Retha Bell Gilbert, 87, died Aug. 16, 2015.

Retha was born on Jan. 21, 1928, and was the youngest of seven daughters of Lousillous and Isabell Bell.

She was born and raised in the Oak Grove Community until her parents bought a farm on Shadburn Road.

She married Junior Gilbert in 1943, moved to Cumming and became a "city" girl and lived in Cumming until her death.

Retha worked many years for the Lovable Company and made many life-long friends there, but her first love was cooking and she worked at several restaurants in Cumming. She began working at Shoney's Restaurant for Linda and Clint Spencer when it first opened and retired from there when it closed.

Clint Spencer has remained her friend through the years.

Retha loved her family, friends, neighbors, Coal Mountain Baptist Church, her Sunday school class and especially enjoyed it when her Sunday School class would meet at Shoney's wand she would cook them her famous cheese biscuits.

She also enjoyed cooking for her family and was well known for her cakes and chicken dressing that she cooked for people at the holidays.

Her parents, Lousillous and Isabell Bell; husband of 54 years, Junior "Big Gib" Gilbert; sons, Donald and David Gilbert; infant Daughter, Stacey Gilbert; sisters, Dessie Walls, Lucille Martin, Madge Martin, Leona Martin, Lone Thomas and Sylvia Monroe; preceded her in death.

Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Jane and Donald Gilbert; grandchildren, Mitchell and Alice Gilbert, Melanie and Robert Smith, McLean Gilbert; Rebecca and Paul Dankewich, Caleb Gilbert, Mattie, Dawson and Macey Smith; great-grandchildren, Luke and Logan Dankewich; special neighbors, Jenny, Hugh and Asa McMillan; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Ingram Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ruel Martin, Danny Bennett and Hugh Martin officiating. Paul Dankewich will deliver the family prayer. Interment will follow at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the hour of service Aug. 19.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory of Cumming is in charge of the arrangements.