Lelia Vaughters Bruce: Obituary

Lelia Vaughters Bruce, 100, of Dawsonville passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Southern Pines Assisted Living in Maysville following a period of declining health.

Born November 30, 1916 on Thanksgiving Day, she was the daughter of the late Homer and Emmer (Wehunt) Vaughters. Lelia was a lifelong resident of Dawson County. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where until her death, she was the oldest living member. Lelia was a housewife, mother, and farmer. She used earnings from her pea patch to buy one of the first radios in Dawson County, which she purchased from the Sears Catalog and used to listen to her favorite songs by the Carter Family, among others. She also loved to cook for her family; her specialties were simple but delicious things like chicken and dumplings, vegetable casserole, and banana pudding. No one ever left her table hungry.

Lelia is preceded in death by her husband C. A. Bruce; her sister Luna (Herbert) Harben; brother Rev. Boyd (Wilma) Vaughters; step-son and daughter in law Edwin and Adele (Moss) Bruce.

Surviving are her children Jimmy (Wanda Crowe) Bruce, June (Buster) Samples, and Johnny (Carol Grant) Bruce; grandchildren Bobby (Julie) Samples, Lori (John) Hughes, Karen Martinez and Steve Bruce, Kristi (Nate) Kohn, Shelia (Denny) Tolbert and Jill Odom; great-grandchildren Dylan, Alex, and Cameron Bruce, Zachary and Hailey Samples, Atiana and Alaina Martinez, Caroline, Jack and Eliza Hughes, Cleo Kohn, Justin and Austin Tolbert, and Eric Head; great-great-grandson Caden Head. Her sister-in-law Arlene (Glenson) Swafford, and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 2 PM at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Leonard W. Ridings, Rev. Stephen Davis, and Rev. Jason Hamby will officiate. Interment will follow in the Bethel Baptist Church cemetery, where Lelia’s remains will join those of her ancestors, who were among the first to be buried there, dating back to the 19th century.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm on Monday, June 5 at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.