Doris Ruth Williams Everett, age 98, peacefully passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020, at the Langdale Hospice House, in Valdosta, Ga., with family by her side. She was born on April 20, 1922, in White Springs, Fla. Soon after, her family returned to their roots in the Hickory Grove community near Pinetta, Fla., where she lived for the rest of her life. She was a lifelong member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church.
She met Murphy "Mutt" Everett while attending school at Pinetta and they married in January of 1942. "Mutt" farmed and Doris became a typical farm wife. She loved sewing, crocheting, embroidering and quilting, using these skills for her family and home.
She took pleasure in feeding family and friends, put a high priority on education, took great pride in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, and always had a word of encouragement. She was widowed in 2009, but remained in good health and good spirits until March 2020, when a sudden decline in her health led to a hospital stay and a move to hospice care.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Edward Murphy Everett; her oldest son, James (Jimmy) Everett, of Jacksonville, Fla.; her parents: Leroy and Odessa Williams; brothers: Rodger, Adrian and Roland; sister, Eunice; and granddaughter, Nanette Beland.
She is survived by five children: Ruth (Bill) Rodgers, of Titusville, Fla.; William "Bill" (Judy) Everett, of Defuniak Springs, Fla.; Elizabeth "Libby" (Buddy) Hutto, of Cherry Lake, Fla.; Ann (Phil) Olan, of Madison, Fla.; and Lynn (Glenn) Waller, of Pinetta, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Sandra Everett, of Jacksonville, Fla.; 12 grandchildren: James (Melissa) Everett, of Lancaster, Penn.; Sandy (Adam) Elmer, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Matthew Rodgers, of Augusta, Ga.; Amy Teed, of Titusville, Fla.; Will (Amanda) Rodgers, of St. Augustine, Fla.; Brandi Everett, of Neconset, N.Y.; Lori (Mike) Sapp, of Cookeville, Tenn.; James (Lynda) Hutto, of Crawfordville, Fla.; Melanie (Oscar) Fernandez, of Branford, Fla.; Christy (Ben) Grass, of Madison, Fla.; Ted (Alesha) Waller, of Tallahassee, Fla.; and Jillian Waller, of Jacksonville, Fla. She is also survived by 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
As a devout Christian, she was confident that she would be reunited with her husband, Mutt; son, Jimmy; and other loved ones in Heaven, and she passed away peacefully knowing that death was only a transition to another realm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hickory Grove Methodist Church, at P.O. Box 303 Pinetta, Florida 32350. All arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home Madison Chapel.