She was born on September 22, 1916, in Thomasville, GA, the youngest of 6 sisters. When she was ten years old, the family moved to Boston, GA where she lived until graduating from High School.
With no funds available for college, she moved in with her sister, Ruth in Sarasota, FL and began a career with Western Union. At 17, she traveled to Bloomfield, NJ to train on the telephone machine as the Morse Code was being replaced. She traveled to the state of Florida, following the towns during the tourist and migrant seasons. There were strawberries in Plant City, watermelons, in Leesburg, potatoes in Palatka, and citrus in Eustis and Tavares. She was managing an office there when she met and married her husband of 59 years, William Sidney Arrington, Jr. (Bill) until his death in 1999.
Together, they raised two boys, William S. Arrington III and Charles H. Arrington. She was an active wife, mother, homemaker, sports mom, church worker, duplicate bridge player, and golfer. She served as a co-worker with her husband, as Oakland town treasure, a volunteer election poll worked, community clothes volunteer, Meals on Wheels deliverer, and was always ready with a casserole or sour cream pound cake for the infirmed or bereaved.
She was a loving Grandma and great grandma (Big Mama).
She is survived by her son, Charles, two daughter-in-laws (Doris, Judy, three grandchildren (Sidney, Paul, Jennifer) and six great grandchildren (Amanda, Chloe, Hali, Caleb, Logan, TJ).
She is predeceased by her husband, William Sidney Arrington, Jr., her sisters, Irene, Lois, Gladys, Evelyn, and Ruth, her son, William S. Arrington, III, and grandchild Pamela Kristin Arrington.
Viewing will be 10:00a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 428 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden. The graveside service will be private for family members and the memorial service will be held at Oakland Presbyterian Church at 1:00p.m. A reception in the fellowship hall is to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, a monetary gift can be made in her honor to Oakland Presbyterian Church 218 E. Oakland Avenue, Oakland FL 34760. A portion of which will be sent to support the Ukraine refugee crisis.
