Geraldine Cameron

Geraldine Cameron was born February 10, 1934 and was raised on the Ivey Hutchinson farm located in Bemiss, Georgia. On Sunday, November 21, 2021, she passed away peacefully at her home on the same farm while surrounded by her family.
Geraldine had an adventurous childhood with many great memories of her playmates ranging from the farm-help to her cousins Frankie, Helen and Dorothy Hutchinson who also lived on the farm. Geraldine met W. L. Cameron (Lamar) while attending church at Cherry Creek Baptist Church. They were married in 1953 and never left each other’s side from that day on. Through thick or thin, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse, they were together, never apart.
Not too far down their road in 1954 they had their first daughter Deborah Whittington (Bill). Then just a few short years later in 1958 came the second daughter Beverly Thaxton (Eddy). Geraldine earned and lived up to the title of, “Mama.” Not too many more years down the road Geraldine became a grandmother in 1976. As this season began - Geraldine became what she was to so many, “Mema”. This was not only who she was, this was what she was.
Mema’s father Ivey passed in 1977 and at that time she and Lamar (Papa) learned the hard way very quickly about caring for the farm. In 1992 her mother Cleo passed on and joined her husband. Mema then became the matriarch of the family in the very place she grew up.
She had a vast knowledge of varieties and proper care of pecans and worked very hard during pecan season for many years. She knew even more about recipes with pecans from candies to baked goods, often to take to others as gifts.
Mema was so much to so many. She was a caregiver, a teacher, a faithful friend, a good neighbor, a cook, a giver, and the list is unending.
Mema enjoyed weekend visits to Ray’s Millpond. Partially for the food, but mostly for the fellowship. She also enjoyed lunch visits to Mama June’s. She enjoyed it so much that she frequently strolled right into the kitchen and visited with everyone. She never met a stranger. Everywhere she went, she was most affectionately known as Mema.
Mema enjoyed traveling and had many fond memories of road trips. She especially enjoyed family vacations. She enjoyed visiting folks on Sunday afternoons whether they were sick (she called them “low”) at home or in the hospital she would go check on them. Always with a gift of some sort in hand, usually candy that she made.
Most of her later years involved daily rides through the farm or to visit neighbors on the Kabota wagon. She loved riding with Papa and taking friends for rides. This never got old for her and was always a topic of conversation.
She loved a yard sale and would say, “I don’t need anything.” She would drive clear across town and be the first one there for a “good one.” Always picking up a little something, often a gift for others.
Mema loved chocolate. For some reason it didn’t share the love for her in the same way and often caused adverse reactions. This wasn’t much of a deterrent because she would still eat all that she could find. She kept a healthy amount of peanut butter crackers in the door of her fridge for anyone needing a cracker and a coke. Her table was always open for anyone needing a meal. For many years, Sunday lunch at her table included family and any friends that didn’t have a place to go.
Mema was the perfect example of being a great wife. In all of the memories mentioned above, it’s impossible to separate Mema from Papa as they were always together, 68 years of being together as husband & wife. Mema loved her family deeply. Every conversation with a stranger quickly turned them into a friend and was quickly followed with, “Let me tell you about my grandchildren.” She was so proud of each one for their strengths and accomplishments and choose not to see weakness. From t-ball games to hog shows, if she could be there – she was there.
Her door was always open for her family. Her table always had enough food for any boots that were under it. Mema was the perfect example of having childlike faith. She was the perfect example of loving others unconditionally. She was a perfect example of doing for others before herself. She was the perfect example of a great wife. The essence of Christ was her character and aroma in word and action. She was the best Mema ever made.
She was proceeded in death by her parents Ivey & Cleo Hutchinson. Mema leaves behind her husband Lamar (Papa) Cameron. Two daughters - Deborah (Bill) Whittington & Beverly (Eddy) Thaxton. Five grandchildren – Chris (Stacy) Kendrick, Michelle (Roy) Burkett, Zack (Dr. Jennifer) Kendrick, J. W. (Mariah) Thaxton, Paul (Kim) Thaxton. Eight great grandchildren – Zoe & Ivy Kendrick, Brooks & Baylee Burkett, Wyatt & Kyle Kendrick, Eli & Wade Thaxton. There are many others who claim her as their Mema.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the caregivers during Mema’s season here – Latanzia Copeland, Irene Brown, Tannis Berrien, Angela Ponder and Edith Allen. We also appreciate the staff at Hospice of South Georgia for all the outstanding care given and are both now considered family.
Services will be at 2pm on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Mr. Rodney Tenery officiating. The family will receive friends before the service from 1-2 pm. Burial will follow at Cat Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of South Georgia. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home