Olleta Templeton Baggett

Olleta Templeton Baggett, 88, of Valdosta, died on Friday, December 13, 2019 at Lakehaven Nursing Home. Born during the Great Depression in Valdosta on December 28, 1930 in the Little-Griffin Hospital to the late Ruth Eubanks and Charles Ollie Templeton Sr., Mrs. Olleta was the second of four children. She graduated from Valdosta High School in 1947 and attended Valdosta State College, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Social Work. Following graduation, she began work with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. She served as County Director in Echols, Wayne and Glenn Counties.
In 1969, she returned to the family business where she was able to use the valuable skills she had gained. The Templeton family took great pride in offering nursing home care with personalized social work and nursing services to those in South Georgia and North Florida. They viewed the individuals and families they served as personal friends or even members of the ‘extended’ family. She retired as Administrator of Heritage House Nursing Home in 1993 and took a new role of public speaking and marketing around South Georgia. It was soon apparent that this sort of retirement wasn’t her “cup of tea” and she returned to full time work at Parkwood Developmental Center. Mrs. Olleta summed up her own life by saying she had been deeply enriched and fulfilled by the delightful people she met and served along the way. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth T. Adkins, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Larry Baggett; a brother, Charles O. Templeton, Jr., and her sister, Diane T. Brown.
The funeral for Mrs. Olleta will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Sunset Hill Cemetery. Rev. Bob Moon and Rev. Whit Byram will officiate. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 109 W. Valley St., Valdosta, GA 31601. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home.