CORDELE — Mrs. Leola “Lola” Grant Hatcher, age 85, passed away on Thursday evening, Dec. 22, 2016, at Crisp Regional Nursing Home in Cordele.

Services are planned for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, from the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., with Minister Linda Osborne officiating. Burial will follow in Smithville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m. at Hancock Funeral Home.

Born Aug. 19, 1931. in Rayville, La., she was the daughter of the late Dr. William Baldwyn Grant Sr. and Melva Croxton Grant.

Mrs. Hatcher was a 1949 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, but was unable to obtain a license to practice, as she was only 18 years of age at the time. She returned to college later in life, following the death of her husband in 1975. She attended Albany State College and graduated from Georgia Southwestern College.

She worked as a public school educator. She was a teachers’ aide from 1979 until 1984, then taught as a primary teacher for three years and as an adult education teacher for two years. She also worked several years as a buyer for Grant’s in Americus, and as a seamstress at Manhattan Shirt factory.

Mrs. Hatcher was a published author, having written for most of the area newspapers and for Children’s Highlights Magazine. She loved studying genealogy and was a devoted Biblical scholar.

She was a member of Pinecrest Baptist Church in Cordele.

Mrs. Hatcher was preceded in death by her husband, Alva Richard Hatcher Sr.; by one son, Richard Hatcher; and by one daughter, Larla French.

Survivors include two sons: Ray Hatcher of Albany, and Lee Hatcher of Cordele; two daughters: Alice Slappey (Leon) of Cordele, and Nancy Rumph (Ralph Jr.) of Albany; a daughter-in-law, Gail Hatcher of Zephyrhills, Fla.; a son-in-law, Vince French of Charleston, S.C.; one brother, William B. “Bill” Grant Jr. (Freda) of Valdosta; a sister-in-law, Joann Sparling of Ellenton, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, PO Box 140800, Nashville TN 37214-0800, or online at www.gideons.org

To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com

Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mrs. Leola “Lola” Grant Hatcher.