ELIZABETH PERDUE TALTON's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Perdue Talton, ninety-nine, of Kathleen, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2024. A visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 4,2024, in the Family Life Center of the Perry Methodist Church. A graveside service will follow for family members. Reverend Jim Perdue will officiate.
Elizabeth was born July 24, 1925, in Bonaire, the eighth child of the late George Ervin Perdue and the late Alma Renfroe Perdue. She graduated Salutatorian from Bonaire High School where she lettered in basketball. After high school, Elizabeth pursued a business degree from Georgia Alabama Business College in Macon and accepted a position as secretary at Robins Air Force Base. Her career there was brief because she met and married Richard Campbell Talton, a farmer, of Kathleen, and they lived happily together for sixty-nine years, raising their daughters on the family farm.
She found time and wanted to share the business side of farming with Richard and quickly became his trusted bookkeeper. Together, over the years, they received many awards from the farming industry as a result of their partnership and hard work.
Elizabeth enjoyed being a homemaker and was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was guided by her ever-present faith and was a devout member of The Perry Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and served in many leadership roles.
She was a gracious hostess who enjoyed entertaining her family and friends in her home. She always wanted guests to feel comfortable, valued, and happy from sharing a delicious meal or party refreshments.
As a young married lady, Elizabeth and her young friends—many sharing an enduring friendship, lasting over sixty years—formed the Sorrell Club, a civic and service club that funded many community projects in the thriving, small city of Perry.
Mary Elizabeth Perdue Talton was a strong, generous, kind, and compassionate woman grounded by a sense of humor that endeared her to all. She cherished her family and always felt they were her “precious treasures.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Campbell Talton; her son-in-law, Jim Goodwin; her grandson, Richard Westscott Goodwin; her eight brothers and sisters, Rosamond Perdue Saunders (Clay), George Ervin Perdue, Jr. (Ophie), Edna Perdue, David Alfred Perdue, Sr. (Gervaise), Phillip Woodson Perdue (Barbara), Sara Margaret Perdue, John Perdue (Mary), Lemuel Hollis Perdue; her in–laws, Abner Redding Talton, Sr. and Estelle Andrew Talton; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Abner Redding Talton, Jr (Margaret), Henry Andrew Talton, Sr (Lucy), Benjamin Cullen Talton (Betty).
Left to cherish the memories they made with Elizabeth are her three daughters and her sons-in-law Joye Talton Goodwin, Jean and Jim Floyd, RichieLynn and Ed Chapman; her grandchildren, Angela Elizabeth Goodwin, Ashley and Art McSwain, Jamie Elizabeth and Nick Ayers, Emily and John Dennis Wetherington, Katie Elizabeth Chapman and Jason Rigsby; her great-grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth McSwain, Molly James McSwain, James Talton Ayers, Mary Floyd Ayers, Charles West Ayers, John Henry Wetherington, and Elizabeth Jane Wetherington; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be made to The Perry Methodist Church, Post Office Box 73, Perry, Georgia 31069, or The Westfield School, 2005 U.S. Highway 41, Perry, Georgia 31069.
The family extends a special appreciation to Mrs. Betty Nottingham, Ms. Vickie Peacock, Ms. Chakeyla Battle, and Summerhill.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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