Loretha Timmons Wiley

Loretha Timmons Wiley
(April 18, 1931 – October 10, 2023)
THE LAST OF HER LINE
As a part of God's great plan, a new life took its first breath on April 18, 1931 in Colquitt County, Georgia. Thus, opened the book of life for Loretha Timmons Wiley, the sixth child born to the union of Clarence Timmons and Henrietta Faison Timmons. As was the custom, Loretha was delivered by a mid-wife, joining two older brothers, Moses and Duly; and, three older sisters; Tiny, Hattie and Louise. She was followed by her brother, Clarence, and two younger sisters, Martha and Marie. Loretha is the last of her line.
Loretha converted to Christianity at an early age as a member of the Baptist faith. She was a faithful servant of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Micanopy, Florida and later, Springhill Missionary Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida. She attended the public schools of Colquitt County, Georgia.
In April of 1947, Loretha was united in holy matrimony to the late Milton Wiley, Sr. While losing her own mother when just a girl, she was blessed by the love of her life, a new family and especially, her mother-in-law, Mary Anna Long Wiley who became her surrogate mother. Together, Loretha and Milton established a loving and Christian home. After three successive miscarriages, she and Milton were blessed with the birth of five children; Alice Mae, Milton, Jr., Melvin, Robert Lee, and Jimmie Wiley. In addition to serving as a homemaker, over the years Loretha worked in Food Service for Alachua County Public Schools, the Alachua County Sherriff's Office as a Crossing Guard and later, retired from The Sunland Training Center: Florida's Institutes for Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Gainesville, Florida (Tacachale).
Loretha was a family "master" chef and learned her basic craft from her mother in law, Mary Anna Long Wiley. However, she became known for her Pound Cake (cream-Cheese and chocolate) and Layer Cakes (chocolate, cocoanut, jelly, apple, peach), sweet potato and apple pies, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, mustard & turnips greens, Brunswick Stew and a specialty, Chitterlings (Chitlins), rice purlo, and a medley of peas, including field, white, and black-eye peas. Loretha also became known for her marvelous Sunday church hats, dresses and of course, shades of purple were clearly her favorite color. So many of us recall her love of plants and flowers, which adorned her home from the inside to the front porch and throughout the yard. Beloved throughout the Wiley and Timmons family, Loretha and her late husband, Milton, traveled in various of models of Buicks across the South and beyond, visiting family regardless of the distance. In fact, together and for some 54 years, they were rarely absent at family occasions, funerals, graduations, and the Foster-Wiley Family Reunion. However, Loretha and Milton's July 4th family barbeques and Memorial Day fish-fries were a sheer sensation of love and joy for all those fortunate enough to gather and participate. Their front door was open to all who chose to call it home and ultimately, receive the blessing of their union.
Over the last several years, Loretha's health waned and she became a resident of Plaza Health and Rehabilitation Center, Gainesville, FL. Foremost, she continued to faithful to her lord and savior, Jesus Christ. She also maintained contact with family and friends who visited and communicated with her by telephone.
Loretha's memory will be serve as source of inspiration and love cherished by her children; Alice Mae Wiley Mills, Melvin Wiley, Robert Lee Wiley (Janice), Jimmie Wiley, and daughter-in-law, Artherola Wiley, (Milton, Jr.), all of Gainesville, Florida. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years (2003), Milton Wiley, Sr. and son, Milton Wiley, Jr (2022). Her love lingers and is sealed in the heart of her remaining sister-in-law, Margaret Denise Wiley Thompson, Lake Wales, Florida. However, the family line created by and resulting from the union of Loretha and Milton in 1947 is now, a legacy unto itself. It represents some 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren. Others who drew near to her also grieving, include a loving host of nieces and nephews along with scores of family friends and loved ones. One of her constant adages was "a family who prays together, stays together". While we mourn as Christians, we also rejoice for the faithful; they are "at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians, 5:8.
ACThompson©2023
The funeral service for Loretha Timmons Wiley will be held 11:00 A.M., Thursday, October 19th, 2023 at the Springhill Missionary Baptist Church 120 SE Williston Road Gainesville, FL 32641. The visitation will be 5:00 pm 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at the Springhill Missionary Baptist Church 120 SE Williston Road Gainesville, FL 32641. Interment in Forest Meadows Memorial Park (Central). Please sign the family guest book and view the video tribute @ www.tswarden.com. Arrangements in care of Tyrone S. Warden, FDIC, 4315 N. Main Street, 904-765-1234