Dearly Departed Staff

  Year                         Staff

        Name                                 Obituary/Eulogy

          Carlton Thomas Adams

            Carlton Thomas Adams -  73, of Valdosta, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 1999 at South Georgia Medical Center. Born in

            Valdosta on Aug. 15, 1926 to the late Gordon Ira and Lucille Malloy Adams, he had lived in Valdosta most of his life.

            During World War II, from 1942 until 1944, he served with the United States Navy. He attended Middle Georgia

            College, lettering in three sports and then Georgia Southern University where he received a B.S. degree in Physical

            Education. Mr. Adams received a Master of Education Degree and Education Specialist Degree from Western

            Carolina University at Cullowhee, N.C. From 1949 until 1951, he was a teacher and coach at Jeff Davis High School

            in Hazlehurst where he started the first football program for that school. He taught and coached at Cook County

            and Bainbridge from 1951 to 1955, continuing on at Leesburg High School, Leesburg, Fla., until his return to

            Valdosta in 1958, when he went to work under Coach Wright Bazemore, as line coach for the Valdosta Wildcats.

            Mr. Adams was instrumental in starting the football program at Lowndes High School. When he ended his 29-year

            career as an educator, Mr. Adams retired as Principal of Lowndes High School, where he had also been coach and

             teacher. In the early 1960's, he was head of physical training at Moody Air Force Base for the student pilot

            program. Following his retirement from teaching, he became director of the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch. In 1990,

            he was inducted into the Lowndes Valdosta Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Adams was a member of the Park Avenue

            United Methodist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class.   Survivors include his wife, the former

            Catherine Cooper; one son and daughter-in-law, David Carlton and Debra Adams; two granddaughters, Karla

            Adams and Erin Adams; one sister and brother-in-law, Myrtice and G.W. Colson, all of Valdosta; and several nieces

             and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Pam Adams. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m.

            Sunday at the Park Avenue United Methodist Church with the Rev. Craig Rikard and the Rev. John Walker,

            officiating. Entombment will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive

            friends from 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. Carson McLane Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Adams.

            Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch or to Park Avenue

            United Methodist Church. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home, Inc.

          Carlton Thomas Adams

            I just want to say that I lived on the Boys Ranch for about 9 years and CARLTON ADAMS filled my void for a family.

            He was so understanding and full of love that I can't begin to explain. He told me once"Todd be who you want to be

             even if it is a manager at Mcdonalds:but always love yourself, because that is where your strength comes from.   I

             am going to miss such a great person.  Everybody he knew he touched a special part of their life!

                                                              Todd Nickels                                 mailto:nickelsgeorgia@hotmail.com

          Carlton Thomas Adams

            I transferred into Lowndes High in 1987 and live on the boys ranch while Mr Adams was the ranch director. I went

            into the air force upon graduation from LHS and havent really kept up with the hometown. I was shocked to see Mr

            Adams had passed away when i found this web site. He was a great man and role model. I can still picture Mr

            Adams sitting in his office smoking his pipe , trying to make me understand why it was important to be in before my

            curfew on the weekends. He always pushed all of us ranch boys to do our best, and although we didnt always

            listen to him, everyone had alot of respect for him. He was a great father figure to all of us , filling a void so easily ,

            as if we had been his children all along. You will be missed Mr Adams , thanks for all the help and encouragement .

                                                               KEN DAVIS                                               ABubblejuice@aol.com

          Michael Cortez Booker                                                                                   Picture

            Michael Cortez Booker, 63, of Valdosta died Sunday, December 11, 2005 at South Georgia Medical Center after a

            short illness. He was born on October 30, 1942 in Wildwood, Florida to the late Clarence Cortez and Helen Atkinson

             Booker and had lived in Valdosta for thirty seven years. Mr. Booker served in the United States Marine Corps from

            1960-1964 and was retired from the Lowndes County Board of Education after thirty three years as an educator

            and administrator. He received his AA Degree from North Florida Junior College in 1968, Bachelors Degree in

            History in 1970 and his Masters Degree in 1972 from Valdosta State University at which time he wrote his Thesis

            on the Growth of Catholicism in South Georgia that was published in the Southern Cross and is kept on file at St.

