Alberta Willie Mae Gregory Wilkes

Alberta Willie Mae Wilkes (nee Gregory), 87, of Griffin, Georgia passed away on February 23, 2023. She passed away at Harbor Grace Hospice in Atlanta, Georgia. She was born in Henry County, Georgia on July 12, 1936, to the late Willie and Lela Mae (Roby) Gregory. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard Louis Wilkes AKA “Man” after over 50 years of marriage on August 10, 2012. She is survived by her daughter Ronda Wilkes Ragland of Griffin and her husband Walter Ragland, four grandchildren Charquela Sebede (Obed Sebede), Tazia (Mica)Ragland, Elijah (Ken) King, and Zorria (Pudding) Weems of Griffin, and one great -grandchild Emery Sebede, one brother Jesse James Gregory of Jackson, Georgia and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three sisters Lucy McKibben, Johnnie Mae Head, Willie Ruth Wilkes and two brothers Walter Gregory and William Henry Gregory. Alberta was a loving homemaker and retired after years of service as a housekeeper with Days Inn in Locust Grove, Georgia. She was a member of County Line Baptist Church in Henry County. She was a resilient woman. Her legacy is the love and devotion she had for her daughter and the rest of her family. She was tenacious and affable. She worked hard and made sacrifices for her loved ones even in the times she was not feeling her best. She was known for her cooking. She has fed many family, friends, neighbors with her biscuits, cheese and eggs, fried potato pies, tea cakes, butter rolls, collard greens, and even syrup candy. She had a green thumb and people from all around would admire her beautiful plants. She loved going fishing. Her favorite color was blue, she loved to dance and, she had a beautiful singing voice. One song that would get her up was “I’ll Take you There “by The Staple Singers. She was feisty beneath her calm demeanor. She would fiercely defend those she loved. She had a motherly nature. She had a profound love for children. She has cared for many generations of children for family and friends. She had one nephew she carried until he 12 years old. Everyone knew “you better not hit that baby” or “leave that baby alone.” If you didn’t you would hear a few choice words. When her oldest grandchild got engaged, she started shopping for baby clothes. She was truly a matriarch and will be greatly missed. Funeral services for Alberta Willie Mae Gregory Wilkes will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 PM from the Chapel of Haisten McCullough Funeral Home with Reverend Michael Perry, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Westwood Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until the service hour at the funeral home. Masks will be required. Join Zoom Meeting https://us05web.zoom.us/j/4938174162?pwd=K2JQZXd5eWRxTyt6RjVlaXpwOThzUT09 Meeting ID: 493 817 4162 Passcode: dDH0L9 For online condolences please visit www.haistenmcculloughfuneralhome.com. Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Alberta Willie Mae Gregory Wilkes

July 12, 1936 - February 23, 2023