Rhonda D. Ethridge

Rhonda D. Gillette Ethridge, 81, of Columbus, GA passed away peacefully Friday, July 5, 2019 at the Columbus Hospice House in Columbus, Georgia.

Mrs. Ethridge was a resident of The Gardens of Calvary.  Memorial Services will be held with residents and family at The Gardens of Calvary July 15th at 10:00 a.m. EST,with a private interment following at Parkhill Cemetery with Chaplain Norman Drummond officiating.

Mrs. Ethridge was born January 14, 1938 in Lawton, Oklahoma.  She is the daughter of the late Azalea Mae Evans and Raleigh A. Gillette. She was the wife of 45 years to the late LTC (Ret) James Wesley Ethridge, Jr. sharing a life of family and small business ownership.  Mrs. Ethridge was a graduate of Troy State University and Columbus Technical College.  She taught ceramics at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and competed in ceramic shows where her work received high ribbons of accomplishment.  She enjoyed sewing, reading her Bible and entertaining.  She was a loving and devoted mother that fostered her children's involvement in the FFA, Girl Scouts and church.  She was a traveler using the handle “Widow” as her husband, an avid bass fisherman used the handle “Widow Maker”.  She was a dedicated pet owner and loved her four-legged companions.  She enjoyed plants, flowers, home décor and she collected angels.  She enjoyed talking and sharing with people.  She spent time in retirement helping raise her grandchildren while spending time with her friend travelling and researching her genealogy.  She spent her later years in LaGrange, Georgia where she enjoyed community and fellowship with her involvement at Lighthouse Worship.  She spent her twilight years in Columbus, Georgia near her family while having community, friends and caretakers at Riverplace Retirement and The Gardens at Calvary.

Mrs. Ethridge is survived by her children of Florida, Texas and Georgia; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister of Oregon, brother-in-law and nieces of Oklahoma.

The family would like to extend a heart-felt Thank You to the staff at Columbus Hospice, The Gardens of Calvary and Riverplace Retirement (Stacy Forbes) for their care of Mrs. Ethridge.