Elsie Serena Reader

Elsie Serena Rowan Reader was born in a small house in Flippen, Georgia, on January 2, 1929, and passed away at the age of 95 on January 6, 2024, after living a full and caring life. She is the daughter of the late Robert Tyre and Barbara Brannan Rowan.

Elsie graduated from Henry County High School. After graduation, she attended Young Harris College in the mountains of North Georgia, where she was a member of the Dorcas Honor Society and a member of the Basketball team.

She married Edward L. Thomas in 1951, a ceremony performed at Flippen Methodist Church, less than a mile from her birthplace. This was the first marriage performed at Flippen Methodist since 1895 and only the second marriage in the church's history.

In 1976 Elsie Married Samual B. Reader, her soulmate. Sam and Elsie went on many adventures throughout the United States and shared a love of family, friends, fishing, and college football. Elsie was a diehard UGA fan. Unfortunately, Sam was an Auburn alumnus. Due to Elsie's forgiving and kind nature, she was able to overlook this one flaw in Sam's background. They attended the Georgia-Florida game every year they were married, as this was a long-held tradition for Elsie. They spent 14 beautiful years together before Sam passed away in 1989.

Elsie was a loyal and trusted friend to legions of people. After Sam's death, Elsie traveled with her family and some of her many friends. She was always on the go and up for new adventures. She visited the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico, England, France, Italy, and Switzerland and reveled in the history, culture, and, of course, the food of these varied places.

Elsie was an accomplished businessperson. She had a rewarding career with the Social Security Administration, and after her retirement, she managed Sam's dental practice.

Elsie was a faithful and dedicated Flippen United Methodist Church member upon her return to the area she had always called home, McDonough, Georgia. She was a leader in the Church, serving as the office manager, a member of the choir, and volunteering for leadership positions in the United Methodist Women's group. She also loved Shingleroof Campground and attended 94 consecutive Camp Meetings annually.

She is strong in her faith and knows that God loves her.

Elsie was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, great-grandmother, and friend.

Her husbands, siblings, in-laws, son, and niece preceded her in death: Mary and Harold Daniel, Paul and Elsie Rowan, Horace and Elizabeth Rowan; her first husband, Edward Thomas; her second husband, Samuel Reader; her niece Paula Rowan and her son, Daniel Reader.

Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren survive Elsie, Steven Edward Thomas, Mikel Tyre Thomas and Mary-Margaret Thomas, Yvonne and Butch Honse, Amanda Thomas, Tyre Thomas, Callyn and Jase Roberts, Samantha Honse, Nate Thomas, Taves Roberts, Lanier Roberts, and Zayda Roberts.

A Memorial Service will be held for Elsie on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 11 am at the Flippen Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor Courtney Wallace and Pastor Tim Emmett. Visitation will follow at the Fellowship Hall.