Tina Marie Merritt

Mrs. Tina Marie Merritt, 44, of Sylvester, passed away on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Sylvester Church of Christ with Minister Todd Stork and Minister Jesse Jackson officiating. Following the service she will be laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery in Sylvester. She was born July 9, 1975 in Tulare, California, to Joe and Betty Silva. As a high school student she enjoyed playing sports and was an all-around athlete. She went on to play college softball and played many positions while traveling with her team. She earned an Associate’s degree and went to work as a teacher, a tax consultant for Liberty Tax, and eventually she worked for the federal government in the Internal Revenue Service department. Mrs. Merritt was a manager of the Boys and Girls Club of America for many years and was an active member and advocate for the Lupus Warriors. In her free time enjoyed watching movies and hunting for Bigfoot. She attended Sylvester Church of Christ. Above all, her dream was always to become a mother and she absolutely loved being able to raise her three children. A loving wife, mother, and daughter, Mrs. Merritt will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, James Michael “Jim” Merritt; children, Joseph Michael Merritt, Alexis Tori Merritt, and Jonathon Lee Merritt; parents, Joe and Betty Silva; brother, Joe Silva Jr.; and her sister, Wendy Priest. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. at 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037. Hall and Hall Funeral Home Albany, GA 229/883-3864