Mrs. Pearlie Mae Rowell Thrift, 72, died Wednesday night (April 28, 2010) at her residence after an extended illness. She had become spoiled by her daughter, Vanessa, who was her caregiver during the last five years.

She was a native of Brantley County but had lived most of her life in Ware County. She is the daughter of the late James Bradford Rowell and Emily Herrin Rowell. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Thrift; one son, William Bradford Thrift; one brother, Owen Rowell; and one sister, Frances Scurry Williams. She was a member of Swamp Road Baptist Church and the Senior Singles Ministry. She was a 1956 graduate of Brantley County High School and retired from the Transportation Department of the Ware County Board of Education in 1998 after fifteen years of service as a bus driver. She was an avid cook and was best known for her "cat-head biscuits".

Survivors include two daughters, Marcia Thrift of Waycross and Vanessa Thrift of Waycross; one step-daughter, Lou Taylor and family of Waycross; six grandchildren, Mandy Thrift Matranga (husband Joey) of Waycross, Jeffrey J. Thrift of Waycross, Bradley S. Thrift (fiancé DeeAnna) of Waycross, Brandi N. Thrift of Buford, Will Thrift of Waycross and Travis S. Todd of Waycross; five great grandchildren, Harley Lee, Destiny Matranga, Taylor Thrift, Devan Matranga and Courtney Matranga; a special friend, Gina Bryant Bagley of Waycross; two sisters, Emilie "PeeWee" Grissom of Orlando, FL, and Myrtis Mims of Sanford, FL; one brother, James Dwight Rowell (wife Debbie) of Apopka, FL; and several nieces and nephews and other special friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday (May 1, 2010) at Swamp Road Baptist Church with burial in the Piney Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Friday at Music Funeral Home.

Sympathy can be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com