Mrs. Retha Mae Porter was born in Ludowici, Georgia on August 4, 1950 to Ms. Rita Boyd and Mr. Randolph Cardwell. She was the oldest of seven siblings including Maridene Jones, Anita R. Campbell, Lamar Bell, Nathan Bell, Berkley Felmer Bell, and Richard Bell. Retha Mae was a lively child, filled with energy, spunk, and humor. She was raised in the Broadlevel community of Ludowici with her cousins Regina, Pat, Jerome and Arthur, who became like sisters and brothers. The close knit cousins found themselves in childhood mischief including bursting the hearts out of their grandparent's watermelons and eating them in bliss under the Georgia sun. Retha Mae knew her way around a pair of mixers and a cake bowl, delighting herself and others with delicious cakes and pies...sour cream pound cake, red velvet, lemon meringue, sweet potato, chocolate delight, the list goes on and on. Not only was she an excellent baker, but she was a great cook and many ministers, friends, and family members sat at her finely adorned dining room table and enjoyed delectable meals. She loved setting the table with fine china, silverware, and linen, even for a meal of black-eyed peas and fried chicken. She warmed hearts and stomachs with her culinary gift. Whether she was known as Retha Mae, Sis. Retha, God Mommy, the Diva, the Cake Lady, or Grannysugar, she reveled in her ability to dazzle the taste buds of those she loved. Retha Mae was a snazzy dresser with sky scrapper high heels and beautiful wide-brimmed church hats, that allowed her to "peep" from underneath, as she would say. Retha Mae was a loyal friend, cultivating and nurturing long standing friendships spanning from her hometown of Ludowici and surrounding areas to St. Mary's, GA; Jacksonville, FL; North Carolina; and Delaware, where she lived. Retha Mae's relationship with God was of great importance, and throughout her life, she remained connected and committed to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Ludowici, GA; Wheeler Street Church of God, St. Marys, GA; and St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Glennville, GA. Strength and determination were her beauty, and she fought eight long, hard years against sickness. She surrendered into the loving hands of God on Monday, November 23, 2020 and upon the streets of gold, she received her heavenly wings. She joyfully rejoined friends and family members preceding her in death, including both her parents and her dearly missed daughter, Tracy Foreman. Until that great getting up morning, she leaves to cherish her loving memory: husband Albert Porter; children Martesia Lavant, Monique Porter-Davis, Robert Porter, William Porter, Annette Thompson, and Raymond Porter; grandchildren Courtney Foreman (Quincey Carnegia, Jr.) and Demetrius Foreman (Neya Farris); great grandchildren Bryson Stout, Cameron Foreman, Riley Foreman, twin boys Aiyden and Ashton Foreman, and Alayna Brooks (bonus great granddaughter); goddaughters Shirley Posey, Kalia Meuleman, and Melanie Hamilton; and a host of family and friends who will miss her dearly.
Services 4 Dec
Visitation 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM The Dorchester Funeral Home
7842 East Oglethorpe Hwy
Midway, GA 31320 5 Dec
Funeral Service 02:00 PM Live Oak Chuch of God
296 Live Oak Church Road
Hinesville, GA 31313