            John’s Catholic Church. He received his Education Specialist Degree in 1991 and was the recipient of the Liberty

            Bell Award in 1978 given by the Valdosta Bar Association. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic

            Church.  Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Lorita Booker of Valdosta, two daughters and sons in law, Michele

             Minyette and Ray Yeager of Jacksonville, Illinois and Nicolette Camille and Sonny Rigdon of Homerville, two sons

            and daughters in law, Christian Cortez and Laura Booker of Eielson AFB, Alaska and Shannon Michael and

            Candace Booker of Valdosta, 8-grandchildren, Victoria Catherine Yeager of Jacksonville, Illinois, Lawson Seth

            Rigdon of Homerville, Stephanie Lea Booker, Collin Cortez Booker, Ashley Danielle Booker all of Eielson AFB,

            Alaska, Brooklyn Marie Booker, Brayden Michael Booker and Briton Morgan Booker all of Valdosta, his mother in law

             whom he loved dearly, Myrtle McDonald of Valdosta, a niece, Kimberly Laduska Baldwin of Marietta.  Memorial

            services will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, December 14, 2005 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with

            Father John O’Brien officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

            Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral

            Home.

          Earl  Coleman

            VOCA teacher

          Corinne DeLoach Coleman

            VALDOSTA -- Corinne DeLoach Coleman, 74, of Marietta and formerly of Valdosta, died on Sept. 29, 2004, at her

            residence after a short illness. She was born on Dec. 11, 1929, in Pitts. Mrs. Coleman taught English at Lowndes

            High School for many years.  Survivors are a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Charlie Smith of Marietta; sons

            and daughter-in-law, Dan Coleman and David and Lynn Coleman, all of Marietta; six grandchildren, Jessica Hall,

            Renee Schoen, Tillman Coleman, Spencer Smith, Corinne Smith and Grant Coleman; several great-grandchildren and

             a sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Leon Meyer of Augusta.  A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on

            Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Lulu's Restaurant, 132 N. Patterson St., Valdosta. In lieu of

            flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1292, Albany, GA 31702.

            Condolences may be expressed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

          James Charles Cooper                                                                                  Picture

            James Charles Cooper, 73, of Demorest, formerly of Valdosta, died on Monday, June 13, 2005, at Emory University

            Hospital in Atlanta. He was the son of the late James Ellis and Mabel West Cooper of Brooks County. Survivors are

            his wife Jean Cooper of Demorest; three daughters and their husbands, Debbie and Ray Poe, Kathy and James

            Bonner, Lisa and Bob Lee, all of Valdosta; one son and his wife, Chuck and Jennifer Cooper of Sylvester; two

            stepdaughters, Kimberly and Ray Robertson of Blacksburg, Va., Jennifer and David Price of Charlotte, N.C.

            Grandchildren are Chris and Amy Yarbrough, Jason Yarbrough, Blake Bonner, Ben Bonner, Coleman Miley, all of

            Valdosta; Matthew Cooper and Rebekah Cooper of Sylvester; Christian Robertson, Parker Robertson and Ashley

            Robertson of Blacksburg, Va. Also surviving are four sisters, Catherine Adams, Lenelle and Julian Shierling, Laura

            and Charlie Flythe, Carol and Billy Folsom, all of Valdosta; and two brothers, Bernard and Edna Cooper of Marietta,

            Wayne and Gail Cooper of Hahira. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Cathy and George

             Luckett of Memphis, Tenn., Judy and Pete Adams of Banks, Ark.; and one brother-in-law and his wife, Charles and

             Kay McEwen of Dyer, Tenn. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by a

            beloved brother-in-law and mentor, Carlton Adams.  Cooper, better known by many former basketball players as

            “Coach,” touched the lives of numerous young people throughout Georgia. During a super successful career, he

            coached basketball both on the high school and college levels. During the 2005 season, he was honored by the

            Great South Athletic Conference as the Coach of the Year after winning more than 1,000 games during a career

            that spanned 48 years. After graduating from Morven High School, he earned bachelor and master’s degrees from

