Anita Louise Stewart Headley

(NEWNAN, Ga.) Anita Louise Stewart Headley, 83, of Newnan, Ga., passed away Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at Brightmoor Hospice in Griffin, Ga.

The funeral was Monday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. EST at Central Baptist Church in Newnan with Dr. Joel Richardson and the Rev. Matt Sapp officiating. A reception was held in Central Baptist Fellowship Hall following the service.

Mrs. Headley was born Dec. 8, 1938, in LaGrange, Ga., to the late Olin Hearn Stewart and Lily Mae Stone Stewart. Anita moved to Almond, Ala., when she was in third grade and graduated as Valedictorian of her class from Wadley High School in 1957. Her ambition was to become a nurse, and she was awarded a full scholarship to attend Birmingham Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated in 1960. On April 16, 1961, Anita married William “Bill” Vaughn Headley, and in 2021 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Anita and Bill were blessed with four sons and 10 grandchildren. During their early years of marriage, Anita and Bill lived in New York, Michigan, Iowa and Oklahoma because of Bill’s job with Goodrich Building Corporation. Anita was the unpaid field secretary and general helper to Bill during the “traveling” years. Additionally, Anita worked as a registered nurse in obstetrics and surgery in various hospitals and doctor’s offices in Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and New York. In 1971 Anita and Bill moved to Newnan, where Bill started his own construction business, Headley Construction Corporation. After taking accounting classes at West Georgia College, Anita performed the job of accountant at Headley Construction starting in 1974. From 1986 to 1997, she managed The Commercial House on Perry Street in Newnan. She also managed Headley Properties for several years.

Service to her church and community was an important part of her life. Anita has been a member of Central Baptist Church since moving to Newnan in the early 1970s. Over her time at Central, she has worked tirelessly in many capacities, including serving as a Sunday school teacher, nursery worker, youth leader and deacon. Anita was a member of the chancel choir, as well as scheduling and overseeing Wednesday night suppers for several years. Over 30 years ago, she was one of the founders of the Feeding Our Friends ministry at Central Baptist Church, which prepares and delivers over 150 meals each week to people in need. In addition to Anita’s church activities, she was involved in multiple community organizations during her lifetime: She was a den mother and adult instructor for the Boy Scout troop; an active member of the local Republican party and served as editor of the newsletter and as treasurer; a charter member of the American Business Women of Coweta County (Ga.) and Coweta County Tourism Board; a member of Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Newnan;

a sustaining member of Newnan Junior Service League; and a member of Newnan-Coweta Historical Society Board and Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation.

Survivors include husband, William “Bill” Vaughn Headley of Newnan; sons, Dr. William Headley Jr. and wife Keri of Jesup, Ga., and Mitchell Headley and wife Margaret, Matthew Headley and wife Amy, and Lucas Headley and wife Beth, all of Newnan; grandchildren, William Headley III, Andrew Headley and Robert Headley of Jesup, Madison Headley, Mary Beth Headley and Mason Headley of Newnan, Megan Headley of Newburgh, Ind., Caroline Headley of Newnan, Harris Headley and Grace Headley of Newnan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Mae Dean Stewart Johnston and Janell Stewart Shreve.

Rather than flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions be given to Feeding Our Friends Ministry at Central Baptist Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com

McKoon Funeral Home, Newnan.