Obituary for Arja Niggelie Forester

MRS. ARJA NIGGELIE FORESTER, age 94, of Macon, GA, passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at her residence.

 A graveside service will be held at 3:00PM Monday, December 22, at Orphans Cemetery, with Rev. Rick Hamilton officiating.

 Arja was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on November 30, 1931, to the late Adriana Eichesheim Niggelie and Arie Niggelie. She attended Southern Seminary in Virginia and later attended the University of Georgia in the early 1950s, where she met her future husband, William T. Steele. They were blessed with 3 wonderful daughters, Lauren, Victoria, and Adrian, and raised them in Eastman, GA where they lived in the late 1950s. In the early 1960s the family lived in Holland for a couple of years before returning home to Dodge County. She was a homemaker, a farmer, and a real estate broker and relocated to Macon, GA in the 1980s to be near her girls. Arja was very active and loved golf, tennis, Georgia Bulldogs football, skiing, swimming, and played Bridge with her friends for many years. She was affectionately known as “Guy Guy” and “Grammy” to her grandchildren. She was a pianist, loved classical music, and was a member of Vineville United Methodist Church and the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon. In the 1990s, she married Dr. Beverly Forester, and they enjoyed several wonderful years together until his passing in 2001. In addition to her parents, Arja was preceded in death by her Son-in-law, Ronnie Coley.

 She is survived by her Daughters – Lauren Austin of Carrollton, Victoria Coley of Macon, and Adrian Giddens (Tim) of Milledgeville; Grandchildren – Kate Brown (Tanner) of Allerton, IL, Emily Sanders (David) of Lexington, SC, and Marcy Wimbush (Raymond) of Newnan; 7 Great-Grandchildren; Sister – Irene Van Der Pluijm (Ted) of the Netherlands; Nieces – Andrea, Leonie, and Kristina.

 The family will receive friends at Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home from 1:30PM-2:30PM Monday, December 22. In addition to flowers, the family requests contributions to the Orphans Cemetery Fund, The Orphans Cemetery Association, Inc., P.O. Box 4411, Eastman, GA 31023.