            Georgia Southern University. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He coached at Morven

            High School and later moved to Brooks County High and on to Live Oak, Fla. In 1968, he moved to Lowndes High

            School where his girls’ basketball teams won state titles for four consecutive years. Following an outstanding stint

            at Lowndes High, he became women’s coach at Valdosta State University where he took his team to the NCAA

            Final Four. After being retired from Valdosta State University for two years, he took the helm of the womens’

            basketball program at Piedmont College in Demorest where he remained until his illness and death in 2005. Cooper

            leaves a legacy of outstanding professionalism, enviable success on the court, and valuable lessons about life. He

            received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career with the most outstanding being the naming of

            the facility at Lowndes High School as The Charles Cooper Gymnasium. Funeral services for James Charles

            Cooper will be on Friday, June 17, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta. He will lie in state at the

            church one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Bill Cashion, senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church where

            Cooper was a member, will officiate. Interment will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will

            receive guests at Carson McLane Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. this evening. In lieu of flowers, donations may be

            made to the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at

            mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home

          William Hubert “Bill” Cribbs

            Dr. William Hubert “Bill” Cribbs, Sr., PhD. 58, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2006, in the Adel Nursing Home,

            Adel Ga., following a short illness. Dr. Cribbs was born on Jan. 18, 1948, in Lowndes County to Vertis Young

            Cribbs of Valdosta and the late George Hubert Cribbs. He graduated from Valdosta State College and the University

            of Georgia. He was a member of the Leadership Georgia, Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Valdosta and was

            past head of the Alapha District Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Cribbs was a professor of Biology at Valdosta State

            University for 25 years before his retirement and did private tours of the Okefenokee Swamp. He was the widower

             of Mary Olive Strickland Cribbs who passed away in March, 2003. Survivors other than his mother are one son

            and daughter-in-law: William Hubert “Will” and Stephanie Cribbs, II, of Tallahassee, Fla.; one brother and sister-in-

            law: Paul and Sharon Cribbs, of Valdosta; his mother-in-law: Eloise Strickland of Homerville: two nephews: Paul

            Cribbs, Jr. of Warner Robins and Justin and Stacy Cribbs of Valdosta and several other relatives. Services for Dr.

            Cribbs will be held today, June 10, 2006, at 11 a.m. from the Homerville First Baptist Church. Interment will be in the

            North Cemetery near DuPont.— Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville

          Sarah Cothron Dasher [Zipperer]

            Sarah Zipperer Cothron Dasher, 85, of Lake Park, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, at her residence. Born Nov. 2,

            1922, in Lowndes County, she was the daughter of the late Horace and Lou Zipperer. She was associated with

            Lowndes County High School for many years and was active in a number of community activities. She was a

            member of the Lake Park Baptist Church.  Survivors include a daughter, Vivien Bly of Interlachen, Fla.; two sons,

            Samuel Cothron of Mechanicsville, Va., Tommy Cothron of Valdosta; stepson, Sammy Dasher of Folkston; five

            grandchildren, William Horton, Beth Lacombe, Carol Redmon, Jana Missildine, Trey Cothron; three great-

            grandchildren, River Lacombe, Hana Missildine, Breana Missildine. She was preceded in death by her husbands,

            Grady Cothron and Sam Dasher. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, in the chapel of

            Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Dawson officiating. Burial will follow in Redland Cemetery. The

            family will receive friends this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or donations be

            made to Bethany Hospice, 1001 Williams St., Valdosta, Ga., 31601. Condolences to the family may be made on the

            obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.

          Rick  Draffin

            COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Rick Draffin, Jr. formerly of Valdosta, passed away after a lengthy illness on Monday, Nov. 26,

            2001, in Columbia, S.C. He is survived by his children, Mercedes Draffin Castaneda, her husband, Frank and their

            children, Zoe, Ethan, Kendall, and Courtney of Lawrenceville; Rick Draffin, his wife, Angel, and children, Gage and

            Trinity of Lake Park; Dodge Draffin of Breckenridge, Colo.; and family friend, Liz Ferguson of Valdosta. