Mrs. Elizabeth "Liz" Hughey Wetherington

Elizabeth Hughey Wetherington-Born August 31, 1915 - died September 1, 2017. Wife of former Gospel Music legend James "Big Chief" Wetherington, she went to meet her Lord and Savior the day after her 102nd birthday. She made it! Elizabeth was born in Mentone, Alabama atop Lookout Mountain in a rustic farmhouse. The daughter of a carpenter, she was the sixth of seven children. In December 1922, her parents moved to Lakeland, Florida. At 14, in the middle of the Great Depression, Elizabeth began working after school at the local diner where she became an accomplished baker. At 18, she went to work at W.T. Grant as a clerk and later as the store accountant. Elizabeth was playing piano at First Assembly Church in Lakeland when she met James Wetherington, an aspiring and talented singer. They married in July of 1942. James joined the Navy in November of 1942. After the war, James started singing professionally. First with the Sunny South Quartet, then the Melody Masters, and lastly, the Statesmen Quartet. They moved from Florida to South Carolina to Nebraska with various radio stations and finally settled in Atlanta, Georgia with the Statesmen in 1949 where they sang as regulars at both WSB-Radio and WSB-TV. "Liz" served as a true quartet wife to James who sang with The Statesmen Quartet until his death in 1973. She was a gifted hostess known for her pies, warm smile and welcoming manner. The couple remained in Atlanta and attended the Assembly of God Tabernacle. After her husband's death, Elizabeth went to work for The Frog Pond, a children's clothing manufacturer. For the next 22 years she worked not only as an embroiderer but also as a fabric and color matcher until her retirement. Elizabeth is survived by daughter, Diana Wetherington Helton, (husband James Helton), granddaughters Tiffany Shiflett (Michael), Tamara Johnson (David) and five great-grandchildren: Jacob Shiflett, Raegan Shiflett, Mackenzie Shiflett, Daniel Johnson, and Micah Johnson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Deborah Hughey who was raised by Elizabeth and James. Family will be greeting visitors at Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford, GA on Friday, September 8 from 6-8 p.m. Interment will be Saturday in a private family service. In lieu of flowers the family requests a Love Light donation be made in the name of Elizabeth Wetherington/Memorial at http://www.nghs.com/love-light. Indicate "notify" to Diana Helton, c/o Hospice, 2150 Limestone Pkwy, Suite 222, Gainesville, 30501.