Our precious mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and special friend of many around Bay County and beyond went home on February 2, 2013, at the home of her daughter, Sharron. She was born in Tallahassee, FL December 10, 1924 and moved to Panama City in 1935. She married her best friend and husband of 69 years, Herbert T. Etheridge, Sr., who predeceased her to heaven in 2008.
Opal was predeceased, as well, by her parents Allie Mozelle Scott Corley and Jessie Rufus Corley, her brother Jessie (Toby) Corley, her sister Ora Joan Corley, her two sons, H. Thomas (Tom) Etheridge, Jr., Dr. George W. Etheridge, and her grand-daughter Michelle Shaw.
She was active in numerous civic, church and community activities. Many will recall that she was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church of Panama City, associate teacher of the Lily Pennington Sunday School Class, mentor to many young Christians; quite often presented the children's sermon on Sunday morning, Past President of the Panama City Garden Club and life member of NCFFGC and FFGC , District II Flower Show Judge and Vice President of that organization, Member of the FFGC Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judges, Past Master Judge and now Judge Emeritus in the FFGC, Member of the Panama City Women's Club, Public Affairs Dept., and many other local volunteer groups. She earned many, many top ribbons for her creative floral designs. She was also a master seamstress, designing and making many wedding dresses for loved ones and friends.
This precious lady is survived by 2 daughters, Martha Ann Shaw (Mack) of Columbia, TN and Sharron L. Etheridge of Panama City; two daughters-in-law, Dr. Sandra Etheridge Barkley (Robert), Panama City, FL and Dr. Carol Etheridge Caughey (Dick), Memphis, TN; 9 grand-children - Monica Shaw Graham (Darrell) of Columbia, TN, Jon Mark Shaw (Marie) of Murfreesboro, TN, L. Franklin McKay of Panama-City, FL, Sandra McKay of Panama City, FL, Dr. H. Thomas "Tom" Etheridge, III (Dr. LuAnn Rolly) of Corvallis, OR, Lee C. Etheridge of Adams, WI, Lisa Ruth Red (Charles) of Panama City, FL, G. Al Etheridge (Karen) of Atlanta, GA, Dr. Eric A. Etheridge (Dr. Lydia) of Adams, NJ. There are 20 great-grandchildren - Jason Brooks (Chrystyl Bostelman), Columbia, TN, Amber Brooks, Columbia, TN, Heather Brooks Lewis (Evan), Columbia, TN, Molly Red, Panama City, FL, Katy Red, Panama City, FL, Rosie Red, Panama City, FL, Charlie Red, Panama City, FL, Regan Red, Panama City, FL, Jacob Red, Panama City, FL, Kristin McKay, Panama City, FL, Klint McKay, Bonifay, FL, Haley Etheridge, Adams, WI, Logan Etheridge, Adams, WI, Charlize Etheridge, Adams, WI, Gavin Etheridge, Adams, WI, Zoe Opal Etheridge, Adams, NJ, Anne Etheridge, Atlanta, GA, George Etheridge, Atlanta, GA, Sarah L. McKay, Panama City, FL and Alison Rolly, Olympia, WA. There are also 3 great-great-grandchildren , Ramona Lewis, Columbia, TN, Hazel Lewis, Columbia, TN, and Braxton Brooks, Columbia, TN. Mrs. Etheridge is also survived by her sisters, Maggie Euzent and Mary Butzke (Edward), a brother, John Lamar Corley (Lana) and a sister-in-law Mary Bush Corley. Mrs. Etheridge is also blessed with many nieces, nephews and cousins whom she deeply treasured.
The family will visit with friends at First United Methodist Church Chapel on Monday February 4th from 10 to 11 AM, followed by a celebration of Mrs. Etheridge's life from 11 a.m. Entombment will follow at the Evergreen Memorial Mausoleum. Following the entombment, all Mrs. Etheridge's friends and family will enjoy a time of remembrance and fellowship dinner at the First United Methodist Trinity Center.
Honorary pall bearers will be the Lily Pennington Sunday School Class and the Panama City Garden Club.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the First United Methodist Church of Panama City Memorial Fund and/or the Global Outreach Haiti Burn Clinic Ti Tanyen, Haiti , USA address: P.O. Box 1, Tupelo, MS 38802.