Mrs. Eloise Dawson Gordy, affectionately known as “Ms. Honey,” passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at her residence. Funeral services were held privately by the family. A public viewing was held on Monday, September 27, 2021 from 9:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Eloise was born in Sandersville on September 27, 1929, to the parentage of the late Reverend Homer O. Dawson and the late Mrs. Lora Ella Carter Dawson. She spent her early childhood on their family farm working alongside her seven siblings. Mother Gordy received her early education in the Pearson Grove Community School. She later attended and graduated from the Thomas Jefferson Elder School in Sandersville, where she was Salutatorian of the graduating Class of 1946. Following graduation, she continued her education at Clark College in Atlanta. She was the first of her siblings to graduate high school and attend college. She returned to Washington County with employment within by the Washington County School System, where she served for over thirty (30) years, working as Secretary of the Davisboro Elementary School and as a paraprofessional at T.J. Elder Primary School and D.D. Crawford Primary School. Mother Gordy was very active in her community, working with the Home Demonstration Agency Club, sharing cooking, sewing, and creative artwork.
Mrs. Gordy knew and understood the importance of education, ensuring that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren understood it, as well. She was always present for graduations, school programs, and other school related events. Eloise encouraged them with kind words and special gifts as each traveled the road to higher education. She truly believed that a good education would help make for a brighter future for her family. Therefore, she put her faith to work making sure that the children had all of the school supplies they would need to succeed even if she forsook her own needs or desires at that time. Mother Gordy graciously gave much of herself to help build a strong educational foundation for family.
Eloise Gordy joined the Grove Church of God-in-Christ at an early age and faithfully served it until her health declined. She took part in numerous capacities, including, Secretary, Treasurer, and Church Mother. Mrs. Gordy was an avid Sunday School Scholar, always loving to question her students and fellow teachers on scripture to make them “dig a little deeper.” Eloise loved to praise the Lord in dance and play her tambourine. She enjoyed singing her favorite songs and was most happy when her oldest son, Robert, Jr., accompanied her on the piano. He best tunes included, “To God Be The Glory,” “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” “Yield Not to Temptation,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and “Nobody Greater.” To Mother Gordy, Sunday’s meant church, and Homecoming and Revival Season meant “getting out your clothes, hats, and shoes and heading to the car ready.” She was always excited and ready to go to the “Big Meetings.” As in the scripture, Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord,” so was Mother Gordy. Her love for God, her church, and her family was clearly evident in her daily life. It was steadfast and never wavered even in the midst of adversity and illness.
It was on March 6, 1950, Eloise married the late Mr. Robert Daniel Gordy, Sr. This union was blessed with seven children, Gwendolyn, Robert Jr., David, Deborah, Mary, Cornelius,and Berry.
She was preceded in death by her husband; siblings, Ms. Roberta Dawson, Ms. Deborah Sparks, Ms. Elizabeth Whitehead, Mr. Timothy Dawson, Mr. Homer Dawson, and Mr. Cornelius Dawson; granddaughter, Mrs. Yolanda Shari’ Coar; and great-granddaughter, Ms. Whitney Deneyce Jordan.
She will always be cherished by her devoted children, Mrs. Gwendolyn Gordy Murphy, Warner Robins, Mr. Robert Daniel Gordy, Jr., Atlanta, Mr. David (Darlene) Gordy, Sandersville, Mrs. Deborah Anne Gordy (Reverend Samuel) Duggan, Sparta, Mrs. Mary Lucy Gordy (Tony) Hurt, Milledgeville, Mr. Reginald Cornelius Gordy, Sandersville, and Mr. Berry Renard (Brenda) Gordy, Sandersville; sister, Reverend Wilhelmina Dawson Ross, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; sisters-in-law, Ms. Bettye Dawson, West Palm Beach, Florida and Ms. Delores Dawson, Riviera Beach, Florida; thirteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
M. C. Smith Funeral Home in charge.