Yvonne Wood Berrong Olds, wife of the late Bomar A. Olds, Jr., went peacefully to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the age of 91, following a brief illness.
Mrs. Olds was born at home on Level Grove Road on July 3, 1933, to Joseph LeRoy Berrong and Emma Jane Gibbs Berrong, the fourth of seven daughters. She spent her childhood on the family’s 40-acre homestead in Alto (what is now Cornwall Estates) and lived her entire life in and around Habersham County and Cornelia.
Prior to 21-½ years at First National Bank of Cornelia, Mrs. Olds assisted in two private kindergartens and was also employed at the Cornelia Branch Library, located at that time upstairs over the old City Hall. Yvonne was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia, where she was very active in Presbyterian Women and its many activities and was a member of the choir for 45 years.
Yvonne married fellow church member and widower Bomar Amos Olds, Jr. on April 30, 1988, a fitting spring wedding as Yvonne’s favorite color was yellow and her favorite flowers were irises. The couple built a home together on Short Avenue, where they cared for Yvonne’s mother until her death at the age of 104 in 2002. Yvonne lovingly cared for Bomar as his health declined until his death in 2013.
Yvonne had many hobbies and interests. She was a lifelong singer, having grown up harmonizing with her sisters. Family members recall Yvonne and her sisters singing together during family visits and Yvonne could often be heard whistling “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring” as she went about her day. Yvonne was an avid reader. As a child, she and her sisters were regular customers of the summer bookmobile. They would long for rainy days so that they could read instead of working in the garden. As an adult, Yvonne particularly enjoyed reading biographies and historical non-fiction. Yvonne spent many hours putting together jigsaw puzzles and discovered her talent for painting later in life, studying privately with local artists and winning awards for several of her paintings. Yvonne was also the family genealogical researcher and keeper of records of family history and events. She and Bomar did extensive research at the Young Harris library, and Yvonne kept every news clipping and article pertaining to the expansive family tree that she could find. Several of her nieces developed a passion for genealogical research, much to Yvonne’s delight.
Yvonne traveled to New Mexico, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and marveled at the Great Smoky Mountains. In her later years, Yvonne loved to travel around north Georgia to visit the historical homesites of her ancestors, most recently the Berrong-Oaks home in Hiawassee, which is currently being restored. Yvonne’s greatest love was her family. She always looked forward to annual visits from her sisters and their families who were spread out all over the United States. Family members, as many as could fit, would pile into her car, and she would take them on the “Gibbs/Berrong History Tour,” driving all over Habersham County and Cornelia, visiting relatives and pointing out old homesites and locations significant to their childhood. Meals spent around the dining table during these visits often lasted a couple of hours as stories were told and anecdotes shared, punctuated by the laughter of Yvonne and her sisters as they recalled funny events from their lives together.
Yvonne moved to Magnolia Hills Assisted Living in Demorest in the spring of 2024 and contentedly resided there until her death, receiving excellent care from the staff and Amedisys Home Health and Hospice. She was faithfully attended to in her final weeks by the members of First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia, Deborah Sanders Tweedell, and her treasured friends Tammy Fontaine and Sue Payne Smith. Yvonne’s family is comforted by the knowledge that Yvonne was never alone in her final days. Yvonne is remembered for her devotion to family, her unfailing service to others, her genuine smile, melodic southern drawl, her ever-present sense of joy, her never-failing Christian faith, and her generous spirit.
Yvonne was truly a North Georgia treasure.
In addition to her parents and her husband of 25 years, Yvonne was preceded in death by her sisters, Lorraine Burns Berrong, Phyllis Jean Gary (Charlie), and Joanne Elizabeth Rowlee (Donald L.); brothers-in-law, Charles T. Gary, Donald L. Rowlee, James C. Davis, Jr., Stephen T. Engquist, and Vaughn Earl Hartsell; sister-in-law, Jill Olds Growney; and stepdaughter, Elizabeth Olds Lively (Ted).
Survivors include sisters Mary-Wynne Davis of Manchester Center, VT., Jane Gibbs Berrong Engquist of Mount Airy, and Frances Elaine Hartsell of Morrisville, VT.; and stepdaughter Catharine Abbott (Jack) of Clarkesville. Yvonne will also be greatly missed by 13 nieces and nephews, 18 great nieces and nephews, nine great-great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Friday, February 21, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia, PO Box 165, Cornelia, GA 30531.
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.
