Cover photo for Rachel Edith Heald Perry's Obituary
Rachel Edith Heald Perry Profile Photo

Rachel Edith Heald Perry

January 6, 1942 — January 31, 2019

Rachel Edith Heald Perry, 77, passed away peacefully at The Lodge in Warner Robins, Georgia, on January 31, 2019. She was born January 06, 1942, in Pocahontas County, Iowa. She spent her childhood on the family farm just outside of Rolfe, Iowa. Rachel was an active member of the Rolfe Presbyterian Church and graduated from Rolfe Community School in 1960. She remained close with school friends until present day and her favorite memories included class reunions. Rachel graduated from Hamilton Business College and relocated to Fort Dodge, Iowa. She worked at Land of Lakes and the bank where she made many lifelong friends. While she lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa she was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Rachel joined Little People of America and hosted activities in her area. Throughout her life, Rachel played an important role at the District and Chapter levels of LPA. She went to visit a friend in Florida and met the love of her life, Herbert Perry, of Oglethorpe, Georgia. They married in Fort Dodge on April 14, 1973. They spent their honeymoon doing what they loved to do best – travel. Their final destination was Warner Robins, Georgia where they lived in apartment for a little while before moving into their family home on Windsor Drive.

Together, they attended Macon Evangelical Church. In September 1976, they surprised their neighbors and church when they adopted a daughter, Crystal Dawn Perry. Rachel found being a mother and housewife her most fulfilling roles.

The family joined Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, in 1978 where both Rachel and her husband led the youth group and taught Sunday school. She taught Mission Friends to the children and served in the church office. She was an active member in the Sunday School Class, Nash WMU, and the Keenagers.

Perry was an active parent at Russell Elementary School when Crystal started Kindergarten. She was a room mother and began volunteering as a reading specialist for second grade. She became a paraprofessional and finished her favorite years at Russell as the librarian assistant in 2005. When she retired she took care of her oldest grand daughter, Victoria while Crystal worked as an attorney in Atlanta. Her heart grew even bigger when her second granddaughter, Sienna was born. When the girls were young, she enjoyed playing with them, especially puzzles and reading. She loved attending events like Grand Parents’ Day and birthday parties.

Perry was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Heald (1965) and Helen Heald (1989); her brother, Robert Heald (1936); her sister-in-law, Karen Heald (2017); her nephew, David Heald (2012); and her beloved husband, Herbert Perry (1981).

She is survived by her daughter, Crystal Perry of Decatur; granddaughters, Victoria and Sienna Beelner; her brothers, Norman Heald of Windsor, Colorado, and Raymond Heald (Linda) of Old Monroe, Missouri; one niece and two nephews.

Visitation will be on Saturday, February 02, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 02, 2019 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Afterwards, Mrs. Perry will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery.

The family will accept flowers or donations may be given in memory of Rachel Edith Heald Perry to LPA-Adoption Fund, C/O Colleen Gioffreda, 207 Burning Tree Road, Timonium, MD 21093.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Rachel Edith Heald Perry's arrangements.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rachel Edith Heald Perry, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, February 2, 2019

2:00 - 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Add to Calendar

*Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Add to Calendar

*Standard text messaging rates apply.

*Standard text messaging rates apply.

Photo Gallery

Guestbook

Visits: 7

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors