Essie Thelma Walker Wells

Essie Thelma Walker Walker Wells, 102, of Tifton went to her heavenly home on Friday evening, May 31, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Essie Wells, affectionately known as “Granny Frog”, was born on December 2, 1921 to Abram Perry “A. P.” and Ada Susie Smith Walker. She was born and raised in the cotton mill village of Tifton, Georgia. She lived all 102 years of her blessed life in Tifton, and her absence will surely be felt. She loved Jesus and often joked that God must have forgotten about her once she surpassed her goal of living 100 years. Mrs. Wells attended The Emmanuel School during her youth. Mrs. Wells dedicated several years of her life to her work at Tifton Cotton Mills but found her true joy being with her family. Her proudest accomplishment was being a devoted member of Carpenter Road Church of God.

Funeral services will be held  Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Charles Walker and Rev. Neil DuBose officiating and Mark Walker and Kenna Martin delivering eulogies. Interment will follow at Oakridge Cemetery where she will be buried by JW Wells. The family will receive friends on Monday, June 3, 2024 from 5:00 to

7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

David Walker, Jake Wells, Bo Wells, John Norris, Jordan Walker, Marc Walker and Brandon Martin will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Wayne Peacock, Felton Peacock, Larry Walker, Darrell Walker, Mike Walker, Steve Walker, Will Walker, John Walker, Walker DuBose, Jase Wheeler, Kyle Jones and Brent Jones.

She leaves to cherish her legacy, one daughter, Jerri Jean Walker Barnes of Sumter, SC,

three sons, Aubrey Eugene “Butch” Walker and Kenneth Dale Walker of Tifton, and Gary Thomas Wells (Stacy) of Macon, GA.

She was also loved by her former daughters-in-law, Lisa Dudley Walker Perry (Mark), Regenia Willis Wells, and Jean Wells Wnek (Henry). She had one step daughter, Leila Fisher of Griffin, GA. She loved her fourteen grandchildren who all were her favorite “tadpoles”, Julie Michelle Barnes DuBose (Neil), Aubrey Eugene Walker, Jr. , Marcus Abram Walker, David Wayne Walker (Nikki), John Norris (Dawn), Jennifer Jaye Chaney Spradley (Michael), Melana Jo Chaney Bass(David), Marion Chadwick Wells, Blaine Patrick “Bo” Wells (Leslie), Jacob Perry Wells (Darah), Amber Dale Walker, Kenna Colleen Walker Martin(Brandon), Kyle David Jones, and Brent Michael Jones. 

Her legacy will continue through her twenty-one great-grandchildren: Drew Norris(Nikki), Joshua Norris(Lauren), Drew Hawkins(Maggie), Jaci Alexandria Hawkins, Jordan David Walker, William Marcus Walker, John Abram Walker, Sydney Annabelle Parson , Hayley Michelle DuBose, Walker McNeil DuBose, Keeli Marie Wells, Bella Kate Bass, Owen Hunter Wells , Branson Wells, Jase Raylan Wheeler, Ryder Ashton Wells, Ransom Gray Wells, Gray Perry Wells, Everleigh Kate Martin, Camilla Brynn Martin, and Hank Ryan Wells.

Also, six great-great grandchildren: Logan Norris, Aliya Norris, Landon Norris, Conner Norris, Lily Rae Hawkins, and Scott Hawkins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings: Bessie Lee Walker Peacock Crown (Gene), Robert A. Walker, William Ralph Walker, twins Aubrey Walker (Ethel), and Audrey Walker Pritchett (Marion “Bud”), Charles Walker(Pat), and Peggy Walker Boyd, her first husband, John A. Walker, her precious husband, JW Wells, her wonderful son, Ray Laverne Wells, son-in-law, Ernest Larry Barnes, daughter-in-law, Linda Kaye Walker, and grandson, Aubrey Eugene Walker, Jr.

She was a beloved mother, aunt, sister, Granny Frog, and friend. She loved her family and always wanted them close. She loved to cook and her home was always open to anyone who needed her. She worked several jobs in her lifetime, but her favorite was being a homemaker and taking care of her family. Her corner of Tifton at 902 East 22nd Street, will always fill our hearts and minds with fond memories. All the homecooked Sunday dinners, weekday lunches, Thanksgivings, Christmases, Georgia football games, Atlanta Braves games, and her favorite “Young and the Restless” will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to attend. Her generous nature made her a blessing to not just her family, but to her extended family and friends as well. To know her was to love her, and she always made sure she let you know that she “loved you more”. She will be dearly missed and we know when she reached glory she exclaimed “eat your heart out Miss America!”