Mrs. Nellie Mae Cooks Whitest of 1204 Blackshear Road, Cordele, Georgia passed away Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM in the J. W. Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.

Everyone entering the funeral home for visitations or services must wear a mask and practice social distancing.  A mask must be worn throughout the stay.  You must supply your mask.

On June 9, 1945, a very special person was born, Ms. Nellie Cooks Whitest, to the late Mr. Frank Walker and Ms. Vallie Cooks (the late Willie Bee) Reese, in Cordele, Crisp County Georgia. She is known to many as Aunt Nell, Mama Nell, Ms. Nell, Nell, and Grandma, but to four, she is known as Mama!

During her early childhood, she attended school until she became a Big Sister-Mama to her younger siblings. She learned how to cook and provide for the family while her parents worked.

Due to her spiritual upbringing, she accepted Christ and joined the Holly Grove Baptist Church in Vienna, Georgia where she later moved her membership to the First African Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia. She later became a member of the New Oak Grove Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia. She served on the Women's Missionary Board and was a member of the choir. She served faithfully as a member until her health began to fail.

Nellie was a lifetime homemaker. She loved getting up every Saturday morning in search of the one, two, or many-yard sales. She was gifted a shirt that read: "Yard Sale Queen". She enjoyed caring for any and everyone but FAMILY and CHILDREN, she gave that special care! She truly enjoyed cooking delicious home cooked meals that could feed armies. The love she put into the taste of her food, showered over to the love she had for singing. Her voice would have you in awe because you could feel her love and emotions in every word she sang.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, she succumbed to her ill health. She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, siblings, Forest  Riley and Millide Reese, and her dedicated partner, Mr. Willie Lee Paul.

She leaves behind a legacy of love, caring, and many fond memories that will forever be cherished by her loving and devoted children, Retired MSgt. Johnny (Veronica) Ford of Warner Robins, Georgia; Ms. Lena Touray of Lithonia, Georgia; Ms. Bernice Whitest, and Mrs. Ladreka (Casadeyoun) Daniels all of Cordele, Georgia; her grandchildren, Ms. Kennesha Whitest Williams of Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Joi Ford and Mr. Casadeyoun "CJ" Daniels, Jr. both of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Mr. Cayden Daniels of Cordele, Georgia; her great grandchildren, Miss Tiannah Williams of Jacksonville, Florida and Master Kayleb Williams of Cordele, Georgia; three loving sisters, Ms. Doretha (Leonard Patrick) Whitehead, Ms. Polly Thornton, and Ms. Sallie Bee Reese, all of Cordele, Georgia; one brother, Mr. Arthur Lee (Denise) Reese of Cordele, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Grace Reese and Mrs. Sarah (Earnest) Williamson all of Cordele, Georgia; one brother-in-law, Dr. Matthew Whitest of Cordele, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends, which includes a special nephew, Herbert "Lil T" Whittaker, III, and two   special friends, Mr. Eugene and Mrs. Danita Bell.