“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Elnora Mernerva Britton Twyne, 91, departed this life Sunday morning, February 25, 2018, at Garden View Retirement Assisted Living Facility in Blackshear.

A time to be born

She was born October 29, 1926, in Blackshear to the late Cearria Leone Austyle and Walter Britton Sr.  She was the sixth child of fifteen children. Her parents as well as five sisters, Martha, Carnette, Mary, Catherine Young and Charlese Booker and one brother, Walter Britton, Jr. preceded her in death.

A time to learn

She attended Pierce County Elementary School and graduated from Lee Street High School in 1944.

A time to love

She met the love of her life and soul mate Edward Twyne and promptly eloped. Legend has it that when her parents finally laid eyes on the dashing new husband, her mother slapped the new groom for stealing her daughter. The couple moved to Miami and settled into married life.

A time to move on

Looking for a new adventure, the young couple moved to Yonkers, NY in the 1950s, and what an adventure they had. While God never blessed the couple with children of their own, they helped to raise siblings, nieces, nephews, and children of neighbors and friends. Their home was dubbed “The Twyne Motel”. In their quest to provide a home away from home to others, their generosity was beyond measure. Her open door policy continued even when she and Edward moved back to Blackshear. Edward preceded her in death on December 27, 2001.

A time to seek God

While she was raised with a strong religious foundation, as she grew, so did her religious curiosity and led her into the loving arms of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. As she related her journey to family members, one day two young men knocked on her door and changed her life. She was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints until her death.

A time for a career

She was a telephone operator with New York Telephone in Yonkers, NY and later transferred to and retired from AT&T in 1988 and relocated to Blackshear.

A time for transition

In March of 2017, failing health caused her to move to Garden View Assisted Living Facility in Blackshear, where she remained until her death on February 25, 2018.

She leaves to mourn, seven sisters, Paris Bryer, Milease Wells and Barbara Britton, all of Jacksonville, FL, Marva Britton Pinkney, Miami, FL, Mamie Britton Turner and Charlotte Britton Simpson, both of Blackshear and Billye  (Clyde Rivers) Britton, Woodstock; one brother,  Carl (Mary) Britton, Monroe and one sister-in-law, Melvene Britton, Blackshear. While there are too many nieces and nephews to name personally, there are a few who she was directly involved in the shaping of their lives. They include Russell (Lydia) Walker, Westerville, OH, April (Todd) Dickerson, Altamonte Springs, FL, Stephanie Walker, Los Angeles, CA, Barry Booker,  LaGrangeville, NY, Brandi (Gloria) Booker, Beacon, NY, Taryol (Richard) Latimer, Washington, DC and Manny Edward Twyne, Blackshear; a great-nephew, A.J. Britton, Waycross; her namesake Elnora Turner Clark, Mapleton and Charita Atkin, Blackshear.

“A special thanks to the staffs of Garden View Assisted Living Facility and Heartland Hospice. Your care and support gets a 10+ rating and our family is forever grateful to you for all you provided for Elnora,” said a family member.

The family is receiving friends at 524 Watson St, Blackshear.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 2, at the funeral home, 505 Ware Street, Blackshear.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2095 Central Ave, in Waycross. Bishop Jackson Howell will officiate the services.

Interment will follow in Shiloh Cemetery in Blackshear.

The cortege will assemble at 10 a.m. Saturday, at 524 Watson Street.

Final and most sacred arrangements are entrusted to the professional care of Rainge Memorial Chapel, Inc.