Minister Teresa Dent Stanley

Sunrise - October 21, 1961
Sunset - April 26, 2014

Minister Teresa Dent Stanley, daughter of the late Mrs. Georgia Rene Dent Wilcox and Mr. George Holden, was born in Irwin County, Ocilla Georgia on October 21, 1961.

Teresa was well known and a loving person who was loved by all family members and friends. Her life centered on her children and church. Early in life Teresa joined the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she was baptized under the leadership of the late Rev. T. J. Sneed. Minister Stanley was called into the ministry by God after joining the Brooches Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Later she joined the Ocilla Church of God where she became an ordained minister. She served in many ministries including: Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Women Ministry, choir, door greeter and many others. Minister Stanley’s greatest joy was ministering to the lost and serving those in need with food, prayer, clothes, or whatever she could do to assist.

Minister Stanley was a 1979 graduate of Irwin County High School. She furthered her education and obtained a Bachelors of Science degree from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee in 2013. Teresa married the love of her life, Brother Lamar Stanley who preceded her in death on December 21, 1990, and to this union two beautiful daughters were born.

She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters: Ms. Shamer and Ms. Lamarra Stanley, both of Ocilla, Georgia; a stepdaughter, Michelle Stanley; a special brother, Mr. Kenneth Dent of Fitzgerald, Georgia; nine sisters: Ms. Patricia Dent of Marlboro, New York, Ms. Carolyn Dent of Broxton, Georgia, Ms. Angela Wilcox of Ocilla, Georgia, Ms. Melba Jean Holden, Ms. Gloria Holden and Ms. Sandra Holden, all of Ocilla, Georgia, Ms. Jennifer Holden of Boston, Massachusetts, Ms. Lydia Holden of Fitzgerald, Georgia and Ms. Adrian Carver of Columbus, Georgia; eight brothers: Mr. Christopher Wilcox, Mr. Charles Holden, Mr. Troy Holden, Mr. Carl Holden and Mr. Cleveland Holden, all of Ocilla, Georgia, Mr. George L. Holden of Syracuse, New York, Mr. James Holden of West Palm Beach, Florida and Mr. David Holden of Boston, Massachusetts; a host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Homegoing Celebration: Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. 
Location:  Ocilla Church of God
Highway 129 North in Ocilla, Georgia

Officiating Ministers
Pastor Joel Shirley, Officiating
Pastor Clayton Dowd, Eulogist
Interment
Ocilla Cemetery • Ocilla, Georgia