Mr. B.T. Tapley, age 89, of Vidalia, died peacefully on Monday, April 15, 2024, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after a brief illness. B.T. was born on September 19, 1934 in Soperton, Georgia to the late Blount and Ethel Bedgood Tapley. He was a 1953 graduate of Montgomery County High School and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Vidalia. He was employed with Oxford Industries for thirty-four years in the Sample Department before retiring in 1985 to join his son, Gary, and daughter-in-law, Sharon, at Lyons Finance where he was faithfully present each day until just two weeks ago. B.T. was a “people person” and enjoyed his friends and being on his farm, but his most favorite thing to do was being with Gary, Brad, Tenley and Briggs, who all brought him great pride and joy. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Mills Tapley; his parents; brother, M.C. Tapley; and sister, Shirley Beasley.
B.T. was dearly loved by his family which includes his son, Gary Tapley and wife Sharon of Vidalia; one grandson, Brad Tapley and wife Kelli; two precious great-grandchildren, Tenley Tapley and Briggs Tapley, all of Evans, Georgia; five siblings, Elizabeth Warnock and husband Larry of Hartwell, Christine Wilkes of Vidalia, Gene Tapley and wife Betty of Cochran, Jerrie Whitaker of Reidsville and June Mosley of Vidalia; sister-in-law, Glenda Tapley of Dublin; and several nieces, nephews and close friends, including best friend, Ram O’Neal of Vidalia.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening, April 18th from 6:00 until 8:00.
The funeral service will be Friday afternoon, April 19th at 3:30 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Chris Vinson officiating. Burial will follow at Ferguson Cemetery in Montgomery County.
Flowers are accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to SOAPS, Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society, P.O. Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475 or Trinity Baptist Church, PO Box 592, Vidalia, GA 30475.
Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.
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