Gladys Lavonia Dempsey

Gladys Lavonia Mullis Dempsey, 88, received her angel wings and joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 4, 2018.

Gladys was born on February 3, 1930 in Dodge County, Georgia. She attended public schools in Dodge and Bleckley County. Gladys moved to Warner Robins, began her career at Robins Air Force Base in 1952 as a telephone operator, and retired in 1976. She was a devoted and loving wife to her husband, and she loved and cared for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with a love and kindness that truly was a gift from God. Gladys’ passion had always been singing. She started singing around 1945 in Dublin, Georgia. A radio station featured her and her girlfriend every week. She has performed with some of the most well known musicians and bands in Georgia. Among them were Uncle Ned & the Hayloft Jamboree, Joe & Frank Malloy, Deelee & Fonzee Gray & the Rhythm Ramblers, Jimmy Harris, Al Byrd & the Dreamers, Al Everidge, Ral Melton, Tommy Harrelson, Glen Watkins, Billy Puckett and every other band around Georgia that was considered to be the Top of the line country. Gladys was considered Georgia’s first lady of country music and in 2009, she was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. She had a joy and appreciation of life and she truly enjoyed living, even when her health was failing. She was an 18-year breast cancer survivor and had a very personal and lifelong relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

She was preceded her in death by her parents, Joseph Bunyon Mullis and Ina Mae Dykes Mullis; husband, James “Speck” Brantley; Husband, John W. “Bo” Dempsey, Jr.; sisters, Winnie Gertrude Giddens Selph and Grace Pauline Holland; brothers, Joseph Wilbon Mullis, Austin Bunyon Mullis and grandson, Corey Wade Dempsey.

Her memory will forever be treasured by her sons, Steven R. Dempsey, Douglas W. Dempsey, John R. Dempsey and Jeffery S. Dempsey; nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and brother, Edward Harrell Mullis.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 8, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Afterwards, Mrs. Dempsey will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Mrs. Dempsey’s arrangements.