Vernell Rich

Vernell Hatton Rich, 90, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at her residence after a long illness. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Dean officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Zion Church Cemetery with Wesley Adams, Brad Lott, Adam Shifflett, Stanley Turnage, Jeffrey Turnage, and Christopher Gordon serving as active pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2015 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com . She was born January 9, 1925 in Sumatra, Florida, the daughter of Joseph Hatton and Marjorie Parish Hatton. She was united in marriage to Harry Rich on April 24, 1943 in Bainbridge, GA. He preceded her in death on January 26, 1995. They were married for over 51 blissful years. Mrs. Rich was her high school class valedictorian, a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a loving wife and the mother of seven children who provided her with home care around the clock throughout her long illness. Survivors include her children and their spouses, Helen (Daniel) Gordon, Colonial Heights, VA, Harry Rich Jr. (Sharon), Bainbridge, GA, Ann (Larry) Turnage, Dothan, AL, Ruth (John) Eakin, Quincy, FL, Shirley (Wayne) Adams, Thomasville, GA, Wynell (Lloyd) Barwick, North Charleston, SC, and Shelia Rich, Bainbridge, GA.; ten loving grandchildren, Candace (Judge) Mellichampe, Christopher (Stephanie) Gordon, Victoria Harrell, Nicole (Brad) Lott, Tina (Adam) Shifflett, Stanley (Meloney) Turnage, Jeffrey (Barbara) Turnage, Ronald (Alexandra) Turnage, Kirby Eakin and Wesley Adams; nineteen great-grandchildren, Jordan (Scott) Bailey, Riley, Christopher, and Aiden Gordon, McKynleigh Harrell, Bradleigh and Wyleigh Grace Lott, Madison and Cameron Shifflett, Alan, Alyssa, Ryan and Cory Turnage, Nicholas and Emily Turnage, Julia and Diana Turnage, and Anthony and Kameron Adams and one great-great grandchild, Beau Dylan Bailey; two brothers, Joseph Hatton (Grace), Panama City, FL and Jesse Reginald Hatton (Nell), Donalsonville, GA. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Hatton and a brother John Robert Hatton.