Reatha Mae McConnell

Mrs. Reatha Mae Sosebee McConnell, age 96. Born on June 12, 1928 and entered her heavenly home on August 24, 2024.

Reatha Mae was a substitute teacher for many years in the Forsyth County School System. She was a very active member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Georgia Rural Letter Carriers Association. Her real passion was working for her Lord, Jesus Christ. She performed many duties and taught several different Sunday School classes at Friendship Baptist Church until her health forced her retirement at age 91. She sewed elegant costumes for Christmas programs, cooked numerous dishes for church events, and wrote a book on the history of Friendship Church called “Friendship is Reaching Out” in 1990 to celebrate Friendship’s 150th Anniversary. She loved to attend the Convention Singings and helping E.W. with his work as Clerk of the Hightower Baptist Association for many years. She was registrar for many Biblical studies that led to the F.M. Hawkins Center for Christian Studies in later years. She loved doing ceramics and eventually built a ceramic shop where she taught ceramic classes in the community. Gardening and work kept her outside whenever the weather allowed. She broke her hip weed-eating when she was 86. She made wedding dresses for both her daughters and most of the bridesmaids. She even made Hazel’s wedding cake! She attempted any task set before her and never met a stranger.

She was a loving caretaker for her family members during serious illnesses. She was acutely interested in family genealogy and has collected family trees of many families native to Forsyth County. She was instrumental in developing National Sosebee Reunions, and loves the many family members she has met across the United States. She visited all 50 states with Janice and Toy. Family has always been a priority in her life and her great grandchildren were blessed with her love.

She was preceded in death by her husband, E.W. McConnell, son-in-law Toy Tallant, her parents Gordon & Myrtle Tribble Sosebee, parents-in-law W.N. & Katie Ruddell McConnell, brother and sister-in-law Lawton & Miriam Sosebee, brothers-in-law Frank Gramling and Arter Watkins, niece Judy Sosebee Blackburn, brother-in-law and sister-in-law James & Emma Lou McConnell.

Reatha Mae is survived by her daughter Janice McConnell Tallant, daughter and son-in-law Hazel & Nolan Floyd. Grandchildren Leigh Anne (Jason) Hawkins, Jared (Mitzi) Floyd, and Nalanna (Bobby) Palmer. Great-grandchildren Scarlett Palmer, Ellie and Austin Floyd. Bonus grandchildren Mike Vinson, Devin Waters, Madison, Colyn, Haidyn, Evan, and Haley Palmer. Sisters Bonnie Gramling, Ozell Watkins, and Iola (Cecil) Gramling, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank Center Well therapists Natalie, Sharon and Elizabeth and the staff at Capstone Palliative and Hospice Care for their loving care.

Visitation will be 6-9 PM Sunday, August 25, 2024 and 9 AM-1 PM Monday, August 26, 2024, followed by the funeral at 2 PM at Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Lee Gaddis, Rev. Ronnie McCormick, Rev. Ricky Byrd, and Rev. Don Westray officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Funeral service may be viewed on Friendship Baptist Church Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery Fund,www.fbcofcumming.com or mailing address P O Box 3180, Cumming, GA 30028 or the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home at https://www.georgiachildren.org in her honor.