Maudie L. Earnest

Mrs. Earnest slipped peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on April 12, 2025, surrounded by the quiet care of loving hands at Self Nursing Home in Hueytown, AL.

She was born at home on her parents’ farm in Baker County, Georgia on October 12, 1930, to William and Clara Norman. In her senior year of high school, she met the love of her life at a church carnival. Within three months, she and Gans Earnest were married. They shared 67 wonderful years together until his passing in 2016.

While raising their six children, Maudie served faithfully as both a pastor’s wife and principal’s wife. Together, she and Gans ministered to eight churches throughout South Georgia and seven churches in Florida. Maudie adjusted to having to move their family numerous times within their early married years to accommodate for Gans to finish his education and seminary. Then, in June 1970, they moved to Okeechobee with four of their six children. Once the two eldest adult daughters realized their parents had quickly connected with the people of the Okeechobee community, they knew this would be where their parents would settle, and soon joined the rest of the family.

Maudie was a talented seamstress and owner of L and C House of Fabrics in Okeechobee for many years. Her other passion was floral arranging. She eventually purchased a small, local flower shop and renamed it Maudie’s Flowers. A few years later, she expanded the business to Maudie’s Flowers and Bridal Boutique, offering the only one-stop bridal and wedding shop nearly 20 years. In its last five years, the business included the Cake Boutique and Catering Service. During that time, she also opened and operated a small shoe store, The Shoe Shack, for a few years.

In 1993 Maudie would move their home for the first time in 23 years, as she and Gans accepted a full-time pastor position at a church in Donalsonville, Georgia. Then, in 2005, they decided to retire and moved back to Okeechobee. It did not take Maudie long to reacquaint herself in the community, but especially within First Baptist Okeechobee. She volunteered in many areas but mostly in the Mission House and Food Pantry each week, as a greeter for the early service, “Church at the ROC,” an active member in her beloved Sunday School class, as well as the Elderberry and Jetsetter Ministries. She also volunteered as a Pink Lady at Raulerson Hospital, and at the Okeechobee Pregnancy Resource Center.

If you knew Maudie, you likely knew one of her best talents was baking pound cakes, Coca-Cola cakes, buttermilk pies; and frying enough okra to keep her family from fighting over it. She received so much joy to participate in the annual First Baptist Youth Chicken Dinner and Dessert Auction, especially to see how much her pound cake could raise.

But her most precious gift was praying for and serving others. She taught her children the importance of praying for each family member and of listening when others needed prayers. In her mind, not much couldn't be solved with a slice of pound cake and a heartfelt conversation with Jesus. She loved old-fashioned gospel hymns, especially those by the Gaither Brothers.

In 2021, she was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Later that year, according to her wishes, she moved to Alabama and became a resident in the nursing home, where she was under the compassionate care and loving oversight of her daughter-in-law, Norma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Willie Tatum and Hayward Norman, sisters, Mary Tatum Taylor and Yvonne Norman, husband Gans Earnest, sons Mike and David Earnest, son-in-law Bill Sherman, great-grandchildren R.C. Mattson, and Diedra Dunson.

She is survived by daughters Deloris Sherman, Kathy Parkerson, and Lane (Jamie) Gamiotea; son Tim (Norma) Earnest; grandchildren Lisa (Bert) Sherman Harris, Chris Sherman, Carla Sherman Santangelo, Chris Stanford, Gail (Paul) Sherman Chaulk, Paige Sherman, Joanna Sherman, Shannon (Troy) Jenkins Segree, Suzette (Kevin) Jenkins Bellflower, Sara (Mike) Parkerson Corwin, Matt Parkerson, Jennifer Lowe Blackshell, Ashley Earnest, Jordan (William) Earnest Rose, Alex (Jared) Earnest Feltman, Cierra Earnest, Macy (Michael) Gamiotea Reeves, and Gracie Gamiotea; twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate her life and legacy will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 2:00 PM, at First Baptist Okeechobee, 401 SW 4th Street, officiated by Pastor Mark McCarter. A private graveside service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery a later date, where she will be laid to rest with her husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Bereavement Ministry, Missionary House and Food Pantry, or Youth Ministry; Rock Solid Christian Academy; or the Okeechobee Pregnancy Resource Center.

Local arrangements are entrusted to the direction and care of Buxton & Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.