Mrs. Alice Cooley Malphrus, 82, of Ellaville, passed away on January 29, 2026, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in the chapel of Way-Watson Funeral Home at 2:00PM with Rev. Brandon Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the Malphrus Family Cemetery.The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 5:00 – 7:00PM.

Mrs. Malphrus was born May 2, 1943, in Fitzgerald, GA to the late Albert and Annie Evers Cooley. She was a member of Ellaville Baptist Church. Mrs. Malphrus worked in many fields over the years, including a licensed barber, a brick mason, and most enjoyably driving semi-trucks. She also taught barbering at Macon Technical College for a time. Mrs. Malphrus was a member of the Tazewell Quilting Society and was an avid quilter and gardener.

Survivors include her husband, Wayne Malphrus of Ellaville; seven children, Kirk Strickland and his wife, Tammy of Ellaville, Jack Strickland and his wife, Kathy of Ellaville, Starlit Dillard and her husband, Brian of Ellaville, Allen Strickland of Hohenwald, TN, Lyn Humphries and his wife, Deanna of Ellaville, Linc Malphrus, II and his wife, Carol of Cataula, GA and LeAnn Dempsey and her husband, Paul of Kennesaw, GA; seventeen grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Frances Aldridge of Cheyenne, WY, Carolyn Campbell of Madison, GA, and Hazel Baker; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Gentiva Hospice at:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/GentivaFoundation/GHS.html