Mrs. Mary Gresham Rakestraw, age 82, of Wrightsville, peacefully passed away while surrounded by family on Monday, November 14, 2022. A family graveside funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, November 16th in the Brownwood Cemetery of Sandersville.
Mrs. Rakestraw was born and reared in the areas of Reynolds and Thomaston, the daughter of the late George Otis Gresham and the late Ellie Elizabeth Tucker Gresham. She graduated from the Hoke Smith High School in Atlanta. Mary began her working career in the Georgia State Capital for the Department of Education in Teacher Certification. Mrs. Rakestraw was a longtime resident of Forest Park, where she raised her family and worked at Fort Gilliam. In 1980, she relocated near family in Wrightsville and began a 35-year career at Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin as a Ward Clerk and Medical Transcriptionist. Mary enjoyed gardening and fishing. Mrs. Rakeshaw loved spending time with family and serving as “MeMe” to her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her siblings, Jimmy E. Gresham and Richard L. Gresham.
Survivors include her children, Timothy Rakestraw and wife Michelle of Cochran and Melissa R. Allen and husband Don of Sandersville; grandchildren, Ashley Wiggins and husband Ryan and Lexi Allen and significant other Spencer Knight; great-grandchild, Rylee Wiggins; and siblings, Ronald T. Gresham and wife Joan of Wrightsville, Georgie M. Gresham of Decatur, Gary W. Gresham and wife Jean of Dexter, and Phyllis G. Sloan and husband Don of Wrightsville.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.