Lorena Williams Peach of Jasper, age 81, passed away on March 17, 2021, following a lengthy illness. Peach was born March 25, 1939, in Juliette, Ga., to her parents Edward Lamar Williams and Lillian Harrison Williams. Peach was the only girl in the family with five older brothers (always maintaining that she was not spoiled). She graduated from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Ga., in 1957 and later attended the University of Georgia, Georgia Southwestern University and received her Bachelor of Education degree in Teaching from Georgia Southern University. During her teaching career, she taught school in Bibb (Macon), Dougherty (Albany) and Butts (Jackson) Counties in Georgia, as well as in Hamilton County (Jasper) in Florida. While teaching in Macon she met John Weston Peach, a Mercer University Law Student, who would later become a Circuit Court Judge in Florida. They married in 1967 and moved to Jasper to begin John's career in law and to start a family.
They were both blessed to have found the perfect town and have resided in Jasper for 54 years raising their children Patti and John, Jr. While always a "Georgia Girl" in spirit, the people of Hamilton County formed a special place in her heart and were responsible for creating a lifetime filled with fond memories and friendships. Her husband often said "everyone can now see the power of motherhood" when both children embraced her love for the Georgia Bulldogs despite his love of the Florida Gators. Her father's general store in Juliette would serve as the "Whistle Stop Café" in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes and operates as such today. Throughout life, her soft speech always retained a beautiful melodious Middle Georgia accent.
Peach was predeceased by her parents and four of her five brothers: Edward, Franklin, Jimmy and Jerry Williams. She is survived by her husband, John; children, Patti and John, Jr. and brother, Robert (Mitzi) Williams. Graveside services were held on Saturday, March 20, at Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper, with Rev. Roger Hutto and Pastor Missy Turbeville officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Jasper at P.O. Box 1298, Jasper, Fla., 32052 or to the Juliette United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 31, Juliette, Ga., 31046. Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla., was in charge of arrangements.