Ann G. Bledsoe

Ann G. Bledsoe, devoted wife, loving mother, supporting friend and everyone’s southern belle drew her last breath and went to be with her Lord, Sunday, May 16, 2021.

Ann was born and raised in Florence, SC on September 19, 1948 to Charles and Deborah Edmund. She graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1967 and worked at several insurance companies in Florence and Columbia, South Carolina. She pursued her continuing education through the University of South Carolina with night classes.

While living in Columbia, SC in 1978 she met my dad, Robert D. Bledsoe, a Captain in the Army Nurse Corp who was serving as the Head Nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Moncrief Army Hospital, Fort Jackson. They married on July 8, 1979, and would have been married 42 years this summer. She supported his military career through numerous assignments over a 21 year career and an additional 15 years at St Joseph Hospital before he retired from nursing in 2009 from the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.

Welcome to The Bledsoe Home EST. 1979 is a sign on the wall that greets family and friends who come and go from my parents home. A very warm and loving home filled with pictures and a radiant collection of memories.
My mama loved birds, rabbits, angels, teapots, teacups, coffee mugs, snow globes, her doll house and accessories, hummingbirds and so many more pieces of her that made the house a home of love. She thoroughly enjoyed her daily crossword puzzles each morning of The Augusta Chronicle newspaper and reading a good book from her Danielle Steele collection or other authors of interest. Cooking and cleaning were a mainstay and you could most mornings hear the washing machine or dryer running getting a start on the new day and making sure everyone was in good hands. Coffee was a must and a cup of tea in the evening was essential. Good friendship and conversation was also a priority whether it was her best friends or an old friend from long ago.

I miss the most precious gift life gave to me, my mama. She loved endlessly until her last breath. No matter your age, you are in need of a mother’s love. Now that you’re gone mama, I’m finding it hard to feel alive.
Loss is the process of losing something or someone and is a painful process. Losing a loved one is a tug on the heart strings. It comes with great pain that runs deep and in turn, lead to grief. Grief, on the other hand, is a stranger to the human soul, it comes very unannounced.
Losing my mother is the greatest blow of my life. My mother was very special. My rock and light. She gave unconditional love until her very last breath. Mothers are the only chauffeur that never retire. They are your cheerleader. That’s why the loss of a mother could send paralysis to some part of our lives, and no matter how long the loss had occurred, the pain lingers on, it never leaves. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief. There’s no amount of words I can say or tears that I can shed that would bring you back, Mama. I just want you to know that life since you left, is unbearable. I miss you more and more with each passing day. It’s so hard without your motivation and contagious and infectious smile that made any room you entered completely stop. There is an excruciating amount of pain that weighs heavy on my heart along with your family and friends. Today’s still a special day however, because I choose to celebrate your memory and what you stood and continue to stand for in this life of mine. With my father, we miss you so dearly. Heartbreak was only made known to me through song lyrics, television shows and movies. To live this nightmare in real life was when you died and ever since that somber day, it’s been replayed in my heart continuously, giving me constant pain and flashbacks.
If there’s a way I could trade my heartbeat, just to see you one more time, I would do so without hesitation. Right inside of yourself, you gave me my first home. You gave life to me, through every ounce of energy of yours, you nurtured me and never let me stray. That’s why it’s not been easy to cope without you. You are everywhere I look around your house along with mine, your garden, the streets I travel daily and businesses we frequented together. Mama, this is to your beautiful memory. I miss your selfless act of love, I miss the way you would decipher my different moods and I wish we could have our nightly talks of you calling me after my day at work to check on me to see how things were going and if I needed anything whatsoever. A call through to you among the angels, I really want to hear your smooth and encouraging voice, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
The most difficult journey of life, going through it alone without your motivation and smile is the hardest way to live It is unbearable. I reminisce about how much sacrifice you’ve made over my health and my life in general, I know there is nothing I could do to pay you back but to keep you in my heart forever. I think about you endlessly and I cry bitterly when I do, not because you’re no more but because when you were here, I never felt I spent enough time with you. I’m sure you would say that wasn’t true but however, I do treasure every memory of you.
Looking at your favorite spot in the house flood my mind with curiosity and wondering if you’re around graciously telling me everything will be okay. Since you left, my pillows are stained with tears. I miss your love. I needed you last night but you were far away in Heaven.

