Edna W. Tuttle, 97, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2021, surrounded by family.
Edna was born Dec. 19,1923, to Will J. and Arrie Prescott Wainright in Charlton County. She grew up on a farm in the Depression years and learned to work hard and help others at an early age. She graduated as an RN from Grady Hospital in Atlanta and joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, serving as a lieutenant during World War ll.
She met James Howard Tuttle from Greensboro, North Carolina, who was also in the Army. They corresponded throughout the war and married in 1947. The couple lived in Lumberton, North Carolina, for several years before returning to southeast Georgia where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Edna worked for many years at the “old” Gilman Hospital, and then at Gilman Paper Company in first aid, until her retirement in 1989.
She was a charter member of Westside Baptist church, and drew comfort and strength from her Lord throughout her life’s journey. She stayed busy during her retirement years helping to care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who fondly called her “Big Granny” or just “Big.”
She enjoyed traveling, and was always ready to accompany her children on vacation to various parts of the country. She enjoyed planting and caring for her vegetable garden every summer, and enjoyed sharing her wisdom and life experiences with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed the beach, and sitting on her front porch surrounded by her plants and flowers, listening to the birds.
Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by two brothers, Woodrow and Wilson Wainright; her husband, James H. Tuttle; her oldest son, James H. Tuttle Jr. (Jim); twin unnamed daughters who died shortly after birth; two great-grandsons, Christopher Forgrave and Cody Wright; and two granddaughters, Shaye Tuttle and Jenny Todd.
She is survived by her son, Joe Tuttle (Rhonda) of Kingsland; daughters, Nancy Kinnett of Brunswick, Judy Tuttle King (David) of Kingsland, Susan Tuttle (Bobby) of St. Marys and daughter-in-law Barbara Tuttle of Laurens, South Carolina; grandchildren, Delane Jones, Carrie Tuttle, Josh Todd and David Todd, Stephanie Williams, Cyndi Wright, Randy Forgrave Jr., Jonathan McGregor, Billy Joe Tuttle, Ande Kaye Tuttle Price, Jim Ed Tuttle, Bobby Ray Tuttle; great-grandchildren, Sean, Nathan and Kayli Todd, Kyle and Cassie Williams, Alyssa Wright, Luna and Clyde (Boy) Forgrave, Ferdie, Rico and James Jones and Jet and June Tuttle; and also three great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a wise and loving source of strength and support for her family. She was always there with sensible advice, a listening ear, forgiving heart and a shoulder to cry on, and she will be greatly missed.
Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 at Allison Memorial Chapel with funeral services at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 at Westside Baptist Church. Pallbearers were her grandsons, Billy Joe Tuttle, Jim Ed Tuttle, Bobby Ray Tuttle, Josh Todd, David Todd and Kyle Williams
She was buried next to her beloved husband, James, in Oak Grove Cemetery, completing the promise carved on their joint headstone — Joined in life, separated by death, reunited in eternity.
Allison Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.