Nola Mae Ennis

Nola Mae Channell Ennis, 91, of Tennille died peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Washington Regional Medical Center.

Nola Mae, the fourth of ten children, was born on a farm in Tennille and raised with a hard work ethic and a love for the land. She met her husband Charles in Atlanta while he was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. They married in 1954 and spent nearly 50 years together before his passing in 2004. Together they raised three children: Tom, Sandra, and Sharon.

Nola Mae loved Jesus and was a member of several churches in her lifetime, but she considered Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Tennille as her home church, as she was born and raised into young adulthood there. A founding member of the local Sisters on Mission, Nola Mae was passionate about loving others and supporting missionaries local and abroad—even making cardboard cutouts of Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong to take to church each Christmas and Easter season to help bring awareness to the congregation of the necessity of missions and of reaching others for Christ.

Nola Mae was the epitome of a homemaker. She cooked delicious meals, including homemade cinnamon rolls and yeast rolls, and she proudly passed down some of her trade secrets in the kitchen to her children and grandchildren. She had a true servant’s heart, caring for her family in every way she could. She also was especially fond of her flowers. She loved tending to them, watching them grow, and sharing them with others.

Nola Mae was so proud of her large extended family and their closeness to each other. Considered the “unofficial” family genealogist, she made it her duty to keep up with the births and deaths of those in the Channell family, listing each name and numbering them on a rolled-up posterboard she kept close at hand. Nola Mae proudly shared that poster with anyone who asked about her family, expressing how much each member meant to her. She instilled this great love of family onto her children and grandchildren. One of her most recent treasures was a five-generation photo that was taken with her son Tom, his daughter Jennifer Williford, Jennifer’s daughter Ashley, and Ashley’s son A.J.

She is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, Charles Ennis; parents Willis and Lucy Channell; brothers George Channell, Floyd Channell, and J.T. Channell; and sister Alice Duggan.

Surviving to cherish her memory are her siblings, Carolyn Smith of Sandersville, Jane Wells of Sandersville, Herman Channell (Barbara Ann) of Warthen, Catherine Hawkins of Tennille, and Emilee Jackson of Sandersville; children, Tom Ennis (Denise) of Tennille, Sandra Bassett (Stephen) of Griffin, Sharon Studdard (Greg) of Conyers; grandchildren, Jennifer Williford (Troy) of Tennille, Tommy Ennis of Tennille, Stephanie Slaughter (Chris) of Seattle, Cliff Bassett (Ahrielle) of Stockbridge, Austin Bassett of Kennesaw, Olivia Studdard of Newnan, Matt Studdard of Warner Robins; nine great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and countless beloved extended family members.

Visitation for Nola Mae will be Monday, December 11th from 4 to 6 PM at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.  A funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 12th at 11 AM at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 1183 Mt. Moriah Road Tennille, GA 31089.

In lieu of flowers, her family would be honored to have donations given to the Lottie Moon Mission Fund in her memory, or a local mission fund such as the Gideons.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her nurses, especially Janie Bland and Ranada Hooks, and her hospice staff for their loving care.

Please leave leave an online condolence at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

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