Mrs. Joan Dekle Riles

Joan Dekle Riles, 86 of Lake Blackshear, died Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Wynfield Park. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, GA. The family will receive friends at the residence of Wayne and Melanie Riles at 1654 Lovers Lane Rd. Rev. John Smith will officiate. Born in Cordele, GA, February 20, 1931, Joan was a 1948 graduate of Cordele High School and a 1952 graduate of Valdosta State College. She married her childhood sweetheart, Frederick “Sonny” Emerson Riles, Jr., and was a dedicated 2nd grade school teacher for 32 years. She worked with the Fulton County School system, while her husband finished his education at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, then continued teaching when they moved, with Crisp and Dougherty County Schools as well as Deerfield Windsor School. Survivors include three sons, Britt Riles and his wife, Debbie of Oakfield, GA, Wayne Riles and his wife, Melanie and Burt Riles and his wife, Amy, all of Albany, 2 sisters, Emily Whittle Wakefield and her husband, Matthew of Cordele, GA and Jane Cunningham of Warner Robins, GA, a sister in law, Vicki McGarity Riles of Albany, 2 step brothers in law, James Murphy of Albany and Mike Murphy of Lake Blackshear, GA, a step sister in law, Becky Flanigan, 8 grandchildren, Eric Riles of Lake Blackshear, GA, Tori Riles Whiting and her husband, Jay, of Albany, Heather Riles Bernier and her husband, Matt, of Tallahassee, FL, Christie Riles Riner and her husband, Brad, of Statesboro, GA, Wayne Riles of Destin, FL, Rick Riles of Atlanta, GA, Becca Riles of Statesboro, GA and Buddy Riles and his fiancé, Emily Espy, of Birmingham, Alabama, 5 great grandchildren, Maddy Bernier, Ellery Bernier, Riles Riner, Catherine Riner and Reid Riner, several nieces and nephews and her special friend and companion, Joe Frank Middlebrooks. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Mooney, Lee Walters, Alan Dismuke, David Guillebeau, Jim Potts and Len Whittle. Mrs. Riles was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. S. M. and Minnie Reid Dekle, her husband, Frederick “Sonny” Emerson Riles, Jr. and a son George Griffith Riles. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Rd., Albany, GA 31707 or to the Warwick United Methodist Church, 199 Magnolia St., SE, Warwick, GA 31796. To share your thoughts with the Riles family you may visit our website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mrs. Joan Dekle Riles

February 20, 1931 - January 7, 2018