W. Ronnie Waters

WILLIAM RONNIE WATERS

SYLVANIA, GEORGIA

William Ronnie Waters, age 79, of Sylvania, GA, widower of Shirley Waters, passed away on Friday morning, January 20, 2023.

Ronnie was born in Jenkins County on December 23, 1943, to the late couple, Ira John Waters and Mary Madge Bassett Waters. Raised on his family's dairy farm, Ronnie has lived in Screven County all his life. Ronnie enjoyed hunting with his beagles and socializing at the hunting club. Since the 1960s, Ronnie has been associated with the funeral business and helping families with the loss of their loved ones. He dedicated his life to serving grieving families with care, honor, and sympathy. Ronnie attended certificate courses in management and supervision at Georgia Southern University. He served on the Screven County School Board for 13 years and was deputy coroner for 24 years.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Ira & Madge Waters, his loving wife of 53 years, Shirley Burke Waters; sister, Bernice W. Griner; brother, Julian C. Waters; and daughter-in-law, Marie Waters.

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Troy & Peggy Waters, Chris & Kristal Waters, Darrick Waters; sister and brother-in-law, Sarah & Rupert Aaron; grandchildren, Ansley and her fiancé Jaycob Schweiger, Addyson Waters and Aidan Waters; step-grandchildren, Hannah Sammons (Brooks), Billy Lariscy III (Hannah), Elizabeth Newsome, Amber Shaw and Paige Hall; step-great-grandchildren, Abigail Sammons, Billy Lariscy IV, Brookes Newsome, Layla Newsome, Briley Gacke and Bryatt Gacke; his niece, Kay Strickland; and his dear friend, Minnie Lee Benton.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home.

Rev. Bill Kent will officiate the funeral service that will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at the Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home Chapel. Interment at Screven County Memorial Cemetery will follow, officiated by Rev. Dent Wiggins.

Pallbearers: Glynn “Rooster” Bassett, Jr, William Thomas, Larry Aaron, Ray Waters, Will Wade, Tucker Thomas

Honorary Pallbearers: David Bragg, Thomas Hughes, Bob McBride, Butch Beasley, Barry “Bird Dog” Waters, Bill Forehand, Bob Good, Phil Graham, Ed Thompson

If you would like to make donations instead of flowers, please make them to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org.