Mrs. Elizabeth S. Brogdon

Elizabeth S. Brogdon
Richmond Hill
Elizabeth S. Brogdon was born January 23, 1915 to H.Wiley and S.E. Speir and died November 15, 2008.  Her concern for others remained till the end. To make this time easier on the family she wrote the following "profile" to be used when we needed it.
"Where He Leads Me I Will Follow" was being sung when I walked down the aisle at ten to join the church, as well as when I walked down the bank of the Canoochee River to be baptized. This has been the theme song of my life since that time. It has been such a wonderful life.
I was born in Bryan county, Georgia, attended public school there, and received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from the Georgia State College for women. I did graduate work at the Universities of Georgia and Tennessee.
During my fourth year of teaching I was asked to supervise training of home economics teachers but decided to follow the love of my life in marriage to Jim. I took a job supervising school lunchrooms for the Works Project Administration in nineteen counties of South Georgia. After six years of opening endless lunchrooms, I was on the threshold of a big promotion.  Fate stepped in again and finally our dream of having a baby was realized. A boy! Two-and-one-half years later our second son was born. Bill is now a mechanical engineer living in Mobile, Alabama, and has given us two wonderful granddaughters. Gene is a civil engineer living in Richmond Hill, following in his Dad's footsteps, becoming a Real Estate Developer.
After Jim returned from the army, he and my brother (Billy Speir) were in partnership building houses. Their financier felt they should grow by spreading out. We landed on Long Beach Island, N.J. building houses, and I began a new career – keeping books for this operation and later selling the houses.
I became involved in the local Methodist Church teaching junior classes and later adults, as well as "putting on dinners" and serving in various Church and woman's Society of Christian service offices. I was elected Secretary for the Status of Women, then secretary of Missionary Education, then Vice president of the New Brunswick District, followed by secretary of Missionary Education for the Conference. During this time, I was Dean of the School of Christian Missions for four years When the Conference was divided into six districts, 1 was elected President of the Northeast District of Women's Society of Christian service. A short time later I was made Conference president, the most rewarding experience of my 1ife. By virtue of this office I was privileged to serve on the Annual Conference Board of Education, Committee on camps and conferences, Board of Missions, Council on Ministries, Area Study Committee, Board of Managers of the Neighborhood Center, Board of Trustees of the Methodist Homes and was a Lay Member of the Annual Conference.
There have been quite a few "firsts" in my life. I was the first woman elected to the Conference council on Finance and Administration, where I served eight years, four as president. I was first in my local church to be honored as ''Mother-of-the-Year'' and the first woman to serve as chairman of the pastor Parish Relations committee, as well as the first woman to be Lay Member of Annual Conference for my local church.
"People" is the first thing I list when asked about my hobbies. It is truly the people I have learned to know and love in each of these organizations, along with my wonderful children and husband, who have helped me "To Follow Where He Leads Me." What a privilege it has been!
Elizabeth is survived by her children Bill and Diana Brogdon of Mobile, Ala., Gene and Carole Brogdon of Richmond Hill. Grandchildren: Rebecca and Bradley Roe of Mobile Ala. and Jessica Brogdon of Oakland Calif. Great-grandchildren Eliza Geraldine and William Wiley Roe. Sister-in-law Thelma Speir. Sister Peggy Bingham and George Bingham, North Palm Beach, Fla. Nieces and nephews: Kay Speir, Richmond Hill, Speir and Gail Flanders, Hinesville, George and Cecile Flanders, Lancaster, S.C., Raymond and Nordy Meguiar, Savannah Ga., David and Joyce Smith, Stewart, Fla., Allen and Nancy  Smith, Okeechobee Fla., Maggie and Bob Hogan, Dover, Md., Carolyn and Spencer Helms, Clarksville, Ga.
Memorial services will be held today, at Richmond Hill United Methodist Church, 11 a.m.. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to:
Magnolia Manor on the Coast, 141 Timber Trail Rd., Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
Richmond Hill United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1480, Richmond Hill, Ga. 31324
American Cancer Society, 6600 Abercorn St., Suite 206, Savannah, Ga. 31405
Richmond Hill Funeral Home, Cox Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.
Bryan County News
Nov. 19, 2008