Death took you away from my sight but that’s as far as it can go. Nothing is going to take you away from my heart, for I’m going to treasure your memory forever. I wish I could turn back time just to get a hug and kiss on the cheek from you. Coming over on the weekends will never be the same with you not there. Not hearing a hey sweetheart from you or are you hungry when entering the kitchen.
“I miss you,”… that phrase was just like every normal piece of words until you left and then I understood the real meaning of it because I truly miss you, Mom. Your scent, touch and sweet caress still lingers on in my memory.
Out of all the gifts life ever gave to you, I am the most precious, but the most precious life took away from me, was you. I miss you, mama.
Heaven has placed you as my amazing guardian angel, The only superwoman I knew.
No one can take your place, there are times I need answers and advice to questions which you and you alone could understand offering your words of hope and peace.
The more I grieve your death, the more I realize all of your impact.

Even if I hang your pictures in every room I sleep, it still won’t suffice for the void your absence has left in my world. I usually thought the beauty of heaven is only about blue skies until you left, then I realized that you’ve joined the rest of the glowing stars, shining down upon us all.
I am still wondering how will I survive each day without you, because when life was tough, you were always behind me to push me. Your departure has brought to my heart an unforgettable torture, the pain deepens with each passing day.
When will I hold you again, Mama? I pray it will be one day soon.

You were the sun that shined on my gloomy days.
Mama, when you died, I thought the sun stopped shining but I’ve realized since, it was mine that seizes to exist at this moment. I know it will ease as time passes, but for now it hurts so, so bad.
Some of the best memories I’ve had in my life was with you, because unconditional love starts with you and I’m yet to find any other love like yours, Mama. I am thankful for all the moments spent with you. I have learned so much about life from you.

If only you were still here, my life would be so much easier, because you always have a solution to each of my problems. Day by day, I see a lot of you in me. When I look in the mirror, I see the reflection of the man I want to be and how I would like to be remembered.

We all know that grieving never stops, because years after the loss, time will always deposit some unforgettable memories into our minds. I am forever grateful and will cherish how lucky I was to have had you. I will remember you every day because my day won’t be complete if I don’t. Your memories in our hearts represent the glow of happiness that overpowers the sadness we feel when we realize you’re no longer here.
So many different parts of your house still have stories to remind me about you. I didn’t have the time to appreciate how more than a woman you were, how amazing your love was towards me, I didn’t even realize how valuable you were, not until it was already too late. Nothing can separate me from loving you, not even the death that took you away. I loved you before death and I’ll keep loving you after it. Thank you for your unending love that you gave to me while you were here, and for the one you still shower on me to shield me since you’ve been gone. This is a permanent wound but your last days on earth gave me an intense understanding of a Mother’s Love. You were still concerned about my welfare and safety.

My sweet Mama, you took your last breath on earth and your first breath in heaven on Sunday, May 16, 2021. You were my role model of unconditional love. You were a witty, stylish red head that loved to play with your dog, Charlie and take care of your family and the shoulder you needed to lean on and could always lean on.
Your meal planning and preparation is sad to say goodbye to.
Seeing her busy pulling out pots and pans and fussing over how much of an ingredient to add to a recipe was priceless memories I never knew at the time would be so appreciated.
I did not recognize those ordinary moments of Mama’s cooking and doing for me as being extraordinary.
I took them for granted and never gave thought to a day and time where she would never cook for me again. How could I have truly understood the significance of those many, many days and evenings?
Please recognize memories like these as a blessing and take a moment to savor the view of your Mom in the kitchen if your mom is still with you. She’s fussing over you because she loves you and still cares.
These are little moments that seem so ordinary but in light of our mortality, they pass quickly, without notice, unless we ask God to make us sensitive to those everyday blessings in our lives.

I cry inside every day and I miss you, mama.
I kissed your forehead for the last time to say goodbye and my heart is forever broken. It will mend with time, but please know, that you were and always will be my best friend, my entire world and my heart. I love you immensely, mama.


Ann is survived by her husband, LTC (Ret) Robert D. Bledsoe; son Robert Charles Bledsoe and dog, Charlie Bledsoe. Her sister; Mary Katherine Matthews and husband Terry Matthews. Best friend; Marilyn Roberts who she started off each day with talking on the telephone. Additional survivors include family members and friends.

Viewing will be held from 6-8 PM Friday, May 21, 2021 at Platt’s Funeral Home 337 N. Belair Road Evans, GA 30809. Services will be held 2-3 PM Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Platt’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Andy Menger conducting. Burial will follow at Bellevue Memorial Gardens 4501 Wrightsboro Rd, Grovetown, GA 30813.

Pallbearers include Peter Boyzuick, Robb Richards, Chris Sorrells, Michael Barton, Marvin Stewart and Ron Sigafoes. Honorary Pallbearers include Sean Watson, Ben Dillard,
Roy Hudson, Frank Rost, Brandon Rutherford and Joel Wightman.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
Clayne Crawford Foundation
6721 Old Springville RD, #234
Clay, AL 35048
or
Columbia County Humane Society
6100 Columbia Road
Grovetown, GA 30813