89 year old Ida W. Surrency passed away in the early hours of October 4, 2013. A private funeral service for the family only will be held at graveside in Jesup Cemetery at 11 a.m., Monday with the Rev. Jon Fitzpatrick officiating. The family will meet friends from 3 – 5 p.m., Sunday at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono Avenue. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to United Hospice, 708 E. 16th Avenue, Cordele, GA 31210.
Born Ida Ezzell Winn on June 12, 1924 she lived in Macon, GA until graduating from Miller High School in 1942. Determined to be the first in her family to attend college she borrowed money from a relative and earned her BS HE degree from the University of Georgia. There she met Erwin C. Surrency and returned home to be married in the Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church of Macon on September 2, 1945. Together, the married couple went on to earn their Masters of Library Science degrees from Peabody College in Nashville TN.
The Surrencys moved to Pennsylvania where they created their family. In 1964 they took their young family of 2 children to live in Belfast, Northern Ireland for a year. Here, Ida honed her skills as a photographer and fell madly in love with all things Irish. As the children became young adults, Ida realized her passion for serving the community through her election as Commissioner in Nether Providence Township but ended her service after only a year because Erwin retired from Temple University in Philadelphia, and accepted the position of Law Librarian and Professor of Law at the University of Georgia. The couple moved to Watkinsville, GA where they resided for nearly 30 years.
Aside from her family, Ida would have said her most important contribution to the world was the erection of the water tower that still services her beloved Watkinsville community where she served on the Water Board for many years.
Ida lost her husband to cancer on November 8, 2012 but is now survived by her children, Robert with wife Tracey of Kathleen, GA and Ellen who resides in Athens. She also leaves behind 8 grandchildren: David Orwig, Cristy Catlin, Katie Orwig, Brian Surrency, Leslie Cheek, Tyler Surrency, Brent Richey and Andrew Richey. In addition, there are 7 great-grand children, Rena & Aiden Catlin, Sydney and Zoey Walters, Bryson Richey and Abigail Leigh and Bailey Cheek.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation for the care and compassion to Ida and her family offered by the staff of Pinewood Manor of Hawkinsville, GA and to the United Hospice caseworkers.
Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Pio Nono Avenue has charge of arrangements.
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