A funeral service will be held Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. at Thomaston First United Methodist Church, with visitation in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 2 p.m. Rev. Andy Cunningham will officiate, and burial will follow at Southview Cemetery. Services will be live streamed to the Fletcher-Day Funeral Home Facebook page.
Sue was born July 4, 1932, in Thomaston, GA, to the late Tommie Byrd Mauldin Gordy and Oscar Leonard Gordy. Upon graduating from high school, Sue was accepted to Piedmont University College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Demorest, GA, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
In 1950, while home from the University, Sue met Harvel Estes, who had recently moved to Thomaston for his job with the Georgia State Patrol. The two fell in love and were married in 1952. After a honeymoon in Daytona Beach, FL, Sue went to the University of Georgia in Athens, where she attended the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing and earned both a Health Administration degree, which qualified her to teach fellow nurses, as well as an Administrator's license. Afterward, Sue returned to Thomaston, GA, where she began her career as a Registered Nurse for Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC). Tireless in her work ethic and driven to provide the highest quality care possible wherever she was needed at URMC, Sue served as a vital member of the nursing team for the Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Department, the Maternity Center, and other departments. Although Sue enjoyed all aspects of hospital nursing, she had a special compassion for the elderly and found her true calling when she was offered a position at Providence Nursing Home.
In 1975, she joined Riverside Health and Rehab in Thomaston, GA, where she served as Director of Nurses for several years before becoming the Administrator. During her 38-year tenure at Riverside Health and Rehab, Sue received several prestigious awards and recognitions for her exceptional care, including Administrator of the Year for the state of Georgia. However, the thing she was most proud of was that Riverside was consistently honored as the best nursing care facility in all of Georgia year after year. Sue reluctantly left the staff and patients she loved so dearly at Riverside Health and Rehab when she retired at age 81 on December 6, 2013.
After retiring, Sue enjoyed spending time with her husband and family, and doting on her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephew. A consummate care-giver, Sue often sent thoughtful and encouraging cards to loved ones, not only for their birthdays, but for Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas and just because. She enjoyed cooking, dining out, and visiting people, and would often take people meals or gift cards to favorite restaurants. Sue was also an accomplished gardener, who relished growing a variety of flowers at home and sharing fresh cuttings with friends.
Sue was a longtime member of Thomaston First United Methodist Church, which she and Harvel attended throughout their seven decades of marriage. Last year, the pair celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 21, 2022. Throughout their lifetime together, Sue and Harvel enjoyed traveling and took many cruises and vacations to destinations throughout the United States and world, and often in the company of friends. The two shared a special love for Daytona Beach, Fla. and would return there each year for much of their married life. In 1957, they welcomed a daughter, Rhonda, who quickly became their favorite traveling companion.
Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Harvel; her parents Tommie Byrd Mauldin Gordy and Oscar Leonard Gordy; her maternal grandparents, Byrdie Emma Thompson Mauldin and Thomas Hunt Mauldin; her paternal grandparents, Martha Susie Braddy Gordy and Oscar Gnome Gordy; her aunt, Bessilu Mauldin; and her niece, Pam Scott.
She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda, and her husband, John; her granddaughter, Jennifer Moseley; her granddaughter, Ashley Migliaccio and her husband, Mike; her great-grandsons, Jonah Ryan and Eli Michael; and her sister Ann Vickers and brother-in-law, Ollie; her nephew Tyre Scott; and great niece Megan, and her husband, Patrick.
The Moseley and Vickers family would like to thank everyone who called, sent cards, and visited Sue throughout her illness the past few months. The family would also like to thank Dr. Benjamin Williams and the staff at Upson Regional Medical Center and Amedisys Home Health Care, for their kind and compassionate care. Additionally, the family wishes to thank the following home healthcare professionals: Norma Blackwell, Carrie Edwards, Janet Raines, Terlisha Raines, and Lesley Howell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Thomaston First United Methodist Church, Shriners Children's Hospital, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
