Mitchell County Georgia Obituaries Mary Viola Lofley Rackley 1935 ****************************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ****************************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sam Luckey Oct 2002 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mitchell.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Obituary of Mary Viola Lofley Rackley as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 22 Nov 1935. Camilla, Georgia. Mrs. Mary Viola Rackley, widow of the late Cornelius Rackley, and pioneer citizen and widely loved woman, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Brooks, in this community, Sunday, 17 Nov 1935, at 3:30 PM, after an illness of only a few days. Loved ones and friends were constant in attendance at her bedside during the last hours, with tender care and loving ministration. Funeral services were held Monday, 18 Nov 1935, at 3:30 PM at the Mt. Zion Church, where a large number of friends and relatives gathered to pay their last tribute of lave and honor to this good woman. Services were conducted by Rev S. O. Thomas, pastor of Mt. Zion Church, assisted by Rev J. T. Rigsby, of near Sale City. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. After services in the church, Mrs. Rackley was laid to rest in the Mt. Zion cemetery beside her husband who preceded her to the grave about thirty eight years ago. The pallbearers were grandsons of the deceased. They were: Mr. J. C. Hinson, Mr. George Hinson, Mr. Frank Brooks, Mr. Earnest Rackley, Mr. Lyman Hinson and Mr. Charlie Ray Booth. Mrs. Rackley was 76 years of age. She was born 11 May 1859, in Macon County. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lofley. She moved to this county in her childhood where she grew up as the county grew and witnessed development of the county from large areas of virgin woods to farms, towns, and communities. The fine, dauntless spirit of the pioneer woman was hers and characterized her long and worthy life. Industry, modesty and undying loyalty to her family, home, church and neighbors describes Mrs. Rackley's old fashioned womanhood, which still lives on in example and influence to bless the generations of her children. Her faith in God was her strong rock through the changing years of life and she had been a happy Christian since young womanhood when she united with the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She spent practically all of her life in this community until recent years, she had been making her home among her children. Mrs. Rackley was the mother of fifteen children, eleven of them surviving her. They are: Mrs. Mamie Hinson of Hinsonton; Mr. Carl Rackley of Baconton; Mr. George Rackley of Camilla; Mrs. John Brooks of this community; Mrs. L. L. Brightwell of Coolidge; Mr. Lloyd E. Rackley of New Boston, Texas; Mr. E. E. Rackley of Camilla; Mr. Leslie Rackley of Climax; Mr. Joe Rackley of Spence; Mrs. Jim Williams of Camilla; and Mr. Eldon Rackley of Camilla. She also leaves fifty-two grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, also a host of friends and a large number of relatives. Mr. Lloyd E. Rackley, of New Boston, Texas, did not arrive in time for the funeral but was expected to arrive some time Tuesday afternoon. We extend our deepest sympathy to the heart broken family and other near relatives.