Gertie Collins Brown Rocker

Gertie Brown Rocker, age 92, passed away on September 7 with her children by her side. She had a long life filled with love from family and friends. She loved nothing more than having her family around her. Most of her joy came from listening to her children talk about their lives and things they did while they were growing up. She reveled in hearing them talk about things they went through raising their own children. She never held her tongue when expressing herself, as many of you know. She loved working in her flower garden and had a mean green thumb. She could grow just about any flower.

For those of you who didn’t know, she was an avid reader of nonfiction. She could tell you anything you would want to know about the royal family and has quite the collection of books on the monarchy. She had a memory like a steel trap. Her daughters had to ask her many times for help remembering something. She always had the answer. She loved to play baseball and was even asked by the teachers to play with them on their team.

Her girls have never doubted how much she loved them and their families. She checked in on all of them often. They were blessed to have her for all these years. It goes without saying that she loved J.O.’s children and their families and felt especially close to some. Above all, she loved the Lord and read her bible nightly. When she could no longer do that, she had someone read it to her. She is now in her heavenly home with family and friends that have gone before her,

Gertie is preceded in death by her children's father- Ray Brown, and later in life husband- J.O. Rocker, parents- Gladston and Estelle Collins, sister- Dorothy McCullough, grandson-Shane Padgett and son-in-law -Robert Padgett.

Gertie leaves behind daughters Diann Padgett of Cobbtown, GA, Judy (Jimmy) Padgett of Hephzibah, GA, Vickey (Sammy) Woodard of Collins, GA, Jenny (Robert) Curl of Collins, GA, and Pam (Fred) Kmiecik of Fernandina Beach, FL. Grandchildren Chad (Mitzi) Padgett, Lisa Padgett, Madrid (Susan) Padgett, Alex Padgett, Nikki (Kurt) Ellis, Beau (Emily) Smith, Stephen (Ashley) Reese, Amanda (Dwayne) Deloach, James Reese, Kylea Kmiecik and Rachel Kmiecik. She also had 24 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. Sister Martha Ross, brothers- Henry (Margie) Collins, and Kenneth (Gloria) Collins.

The service will be held at Cobbtown Baptist Church on Thursday, September 12 at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive visitors from 1:00-2:45.

Interment will follow in Sunlight Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons-Chad Padgett, Alex Padgett, Madrid Padgett, Beau Smith, Stephen Reese, and James Reese.

Honorary Pallbearers will be her son-in-laws - Jimmy Padgett, Sammy Woodard, Robert Curl and Fred Kmiecik.

Kennedy Funeral Homes is in charge of the arrangements.