WAYCROSS — Juline Knowles Weaver Williams Eldred, 74, died peacefully on Monday, June 5, 2023, in Waycross.
Ms. Eldred was born June 30, 1948, in Waycross. She was the third daughter of Zack Alexander Weaver and Nella Maddox Weaver Liles. A lifelong resident of Waycross, she graduated in 1966 from Waycross High School. Upon graduation, Ms. Eldred received a secretarial degree. She worked as a secretary, sales clerk, and personal assistant. Ms. Eldred was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
She was beautiful and hilarious — she loved to make people laugh. Ms. Eldred was quick-witted with a knack for comic timing. She could imitate anyone — she was often described as “the funniest person I’ve ever met.” Her classmates recall her antics with fond amusement.
For several days in junior high, Ms. Eldred snuck out of the open classroom door to play on the playground while her classmates watched. When her teacher finally caught her, Ms. Eldred was jumping rope and singing about french fries. She explained, “Mother told me to jump around whenever my feet go to sleep.” While in high school, Ms. Eldred played basketball, and was on the cheerleading squad.
She loved to tell the story of her suspension on the first day of school — Ms. Eldred broke the dress code by wearing culottes, even though they went far past her knees. One of her proudest moments in high school was when her teacher, Miss Mary Lane, told the class that out of all of them, Juline was most suited to be a teacher, so she was thrilled when all three of her children became teachers.
Ms. Eldred loved the beach and spent several summers with her children and extended family in Fernandina. Before each trip, she bought sharks’ teeth for her husband, Roger, to spread along the beach so the children could find them.
Reading was one of her favorite pastimes. Visitors to Harborview would find her with a Christian book or a Reader’s Digest. She loved to talk about God and His goodness to her. She witnessed her faith to everyone she met, always. One of her most treasured possessions was a simple box of Bible verses. Ms. Eldred would sometimes spend the entire day reading them over and over. She was a woman of prayer — from the moment she awoke each morning, she prayed for her family.
Ms. Eldred loved children, particularly babies. As a teenager, to hear her tell it, she was a babysitter for most of the children in Cherokee Heights. Ms. Eldred was a proud mother and a devoted grandmother. Her great-grandson delighted her heart.
She made the best of every situation and was known for her generosity. Ms. Eldred treated everyone the same and was quick to help the less fortunate.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Zack Alexander Weaver and Nella Maddox Weaver Liles; her stepfather, A. Lawrence Liles; her husband, Kenneth Eldred; her husband, Billy Woodard; her former husband, Roger Lee Williams; her great-granddaughter, Stephanie Grace Grimes-Fletcher; her brother, Sam Magruder, and her best friend, Cheryl Layton Smith.
Survivors include her three children, Rachel Grimes of Waycross, Brad Williams (Christy) of Waycross, and Matthew Williams (Sarah) of Athens; stepdaughter, Ivy Woodard Kratzer of Waycross; grandchildren, April-Marie Vandermark (Paul) of Waycross, Bettie Abigail Grimes of Athens, Logan Williams, Laine Williams, Kami Williams, Layla Williams and Annabelle Williams all of Waycross, and Graham Williams of Athens; great-grandson Paul David Vandermark III of Waycross; three siblings, Susan Strickland (W.D.) of Patterson, Harriette Higginson (Bill) of Blackshear, and Alex Weaver (Jeannie) of Blue Ridge; sister-in-law, Gungor Magruder of Colorado Springs; numerous nieces and nephews; her roommate, Pat Brunner; her dear friends, Beth Thrift, Melba Duncan, Nancy Wilder Rio, Charlotte de la Vergne, Alice Marie Burnet, and many others, for she was a friend to all.
Following a private family service at Oakland Cemetery, a memorial celebration will be held Thursday, June 15 at 11:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Waycross. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Harborview Satilla (earmarked “Bingo Fund”), 1600 Riverside Avenue, Waycross, 31501 or First Presbyterian Church (“Good Samaritan Fund”), 601 Hill Street, Waycross, 31501.
The family wishes to thank Dr. David Morton, Dr. Ahmad Irfan, Dr. Manel Nayak, Dr. Alan Morton, Ms. Cecilia Mincey, and the entire staff of Harborview Satilla for the kind and compassionate care they have provided Ms. Eldred throughout the years. The family also thanks Meals on Wheels and Mr. Moses Studivent for the joy and provisions they brought.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at milesodumfuneralhome.com
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
