Emma Jean Gilmore

Emma Jean Gilmore, 81, formerly of Putney, Georgia, went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 1, 2016 at her son and daughter’s residence in Bremen, Georgia, surrounded by her loving family, after a year-long battle with cancer. She was born on October 5, 1935 in Thomasville, Georgia to the late William Robert “Rob” Jordan and Liddie Foy Boutwell. Jean attended Thomasville High School and was wed to her husband of sixty years, James Monroe Gilmore, on November 29, 1952 in Thomasville. They lived in Thomasville for several years before moving to Pelham, Georgia where she attended Union Grove Baptist Church with Chris Cumbie who became a dear lifelong friend. In 1964 they moved to Putney, Georgia and she remained there until moving to Albany after James’ death on October 27, 2012. In life Jean was an active member of the churches she attended in the Albany area including First Baptist Church of Putney, Turner City Baptist Church, Bible Baptist Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, did door-to-door witnessing, and assisted in many other ways throughout the years in the churches she attended. She also greatly enjoyed Christian music and playing the piano. Besides serving her Lord and reading and studying His Word, Jean was a faithful wife, homemaker and mother of four children whom she raised in the church. In addition, she enjoyed working in the yard, creating beautiful beds of colorful flowers that her family and guests enjoyed. In later years, she became interested in painting and discovered a gift for landscapes, seascapes, still-lifes and other works which now grace the homes of family members and friends. During her painting years, one of her favorite activities was meeting once a week with other ladies, under the direction of Linda Price, at the Calvary Baptist Church fellowship hall where they all met to paint, fellowship, and share a meal. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, Grace Laverne Jordan Gordon, and brother, William Alfred “Buddy” Jordan. Survivors include: daughters, Christine Lowery of Leesburg and Ann Parker of Bremen, GA; sons, James Edward “Eddie” Gilmore of Albany and Glenn Patrick Gilmore of Bremen; two grandchildren, Stacy Marie Johnson of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Jay Edward Gilmore and his wife Jennifer of Cordele, Georgia; six great-grandchildren, Kyle Mitchell Bates and Zachary “Zack” Lynn Bates of Pooler, GA, Charity Elizabeth Gilmore and Abigail “Abby” Rebecca Gilmore of Cordele, and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Bailey and David Christopher Bailey of Abingdon, VA; and special friends Linda Bridges, Ann Ellis Gardner, Paula Nettles, Mary Anne Wells, Glenda Woods, and Joan Chambliss. Visitation will be held at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 1:00 PM until 2:00PM. Funeral Services will be conducted on Saturday December 3, 2016 from Calvary Baptist Church at 2:00 PM with Randy Culberson and Rev. Chuck Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memory Gardens in Pelham, Georgia. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1211 13th Avenue, Albany, GA 31707, or Tanner Hospice, 150 Henry Burson Avenue, Suite 102, Carrollton, GA 30117. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home at 375 US Highway 19 S. Leesburg, GA 31763, www.josephwjonesfuneralhome.com.