Longtime Businesswoman Valiree Elton Dies

Mrs. Valiree Elton, a longtime downtown businesswoman in Hazlehurst, died Saturday at her residence. She was 91 years of age.
She and her husband, the late Cecil Clarence Elton, together operated Elton’s Appliance and Service Center in Hazlehurst, a business first started in the 1950s. Later Mrs. Elton owned and operated Eltons Drapery and Decorator Service which later became Elton Decor Shoppe. Her interior decorating and seamstress worked continued on Latimer Street in downtown Hazlehurst for decades. One of her greatest joys was the relationships she made with her customers during the years at Elton Décor Shoppe.
Valiree and Cecil were familiar faces at festivals and celebrations, not only in Hazlehurst, but all over south Georgia as they were members of the local square dance club that performed both privately and publicly. Mrs. Elton made all of her and Cecil’s square-dancing outfits.
Mrs. Elton was born June 24, 1932, in Jeff Davis County to Carey Monroe McDaniel and Mary Elizabeth Dixon McDaniel. She was also preceded in death by a sister Gertrude McDaniel Waldron, and brothers Herbert Edgar McDaniel, Carey Auburn McDaniel and Wilson Monroe McDaniel (W.M.).
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lesa and Mike Stone of North Augusta, S.C.; son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Angie Elton of Alabama; grandchildren, Allen Stone (SoYoung), Pam Ramsey (Todd), Leigh Ryan (Zeb), Randall Elton (Debi) and Amanda Gossett (Jeremy); great-grandchildren, Sydney Ramsey, Gracie Ryan, Lacon Ryan, Summer Stone, Kaden Elton, Maddie Gossett and Elby Gossett; special nieces Michele Creamer (Dwight) of Lizella and Regina Barton (David) of Hazlehurst; special caregivers, Melsina Robinson, Elvira Moses, Alma Haynes, and Willie Mae Boyd; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at Elizabeth Baptist Church with burial in Hazlehurst City Cemetery.
For more information, see the obituary page.