Ellen Woods Gunby

Mrs. Ellen Woods Gunby, age 93, of Sandersville, passed away peacefully on Monday , January 16, 2023.  A funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Thursday, January 19 ^th at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Sandersville with burial in Washington County Memorial Gardens.  Reverend Wade Dawson and Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Chuck Byrne, B.T. Hunter, Bill Garner, Russell Sheppard, Sam Smith, Bobby Parker, Mike Sheppard and Bill Wiggins will serve as pallbearers. The family may be contacted at the home of Shayne Woods on Laurel Drive in Sandersville, and they will greet friends prior to the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. in the church Sanctuary.

Mrs. Gunby was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County, the daughter of the late Cliff T. Tanner and the late Mattie Florence T. Tanner.  She graduated from Sandersville High School class of 1945.  She began her working career with West Drug Company where she ran the Western Union Telegraph. Mrs. Gunby began a 46-year career with Thiele Kaolin Company, being one of first administrative employees retiring as payroll clerk. In retirement she loved to travel. Mrs. Gunby was a longtime member of First Baptist and formerly served as a financial clerk.  She is predeceased by her husbands, Ralph D. Woods and Henry Gunby; sons, J. Ralph Woods and William Darryl Woods; brother, Harold Tanner and daughter in law, Kay Burgamy Woods.

Survivors include her grandchildren, Shayne Woods of Sandersville, Jonathan Woods (Katy) of Warthen, Kyle Woods (Heather) of Sandersville, Jeremy Woods (Mary) of Milledgeville and Erica W. Josey (Byron McNeely) of Riddleville; daughter-in-law, Pam C. Woods of Sandersville and great-grandchildren, Karlee W. Grant (Dustin), Morgan Woods and Chad Josey.

May and Smith Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.  Leave an online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com