Cecil Gordon Motley went to be with the Lord on January 17, 2025 at his home in Holmes County, Florida. He was 94 years old.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Ruthie Merle English, his parents, Lillie Emma (Scott) and Henry Jesse Motley, one sister, Annie Belle Schilling, six brothers Lester, Howell, Joe, Wade, Lawson and Carl Motley and one great-grandson, Gavin Deedrick.
He is survived by his five children, Rhonda Joiner (Jesse), Becky Motley, Gordon Motley all of Westville, FL, Lisa Peeples (Forrest) of Palatka, FL, and Christy Paul (Lee) of Bonifay, FL; ten grandchildren, Jesse Joiner III (Audrey), Katie Castaneda (Nate), Ashley Porter (Michael), Raven Clark (Andrew), Willow Motley (fiancé, Ethan McVay), Dyan Deedrick, Michelle Azula (J.D.), Justin Peeples, Trey Paul (Laura) and Jacob Paul; sixteen great-grandchildren, and two sisters-in-law, Shirley English and Patricia English Jackson..
Cecil served seven years in the U.S. Army and sixteen years in the U.S. Air Force. His military career was transformed when a superior officer found out that he was a self-taught, proficient typist, a skill at which few soldiers excelled. Among his favorite tours of duty were Frankfurt, Germany; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Anchorage, Alaska; and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. By the time of his retirement in 1972, he had achieved the rank of Senior Master Sergeant—not bad for someone who never graduated from high school.
After retirement from the military, Cecil went on to grow chickens for Showell Farms, serve one term on the Holmes County School Board, and work for the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in bringing a new correctional facility to Holmes County through his work on the Chamber and eventually served as the first Personnel Director of Holmes County Correctional Institution.
The major turning point in Cecil’s life occurred on October 23, 1962. That was the day he and his wife Merle made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This decision changed the course of their family’s future. He has been a long time member of West Pittman Baptist Church and served in the capacity of Song Leader, Sunday School Teacher and Deacon. He participated in multiple mission trips throughout the United States and abroad, working in countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Tanzania and the island of St Lucia. He has been a member of The Gideon’s International for many years and enjoyed visiting and speaking at numerous churches throughout the Panhandle.
He loved to fish and garden and by the grace of God was able to do both of those activities well into his old age. He will be missed by his immediate and extended family, his Church family and his longtime friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2025 at West Pittman Baptist Church with Rev. Daniel Smith and Rev. Nate Castaneda officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Warren Holloway Ward Funeral Home of Geneva directing. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 1:00 P.M.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, 801 Bamboo Rd, Boone, NC 28607 or to The Gideons International PO Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214-0800.
