Golie Elaine Gillen Paulk, 90, of Irwin County, Georgia, died Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Legacy Village in Tifton, Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, May 30th, 2026, at Riverbend Baptist Church in Irwin County, with the Rev. Gary Griffin officiating and Scotty Gillen delivering a eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 AM until the funeral hour in the church sanctuary.
Mrs. Paulk was born August 11, 1935, in Lulu, Florida, to the late Scott Alton & Lomie Waters Gillen. She was a 1953 graduate of Columbia County High School, Lake City, Florida. Mrs. Paulk loved to sing, attend Bluegrass festivals and promoted the Riverbend Bluegrass Festival in Irwin County for many years. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and working with her plants. Mrs. Paulk was a member of Riverbend Baptist Church.
She is survived by her children: Reggie Paulk, Veniece Paulk Kennedy and Adam Paulk & Andrea; grandchildren: Kelly Kennedy & Christy, Lyndsey Paulk Griffin & Will, Ben James Paulk, William Austin Paulk & Hailey, Lauren Elizabeth Paulk Milton & Alex, Christopher Kennedy & Brittany, Clint Mathew Paulk, Kevin Paulk, Nioka Paulk, and Shane Paulk; great grandchildren: Abby Griffin, Emily Griffin, Ashlyn Griffin, Averee Kennedy, Brody Ryder Shefield and Olivia Reece Milton; a brother, Scotty Gillen & Mona; a special friend, Oscar Singleton, a daughter-in-law, Redelia Paulk, as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Gene R. Paulk, Sr.; a son, Charles Elbert Paulk and a brother, Robert Gillen.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Regency SouthernCare Hospice and their employees: Kim Blackstock, Keri Hester, Nancy Sellers, Bianca Williams, Courtney Youmans, Lenore Jackson, Gwen Jefferson, Craig Nalls and Jennifer Jagielski for the loving kindness and care of Mrs. Paulk.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, is in charge of arrangements.