Gerald Livingston Delaney

Gerald Livingston Delaney, 90, passed away on December 24, 2024, at Archbold Hospital. Services will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Allen and Allen Funeral Home at 11 am. A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm Friday, December 27, 2024, at Allen and Allen Funeral Home. Gerald was born to Sylvester Delaney and Arthine Livingston Delaney on August 22, 1934, and was the youngest of five sons. He attended Thomasville High School, FSU, and graduated from Valdosta State. He also served two years in the Army stationed in Germany. At Valdosta, he met Frances Zant and they were married in 1957. They had one son, Bryant Delaney. They were married for 48 years until her death in 2005. Other than his family, one of his greatest joys was his friends. Through the years he kept in touch with classmates, Army buddies, and coworkers. He was given a plaque thanking him for keeping up with his classmates and planning several reunions. In the past four years, he had dinner with two Army buddies from the 50s and their wives-one in Las Vegas and one in Connecticut. His second enjoyment was sports. He played football and baseball in high school, college, and in the Army. He also refereed for several years. Later in life, he began to play golf and it became his favorite sport. He was inducted into the Thomasville-Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2007 he married a former friend from his high school days, Hilda Dunlap Wilford. They traveled extensively for many years, going on several cruises including a Mediterranean one. They went to Italy, Alaska, and Hawaii, and visited all other states except four. Their last trip was to Ireland where his paternal grandmother was from. He was a member of Thomasville First Baptist Church for many years. He was predeceased by his parents, first wife Frances, and three brothers-Mickey, Jack, and Howard Delaney. Survivors include wife Hilda, son Bryant, brother Donald Delaney, two sisters in law-Betty Delaney and Ellen Zant Brodeur, and nephews Steven, Ron, Kyle, Scott, Clay Delaney, and Craig Curtis, as well as one niece, Kathy Poldiak. Stepson Sim Wilford, Jr., step-grandson Matthew Wilford, step-granddaughter Ashley Berry, and one step-great-granddaughter Alice Berry.