Madelyn Lorena Rutledge

Madelyn Lorena Pope Rutledge, age 93, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, August 14, 2016 at her daughter’s home in Stone Mountain. She was born on June 25, 1923 in Columbus, the daughter of John Allen Pope, Sr. and Roberta Morgan Moshell. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack T. Rutledge, to whom she was married 37 years before his death in 1980, and her brother, John A. Pope, Jr.

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, August 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Columbus with Dr. Jimmy Elder and Dr. William Neal officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. A private interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery.

Mrs. Rutledge lived in Columbus for most of her life, graduating from Columbus High School and attending Wesleyan College before marrying Mr. Rutledge. A homemaker, she raised three daughters while bravely battling to overcome polio, which she contracted in the late ‘40s. In her latter years, she had to deal with postpolio syndrome and Parkinson’s disease.

A devoted Christian, Mrs. Rutledge was a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Columbus, the fourth generation of her family to worship there.

She is survived by her three daughters: Anne Rutledge Sims (Guy) of Columbus; Nancy Rutledge Fowler (Tom) of Stone Mountain; and Judith Rutledge Neal (William) of Stone Mountain; four grandchildren: Laurie Fowler Boltin (Chris) of Lilburn; Tommy Fowler (Charlene) of Dacula; Mary Beth Neal Carmichael (Nick) of Peachtree City; and Anne Marie Sims Vickers (Jed) of Ellerslie; nine great grandchildren; and several nieces.

Memorials may be offered to First Baptist Church, 212 12th St, Columbus, GA 31901, or your charity of choice.