Golda Sullivan
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[On April 14, 2012 at 11:50 a.m. Golda Sullivan, age 75, of Elkville, was ushered into heaven and reunited with her beloved husband, Perry Sullivan. Golda was born on August 13, 1936 in Elkville, Illinois to Ralph and Kate Stamm. She married Perry Sullivan on July 5, 1951 in Elkville, Illinois. Perry and Golda resided in the Elkville/Dowell area until 1958 and then moved to Du Quoin where they resided for 21 years. They had four daughters, Lorenda, Vickie, Londa and Brenda, whom they raised in Du Quoin before moving back to Elkville in 1978. In 1979 Golda gave birth to their fifth child, Ryan.
Golda's dream as a child was to get married and have children. She not only fulfilled her dream by being a great mother to her children, but she also became a mother and grandmother figure to many others who knew her. Golda had a peaceful and loving spirit which caused people to love her as she loved them. She opened her arms and her home to many young people and embraced them like they were her own.
Golda worked for over 15 years for Country Set Garment Factory in Du Quoin, Illinois. She became an expert seamstress and spent many hours sewing for her family as well as others. During the years she worked at Country Set Golda was a member of the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union. Golda often took summers off from the garment factory to spend time with her children and to work other places such as The Mug and the Du Quoin State Fair. After leaving Country Set in 1977 Golda went to work for Turco. She worked two years there and resigned during her pregnancy with her fifth child. Golda became a stay-at-home wife and mother in 1979 and dedicated herself to raising her son. She worked briefly as a seamstress for the costume shop at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and resigned from there to help raise her youngest grandchild.
As a child, Golda attended Knoff Bend Pentecostal Church with her parents and siblings. She and her husband, Perry, joined the Dowell Baptist Church in 1951 where they raised their children and remained members until their deaths. Golda made it clear, however, that she was a "born-again Christian" and her name was "written in the Book of Life in heaven" which allowed her to go to any church she wanted. Golda believed in and exemplified a quiet, personal relationship with Jesus. She did not always attend church regularly, but she always prayed and read her Bible on a daily basis and was not ashamed to share her faith with others. Golda was a perfect example of the wife and mother described in Proverbs 31. She was a vigorous, hard worker, she opened her arms to the poor and needy, provided clothing for her family, put her family's needs before hers and was a faithful, loving wife. Not only did "her children arise and call her blessed" (Prov. 31:28) but so did many others; for truly all who knew her were blessed by her life.
She is survived by three daughters - Lorenda Cockrum and husband Jim of Thompsonville, Ill., Vickie Matyi and husband Bob of Henderson, Ky. and Brenda Rice and husband Mike of Elkville, one son - Ryan Sullivan of Elkville, five sisters - Connie Blevins of Hiawatha, Kans., Velma Stamm of Du Quoin, Clara Stamm of Elkville, Lillie Owens of Kirkwood, Mo. and Jane Pierce of Du Quoin, five granddaughters - Wendy Peter of Thompsonville, Amber Porter of Cambria, Ill., Ariel Matyi of Henderson, Ky., Haley Cockrum of Thompsonville and Hannah Sullivan of Elkville, five great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter - Londa Lynn Sullivan, one granddaughter - April Cockrum, two brothers - Clarence Stamm and Lawrence Stamm and two siblings in infancy.
Funeral services were at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2012 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. John Nordstrom, Rev. Phil Nordstrom and Rev. Brett Beasley officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial was in the Old Du Quoin Cemetery at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the American Cancer Society Perry County Relay for Life and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.