Ann Rutledge Colson

Ann Rutledge Colson, 89, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, March 13, 2015, at Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, Florida. Born in Florence, South Carolina in 1925, Ann was a woman full of compassion. She became a registered nurse after attending the Medical College of South Carolina and when she began nursing at St. Vincent's in Jacksonville, she met the love of her life: Shelton Colson. In 1948, they were married and moved to Valdosta where they had three children. There she continued nursing and pioneered the Health Occupation curriculum at Lowndes High School. She was also a nurse at Pineview General Hospital (now South Georgia Medical Center) and taught LPN's at Valdosta Technical School.

Ann was an avid reader, a talented teacher, and she loved to travel. She was very involved in the music program at First Baptist Church in Valdosta and also taught the 4-5 year old choir for many years. She travelled all over the United States with a travel club, participated in a mission trip to England, and visited Scotland and Israel. She loved to paint beach sceneries, and many of her pieces are displayed in her children and grandchildren's homes.

She is survived by her 3 children: Ken and Rhonda Colson of Missoula, MT, Kathy and Vernon Saxe of Wentworth, WI, and Carol and Dan Topping of Helena, AL. Her grandchildren are Sam and Ashley Colson of Atlanta, GA, David and Angela McKnight of Abilene, TX, Joseph Colson of Atlanta, GA, Rachel Colson of Colorado Springs, CO, Brad and Kristen Topping of Augusta, GA, and Lauren Topping of Atlanta, GA. She also has four beautiful great-grandchildren: Levi and Asher McKnight of Abilene, TX, and Aeowynne and Darcy Colson of Atlanta, GA.

Services for Ann Rutledge Colson will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 in the chapel at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2015. Condolences to the family may be made online at www.mclanecares.com.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602