In Memory of...
The 4-H Lady
Gladys Tingle Williams is the daughter of Mortimer LaFayette and Emily Eugenia Fort Tingle. She married James Otto Williams (son of Thomas Franklin & Tenney Ivey Williams) October 20, 1951 in Monroe Co., GA (license obtained in Spalding Co). They have four children.
Otto is my world she would often say. They shared more than a half century long romance that never died. They met "down at the creek" on Smith Road in Monroe Co. Gladys would say she "occasionally" ran into him at the creek while getting water for her family. Otto would say her family drank an awful lot of water! Otto said he wanted to make a good impression on "this beautiful lady" and took her to "the picture show" in Thomaston where it set him back a cool nickel for each of them to see the movie. His sister Dafner and her husband Carl served as chaperones. Otto said he knew the first time he saw her at the creek that he would eventually marry her. He said before he took Mom to "the picture show" he had a date with another girl already set up for the next weekend. Being so smitten with Gladys, he quickly passed that date on to his little brother Warren and he never dated anyone else. His heart was devoted to Gladys and would be until the day he died.
Gladys loved 4-H and always said she bled 4-H green! She also loved collecting frogs (not the real ones) and frog stuff. Her favorite color was of course none other than green.
Gladys worked for a number years early in her marriage at The William Carter Company in Forsyth running a flat lock machine. She was a superb seamstress who made all her children's clothing and was often called upon by friends to make clothing. She quit work when her daughter was born and was a stay at home Mom for the next 10 years. In 1978, she returned to work full time as the 4-H Program Assistant with the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service (through the University of Georgia). It was there she was able to fulfill her love of working with children for the next 28 years. She was well known through out Georgia as The 4-H Lady. She retired in 1999 after her health began to fail. October 2003, she had two strokes which left her unable to care for herself and was admitted to Hilltop Nursing Home. She would stay at Hilltop for almost 5 years before she died.
When Gladys went into the nursing home, she and Otto had never spent a night away from each other. Her being gone from home took its toll on Otto's health and after her being there 6 months, he had a sudden heart attack and was gone. He died at 2:50am and we waited until daylight and was at the nursing home when she woke up. She immediately burst into tears when she saw my brother and I and said "Daddy's gone". The connection they shared was so strong, she knew the exact moment he left this world for the next. We didn't have to tell her, she already knew. She would spend the next 4 years waiting to join her heart and soul again.
Today I choose to believe Otto & Gladys are enjoying themselves and serve as my guardian angel. Who know's? She just might be fishing with French fries again!
I remain grateful I was able to participate in their care during their last years and hopefully, somehow made those days special for them. I love you Mama!
(Bio written by Benae Williams Hogan in memory of the woman who gave her life and would eventually become her very best friend)
The 4-H Lady
Gladys Tingle Williams is the daughter of Mortimer LaFayette and Emily Eugenia Fort Tingle. She married James Otto Williams (son of Thomas Franklin & Tenney Ivey Williams) October 20, 1951 in Monroe Co., GA (license obtained in Spalding Co). They have four children.
Otto is my world she would often say. They shared more than a half century long romance that never died. They met "down at the creek" on Smith Road in Monroe Co. Gladys would say she "occasionally" ran into him at the creek while getting water for her family. Otto would say her family drank an awful lot of water! Otto said he wanted to make a good impression on "this beautiful lady" and took her to "the picture show" in Thomaston where it set him back a cool nickel for each of them to see the movie. His sister Dafner and her husband Carl served as chaperones. Otto said he knew the first time he saw her at the creek that he would eventually marry her. He said before he took Mom to "the picture show" he had a date with another girl already set up for the next weekend. Being so smitten with Gladys, he quickly passed that date on to his little brother Warren and he never dated anyone else. His heart was devoted to Gladys and would be until the day he died.
Gladys loved 4-H and always said she bled 4-H green! She also loved collecting frogs (not the real ones) and frog stuff. Her favorite color was of course none other than green.
Gladys worked for a number years early in her marriage at The William Carter Company in Forsyth running a flat lock machine. She was a superb seamstress who made all her children's clothing and was often called upon by friends to make clothing. She quit work when her daughter was born and was a stay at home Mom for the next 10 years. In 1978, she returned to work full time as the 4-H Program Assistant with the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service (through the University of Georgia). It was there she was able to fulfill her love of working with children for the next 28 years. She was well known through out Georgia as The 4-H Lady. She retired in 1999 after her health began to fail. October 2003, she had two strokes which left her unable to care for herself and was admitted to Hilltop Nursing Home. She would stay at Hilltop for almost 5 years before she died.
When Gladys went into the nursing home, she and Otto had never spent a night away from each other. Her being gone from home took its toll on Otto's health and after her being there 6 months, he had a sudden heart attack and was gone. He died at 2:50am and we waited until daylight and was at the nursing home when she woke up. She immediately burst into tears when she saw my brother and I and said "Daddy's gone". The connection they shared was so strong, she knew the exact moment he left this world for the next. We didn't have to tell her, she already knew. She would spend the next 4 years waiting to join her heart and soul again.
Today I choose to believe Otto & Gladys are enjoying themselves and serve as my guardian angel. Who know's? She just might be fishing with French fries again!
I remain grateful I was able to participate in their care during their last years and hopefully, somehow made those days special for them. I love you Mama!
(Bio written by Benae Williams Hogan in memory of the woman who gave her life and would eventually become her very best friend)
In Memory of...
