, GA 31036. Rosemary was born in downtown Perry on April 22, 1946, daughter of the late Henry and Roselyn Taylor Giles. She attended school in Perry. She attended church with her parents at Houston Lake Primitive Baptist Church. While attending Perry High School, she was on the basketball team, loved being an Office Assistant, and gained her first real experience with customer service by working at Dairy Queen part-time. Her “claim to fame” during her tenure at DQ was not her ability to make the perfect Q atop every ice cream cone or sundae; rather it was the fact that she got to work the drive-through window on their very first day of integration. What a joy it was for her to serve any- and everyone from that day forward. It was probably right there where she began to develop her kindness, compassion, and desire to serve others. After graduating with Perry High School’s Class of 1964, Rosemary accepted a position with Kellwood in the Purchasing Department. The knowledge and experience she immediately gained became the foundation for her career in Purchasing and Procurement that spanned over five decades. Through the years, Rosemary also worked at Briggs & Stratton and CEG/Cegelec, small manufacturing companies, before she started working for Watkins Engineers & Construction. While learning the supplies necessary for full factory “shut-downs,” she discovered a company policy requiring a certain percentage of their purchasing be from minority vendors. And thus began her quest to always support and encourage the underdog, in business and in life. Rosemary began to travel and learn how these construction sites should work. After writing a new Policies and Procedures manual for Purchasing, Rosemary earned the trust of several large corporations, contracted with them to provide purchasing services, set up new offices, and hired and trained the staffs in various locations all over the country. Her experience and knowledge led her to become one of the leading Procurement Agents and Managers in the industry. Often, companies would cancel their meetings with Watkins “if Rosemary couldn’t be there.” The only times that she couldn’t be traveling with work were when her family needed her to stay home. As the economy changed and business changed, Watkins became Fru-Con, and Rosemary loved her job still. Eventually, she was approached to help develop Diversified Supply, Inc. (DSI), continuing the tradition of trustworthy and ethical business right from her home office in Perry. While always actively involved in the daily lives of her daughter and grandchildren, the opportunity to work from home as a consultant for DSI allowed even more time fulfilling the role as Grandma or “Rosie” as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren. Rosie treasured her time as taxi driver/chauffeur and cook allowing for the sweetest memories. Rosemary’s last two years have been spent at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home working alongside her daughter serving the families of a community in which both have lived their lives. Spreading the love like Jesus loved – unconditional love – to everyone she knew, particularly those in need, gave Rosemary the greatest joy. She loved Jesus and never missed a day of reading and studying The Word. She was continuously building her relationship with Jesus. Rosemary was a long-time member of Elko United Methodist Church, serving in numerous ways. She was the Elko United Methodist Church Treasurer for many years, led several ladies’ Bible study groups, and always tried to keep the members involved in worship. Rosemary was committed to keeping the congregations of the Elko/Grovania/Snow Methodist Charge strong. She loved going and being with her church family every Sunday. Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Benny Giles and Jerry Giles; a sister, Jenny Giles Tripp; her husband of thirty-seven years, Verlon Bell; and her husband of thirteen years, Russ Hutson. Left to cherish the memories made with Rosemary are her daughter, Lisa Bell Hays of Perry; her grandchildren, Korah Beth Clark, currently of Murray, Kentucky, and Tank Hays and Sissy Hays, both of Perry; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandra and Jim Sessoms of Perry, and Janice and Danny Bledsoe of Hawkinsville; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and a plethora of cousins and extended family members. Condolences for the family and stories of special times with Rosemary may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.