Obituary of Georgia Elizabeth Jeffords Elmore

Georgia Elizabeth Jeffords Elmore, 99, widow of Robert Carroll Elmore, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Covenant Place Nursing Center. She and Carroll were married 25 days short of 60 years when he died June 26, 2011, he was the love of her life. Born December 18, 1923, in Florence, South Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Samuel King Jeffords, Sr., and Josie Mae Smith Jeffords, and was a step-daughter of Mary Juanita Sumner Jeffords. Mrs. Elmore was a member of First Baptist Church of Sumter, after having been a member of Elliott Baptist Church while living in Elliott, S.C. She graduated from Elliott High School. She had worked for Southern Bell Telephone as a telephone operator, until she was pregnant with her daughter. She then went to work for her mother-in-law Johnsie Smith Elmore who created and owned Jo-El Sandwich Company. Georgia later bought the Jo-El Sandwich Company and ran the company for 19 years, until she retired and sold it to Perfection Baker. Georgia loved to garden and bake and decorate cakes for family birthday celebrations. She is survived by her daughter, Josie Mae Elmore of Sumter, a sister Mary Jeffords Hoyt of Sumter, a brother, Arthur Sumner Jeffords (Jean) of Knoxville, Tennessee and a sister-in-law Jean Elmore Smith of Charleston, brother-in-law Len Caughman of Bishopville, sister-in-law Francis Smith Norris (Edward) of Greeleyville, numerous nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews as well as great-grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, brother and sisters-in-law, Samuel King Jeffords, Jr. (Margaret), William Quincy Jeffords, Sr. (Hazel). Brothers-in-law George Edward Smith, and Major Richard Alan Hoyt. Sister-in-law Virigina Elmore Caughman. Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Roland Goff Elmore., Jr. (Carolyn), Stephen Goff Elmore (Delores), Vivian Smith Davis (Olin). The family would like to thank the staff of Covenant Place Nursing Center for their kind care of Georgia for almost 2 years, and the Tuomey Hospice staff for the last 4 months. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 PM Wednesday December 6, 2023 in the Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 PM Wednesday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, 810 Maxwell Ave. Greenwood, S.C. 29626, (where her mother, Josie and uncle Ira Smith) were raised. Online condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.