Reverend T R Etheridge , age 87, of Dalton, Georgia, entered into the Lord's presence Thursday morning, October 28, 2021 at his home.  Reverend Etheridge was born September 19, 1934 in Gordon County, Georgia, a son of the late Troy and Minnie Lee Gibson Etheridge.  He was also preceded in death by his son, Brian Keith Etheridge who died February 1, 2020, his mother-in-law, Stella Rogers and brothers, Lloyd Etheridge, Walter Etheridge and Charles Junior Etheridge.  He was a member of Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-eight years, Betty Stephens Etheridge of the residence; daughters, Linda Etheridge of Tavernier, FL, Loretta and David Lewallen of Evans, GA, daughter in law, Nena Etheridge of Chatsworth, GA.; grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew Hayden, Zachary and Kathryn Lewallen of Grovetown, GA, Jacob Lewallen and wife, Grace Howard of Augusta, GA, Hannah Lewallen of Evans, GA; great-grandchildren, Liam Hayden and Melaney Hayden; several nieces and nephews.

Heartfelt thanks to the staff of Amedisys Home Health & Hospice, the special care given to T.R. by RN Tim Winterbottom will never be forgotten.  The assistance given by special friends, Steve & Bernice Spangler, Willie & Patty Ollis, Marie Arnold, and Connie & Harold Simerley, and many more has meant so very much to the entire family.  Thank you does not seem sufficient.

Leaving behind a testimony of God's faithfulness, T.R. loved his family with an incredible love, but the longing to "Go Home to Heaven" was always something he would talk about.   Preaching, teaching and singing was something he enjoyed with such passion and is something that will continue to live on through his children and grandchildren.  Many churches and ministries benefited from the more than 60 years of ministry of Rev. Etheridge. He touched many lives.  Reverend Etheridge pastored several churches over the years, Calvary Baptist Church and Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, IL, Union Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN, Boanerges Baptist Church in Old Fort, TN, Maddox Chapel Baptist Church and Little Prospect Baptist Church in Dalton, GA.

Services to celebrate the life of Reverend T R Etheridge will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church with Reverend David Lewallen, Reverend Steve Spangler, Reverend Ronald Guffey and Reverend Chris Tarvin officiating.  Music will be arranged by Willie Ollis, Vestel Sales Family and The Lewallen Family.  He will be laid to rest at Harmony Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Zac Lewallen, Jacob Lewallen, Matthew Hayden, Timothy Day, Michael Etheridge, Larry Etheridge, Harold Simerley, Willie Ollis, Gary Locke and Terry Land honored to serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Vestel Sales, Randall Dunn and Wayne Herron.

The family will receive friends at Eleventh Avenue Baptist Church from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday and after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday until the service hour.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com .

Arrangements by Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA 30721, (706) 226-4002. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org