Allie Mae “Cydi” Powers Waters, 90, of Blackshear, passed away early Friday morning, April 14, 2023, at her daughter’s residence, following an extended illness.
Born September 29, 1932 in Blackshear, she was a daughter of the late Winton A. and Ida Mae Walker Powers. A lifelong resident of Pierce County, she was a 1951 graduate of Blackshear High School.
Following graduation, she went to work with LaCount Walker, Clerk of Superior Court for three years and then began her 31-year career with BellSouth and AT&T, retiring as the district central office secretary.
After retirement, she enjoyed volunteering at the Pierce County Nursing Home (now Harborview Pierce County) as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary (Pink Ladies), serving as the vice president and then president.
She also volunteered at Patterson Elementary School for four years as a Rock and Reader to the children.
Accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior and then joining First Baptist Church in Blackshear in August, 1949, she had been a member of the Homemakers Sunday School Class, serving as class vice president and president, the Followers Sunday School Class and the Alathean Sunday School Class. She also served with the bereavement committee, JOY group, W.M.U., food pantry, Hands to Work Ministry, Operation Christmas Child and helped compose the last picture directory the church had.
She also was a former member of the Classy Red Hatters and the Telephone Pioneers of America.
She loved cooking and working in her flower beds, but most importantly, she loved her Lord and Savior and her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with them, loving on them and taught them to put the Lord first in their lives.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 wonderful, blessed years, Robert “Bob” Waters and all of her siblings, George A. Powers, Robert V. Powers, Winton A. Powers Jr., Lawton A. Powers, Clyde O. Powers, Alfred D. Powers, Ralph W. Powers and Cora B. Sanders.
Survivors include her two children, Ricky Waters (wife Donna), Waycross and Mysti Sapp, Blackshear; five grandchildren, Bradi Sykes (husband Peyton) of Austin, TX, Skylar Waters (fiancé Khalil Khutaba), Lawrenceville, Kelby Waters, Windsor, CO, Weston Sapp of Blackshear and Danielle Collins (husband Brad), Waycross; two great-grandchildren, Ben and Luke Collins; two sisters-in-law: Pat Durrance (husband Wayne), Glennville and Jurell Wainwright, Baxley; a special nephew: Bob Powers (wife Cynthia), Houston, TX; two special nieces, Genia Zipara (husband Dan) and Angie Adkins (husband Charlie), both of Jacksonville, FL and many other nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, April 16, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 17, from the First Baptist Church in Blackshear.
Interment will follow in the Waters Cemetery.
The family requests that all current and former deacons of First Baptist Church, the Alathean Sunday School Class, the former Followers Sunday School Class members, and former members of the Classy Red Hatters to serve as honorary pallbearers. Please be at the church by 10:40 a.m. Monday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
