Jean Wadkins Sheridan

Nellie Jean Wadkins was born on February 11, 1927, at her grandmother’s residence in Shawmut, Alabama, a small textile town. In 1927, rural Alabama did not issue birth certificates and Nellie was not issued a birth certificate until applying for nursing school in 1944. Nellie grew up during the Great Depression; Nellie and all her family worked in the West Point Pepperell textile mill in Langdale, Alabama. Money was tight for the Wadkins family; throughout her life, Nellie (Jean) was a prudent spender and always looking for ways to be thrifty. After birth, Nellie resided in Langdale, Alabama until graduating from high school. Nellie was the second daughter of John and Arlene Wadkins; there were four more children to follow; one daughter who died at childbirth, two younger sisters and a younger brother. Of the four surviving girls all went to and graduated as nurses from nursing schools in Alabama and Atlanta; all four girls passed the examination to become Registered Nurses (RN). Nellie entered elementary school a year early and graduated in 1944 from Valley High School in Langdale, Alabama. At 17 she packed a suitcase and boarded the train for Atlanta to enter the Federal Government WWII Cadet Nursing Program at Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing; she graduated in May 1947 and joined the Red Cross as an RN. Nellie unofficially changed her name to Jean upon moving to Atlanta, there forward she introduced herself and expected everyone to call her Jean; she was not fond of people calling her Nellie and if ya’ did ya’ got a “stink eye.” Jean met her husband, Donald Thomas Sheridan, in late Spring of 1955. Don was stationed at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta. Don and Jean met on a blind date, set up by one of Jean’s nurse friends. The couple were engaged in September 1955 and married in Langdale, Alabama on December 19,1955. The newlyweds honeymooned in New York City; Jean’s first trip North of the Mason Dixon Line. In January 1956, Don joined the Air Force and was assigned to Waco Air Force Base in Waco, Texas; they packed their bags and boxes for a move to Waco, Texas. This was the first of many moves associated with the military and Don’s professional career as a pilot. Besides the move to Texas, the couple had approximately 16 moves throughout the United States to include Dover, Delaware, where their first daughter Lynne Iris was born in 1957; a move to Montauk, New York, where their son Reed John was born in 1959 and a move to Ogden, Utah, where their daughter, Ann Marie was born in 1963. In 1968, the Sheridan family moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Don and Jean resided until the Fall of 1994. In 1994, the couple designed and had their dream home built in “the woods” of rural Braselton, Georgia, where Jean lived until February of 2018. After the wedding in December 1955, Jean “hung up” her white nurse’s garb and cap to become a full-time homemaker, wife and future mother. In 1960, Jean re-entered the working world as a part-time nurse at Dekalb General Hospital until the family move to Utah. Jean took another work break until 1968 when the family moved back to Stone Mountain, Georgia; and Jean worked as a nurse at Georgia Baptist Hospital, Dekalb General Hospital and Shallowford Hospital; Jean’s retirement was from Dekalb General Hospital on October 3, 1990. Jean’s final “hurrah” was as a full-time wife and “empty nester”. In retirement, Jean and Don enjoyed their life in Braselton; they transferred their membership from Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia, to the Buford Presbyterian Church in Sugar Hill, Georgia in January 2001. Jean spent much of her time digging in the dirt, loving her plants and her four-legged family members. Every Fall Jean spent Saturdays cheering for the University of Georgia, Athens Bulldogs and West Point Academy Black Knights; NO ONE was to call or disturb Jean during her football games. Don and Jean traveled domestically in the southeast, took a few international trips to Europe and Nova Scotia and many domestic car trips to the West coast and Colorado to visit their son and daughter. Jean’s JOY was her grandchildren, Sara Joelle Sheridan, Lara Leigh Sheridan, and Austin Joseph Butler. Jean and Don attended swim meets, soccer matches, school plays and cherished the visits from the grandkids. Jean was thrilled that all three of her children and all three grandkids went to and graduated from UGA. The “love of her life,” Don passed in late 2017, they had been married 63 years (short of a month). Jean moved into independent living in February of 2018, with her two 4-legged roommates where she made many friends. In the Fall of 2024 at 97 years YOUNG, Jean made the decision that it was time to move to a community that could provide additional “eyes” on her daily activities, this was a HUGE “life” change for her. Unfortunately, in March 2025 due to a fall Jean ended up with an extended hospital visit and then another move with “more eyes.” It was a tough six months as her health was declining and she lost her beloved son, Reed, in April 2025. Jean was a devout Christian; she was a strong and often stubborn woman, she did what she wanted on her own terms. She loved her family and her caregivers; she treated people with kindness and respect. She appreciated everything everyone did for her, and she always acknowledged with appreciation. On Sunday, September 28, 2025, Jean left the world to soar with the Angels and join her husband, Don; beloved son, Reed and Jesus in Heaven. Parents: John L. Wadkins (dec’d) Arlene C. Wadkins (dec’d) Siblings: Martha Sue Johnson (dec’d) Grace Wadkins (dec’d) Peggy J. Wadkins (dec’d) Ouida Quacchia & brother-in-law, Rod Quacchia (Chico, California) Dan Wadkins (dec’d) and sister-in-law, Sandra (Valley, Alabama) Children: Lynne Iris Sheridan (Daughter) Reed John Sheridan (Son, deceased) & Judy Nunnally Sheridan (Wife); Sara Joelle Sheridan (Granddaughter) & Natt Walker (Husband); and, Lara Leigh Sheridan (Granddaughter) Ann Sheridan Butler (Daughter) & Shawn Butler (Husband); Austin Joseph Butler (Grandson), Lauren Governale Butler (Wife); Charlotte Grace Butler (Great- Granddaughter) & Emmett Joseph Butler (Great-Grandson) Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, October 15th, 2025; 2:30pm at Buford Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow in the Church Fellowship Hall, all are invited. Buford Presbyterian Church / 1242 Buford Hwy / Sugar Hill, GA 30518 Donations: In lieu of flowers; Jean would prefer monetary donations to the Buford Presbyterian Church Mortgage Fund. Buford Presbyterian Church / 1242 Buford Hwy / Sugar Hill, GA 30518 OnLine: https://www.bufordpres.com/give Phone: Buford Presbyterian Church

Jean Wadkins Sheridan

February 11, 1927 - September 28, 2025