Reverend Elizabeth Williford, 87 years of age, of Sandersville passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020, at her residence following an extended illness. A funeral service to celebrate her life and ministry will be held on Sunday, December 27, at 4:00 P.M. at Kendall Heights Church of God in Sandersville with interment following in the Washington County Memorial Gardens. Reverend Bobby Williford, Reverend Weston Williford, and Reverend Danny May will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Williford, Caleb Cooper, Dalton Williford, Treyton Copeland, Trevor Copeland, Triston Copeland, James Norris, and Jimmy Bridges. The Pastor’s Council of the Kendall Heights Church of God will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive family and friends on Sunday at Kendall Heights Church of God from 2:00 P.M. until the hour of service. The family asks that social distancing practices be followed.
Reverend Williford was born in Glascock County, the daughter of the late Toombs Bridges and the late Essie Black Bridges. She was licensed as a minister in the Church of God in 1965, a denomination in which she would faithfully serve for 51 years, eventually gaining the rank of Ordained Minister. Reverend Williford was a trailblazer for women in ministry, preaching in churches from Michigan to Florida. She pastored the following churches during her years of faithful service: Downs Church of God, Sylvania Church of God, Edgehill-Jordan Chapel Church of God, and Sandersville-Kendall Heights Church of God, where she served for 28 years. Reverend Williford not only served her church members, but was a pastor to many in Washington County. She loved her family and enjoyed cooking for them and making sure everyone always had enough to eat. She was known affectionately to her grandchildren as “Granny Grubbin.” She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Mervin Williford, and her brother, Pierce Bridges.
Reverend Williford is survived by her sons, Billy Williford and his wife Teresa, and Bobby Williford and his wife Sheryl, both of Tennille; grandchildren, Shelley W. Hansen and her husband Jared, Travis Williford, Jeremy Williford and his wife Ashley, Laura Williford, Kelly W. Long and her husband Joe, Weston Williford and his wife Erica, Brittany Williford, and Dalton Williford; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, Lowell Bridges of Sandersville; dear friends Beth Spivey and Ann Outler; and many nieces, nephews.
The family would like to especially thank the nurses of Pruitt Hospice for their service and care.
Donations may be made to Kendall Heights Church of God Building Fund, 829 Jordan Mill Road, Sandersville, GA 31082.