Louise Thomas Guardia, 89, passed away peacefully at home on April 2, 2020. She was born on October 22, 1930 in Phil Campbell, Alabama to Ozzie M. and Lois Phillips Thomas. Her family moved to Georgia when she was six years old and she was raised on the family farm near Osierfield. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Jose Guardia, sisters Dixie Hargrove, Ruth Thomas, Anne Thomas, and the father of her children John Wiggins.
Louise was a 1947 graduate of Fitzgerald High School. She was crowned Miss Fitzgerald and went on to win the Miss Georgia title in 1950, representing the state in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. With her Miss Georgia scholarship, she attended Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where she studied journalism. She enjoyed creative writing and loved to read poetry and short stories to her daughters as they were growing up.
She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald where she taught Sunday School in the youth and young adult department for over 60 years, influencing the lives of many generations of young people.
Louise was the co-owner/manager of the Tastee-Freez from 1963-1973. She then began her career with the City of Fitzgerald and served as the City Clerk until her retirement. As an active member of her community, she served in many volunteer roles including youth mentorship, local literacy programs, Communities in Schools, and was a devoted Hospice volunteer. She was also given the honor of being named the Junior Woman’s Club Mother of the Year. She enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world, especially visiting her husband’s home country of Panama.
Louise devoted her life to helping others and showing kindness to all. Through her faith, she practiced unconditional love and always saw the good and the sacred potential in everyone. With her gracious heart, all were welcomed into her home.
Louise is survived by her daughters Gina Wiggins and Laura (Roger) Norris of Fitzgerald, and Lisa (Todd) Stanfill of Phenix City, AL; a granddaughter Anslee Stanfill of Columbus, GA; a brother Phil (Linda) Thomas of Asheville, NC; stepchildren Tere (Enoch) Delgado, Mary Ann Guardia, Joe (Monica) Guardia, Jean Marie (Frank) Ziemetz, Fernando (Ana Lisa) Guardia, all of Panama; Bobby (Marisa) Guardia of Ponte Vedra, FL; Elida (Luis) Bonet of Austin, TX; Johnny (Charlene) Guardia of Gig Harbor, WA; and Tommy Guardia of Brussels, Belgium. She is also survived by many step grandchildren, great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to acknowledge her loving and devoted caretakers Gwendolyn Burgess, Beverly Towns, and Emma Calloway, who were there for her until the end.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald, P.O. Box 367, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 or to a favorite charity.