Pierce County has lost one of its most gracious ladies and gifted storytellers.
Rose Elizabeth Sutton Aldridge, 76, passed away Saturday morning, June 6, 2026, at her residence in Blackshear following a long illness.
She was widely known throughout the community for her kind and thoughtful touch over an 18 year career as columnist and news editor for The Blackshear Times. She was the recipient of more than two dozen awards from the Georgia Press Association for excellence in column writing and news coverage.
She is remembered for the kindness and compassion she brought to the many stories she wrote over the nearly two decades she worked for The Times.
“It was one of the greatest strokes of luck I was fortunate to enjoy, the day I ran into Rose,” recalls former Times Publisher Robert M. Williams, Jr. “I was eating lunch, thinking about how badly I needed a good writer at The Times — and Rose stopped at my table.”
“I just looked up at her and said: Rose, why don’t you come to work at The Times?”
“Her mouth fell open and she laughed.”
“Doing what?!?” She asked.
“Writing!” I replied. “I need a good writer and I bet you can do it.”
She just stared at me and said nothing. I took that as an indication she was considering my offer.
“She blushed, bowed her head and said: “Oh, I could never do that!”
Something told me different.
“Think about it and call me this afternoon,” I responded, pushing my business card into her hand.
Two hours later, she called.
“Were you serious about what you said at lunch today?”
I assured her I was.
I heard Rose take a deep breath… and then she said: “I’ve never told many people this, but … one of my dreams has always been to be a writer.”
“Then it’s fate! It’s meant to be,” I responded. “When can you start?”
“Over the next nearly 20 years Rose gained a statewide reputation as one of the best storytellers in Georgia and she earned the awards to prove it.”
She finished out her professional career handling public relations for the Pierce County School System, another job where she excelled. She retired in 2013 to a quiet life of journaling, reading, antiquing and traveling with friends.
She was born in Waycross but lived most of her adult life in Blackshear. She was a 1967 graduate of Ware County High School.
She was a past member of the Blackshear Presbyterian Church where she had been a youth leader.
She was a current member of Grace Episcopal Church.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Alison and Tom Strait, Blackshear. She loved every chance she got to spend with her grandson, Benjamin Strait, Warner Robins. Also surviving are a brother, Albert Sutton and his wife, Brenda, of Blackshear. Also left to cherish her memory are special friends, Angela and Kevin Manders, Blackshear, Anita Lynn, Waycross, Joy Aldridge, Greenville, SC and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m Saturday, June 13, at the parish hall of Grace Episcopal Church in Waycross.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, from the Grace Episcopal Church with the Rev. Kit Brinson and the Rev. Donald Holland officiating.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
Memorials may be made to Sacks for Saturday, Grace Episcopal Church, 401 Pendelton St., Waycross, GA 31501 or to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31516.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is honored to serve the Aldridge family during this time.
