IRENE TYSON SELF's Obituary
HAYNESVILLE –
Irene Tyson Self, 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 4, 2023, after an extended illness. Services will be on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., and the funeral will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Alzheimer's Association, 3040 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31210.
Irene was born on January 6, 1941, in Tifton, GA, to the late Jehu and Nora Mae Mason Tyson. After graduating from Tift County High School, she also graduated from the local technical school with a degree in Business. She met and married the love of her life, Jim Self, and together the couple raised their family in Haynesville. As soon as their first child was born, Irene focused her energy on being a homemaker, wife, and mother, creating a loving and caring environment for her family. She and Jim were instrumental in forming the Haynesville/Grovania Volunteer Fire Department. In fact, Irene was trained as the First Responder and actually drove the fire truck to the scene of the fire and waited for the volunteer firefighters to arrive. She loved to spend time with Jim, and after he retired from Robins Air Force Base, he accepted a position with the at GA National Fairgrounds, and so did Irene. While he was working with the Maintenance Department, she enjoyed working at the ticket booth during the GA National Fair each year, seeing all of her friends, her family, and the many visitors to Perry. Although Irene was faced with challenges as a mother, she continued to persevere. She loved her children unconditionally and worked hard all of her life to give them whatever they needed. Irene was a member of Old Valley Grove Primitive Baptist Church in Irwin County, Georgia.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Carlton Tyson, Willie J. Tyson, and Floyd Tyson; and her husband of thirty-eight years, James Winfred “Jim” Self.
Left to cherish the memories they made with Irene are her loving and devoted children – her daughter, Gina Self Reed (Jamey) of Cordele, her son, Derick Self of Haynesville, and her daughter Renora Self, also of Haynesville; two grandsons, Ryland Reed and Reese Reed, both of Cordele; her sisters-in-law, Billie Joe Tyson of Brookfield, Barbara Tyson of Perry, and Wanda Tyson of Tifton; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Peterson of Ocala, FL, and Linda Ingram of Tampa, Florida; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
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.
What’s your fondest memory of IRENE?
What’s a lesson you learned from IRENE?
Share a story where IRENE's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with IRENE you’ll never forget.
How did IRENE make you smile?
