Wonda Muriel Woody Shockley, age 65, of Lula, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
Wonda was born on January 26, 1957, in Dahlonega, GA. The youngest of seven children, she was a daughter of the late John Young Woody and Ava Lou Vinnie Sisum Woody.
After graduating from Woody Gap High School, Wonda worked as an EMT while returning to school to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She spent 25 years as an LPN with Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where she found a second family in her co-workers, whom she loved dearly.
A mountain girl at heart, Wonda never tired of spending time in nature. She loved hunting, and fishing and spent countless hours tending to her vegetable and flower gardens and fruit trees. A firm believer in “waste not…” she canned or gifted what she couldn’t eat fresh and was known for being generous with her surplus as long as you returned her empty jars.
The first of her immediate family to seek higher education, Wonda instilled her inquisitive nature and love of learning in her children. Before her eyesight failed, she was an avid reader, often telling those around her that through books, she was able to travel to places she’d never see in person. She had an active imagination and wrote her children their own bedtime stories, filling spiral-bound notebooks full of tales featuring fairies and other mythical creatures, complete with illustrations.
For many years, as a single parent, Wonda’s life centered around her children. As they grew into adulthood and began lives of their own, she met the love of her life, Bobby, who’d been referred by her coworker (his aunt Sue) as a handyman to help Wonda with her newly purchased home. He kept finding things to fix and never left. On April 2, 2002, they were wed, eloping like teenagers in love. Together, they created many great memories while camping near trout streams, wrangling yard goats, speculating on the origins of Big Foot, and embarking on spontaneous midnight trips to the beach to watch the sun come up. When not sharing adventures with her husband, Wonda delighted in visits with her grandchildren and in watching her many birdfeeders while rocking on her front porch.
Though parts of her life had been touched deeply by trauma and sadness, Wonda’s heart remained hopeful and open, and she chose to see the good in people. She was kind and loving, humble and gentle (but Lord help you if you crossed her—she could hold a grudge like no other.) If she loved you, you knew it because she told you (often) and because you were never hungry. Like her mother before her, she showed her love through food.
She maintained a soft spot for all animals, and most humans, especially the neglected, abused, and downtrodden. Any kindness shown to her or her children she paid forward tenfold.
In addition to her parents, Wonda was predeceased by her brother John Henry Woody and her sister, Patricia Woody LeCroy. Survivors include her loving husband, Bobby Lee Shockley of Lula; daughters Dustonia Call (Michael) of Gainesville, and Charity Leone (Danny) of Piedmont, SC; grandchildren Serenity Etris and Jaycob Etris; and her beloved pets, Petey and Tigger. Her memory lives on with several siblings, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, especially those in the ED, Pulmonary ICU, Respiratory Therapy, and Critical Care Medicine teams, for their compassionate care during Wonda’s hospitalizations over the course of the last year.
Per Mrs. Shockley’s wishes, no formal funeral service will be held. A graveside inurnment for family will be held at a later date.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
