Wilda Terrell Cleveland

07/30/1920 - 04/11/2024

Obituary For Wilda Terrell Cleveland

The funeral services for the late Mrs. Wilda T. Cleveland, who departed this life on Thursday, April 11, 2024, will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. from the Greater St. Luke Baptist Church in Ashburn, Georgia. Reverend Samuel Gaines, Pastor, will deliver the Eulogy. Burial will follow in the Westview Memorial Cemetery in Ashburn, Georgia. Services may be viewed Facebook Live from the “Shipps Funeral Home” Facebook page or by clicking the Video Stream link on this site's Home Page.

Mrs. Wilda Terrell Cleveland was born July 30, 1920 in Rebecca, Georgia to the parentage of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter and Mary Black Terrell. She was one of twelve children. All have preceded her in death.

Mrs. Cleveland was educated in the Turner County Public School System at that time. She attended Albany State College (now University) in Albany, Georgia and received her B.S. Degree. Her career in education began in 1942 in her hometown of Rebecca, Georgia, where she started teaching in churches, such as Piney Grove, St. Luke, and Shaw. Later in life, she transferred to Ashburn, Georgia and taught at Eureka High and Elementary and at Sycamore Elementary until she retired in 1984.

Mother Cleveland had great faith in the Lord and joined the St. Luke Baptist Church in Rebecca, Georgia, under the leadership of the late Reverend L. W. Whipple, at an early age. She loved going to Union and Association Meetings. She taught Sunday School at Greater St. Luke Baptist Church for many, years and she was an inspiration to all. She served as Mission Auxiliary President, a member of the Pastor’s Aide Club, taught Youth Auxiliary Programs, and served as Mother of the Church.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. Leroy Cleveland, Sr. This union was blessed with several children.

These loving, wise, caring eyes that have seen and witnessed many things for over 103 years closed to Eternal Rest on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her family. Her parents, her siblings, her husband, a son, Leroy Cleveland, Jr., and two daughters, Rachel Cleveland, Verdine Cushion, have all preceded her in death.

Mother Cleveland leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Brooksie Ponder of Albany, GA, Betty Brown, Sarah Smith, both of Ashburn, Georgia; ten grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, nineteen great great grandchildren; a son-in-law, Samuel Brown; a special great niece and nephew that she loved as grandchildren, Afra Brown and Sameeh F. Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.