Mary Lou Bellflower Josey, 76, of Bainbridge, Georgia, passed away June 28, 2014 at her residence. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Grubbs and Rev. Scott Messer officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Gilead Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery with Eric Josey, Donald Logue, Jeremy Bilotto, Vinnie Bilotto, Dalton Rathel,Dillon Rathel and Trevor Love serving as active pallbearers. Her co-workers, Michelle Blevins, Georgia Milton, Pam Rouse, Hali Bryant, Bea Bush, Carol Clark, Joe Morrison, Joe Talley, Jeff Plair, Teresa Swatts, Brenda McAnnelly, Kim Day, Keith Thomas, John Thorton, Tina Ward, Mrya Stubs, and Celso Portillo will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 30, 2014 at Ivey Funeral Home.

Miss Josey, was born March 18, 1938 in Bainbridge. She was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, class of 1956 and was a housewife for many years before joining the Winn Dixie team. She achieved her personal goal of becoming bakery manager and was known as “Mary, Mary the Baking Fairy”. Until her brief illness, Mary Lou was an active employee, and recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with Winn Dixie. At a young 76, she enjoyed working every day and took great pride in decorating cakes for customers, friends, and family members throughout the community. Her favorite expressions were: “Oh! Okay”, “I suwannee”, and “Believe you me”.

Her untimely death has left a void among her family and co-workers. Survivors include her children, Maria Rathel, and her husband Billy, of Havana, Fla., Josh Josey and his wife Gina, of Tallahassee, Fla., Jody Josey and his wife Lorrie, of Calvary, Ga., Alfred Josey and his wife Rita, of Tallahassee, Jeffery Josey and his wife Suzanne, of Auburn, Nebraska, Jacob “Tiny” Josey Jr. of Bainbridge, and Jock Josey and his wife Jessica, of Bainbridge; her mother, Sara Barber Bellflower of Bainbridge; her siblings, Carolyn Adkins of Fountain, Fla., Sara Alice Olson of Colorado Springs, Colo., Vesper Miller of Huntsville, Ala., and Linda Gail Knight of Bainbridge; her grandchildren, “Little” Jake Rathel, Broster Rathel, Olivia Love, Lacey Rathel, Jessica Josey, Eric Josey, Jeremy Bilotto, Vinnie Bilotto, Tifffany Adams, Jason Josey, Jennifer Josey, Crystal Brooke Josey, Abigail Josey, Liam Josey, Israel Josey, Elizabeth Josey, Dallas Josey, Claudia Luevano, Victoria Luevano, Diego Luevano; and her great-grandchildren, Zach Rathel, Dalton Rathel, Dillon Rathel, Desiree Rathel, Josh Sheffield, Kaley Sheffield, Abrielle Love, Trevor Love, Josh Love, Jessie Love, Bryant Bilotto, Preston Bilotto, Levi Bilotto, Haley, Krisslyn, Mya, Elijah Asa Adams, Ericka Phoenix Adams, and Orion Adams; her great- great-grandchildren: Jackson Sheffield, Johnathan Wilson, Brantley Love, and Rowan Rathel; and her beloved faithful canine companion Gracie. She was preceded in death by her father, Willford Ferman Bellflower.

Mary Lou wanted this fact known: she cherished her time with her co-workers, and she thanks them for their help and guidance they afforded her throughout her career. She left this to her children: “Alright you ‘Josey clan’, I want ALL of you to take care of each other.” Her final wish was for ALL her children to keep in touch, and gather together at holiday events and special occasions.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.