Vernita Coody Fletcher

Vernita Fletcher, 71, of Lake Park, died August 9, 2009 at home, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 19, 1938 in Lowndes County to the late Richard and Mattie Zipperer Coody. Mrs. Fletcher was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was married to Clair H. Fletcher, originally from Irwin County, for 54 years and is mother to their three children: Kenny and wife Tonya Fletcher of Cleveland, Tennessee; Pam and husband Luther Joiner of Macon, Georgia, and Jeanne and husband Mark Gustafson of Memphis, Tennessee.
Mrs. Fletcher attended the Clyattville school system where she played basketball in high school. Her nickname was “Peanut” because she was so small. She often attended the Clyattville reunions, and remained close friends with many of her schoolmates. She worked as a teacher’s aide for many years at Clyattville Elementary School. She was very active in her church, Clyattville United Methodist, where she was a member for almost 50 years. She demonstrated her love for Jesus Christ in many ways, including serving in almost every capacity including Sunday School teacher, UMYF counselor, United Methodist Women president, trustee, chairperson of the parsonage committee, pastor-parish relations committee, and of the administrative board. She also initialized a Wednesday morning prayer group to pray for the community and the church. Mrs. Fletcher enjoyed traveling with her husband to visit friends in Germany, Holland and London for the past 22 years. They also attended Mr. Fletcher’s annual Navy reunions in different locations around the country.
Mrs. Fletcher was also an active member of the Francis Lake Ladies Golf Association. During her golfing career she had two holes-in-one. She enjoyed playing in tournaments and spending time with her golfing friends.
Mrs. Fletcher was the youngest of fifteen children. She is survived by three sisters, Maxine Cothron, Lavinia Hammock, and Mary Foster, all of Valdosta, and by one brother, L.T. Coody and sister-in-law, Gladys, also of Valdosta. She is preceded in death by brothers R. A. (Buddy) Coody, Grover Coody, Howard Coody, and the Reverend W. Joe Coody, as well as an infant boy who died at birth. She is also preceded in death by sisters Mattie Clyde Albritton, Mamie Lou Speers, Marie Ashenbrenner, Agnes Reddish, and Eunice Thompson. She is also preceded in death by a grandson, Andrew Lambert of Cleveland, Tennessee.
Her grandchildren include Kristen Soper of Destin, Florida, Leslie (Carlos) Santana of Suffolk, Virginia, Grant Zipperer of Macon, Sunny and Max Gustafson of Memphis, Tiffany Lambert and fiance, Randy Bryant, and Matti Claire Fletcher all of Cleveland, Tennessee. Great-grandchildren include Sammy Santana of Suffolk, VA and Cayden Lambert of Cleveland, TN. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their extended families, as well as by sister-in-law Flo Quinney of Irwinville, and brother-in-law Reggie Fletcher of Ocilla.
Active pallbearers will be nephews Lowell Hammock, Edward Hammock and Doyle Hammock; Ben Griffin, Don Griffin, and Rick Fletcher. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Francis Lake Ladies Golf Association.
The services will be held at McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. with the Reverends Mollie Danner, Richard Soper, and Wayne McCrimmon officiating, with burial at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be at Lakewood on Monday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clyattville United Methodist Church or to Hospice of South Georgia.


Funeral Home:
McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
3119 West Marion Avenue
Lake Park, GA
US 31636