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Obituary For Irma Petty
We respectfully announce the passing of Mrs. Irma Petty, age 71, of Atlanta Georgia on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Roswell Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Roswell, Georgia.
Graveside Services will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Luthersville City Cemetery in Luthersville, Georgia.
Public viewing will be Thursday from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM at the Funeral Home.
Due to COVID-19 concerns everyone in attendance at the viewing and the Graveside must wear a mask and Social Distancing is encouraged.
Irma Kate (Kay) Sexton Petty was called home, on May 11, 2022, to rest and be with the Lord. Kay, as she was called by those closest to her, was born on March 26, 1951, Easter Sunday, in Polk County, Rockmart, Ga, to the late Frank Sexton Jr, and Sarah Ellen Jones. Her siblings, Randell Frank, James Russell Sexton, and Glenda Faye Nunnally, proceeded her in death.
At a very early age, the family relocated to the Paulding County, Dallas, Ga area, where she attended the infamous Matthews Consolidated School. She was baptized at age six and became a member of the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. She became an active member of the children and youth ministries, attending Sunday Church School, Vocational Bible School, and other children’s activities. She developed a love for fishing, singing, and fixing hair (she had a birth mark the shape of a fish). She joined the church choir as lead singer and was its president for many years. She loved listening and singing old spiritual hymns with her mom, while being coached by her oldest brother to develop her voice, and sang with her mom as a member of the Ever Ready Gospel Singers of Dallas, GA.
In high school, Kay was a very smart, studious student, with very quick wits. She was a multi-talented, naturally skilled beautician, where she would fix her neighbors, friends and family members hair. She loved to write, was a naturally skilled poet, passed down from her mom. She once had one of her poems set to music. Due to her love for singing she convinced two of her classmates to enter a talent show contest, posing as Diana Ross and the Supremes, (Kay was Diana), they won the contest and decided to take their show to perform at many of the elementary and high schools in the surrounding areas. Children thought they were the real deal! While in school Kay participated in drama, talent shows, choir and was a guard on the Warriors Varsity Basketball team, all the while fixing hair on the side. She always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and while in high school became a Candy Striper (nurse prerequisite program), and volunteered at the local hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
Alter graduating high school, she worked various jobs, to include Nabisco Bakery, and Elmer of Atlanta Wholesaler Jewelry Company. She decided to return to the classroom and pursued her dream of becoming a nurse, by enrolling in the Atlanta Junior College, where she took classes In Computer Operator (data processing) and obtained her Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA). After working for a brief period in the field, and at the insisting of her sister, stating for her to stop bootlegging hair, and get serious, she returned to school and completed her Master of Cosmetology and Barber licenses.
She was joined in marriage to her present husband Bennell Petty, and acquired one stepdaughter, Pyper Lynn Johnson Brook. She went on to perfect her skills and eventually opened her own successful salon, Petty’s Hair Salon. No one could fix hair like Kay. She was a very proud business owner.
To know Kay was to love her, there was never a dull moment. She was so down to Earth, so real, kindhearted, full of life, witty, caring, and just a great human being, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t cut you, now!
She will truly be missed by lots of folks.
She leaves behind a husband of over 40 years, Bennell Petty, Stepdaughter, Pyper Lynn Brooks (Dr Walter). Three siblings: Wendell Joseph Sexton, (Willie Ruth); Sandra Sexton Tunstall; and Rev Johnny Lee Sexton.
Arrangements entrusted to Thrash and Sons Funeral Home.
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My loving sister, Kay, will be forever in my heart, as it is very heavy with her passing. It gives me the greatest pleasure to know that she made it in, and I will see her again. She was loved by many, and found good in everyone. I pray God have mercy on those who oppressed her, because of her caring heart ❤️.
To the family's you have my sympathy , Erma was a school mate and a very good friend, I have not seen her for many years but her mother and my dad was raised up together our family's loved each other - Elder; Ernest Baulding
May the Grace of God be with you at this trying time. You have my deepest sympathy. .. Arlene Flemister
Expressing my deepest sympathy to the family of Mrs.Irma Petty.
To the Petty and Sexton family we will continue to keep the families lifted up in prayer.Clifton and Dorothy Hill Owens.
