Rita Gandy, 71, of Ray City, died Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at her residence.

She was born December 18, 1954, in Cook County to the late Felton Lamar Rentz and the late Helen Dunlap Rentz. She was a homemaker and a cashier with J.H. Harvey Company in Nashville for many years. She was of the Baptist faith and loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the widow of Harvey Gandy, Jr. who died in 2021 and also preceded in death by a sister: Patricia Barrentine; brother: David Rentz.

She is survived by 2 daughters: Terri (Tom) Jernigan of Ray City and Lisa (David) Chancey of Waycross; son: Kenny (Brandy) Gandy of Cumming; step-son: Anthony Palmer of Sarasota, FL; 8 grandchildren: Samantha (Tyler) Smith, Logan (Kristen) Miller, Conner (Kaylee) Jernigan, Carly Holbrook, Eli Gandy, Brittany Marshall, Connor Palmer and Lincoln Gandy; 4 great grandchildren: Isley Kent, Elliott Kent, Austyn Smith and Delila Miller; sister: Kay Bennett of Sylvester; brother: Keith Rentz of Edgewater, FL; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2 PM in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with Rev. Norman Dunlap officiating. Interment will follow in Nashville Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be in the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Family wants to thank the staff of Pruitt Heath Hospice and Lakehaven Nursing Home for all their love and care.