MRS. WILLENE CRAVEY DYKES, age 88, of Danville, GA, formerly of Eastman, GA, died Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Atrium Navicent Health in Macon, GA.
MRS. WILLENE CRAVEY DYKES, age 88, of Danville, GA, formerly of Eastman, GA, died Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Atrium Navicent Health in Macon, GA.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Friday, May 30, at Bethel Baptist Church, with Dr. Andy Hannah officiating, with interment in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Willene was born in Telfair County on October 2, 1936, to the late Ada Lee Welch Cravey and Reno W. Cravey. She was a graduate of McRae Helena High School, received her Associate’s degree in nursing from Middle Georgia College, her Bachelor’s in nursing from Georgia Southern University, and later earned her Master of Science in nursing administration. She later worked for Dodge County Hospital, where she met her future husband, Willie “Pete” Dykes. They married on July 13, 1957, and settled in Eastman, GA on the Dykes family farm, where they raised their Son, Lee, and Daughter, Ada. Willene was the former Director of Nursing at Bryant Nursing Home and later at Heart of Georgia Nursing Home, previous Administrator at Middle Georgia Nursing Home, and prior Director of Home Health Center in Atlanta, GA. She retired in the 1990s after over 40 years in nursing. She was a dedicated wife and had a wonderful marriage of 61 years until Pete’s passing in 2019. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers, sewing, cooking, and taking care of her family. She was affectionately known as “Nanny” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Willene was a member of several churches over the years including, Bethel Baptist Church, Lovejoy Baptist Church in Lovejoy, GA, and Walnut Creek Baptist in Danville, GA. Along with her parents, Willene was preceded in death by her Husband, Willie L. “Pete” Dykes, Son, Willie “Lee” Dykes, Jr, and Siblings, Elaine Jones, Richard “Buck” and Theris Cravey Sellars.
She is survived by her Daughter – Ada D. Messer (Eric) of Danville, GA; Daughter-in-law – Patty Dykes of Eastman, GA; Grandchildren – Brandie Anderson (T.J.), Joseph Dykes, Dalton Young (Kelly), and Dylan Young (Candance Meek); Great-Grandchildren – Dessani Anderson, Jasmine Anderson, Jayden Anderson, Eric Dykes, Evelyn Dykes, Lilly Dykes, Makenzie Young, Triston Young, Presley Young, Keith Young, Wysteria Young, Paislee Young, Bailey Thompson, Conner Thompson; Sister – Martha Wells (Gerald) of McRae, GA; Sisters-in-law – Doris Cravey of Helena, GA and Abberline Arnold of Cochran, GA; Brother-in-law – James Dykes (Sue) of Warner Robins, GA; Numerous nieces and nephews.
The family may be contacted at the residence of Ada and Eric Messer, 2200 Stuckey Rd., Danville, GA 31017, and will receive friends at Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home from 6:00PM-8:00PM Thursday, May 29.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.