Olivia Smith Newsome

Mrs. Olivia “Libby” Smith Newsome, died Saturday November 19, 2011. She was born in Metter, GA and was a longtime resident of Statesboro. She retired as a Licensed Practical Nurse for many years and also at Georgia Southern University. Mrs. Newsome was a foster parent to twelve different children and she enjoyed race walking and was part of the Young at Heart. She was a member of Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church for approximately sixty years. She was known for playing the piano by ear and had several books of poetry published. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Bartow Smith and Sally Tate Whaley; her husband, Beamon Roger Newsome; two brothers Charlie Whaley Smith and, Winford Bartow Smith and one sister, Emma Lou Smith; and two sons, Charles Randall Newsome and James Richard Newsome.

Survivors include three sons, Jerry (Juliet) Newsome of Statesboro, Lavon (Becky) Beamon Newsome of Statesboro, and William “Billy” (Grace) Roger Newsome of Dawsonville, GA; thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 23, at 11:00 A.M. at the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church with Elder William Durrence and Elder Randy Waters officiating.

Burial will be in Elmer Baptist Church Cemetery.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share your thoughts and fond memories with the Newsome family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.