MRS. LAVERNE HILLIARD SPIRES, age 70, of Rhine, GA, died Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Heart of Georgia Nursing Home, after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Sunday, March 19, at Hopewell Baptist Church, Rhine, GA, with Rev. Roswell Chapman and Mr. Bobby Ryals officiating, with interment in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Daniel Cook officiating. Laverne was born and raised in Milan and attended Telfair County High School. After graduating, she married the love of her life in 1969 and began her family and later went to cosmetology school in Dublin. They were married for over 54 wonderful years together and raised two beautiful children. In the 1970s, she worked as a seamstress at several area textile factories before opening her own beauty shop, Laverne’s Beauty Shop, and worked as a beautician for over 30 years. She enjoyed her work and the many conversations she had over the years with her many customers, who all became her lifelong friends. Laverne was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who enjoyed taking care of her family, cooking, camping, shopping, fishing, sewing, arts and crafts, and spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. She was the daughter of the late Martha Emma Bracewell Hilliard and Newt “Pip” Hilliard and was preceded in death by her Son, Scotty E. Spires, Brother, J.C. Evans, Sister-in-law, Betty Evans, and Brothers-in-law, Willie Spires and Eddie Spires. She is survived by her Husband; Daughter; Step-Daughter; 8 Grandchildren; Great-Granddaughter; 2 Sisters; Sisters-in-law and Brother-in-law; Numerous Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins. The family may be contacted at the Spires residence and will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Saturday, March 18.