Dorothy Quilla Bridges Cecchini

Mrs. Dorothy Quilla Bridges Cecchini, age 95, of Lawrence Cecchini Road, Elberton, wife of 69 years to the late Lawrence Cecchini, finished her course in faith on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Elbert Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Cecchini was born on September 14, 1926, in the Enterprise Community of Oglethorpe County. She was the thirteenth of fifteen children born to Marshall Thomas Bridges and Gussie Hamm Fortson Bridges. Dot graduated high school in the Oglethorpe County School System and attended nurse’s training at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta where she was in the Nurse’s Cadet Corps.

She worked as a registered nurse for fifty-one years having been employed in Illinois, Florida, and Georgia. Her professional career in Georgia started at Thompson-Johnson Hospital in Elberton and later she was employed by Elbert Memorial Hospital. After leaving Elbert Memorial Hospital, Miss Dot worked as a school nurse for the Elbert County School System for seven years and also worked part-time as head nurse at Spring Valley Nursing Home for several years.

Mrs. Cecchini was involved with several organizations in the community including the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 5456 where she was past president, the Beta Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority where she was past president and chosen as outstanding member in 1956. She was a past member of the Pilot Club of Elberton and a member of the Stephen Heard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having served as Regent.

In 1972, she was selected as Homemaker of the Year, and in 2007 was chosen as the WSGC Outstanding Lady.

Mrs. Cecchini was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church of Elberton and the Manning Co-Ed Sunday school class where she served as project chairperson for seventeen years and as assistant secretary. Her service in the church also included being a member of the bereavement committee, traditional morning service greeter, and assisting with local missions work.

Miss Dot’s hobbies included sewing, ceramics, canning, working in her flower beds, and she was an excellent cook. She always cared for her family and others, and will always be remembered for sending cards to family members and friends who were celebrating a special occasion, recovering from illness or surgery, or those who were grieving.

She is survived by her son, Charles Cecchini; daughter, Pat Moon; seven grandchildren: Abbie Adams, Madeline Adams, Carson Moon, Amelia Moon, Colton Moon, Scott Grant, and Julie Grant Sayer; and great-grandchildren: Bridges Perry and Piper Perry. She also leaves behind one sister, Laura Bridges.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Lauren Grant; and thirteen brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 20, at 11 o’clock at First United Methodist Church of Elberton with the Rev. Jim McCollough officiating. Interment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery with Carson Moon, Colton Moon, Scott Grant, Stuart Bridges, Len Johnson and Loris Woolard serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at First United Methodist Church of Elberton from 10:00-10:45a.m. on Saturday prior to the service.

Flowers are accepted and memorial gifts may be given to First United Methodist Church Building and Organ Fund.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Dorothy Quilla Bridges Cecchini.