Marcelies Aquila Irby

Marcelies Aquila Irby (aka Oma or Marci) entered eternal life at the age of 90 on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. She suddenly passed at the Westbury Health and Rehab in Conyers, GA where she had regained her mobility back after a fall that fractured her toe, and was waiting for the Covid-19 lockdown to be lifted so she could return home. She was born on October 7, 1929 in Denton, GA to the late Norman S. & Clara D. Taylor. She was happily married for 60 years to her true love, Otto Irby, who preceded her in death in 2006. She is also preceded by her daughter and son-in-law, Denise & Perry Baskin; sister and brother-in-law, Emily & Mitchell Joiner; brother, Norman Taylor; and son-in-law, Bill Sidener.

She is survived by two daughters: Linda Sidener and Redetha (Warren) Jernstad, and two sons: Dennis (Dr. Shirley Chandler) Irby and Gary (Cindy) Irby. She will be fondly remembered by her 3 sister-in-laws: Margie (Joe) Pitts, Ruby (Robert) Webb, and Kay Taylor; her brother-in-law, Richard Irby; along with a number of nieces and nephews.
In many obituaries, the names of the grandchildren are listed, but not in this one because Oma had 17 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren! Oma was a proud grandmother and kept a book with all of their names and birthdays and treasured each one of them.
Marcelies was a long time beloved member of Grace Community Chapel (Valdosta Primitive Baptist) in Valdosta, GA where she had made her home for over 60 years before moving to Stockbridge, GA. She lived a full and joyful life as a mother, homemaker and florist. For 25 years she owned and operated her dream business, Irby’s Flowers alongside her family.

She was the matriarch of her family and happiest when surrounded by them. She was extraordinary, strong, stubborn, and overflowing with love. One way she showed love was through cooking for people. She had so much knowledge about food and every meal she cooked tasted like it was the best you had ever eaten. Only Marcelies could bring brussel sprouts to a Thanksgiving dinner and make it the most delicious dish on the table. Even if you never liked brussel sprouts! She was renowned for her advice giving, not holding back her opinion, and had a knack for telling it like it is. She always told you the truth even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. These words of encouragement, wisdom, and comfort, kept us in line, taught us the “school of hard knocks” and gave us much to pass down to our children. She instilled strong values in us and will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

A private celebration of Marcelies’ life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 25, 2020 in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services with Pastor T.C. Norris officiating. Due to all the rain we have received the graveside service will take place at a later date at Riverview Memorial Gardens and will be announced on our website. For friends of the family, the service will be livestreamed on Music Funeral Services Facebook page. Special messages may be left to the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . We also encourage friends and family to call our Valdosta location at (229)-244-2500; we will sign your name in the guest book and the family will be given a balloon to release in memory of their loved one on behalf of our callers’ family. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Grace Community Chapel Primitive Baptist Church, P.O. Box 813, Valdosta, GA 31603. Mrs. Irby’s family is being cared for by the compassionate and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.