Obituary of Gladys Estelle Coleman Browder Baldwin
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Gladys Estelle Coleman Browder Baldwin, 94, went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, her Savior, on May 11, 2008.
The funeral will be held at Corinth Baptist Church, New Ellenton, SC, on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. and burial will be at 4pm at St. Andrews Cemetery, Darien, GA. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave, SW, Aiken, SC.
She was born on February 27, 1914 in Brunswick, GA and was the daughter of William Emmett Coleman and Lillian V. Siau. Her grandparents were William Lindsey Coleman and Anna Mae Stephens, and Charles Siau and Mary Brockington. She had deep family roots in Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties, SC and Emmanuel, Glynn, and McIntosh Counties, GA. She had many distinguished ancestors, including John Brockington, who has been immortalized as the "British Officer" with Francis Marion in the famous "Sweet Potato Supper" portrait. She is also a direct descendant of William Screven, who formed the first Baptist Church in Charleston, SC in 1671, thus bringing the Baptist religion to the South. She was very proud of her heritage, but she was even prouder of her legacy.
She was married to the late Ray V. Browder, Sr. and the late Harold T. Baldwin. She is survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Tom and Ann Coleman Allen, Jacksonville, Florida; two sons and their wives, Ray "Sonny" V. and Georganne Browder, Jr., North Augusta, SC and Charles "Ed" and Malissa Browder, North Augusta, SC.; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Deidra and Joseph Chandler, Jackson, SC, Jeri and David Austin, Martinez, GA, Staci and Tony Britt, Aiken, SC, Allen and Rita Boudet, Claxton, GA, Marcel and Debbi Boudet, Columbia, SC, Bert and Kimberly Boudet, Cumming, GA, Tonya Browder, Edgefield, SC, Kevin and Jenny Browder, New Ellenton, SC, and Brian and Sara Browder, North Augusta, SC; twenty great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was a member of a number of societies, including the Order of the Eastern Star and the World War II Red Cross. She was also a faithful member of Corinth Baptist Church, New Ellenton, SC. Through these organizations and her travels across America, she met many people, made many friends, and touched many lives. She has left her family and friends to mourn her passing, but she will always live on in their hearts. She led by example and with her indomitable spirit, was an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Her external beauty was matched only by her internal radiance. Even during times of pain and sorrow, her smile always glowed and her eyes always sparkled. She was a true testimony to her faith and was a source of great comfort and encouragement. Though she was always ready to offer words of advice and guidance, she accepted people for who they were and never tried to change them. She was a long-time resident of Darien, Georgia, before moving to New Ellenton, South Carolina in 1952. She yearned to return to her beloved Darien and that is where she will be laid to rest in St. Andrews Cemetery next to her adored husband, Ray. May she sleep in peace for all eternity in the arms of her blessed Jesus.
Active pallbearers will be Kevin Browder, Brian Browder, Allen Boudet, Tony Britt, Glenn Zimmerman, and Tim Thomas. Honorary pallbearers are John C. Seymour and William Seymour. Memorials may be made to Corinth Baptist Church, New Ellenton, SC.