Elaine Gilbert

Martha Elaine Gilbert 76, of Conyers, passed away quietly in her sleep Thursday. March 31, 2022. She was born October 19,1945, in Atlanta, to the late Ralph and Martha Cowan Sims. While an only child, she was raised in Conyers amidst numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins on her mother’s side. After graduating from Rockdale High School, she earned an associate degree from West Georgia College for Women. It was here that she met her 1st husband, the late SFC Thomas (Tom) Joseph Wegemer. They married in 1966 and moved to Germany, where Mr. Wegemer was stationed. Her son was born in Germany in 1967. In 1968 while briefly stationed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama her daughter was born. Upon Mr. Wegemer’ s death, she returned to Conyers and her roots to raise her children. In December of 1975, Mrs. Gilbert married her husband of 46 years, Joel “Thomas” Gilbert, Jr.

Elaine attended Smyrna Presbyterian Church during her early years and retained strong ties to the congregation. She especially enjoyed attending services under the tabernacle during Camp Meeting.  She was a founding member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. And has remained an active parishioner until this past year due to declining health, Mrs. Gilbert has volunteered at the Saint Vincent De Paul office, made meals for those grieving a lost love one and. with the Parish School of Religion.

Mrs. Gilbert centered her life around her family and friends, the Church, and especially the elderly in the community. She was an exceptional role model for her children, loving but firm.

Mrs. Gilbert was first and foremost a mother and homemaker. Nevertheless, she was successful at many varied careers. She spent 8 years in insurance sales for Sue Todd State Farm. In the 1980’s she co-owned C&D Grocery and Full-Service Gas Station with her husband, Thomas. After selling the store, she worked 16+ years for the State of Georgia in a variety of administrative positions, finely retiring from a front desk position for DFACS.

It was in Europe that her love of road trips was born. She was known to stop a every natural, man-made or historical site on the way.   While three Trans-Atlantic flights with two small children cemented her dislike of air travel. Daytona and Myrtle Beach were two of her favorite places to vacation although she would rarely get more than her feet wet. She continued to enjoy taking excursions in retirement, usually by randomly selecting a destination on an old map of Georgia.

Mrs. Gilbert is survived by her husband, Joel Thomas Gilbert Jr.; son, David and Tami Wegemer; daughter, Carla and Allen Wright; grandchildren Julie Matthews, David Wright, Savannah Wegemer; and great-granddaughter, Abigail Baker.

Mrs. Gilbert will be interred at Lawnwood Memorial Park, 1111 Access Rd. Covington, GA 30014, on April 6th, 2022. Flowers are accepted, or in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church, 2621 GA-20, Conyers, Georgia 30013, or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105