Mrs. Elestine Riggin Pope

Mrs. Elestine Riggin Pope, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2024, at the age of 98. She was a devoted wife to Dr. Hoyt Westbrook Pope and a loving mother of two daughters and two sons. Funeral Services will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus. The family will greet friends following the service at the residence of Deanna Pope 204 West College Street. Elestine was born in Crisfield, Maryland on August 16, 1926, as one of seven children born to Sadie Mason Riggin and Howard James Riggin. At the age of 16 she left Maryland to attend The Church of God Bible Training School and College in Sevierville, Tennessee, where she met her future husband, Hoyt Westbrook Pope of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. They were married in Sevierville on December 14th, 1945. Elestine and Hoyt began their married life in Nashville, Tennessee where Hoyt attended George Peabody College for Teachers. The earlier years of their marriage were spent raising their family in Leesburg, Florida. In 1966 Georgia Southwestern College brought them to Americus, Georgia where they spent many happy years. Elestine remained in Americus for 40 years before moving to Atlanta. Elestine was active in her local church, served as president of the local American Cancer Society, participated in many community groups, enjoyed time with her Garden and Bridge Club friends, and volunteered for the Mustard Seed Thrift Store and Hospice of Americus and Sumter County, and was a faithful golf widow. She and Hoyt traveled extensively with the Georgia Seniors Golfers Association during his retirement. Throughout it all, her devotion to faith, family, and friends remained foremost in her life; she felt them to be God’s richest blessings. Mrs. Pope was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Hoyt Westbrook Pope and her eldest son, Hoyt Westbrook Pope, Jr. She is survived by her daughter Darlene Pope Pirtle and her husband, Jon A Pirtle, III, of Vienna, Austria: Dale Pope and his wife Sharon, of Valrico, Florida; and her daughter Deanna Pope, of Americus, Georgia. There are six grandchildren including Aynsley Pasquali, Laura Pope, Andrew Pope, Sam Ozio, Sarah Ozio, and Jon A Pirtle, IV and four great grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society or Samaritans Purse. To sign the online guest book and share your condolences with the family please visit aldridgefuneralservices.com Aldridge Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of these arrangements.

Mrs. Elestine Riggin Pope

August 16, 1926 - September 7, 2024