Laverne Goodrum Merritt

Mrs. LaVerne Goodrum Merritt, age 75, of Sandersville, died Friday, December 8, 2017.  A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 12 ^th at 2:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Warthen with burial in the church Cemetery.   Reverend Tim Powell and Reverend Darell Young will officiate.  Pallbearers will be Aaron Merritt, Brandon Merritt, Carl Merritt, Chuck Ferguson, Jordan Merritt, Seth Schraeder, Scott Jenkins, and Tommy Hayes.

Mrs. Merritt was born in Jacksonville, Florida, the daughter of the late John Ralph Goodrum Sr. and the late Fannie Sue Yawn Goodrum.  She was reared in Warner Robins, where she graduated from Warner Robins High School and was crowned Miss Flint EMC as well as Miss Georgia EMC.  LaVerne was a homemaker and formerly worked as a seamstress at the Fabric Shop and as a receptionist for Brentwood School.  She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where she sang in the Adult Choir. One of her greatest blessings in life was her children and grandchildren. Some of her favorite hobbies were singing and sewing.

Survivors are, her husband, Gary F. Merritt of Sandersville; children, Wade Allen Merritt and his wife Janine of Ridgeville SC., Steven G. Merritt of Warner Robins, and Ginny M. Sheppard and her husband William of Oconee; grandchildren, Travis Merritt, Joshua Merritt, Seth Schraeder, Chad Merritt, Brandon Merritt, Jordan Merritt,  Aaron Merritt, McKaylyn Merritt, Justin Carlisle, Bryce Sheppard, and Caleb Sheppard; great grandson, Luke Thomas Schraeder; sisters, Thelma Wiggins and Faye Newman and her husband Rick all of Warner Robins ;and her faithful caregiver, Yolanda Adkins.

The family will be at the residence of William and Ginny Sheppard on South Brown Street in Oconee and they will receive friends on Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.

Donations may be made to the CurePSP Foundation, 30 E. Padonia Rd., Suite 201, Timonium, MD. 21093 or at psp.org.

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