Colleen Sophronia Crawford Burkhalter, 89, of Patterson, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross.
Born in Bristol November 7, 1936, she lived in Pierce County most of her life. She worked as a secretary in the insurance business and later at the Pierce County Tax Office before working and later retiring from Mama Grace’s Playhouse. Her love for children was evident in the fact that they all called her Gramma and most didn’t know if she was really their biological or adopted grandmother. To them she was just all that a gramma was supposed to be. She was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church and she loved Jesus and her church family. She was always there to help anyone in need and in her spare time she enjoyed sewing, crafting and baking.
She was a daughter of the late Alexander Oden and Flora Elizabeth Aldridge Crawford. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cecil Burkhalter; a daughter, Patsy Denise Burkhalter; both of her sons, Gary Robert Burkhalter and James Cody Burkhalter; a son-inlaw, Lyndell Davis; a grandchild, Shundra Vickery; a sister, Geraldine Young and her brother, Alvin Oden Crawford.
Survivors include her daughter, Shane Vickery, Patterson; three sisters, Shirley Williams, Jacksonville, Maxine (Burdette) Ross, Ocean Way, FL and Pauline (Terry) Rix, Blackshear; 10 grandchildren, James Cothern (Shammra Carter), Stacy (Kevin) Lewis, Travis Cothern (Linsey Sauls), Michael Vickery, Robbie Vickery (Taylor Carter), Jamie (Lynda) Cothern, Hannah (Eric) Duncan, Josh (Haley) Bryant, Alana Burkhalter and Kyle (Diamond) Close; 16 greatgrandchildren, Dayton Dykes (Gracie Ammons), Cali Sellers, Briar Cothern, Kelsi Davis, Trenton Vickery, Kaiden Meeks, Paisley Lewis, Lainey Owens, Landry Owens, Zeke Close, Zoey Close, Zane Close, Mason Vickery, Mallory Vickery, Terry Bryant and Lilly Burkhalter; two greatgreat- grandchildren, Wyatt Anderson and Raelyn Dykes and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 13 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 15, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 15, from the chapel of Pearson-Dial Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Summers and Pastor Steve Dees officiating.
Interment will be in the Beulah Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Josh Bryant, James Cothern, Kyle Close, Michael Vickery, Travis Cothern, Kevin Lewis and Robbie Vickery.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice Satilla Hospice House, 811 Beacon St., Waycross, GA 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com .
