Lucille (Forrest) Ponder

Lucille Forrest Ponder was born in Camilla, Georgia on March 26, 1923, to William Phillip Forrest, Sr., and Sylvia Forrest. She departed this life on August 26, 2022. She was the eighth of eleven children. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to Clifford Ponder. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three sisters, Cassie Hicks, Daisy Gordon, and Fannie Stewart; and seven brothers, Perry Sr., Oliver, Love, Lonnie, Howard, King, and William Forrest.

Mother Ponder accepted Christ as her personal savior as a young child and joined The Greater New Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Cairo, Georgia, where she served in the Senior Ushers’ Ministry for many years. She was a faithful member who loved her church, pastor, and members. For several years during the church and pastor’s anniversary, Mother Ponder was the designated person to present the pastor’s gift and give words of appreciation. She was very dedicated to her assignment and always did a phenomenal job. She was a cornerstone member of Greater New Corinth, where she served, until her health declined.

Mother Ponder was educated in the Public Schools of Grady County. Upon marriage to Clifford Ponder, they moved to Albany, Georgia,
where she was employed at Bob’s Candy Company, until her husband’s demise. Mother Ponder relocated back to Cairo, Georgia, and became the first Black uniformed school crossing guard for the Grady County Board of Education. To the community on ninth street, where she lived, she was fondly known as “Neighbor.” She was friendly to the children and everyone she met. She loved roses and had a green thumb for her plants and flowers, and her beautiful yard was the evidence. She was a caregiver to her mother, father, two brothers, and two sisters.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her nephew, who she raised as a son, Quinton Forrest of Cairo, GA, and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins, and other friends. She was a loving great-aunt/grandmother.

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