Gladys Zonelle Addison

t is with deep love and
heavy hearts that we an-
nounce the passing of
Gladys Zonelle Deaton Ad-
dison, who went home to
be with the Lord on Mon-
day, Aug. 11, 2025, at the
young age of 86 years. She
completed her journey on
earth and was rewarded
with her heavenly passage
to the Lord's kitchen. She
passed peacefully sur-
rounded by love after a life
beautifully lived.
Born in Tallulah Lodge,
Ga., on Oct. 15, 1938, to
William Harrison and
Lula Shirley Deaton,
Gladys grew up in a strong
hard working Christian
family in Old Madison,
S.C. At age 12, her Daddy
died on the farm leaving
Gladys, her brother Lewis
and mother Lula to tend to
the home place with assis-
tance from her older sis-
ters (Shirley O'Dell,
Manola Johnson, Savola
McCurry and Margaret
Grafton) and brothers
(William Harrison Deaton
Jr and France Deaton) and
their families.
After graduating from
Cleveland High School,
Gladys worked at Coats
and Clark on Rose Lane, in
Toccoa, Ga., where she
met and married Melvin
Addison on July 27, 1957.
Together they built a
home based on love, laugh-
ter, kindness and work
ethic. Her cunning wit,
keen intellect and intelli-
gence served her well
throughout her career
which began in the
Quilling Department at
Coats and Clark where she
hit her production goal ev-
ery week. Later she honed
her business and account-
ing skillset as she and her
husband started Melvin
Addison's Carpet Cleaners
in 1969, and later pur-
chased the Wigwam Drive-
In in Toccoa. Gladys fin-
ished her career as an ac-
complished mother,
grandmother and great
grandmother. She poured
her heart into her work
striving to be top quartile
in all endeavors and ex-
pected the same from her
two children.
She is survived by
Melvin Addison (Lake
Hartwell Islands); chil-
dren, Eddie Melvin Addi-
son (Renae), Martin Ga.,
Lisa Renee Mote (Billy),
Toccoa, Ga.; grandchil-
dren, Eddie Melvin Addi-
son II (Katie), Toccoa, Ga.,
Hunter Gaston Addison
(Joanna), Commerce, Ga.,
Alexandra Lee Wyatt
(Matthew), Eastanollee
Ga., Emily Regan Mote,
Toccoa Ga.; great-grand-
children, Rhett Hunter
Addison, Myles Alexander
Addison, Blakely Helen
Wyatt.
Her life was a living ex-
ample of loyalty, intestinal
fortitude, grace, compas-
sion and unwavering
faith. As exhibited by her
final statement: "I am
saved and believe that
Christ died on the cross
for my sins, and I am
Heaven bound. I dont
mind dying. I just dont
want to leave y'all!!" Her
love was our shelter, her
wisdom our guide, though
she is gone she will live
forever in our hearts.
Funeral services were
held Friday, Aug. 15, 2025,
at 2 p.m. in the Hillcrest
Chapel of Acree Davis Fu-
neral Home with the Rev.
Jerrell Beatty and the Rev.
Chad Smith officiating.
The following gentlemen
will serve as pallbearers:
Terry McCurry, Josh
Outz, Steve Johnson, Greg
Grafton, David Wessinger,
Eddie Addison, II and
Hunter Addison.
The family received
friends at the Acree-Davis
Funeral Home on Thurs-
day, from 5-7 p.m. and on
Friday from 12 p.m. until
the service time. Online
condolences may be left
for the family at
www.acree-davisfh.com.
Interment followed in
the Stephens Memorial
Gardens with the Acree-
Davis Funeral Home and
Crematory in charge of the
arrangements for Gladys
Deaton Addison.