The 4-H Lady
Gladys Tingle Williams is the daughter of Mortimer LaFayette and Emily Eugenia Fort Tingle. She married James Otto Williams (son of Thomas Franklin & Tenney Ivey Williams) October 20, 1951 in Monroe Co., GA (license obtained in Spalding Co). They have four children.
Otto is my world she would often say. They shared more than a half century long romance that never died. They met "down at the creek" on Smith Road in Monroe Co. Gladys would say she "occasionally" ran into him at the creek while getting water for her family. Otto would say her family drank an awful lot of water! Otto said he wanted to make a good impression on "this beautiful lady" and took her to "the picture show" in Thomaston where it set him back a cool nickel for each of them to see the movie. His sister Dafner and her husband Carl served as chaperones. Otto said he knew the first time he saw her at the creek that he would eventually marry her. He said before he took Mom to "the picture show" he had a date with another girl already set up for the next weekend. Being so smitten with Gladys, he quickly passed that date on to his little brother Warren and he never dated anyone else. His heart was devoted to Gladys and would be until the day he died.
Gladys loved 4-H and always said she bled 4-H green! She also loved collecting frogs (not the real ones) and frog stuff. Her favorite color was of course none other than green.
Gladys worked for a number years early in her marriage at The William Carter Company in Forsyth running a flat lock machine. She was a superb seamstress who made all her children's clothing and was often called upon by friends to make clothing. She quit work when her daughter was born and was a stay at home Mom for the next 10 years. In 1978, she returned to work full time as the 4-H Program Assistant with the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service (through the University of Georgia). It was there she was able to fulfill her love of working with children for the next 28 years. She was well known through out Georgia as The 4-H Lady. She retired in 1999 after her health began to fail. October 2003, she had two strokes which left her unable to care for herself and was admitted to Hilltop Nursing Home. She would stay at Hilltop for almost 5 years before she died.
When Gladys went into the nursing home, she and Otto had never spent a night away from each other. Her being gone from home took its toll on Otto's health and after her being there 6 months, he had a sudden heart attack and was gone. He died at 2:50am and we waited until daylight and was at the nursing home when she woke up. She immediately burst into tears when she saw my brother and I and said "Daddy's gone". The connection they shared was so strong, she knew the exact moment he left this world for the next. We didn't have to tell her, she already knew. She would spend the next 4 years waiting to join her heart and soul again.
Today I choose to believe Otto & Gladys are enjoying themselves and serve as my guardian angel. Who know's? She just might be fishing with French fries again!
I remain grateful I was able to participate in their care during their last years and hopefully, somehow made those days special for them. I love you Mama!
(Bio written by Benae Williams Hogan in memory of the woman who gave her life and would eventually become her very best friend)
The 4-H Lady
Gladys Tingle Williams is the daughter of Mortimer LaFayette and Emily Eugenia Fort Tingle. She married James Otto Williams (son of Thomas Franklin & Tenney Ivey Williams) October 20, 1951 in Monroe Co., GA (license obtained in Spalding Co). They have four children.
Otto is my world she would often say. They shared more than a half century long romance that never died. They met "down at the creek" on Smith Road in Monroe Co. Gladys would say she "occasionally" ran into him at the creek while getting water for her family. Otto would say her family drank an awful lot of water! Otto said he wanted to make a good impression on "this beautiful lady" and took her to "the picture show" in Thomaston where it set him back a cool nickel for each of them to see the movie. His sister Dafner and her husband Carl served as chaperones. Otto said he knew the first time he saw her at the creek that he would eventually marry her. He said before he took Mom to "the picture show" he had a date with another girl already set up for the next weekend. Being so smitten with Gladys, he quickly passed that date on to his little brother Warren and he never dated anyone else. His heart was devoted to Gladys and would be until the day he died.
Gladys loved 4-H and always said she bled 4-H green! She also loved collecting frogs (not the real ones) and frog stuff. Her favorite color was of course none other than green.
Gladys worked for a number years early in her marriage at The William Carter Company in Forsyth running a flat lock machine. She was a superb seamstress who made all her children's clothing and was often called upon by friends to make clothing. She quit work when her daughter was born and was a stay at home Mom for the next 10 years. In 1978, she returned to work full time as the 4-H Program Assistant with the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service (through the University of Georgia). It was there she was able to fulfill her love of working with children for the next 28 years. She was well known through out Georgia as The 4-H Lady. She retired in 1999 after her health began to fail. October 2003, she had two strokes which left her unable to care for herself and was admitted to Hilltop Nursing Home. She would stay at Hilltop for almost 5 years before she died.
When Gladys went into the nursing home, she and Otto had never spent a night away from each other. Her being gone from home took its toll on Otto's health and after her being there 6 months, he had a sudden heart attack and was gone. He died at 2:50am and we waited until daylight and was at the nursing home when she woke up. She immediately burst into tears when she saw my brother and I and said "Daddy's gone". The connection they shared was so strong, she knew the exact moment he left this world for the next. We didn't have to tell her, she already knew. She would spend the next 4 years waiting to join her heart and soul again.
Today I choose to believe Otto & Gladys are enjoying themselves and serve as my guardian angel. Who know's? She just might be fishing with French fries again!
I remain grateful I was able to participate in their care during their last years and hopefully, somehow made those days special for them. I love you Mama!
(Bio written by Benae Williams Hogan in memory of the woman who gave her life and would eventually become her very best friend)
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The 4-H Lady
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