Paula Joyce (Brannen) Padgett

Ms. Paula Joyce Brannen Padgett, 61, of Blackshear, passed away Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, at the Satilla Hospice House in Waycross.

Born in Jesup, GA on July 1, 1964, she was a graduate of Long County High School and had lived most of her adult life in Pierce County.  Paula loved to work in her flower garden in her spare time.  She enjoyed teaching and nurturing her headstart students, but her greatest joy was her family, to which she was always there to help.

She was preceded in death by a niece, Brittny Gordon.   

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Keshia and Stefan Wood of Blackshear; 3 brothers and sisters-in-law, David (Launa) Hall of Waycross, Bubba (Debra) Gordon of Blackshear, and Sam (Rebecca) Gordon of Screven; 2 granddaughters, Zoey and Allie Wood; nieces and nephews, Brooke (John) Lupinek, Kaitlyn (Andrew) Steedley, Sarah Gordon, Molly Gordon, Luke (Trinity) Waters, Marie (Luke) Evans, Brandon (April) Hall, Madison Gordon, III, and Megan Sirmons; a very special friend, Cheryl Lee of Waycross; her canine daughter, Maggie; and several great nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Ms. Padgett will be held Wednesday morning, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel

The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening, January 13, 2026, from 6 until 8 o’clock. 

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Memorials made be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Padgett family during this time.

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