Mrs. Della Estella Gunter, age 86, of Dalton, Georgia, left the walks of life to be with Jesus, Thursday morning, March 13, 2014 at the local hospital surrounded by her loving family. Della was born March 19, 1927 near Dade City, Florida, and was fond of telling people she was a "Florida Girl". She was preceded in the death by her husband, Johnnie Lee Gunter, Sr., her son, James Lee Gunter and her mother and step-father, Lillie and Jack Kittles. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church on Maddox Chapel Road.

She is survived by her sons and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Mildred Gunter, David Gunter; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Gunter, Lillie and Mike Hammac, Betty Shirey, Kathy and Denver Newton, Brenda Joyce and Russell Linder; grandchildren, Michael Bates, Garry and Pam Gunter, Johnny W. and Paige Gunter, Chris and Sandra Shirey, Josh Gunter, Pattie and Stacey Upton, Lillie Bates, Rhonda Campbell, Felisha Hammac, Amber Gunter, Beth Green and Kathy Rose Newton; sister, Lillie Mae West; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Della Estella Gunter will be held Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church on Maddox Chapel, Dalton, Georgia, with Reverend Billy Joe Cochran officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with Russell Linger, Chris Shirey, Christopher Campbell, Garry Gunter, Johnny Gunter and Josh Gunter serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and after 11:00 a.m. Sunday until the service hour.

Arrangements by Ponders Melrose Chapel, Dalton, GA. (706)226-4002.