Mary Lou Bellflower Josey
March 18, 1938 - June 28, 2014
Mary Lou Bellflower Josey, 76, of Bainbridge, Georgia, passed away June 28,
2014 at her residence.
The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Ivey
Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Grubbs and Rev. Scott Messer officiating.
Interment will follow at Mt. Gilead Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery with Eric
Josey, Donald Logue, Jeremy Bilotto, Vinnie Bilotto, Dalton Rathel, and Dillon
Rathel serving as active pallbearers. Her co-workers, Michelle Blevins, Georgia
Milton, Pam Rouse, Hali Bryant, Bea Bush, Carol Clark, Joe Morrison, Joe
Talley, Jeff Plair, Teresa Swatts, Brenda McAnnelly, Kim Day, Keith Thomas,
John Thorton, Tina Ward, Mrya Stubs, and Celso Portillo will serve as honorary
pallbearers.
Mrs. Josey, was born March 18, 1938 in Bainbridge, GA. She was a graduate of
Bainbridge High School, class of 1956 and was a housewife for many years before
joining the Winn Dixie team. She achieved her personal goal of becoming bakery
manager and was known as "Mary, Mary the Baking Fairy". Until her
brief illness, Mary Lou was an active employee, and recently celebrated her
25th anniversary with Winn Dixie. At a young 76, she enjoyed working every day
and took great pride in decorating cakes for customers, friends, and family
members throughout the community. Her favorite expressions were: "Oh!
Okay", "I suwannee", and "Believe you me". Her
untimely death has left a void among her family and co-workers.
Survivors include her children, Maria Rathel, and her husband Billy, of Havana,
FL, Josh Josey and his wife Gina, of Tallahassee, FL, Jody Josey and his wife
Lorrie, of Calvary, GA, Alfred Josey and his wife Rita, of Tallahassee, FL,
Jeffery Josey and his wife Suzanne, of Auburn, NE, Jacob "Tiny" Josey
Jr. of Bainbridge, GA, and Jock Josey and his wife Jessica, of Bainbridge, GA;
her mother, Sara Barber Bellflower of Bainbridge, GA; her siblings, Carolyn
Adkins of Fountain, FL, Sara Alice Olson of Colorado Springs, CO, Vesper Miller
of Huntsville, AL, and Linda Gail Knight of Bainbridge, GA; her grandchildren,
"Little" Jake Rathel, Broster Rathel, Olivia Love, Lacey Rathel,
Jessica Josey, Eric Josey, Jeremy Bilotto, Vinnie Biloto, Tifffany Adams, Jason
Josey, Jennifer Josey, Crystal Brooke Josey, Abigail Josey, Liam Josey, Israel
Josey, Elizabeth Josey, Dallas Josey, Claudia Luevano, Victoria Luevano, Diego
Luevano; and her great grandchildren, Zach Rathel, Dalton Rathel, Dillon
Rathel, Desiree Rathel, Josh Sheffield, Kaley Sheffield, Abrielle Love, Trevor
Love, Josh Love, Jessie Love, Bryant Bilotto, Preston Bilotto, Levi Bilotto,
Haley, Krisslyn, Mya, Elijah Asa Adams, Ericka Phoenix Adams, Orion Adams; her
great, great children, Jackson Sheffield, Johnathan Wilson, Brantley Love,
Rowan Rathel; and her beloved faithful canine companion Gracie. She was
preceded in death by her father, Willford Ferman Bellflower.
Mary Lou wanted this fact known: she cherished her time with her co-workers,
and she thanks them for their help and guidance they afforded her throughout
her career. She left this to her children: "Alright you 'Josey clan', I
want ALL of you to take care of each other." Her final wish was for ALL
her children to keep in touch, and gather together at holiday events and special
occasions.