Carolyn Ann “Sissy” Gilbreath, 66, of Laurelwood Estates, in Rossville, Georgia, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Erlanger Hospital after a sudden illness, just 38 days after the passing of her husband of almost 48 years, Willie Ervin Gilbreath.
Sissy was born on Feb. 9, 1958 to Roy Lee Rogers and Betty Jane Rogers.
She grew up in the Dalendale neighborhood in Rossville, and attended Lakeview Middle and Lakeview High Schools.
Sissy met Willie and later married him on May 5, 1975, and raised a family with Willie in Duncan Park in East Ridge for 20 plus years.
In 2001, the family moved to Sand Mountain in Dade County where they resided until they were displaced by a house fire in 2019, and directly after, the Easter tornados of 2020.
They then settled and lived their final four years in the Laurelwood Estates neighborhood in Rossville.
Sissy held various jobs throughout her life, but was most proud of her service at the Kleen-A-Matic in East Ridge, the East Ridge Middle School Cafeteria, and the Cracker Barrel in East Ridge, then Lookout Valley, from where she eventually retired.
Much like her mother Betty, Sissy was one of the kindest, sweetest, generous, and most selfless souls that ever walked God’s Green Earth. She loved her boys fiercely with all her heart and no matter how wrong they were she always had their backs and was their number one defender. She’d go to the ends of the Earth for her sons.
Sissy was an avid animal lover. She has had either a dog (or eight), a cat (or six), a fish (or 20), a parakeet (or two), a chicken (or 30), or some combination of the above all through her life. I promise you there was a stampede on the Rainbow Bridge the moment she ascended.
Sissy was preceded in death by her father and mother Roy Lee Rogers and Betty Jane Rogers, her favorite Aunt, Ruth Hughes, her best friend Reba Swafford, her beagle Emily Louise, and her BooKitty cat, Spooksie Louise.
She is survived by her heartbroken sons, Scottie and Matthew, a grandson from Matthew, Jayden Gilbreath (gordy) her REAL Sister (in-law) Sandy Gilbreath of Lafayette, a host of nieces and nephews, her Mr. Meowman Salem, her GrandDog Mr. Joe Bite’em, and many friends and acquaintances, and a brother, James Rogers and a sister, Tresa Gordy.
In accordance with her wishes, Sissy will be cremated and there will be no memorial service, just like Willie.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or your local animal shelter.
Arrangements entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin -Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37404, 423-265-4414. Please visit our website to share your memories: www.advantagefranklin-strickland.com
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