Gloria Lenah Merchant

Gloria Smith Merchant, 85, of Albany, died December 31, 2014 at Phoebe North Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 PM at Mathews Funeral Home. Dr. William H. (Butch) Knight will officiate. Interment will follow in the Blakely City Cemetery.

A native of Blakely, GA, born to the late, Willie Preston and Velma Paul Smith, Mrs. Merchant graduated from Blakely High School and attended Sullins College in Bristol, VA. She had resided in the Albany and Leesburg area since 1949 and was a homemaker. Mrs. Merchant was a member of the Albany Women's Club and The First Baptist Church of Albany where she attended the Winsome Sunday School Class. She loved to decorate new homes and did so when her and her husband, Bob lived in Panama City Beach, FL at the Hombre Golf Club. She was preceded in death by a son, Robby Merchant, her husband, Robert J. Merchant and her brother, Dr. Ted Smith.

Survivors include three sons, Randy (Nancy), Tim (Cindy) and Terry (Margaret) of Leesburg, GA, nine grandchildren, Kelli, Joey, Ashley, Katherine, Bill, Keri, Michael, Andrew and Ryan and six-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Saturday before the service at Mathews Funeral Home

Those desiring may make contributions to Alzheimer's Time Out, 314 N. Jefferson St., Albany, GA 31701.

The family will be at the residence of Terry and Margaret Merchant, 214 Leland Ferrell Drive, Leesburg, GA, 31763.