Sonja Vaughn Cleveland, 68, of Rocky Face, Georgia, died on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Kindred Hospital in Chattanooga, with her family surrounding her.
Sonja was born Dec. 16, 1947 in Lebanon, Tennessee. She moved to Dalton in 1953 with her parents, sister and brother. She lived in Dalton until 1970 when she moved to Old Chattanooga Road in Rocky Face. She graduated from Dalton High School in 1965 and after graduating from high school she attended a local business school before becoming employed as a telephone operator at GTE which later became Alltel and Windstream Communications. She retired from Windstream Communications after 35 years, she held many positions including being the first woman to work in the Dalton switch room.Sonja was a member and the president of Professional Secretaries International for several years.Sonja was a member of Mill Creek Baptist Church for over 40 years which she dearly loved, over the years she held positions as an Adult Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, Church Hostess, Vacation Bible School teacher and Vacation Bible School Director and WMU. Sonja had many things that she enjoyed doing, writing poetry and reading were some of her favorites. She was a wealth of information regarding family lineage/history, the Bible, politics, current events, sports and many other topics. She also loved to cook and travel and always looking for a new restaurant to try. She loved during crafts and did a lot of the decorating for family, friends and her own wedding.Her salvation through Jesus Christ provided her deep faith, courage and determination that sustained her through her 16 year journey with her illness. On July 13, 2016 she celebrated 10 years as a liver transplant recipient; along this journey she met a lot of wonderful people at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN, Kindred Hospital in Chattanooga, TN, Ross Woods Adult Day Services in Dalton, GA, and the many doctor's offices that she had to attend. Sonja had a loving spirit that endeared her to all that met her – she had a way with people and could find out a wealth of information about them in a short amount of time.
Sonja was preceded in death by her parents, Counts and Frances Vaughn; grandparents Carsey and Data Vaughn, Herman and Emily Kirby; niece Caren Vaughn; and nephew Nolan Vaughn.
Sonja is survived by her loving husband of 16 years, Ken Cleveland; sisters Marsha(Tim) Morgan or Roan Mountain, Greta(Randy) Hollis of Cohutta, GA and Angelia (David) Arnold of Dalton; brothers Phil Vaughn of Villa Rica, GA and Randolph (Pam) Vaughn of Rocky Face, GA; brother-in-law Ed (Terri) Cleveland of Watkinsville, GA; nieces and nephews Kristi (Jimmy) Smith, Paige Fricks, Rene Vaughn Oxford, Heather Vaughn Dypolt, Jessie Vaughn, Cole Hayley) Vaughn, Jacob Hollis, Kellie Flowers, Kari (Judd) York, Kyle Arnold, Kateline Vaughn, Hunter Vaughn, Emma Vaughn, Taylor Cleveland; 11 great-nieces and nephews; two great-great-nieces and nephews; a special cousin Evelyn Welch of Bowling Green, KY; and special caregivers Karrie McDaniel, Destinee Castillo, Kelsey Stanley & Ross Woods Adult Day Services who became a part of her daily life and meant so much to her.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 5 to 8 pm.
Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Cleveland will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Mill Creek Baptist Church in Rocky Face with the Reverend George Ross, Reverend Dewey Boyd and Reverend Keeley Hasty officiating.
The body will be available for viewing for 1 hour before the service at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Nephews will serve as pallbearers and nieces will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Flowers will be accepted or donations made to Mill Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 178, Rocky Face, GA 30740.
Julian Peeples Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.