Mamie Lou Gurley Addison

“….God sees when all footsteps falter; when the path has grown too steep.  Then He touches the weary eyelids and gives His daughter sleep, and so it was….”  

On September 18 in the year of 1936, Mamie Lou Gurley Addison, affectionately known as “Sista” was born in Grady County GA to the late John “Nig” Gurley and the late Mattie McCord Gurley. Sharing in the joy of this newborn baby girl was none other than, her grandmother, Mozell “My-My” Gurley.   Sista was the oldest of three girls and the fourth of fourteen children born to this union.  Eight brothers preceded her in death, John “Nuney”, Odell “P-nie”, Freddie, James, Arthur Lee, Eddie Lee, Nathan, and Harry.

Mamie Lou “Sista” confessed Christ at an early age and was a member of the Saint Luke Primitive Baptist Church in Reno Ga.  She later moved and became a member of the  Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in Whigham GA under the leadership of Reverend U.H. Dunehoe.  She also served under the leadership of Reverend James Youmas, Reverend C.J. Henry and currently Reverend Harry Mitchell Jr.    She was devoted to her church, serving in many capacities. From singing in the choir to church announcer and  serving as Assistant Secretary of Sunday School.  She served as a Deaconess for many years until her health began to fail.  She also served as the Assistant Secretary of the East Bound Ushers Union and was a very faithful attendant of the New Grady Association and all its functions.  Her formal education was received at the New Hope School in Reno GA with Mr. Ira Parramore serving as principal. 

Mamie Lou was united in Holy Matrimony on May 18, 1956, to the late Deacon David Addison Sr., who preceded her in death on August 2, 2004, with 48 years of marriage. This union was blessed with six children.  One son, Gary Bernard, preceded her in death on September 8, 2021, and one grandson, Carlos Jontavian “Hot Rock” Addison, on July 29, 1997. 

On Tuesday, November 30, 2021 -- Mama, Grandma, Sista, Mamie Lou, Auntie  - peacefully transitioned from labor to reward surrounded by her youngest son, Tyrone, at Grady General Hospital. Her work here on this Earth was done.

She leaves to cherish her memories and legacy to her children, Vivian Louise (Ralph) Harris, David “Bobo” Addison, Leon (Carolyn) Addison, Catherine Addison, and Tyrone “Tiger” Addison, all of Whigham GA and a bonus daughter Bobbie Marcus. 

Grandchildren: LaShonda Harrison, Fannie Mae Henderson,  Yashika Curtis, Daviyette Addison, De’Angelo Addison (Hanna), Tammy Anderson, Latisha Evonne Addison, Gary B. Addison Jr. (Lateisha); Gary Addison III, Lenease Addison, Brianna Addison, Tasha Sanders (George Stanford) , Dasha Addison, Kaniya Addison, Yolanda Tucker (Minister Frank), Kendrick Harris (Latasha), Bridgett Bell (Coleman), and a host of Great Grandchildren.

Brothers:  O.C. Gurley, Billy Gurley (Helen), Charlie Gurley (Betty), and a bonus brother, James Thomas (Geraldine);  Sisters:  Betty Lurry (Lucious), and Tommie Copeland (Jerry); Sisters in Law:  Laura Mae Gurley, Lois Gurley, Mary Alice Gurley, Betty Gurley, Rosa Gurley, Elizabeth Smith, Helen Davis Hayes, and Emmaline Gurley. One brother-in-law Deacon Joe Addison

She also leaves to cherish her memories a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children and grandchildren, many friends, her devoted caregivers:  Betty Lurry, sister; granddaughter Lashonda Harrison, great granddaughters:  Zyon and Trinity Greene; devoted friends, Mother Maggie Sherman, Dorothy Adams, Lorene Freeman, Bevelyn Ogden and Diane Smith.

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