Georgia Ann Rivard

Georgia A. Rivard
Easley, SC

Georgia Ann Rivard, 92, of Easley, SC was born July 28, 1925 in Little Rock, Arkansas to James Monroe and Stella May Benson, and went to be with her Lord on Sunday, April 29, 2018.

Georgia's mother died when she was very young. She and her sisters Elizabeth and Laverne grew up caring for their father and each other. She and her sisters remained very close to each other throughout their lives despite the miles that separated them. Georgia married John (Jack) Rivard in Saginaw, Michigan on June 28, 1945. They made their home in Bridgeport, MI, later moving to Zilwaukee (a suburb of Saginaw) where they lived until 1972. In 1972 Jack pursued a job change that moved he, Georgia, and sons John and Jim to the Greenville, SC area where they made their home in rural Easley, SC. Jack continued his machinist career, while Georgia initially worked as a volunteer at Shriners Hospital for crippled children, later becoming a full time employee at the hospital until her retirement. She devoted herself wholly to the care of many crippled children through her long career at the hospital.

Georgia was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Dacusville where she loved to worship and fellowship with her beloved Sunday school class.

Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughters Debra Lynn Rivard, Carole Sue Schmidtman, and Suzanne Buffington, sister Elizabeth Hubbard, and four half‐sisters.

Survivors include sister, Laverne Chapman of New Mexico, sons and wives: John and Brenda Rivard of Greenville, SC, James and Pam Rivard of Easley, SC, daughters and husbands: Barbara and Bill Bastedo of Simpsonville, SC, Jackie and Norbert Ahrens of Napoleon, Ohio, son‐in‐law Walter Schmidtman. Survivors also include nine grandchildren, sixteen great‐grandchildren, two great‐great‐ grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Georgia will be greatly missed and remembered as a loving, caring and sacrificing wife, mother, and grandmother.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 5 at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, 305 W. Main St., Easley, SC from 12‐1:45, service at 2:00. A second visitation will be Friday, May 11 at Reitz Herzberg Funeral Home, 1550 Midland Rd., Saginaw, MI from 11:00‐1:00; service at 1:00, and burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Saginaw.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1623 Hester Store Rd., Easley, SC, 29640.

Condolences may be expressed online by visiting www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.