Eleanor Curry Barksdale

Mrs. Eleanor Curry Barksdale, age 88, of Sandersville died peacefully Thursday, August 29, 2024, following an extended illness.  A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, August 31st at 11:00 a.m., at Sandersville Methodist Church.  Reverend Stan Littleton and Reverend Eddie Wiggins will officiate.  The Barksdale family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service in Heritage Hall of the Church.

Mrs. Barksdale was born in Tennille and reared in Oconee, daughter of the late Lloyd Curry and the late Nettie Hall Curry.  She attended school in Oconee and graduated from Tennille High School, where she excelled in basketball.  Eleanor possessed a lifetime love of playing the piano.  She began playing in her home church, Antioch Christan Church, at the age of 9 and continued sharing her God given talent in her community throughout her entire life.   She attended Georgia Southern College and Georgia College for Women prior to marring the love of her life, Tuttle Wright Barksdale Sr.  Following marriage, she joined the family business and became a co-owner/operator of Barksdale General Merchandise for the next 65 years.  During that time, Eleanor became a valued part of the lives of many of her customers.   She was a long time and faithful member of Antioch Christian Church, and she also attended the Poplar Springs Christian Church.   Eleanor was a member of the Tennille Fine Arts Club, the Tennille Women’s Club and a former library board member of the Washington County and Rosa Tarbutton libraries.  She and her husband Tuttle loved entertaining family and friends and were active participants in their Friday night Supper Club.  One of their greatest joys was to travel.  In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Barksdale is also predeceased by her daughter, Kimberly B. Tyson.

Survivor include her children, Mary Kaye B. Veal and her husband Sandy and Tuttle W. Barksdale Jr. and his wife Brownie all of Sandersville; her son-in-law Ken Tyson of Macon; grandchildren, Noel Veal and his wife Kyrsti of McDonough, T. Wright Barksdale III and his wife Katie of Gray, Samuel Veal of Brooklyn, NY., Mary Elizabeth B. Blenkinsop and her husband Daniel of Saint Simons Island, Brittany T. Brewer and her husband Sance of Macon, and Matthew Tyson and his wife Alexandria of Chicago IL; great grandchildren, Claire Veal, Anna Veal, Tut Barksdale, Kate Barksdale, Griffin Barksdale, Elle Blenkinsop, Mary Louise Blenkinsop and Noah Tyson; and her sister Elaine C. Wiggins and her husband Edward of Oconee.

Donations may be made to Antioch Christian Church at P O Box 40, Oconee, GA 31067 or to St. Jude Children’s hospital at stjude.org.

Please leave an online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.