Venera "Ag" Anderson

Venera “Ag” Usry Stapleton Anderson

Avera, GA  –               Venera Usry Stapleton Anderson, 91, loving wife to the late C.S. Anderson Jr., and the late George “Pete” Stapleton, entered into her eternal rest early Wednesday morning, May 8, 2019, at Silver Linings Personal Care Home in Stapleton. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held at 2:30 P.M. Friday afternoon, May 10, 2019, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Race Lariscy officiating. A private interment will follow at the McGraw Family Cemetery.

The youngest of eight children born to the late Anna McGraw Usry and the late Thad Usry, Venera, lovingly known as “Ag” by her family and friends, grew up in North Avera and graduated from Avera High School.  Soon after graduation, she married and moved to Stapleton, making a home for her growing family. After moving to Wrens, she worked as the Store Manager for The Fashion Shoppe on Broad Street.  Ag was a homemaker at heart—always putting her family first and making their home a safe place of comfort and peace. Ag was happiest when she moved back to her North Avera home where she could get back to the land and gardening.  She loved to cook and bake for her family and was a farm-to-table cook long before it was popular.  Ag also had a passion for animals of all kind, but especially her beloved lab named Lady.  Her energy was boundless and immeasurable.  A loving, soft-spoken Southern lady who loved her family unconditionally, she was a true “Mema” to all of her grandchildren who were her heart.

As a young girl, Ag accepted Jesus and served Him at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. While living in Wrens, she joined Wrens Baptist Church where she worked in the Nursery and sang in the choir. After moving back to her beloved North Avera home, she rejoined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where she was in charge of the Sunday altar flowers and sang in the choir. Ag gave God the glory in all things and it was He who strengthened and brought her through the valleys of life. She has now gone home to be with her Lord, dearly missed by those she left behind.

Ag was also preceded in death by all of her siblings, Cleon Usry, Aubrey Usry, Darnell Usry, Bennett Usry, Gordon Usry, Thad Usry Jr., and Dera Jones; and sons-in-law, Jimmy Hodge and Judson Boyd. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, George Stapleton, Jr. (Ellen), Cathy S. Hadden (Dean), Joye A. Dutton (Jim), Janie Hodge and Cathy Boyd; thirteen grandchildren, Pete Stapleton (April), Natalie Stapleton, Luke Stapleton, Tom Matheny, Carmen Stewart (Chad), Jennifer Dutton Smith (Gary), Jeff Dutton, Christy Frederick (Adrian), Robert Hoffman (April), Taylor Hodge, Lindsey Rogers (Brett), Matthew Boyd and Brittany Boyd; eleven great grandchildren, Lily Claire Stapleton, Callie Anne Stewart, Mitchell Jack Fowler, Garrett Gerald Ince, Joslynn June Dutton, Kayla Peck, Logan Peck, Evan Peck, Jackson Hoffman, Emma Kate Hoffman, and Abby Rogers; nieces, nephews, church family and friends.  The grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends prior to the funeral services at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church from 1:00 – 2:30 P.M. Friday afternoon, May 10, 2019.

Memorials in her honor can be made to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, c/o Bobbie Williams, P.O. Box 55, Avera GA 30803 or to CSRA Humane Society, 425 Wood St, Augusta GA 30904.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Silver Linings Personal Care Home for the loving, compassionate and professional care.

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The Day God Called You Home