Mrs. Bertha Doles

Mrs. Bertha Freeman Doles, affectionately known as "Shoney" or Bert" passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at Springfield Baptist Church with Rev. Calvin Hatcher officiating. Interment was held in Woodlawn Cemetery.

She was born June 8, 1929 in Washington County, Sandersville, Georgia to the parentage of the late Mrs. Laura O’Hair Freeman and Mr. Isadore Freeman. She was the youngest of five siblings and was preceded in death by all four siblings: Mary, Lewis, Dawn and Bob.

Her dad being a farmer/sharecropper, moved the family from Washington County to Summertown, Georgia in Emanuel County.

At An early age, she was baptized by Rev. L.C. Sapp at McKinney’s Pond in Midville, Georgia. She was a faithful and active member. Later, she would return to Sandersville, Georgia and joined Springfield Baptist Church where her grandfather, Mr. Abram O’Hair was one of the founding trustees. She served faithfully as a Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Teacher of the Beginners Class.

Mrs. Doles enjoyed singing and was a member of the church choir. She loved God and visited many churches. When she was selected to be the president (First Woman) of the Rountree Island Baptist Church Independent Benevolent Society of Georgia Number 1, she would travel back and fourth.

Ones she moved to Sandersville, she attended T.J. Elder High School. She furthered her education at Savannah State College and Georgia College.

Her father passed away while she was home visiting from college. After his passing she wanted to seek a better life, and with the help and advice from relatives, she relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York. While there she worked as a Health Technician/Clerk at the Hudson Valley State Hospital. She was chosen to work with the fireman doing fire drills. While living in Poughkeepsie, she met and married the late Mr. Jackson Doles. This union was blessed with one daughter, Ms. Beretha Ann Doles.

A beautiful smile and a style of her own, she loved putting on her Sunday best. She was a lovely lady with a sweet, kind and compassionate spirit. She loved cats and dogs as she said her father had a gift of taking care of sick animals. Her dogs were “Hannah” and Snow.” In her later years, she started taking care of cats. Her cats were named “Spottedcoi,” “Tee,” “Graybee” and Nibbles.

With a hearty appetite for food, she enjoyed cooking and loved getting fruits and vegetables from her Uncle C.R. and others. Most of all she loved her family and attending the family reunions. She loved sewing, flea markets, gardening and being outside. She had a good sense of humor and had lots of stories to share.

She moved back to Sandersville, Georgia, and was employed by the Washington County Board of Education as a substitute teacher and a paraprofessional and worked at several schools including Davisboro Academy, DD Crawford and TJ Elder Elementary.

As one stated, she had an unselfish dedication to molding the lives of young minds. She has cared for and touched the lives of many.

Mrs. Doles leaves to cherish her memories as a beloved mother, to her loving daughter and caregiver: Ms. Beretha A. Doles, Augusta, Georgia; devoted niece: Mrs. Elizabeth (Lewis) Stewart, Atlantic Beach, Florida; sister-in-law: Ms. Juanita Freeman; goddaughter: Ms. Essie Denoms; Lawrence, Watkins, Wadley, Cobb, Doles, Jacobs, Smith, Freeman and Williams families; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, other relatives and friends.

M. C. Smith Funeral Home in charge.