Funeral services for Phoebe Ella Deen Haskins, 85, of Whigham, are at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the Whigham United Methodist Church, Whigham. Rev. Christy Brandy and Rev. David Hibberts will officiate. Interment will be in Reedy Branch Baptist Church Cemetery, Broxton at 4:00 p.m. Mrs. Haskins passed away at the home of her daughter in Whigham on Monday, January 14, 2019.
Active pallbearers will be her nephews, Marcus Ricketson, Ricky Ricketson, Ottis Lee Deen, Jr., Johnny Cecil Newell, Darren Shrouder, her great-nephew, Daniel Waldron and her brother-in-law, Cecil Newell. Honorary pallbearers will be her nieces, Judy Carter, Darlene Minchew, Jenny Waldron, Katrina Grantham, Benita Hulsey and Debbie Myers.
Mrs. Haskins was born on April 16, 1933, in Broxton to the late George Deen and Fannie Louise Harkleroad Deen. She taught in the public school system for 33 years. The majority of her career was spent at Broxton High School teaching the life skills of sewing (garment design and construction) and other needle crafts, cooking and nutrition, and family finance and budgeting. She helped to run and organize the school-based community “canning” plant for food preservation for community families from the summer harvests of fresh vegetables. Phoebe was an extremely accomplished seamstress and volunteered for the South Georgia Ballet for 12 years, assisting in the design and construction of the Nutcracker costume inventory and specialty costumes for spring ballet performances. She was a lifetime member of the Reedy Branch Baptist Church in Broxton, Georgia, and a devoted attendee and supporter of the Whigham United Methodist Church for the past 25 years.
Survivors include: daughter and son-in-law, Lou and Barry Strickland of Whigham; grandchildren, Leigh Anne Strickland (Shane Hutton) of Nashville, Tenn., Lauren Martone (James) of Springfield, Tenn., Joseph Barry Strickland of New York, NY; sisters, Barbara Chesnut (Gene) Broxton, Elizabeth Roberts (Larry) of Broxton; sister-in-law, Ellen Deen of Broxton; and extended family.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; a brother, Ottis Lee Deen; sisters, Colleen Ricketson, Jenny Lynn Deen; and a brother-in-law, J. M. Ricketson.
Memorials may be made in Mrs. Haskins’ memory to: Whigham United Methodist Church, Backpack Buddies, Post Office Box 4, Whigham, GA 39897; or Kindred Hospice, Patient Need Fund, 432 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA, 39819.
The family will receive friends at the Fellowship Hall of Whigham United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 19, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.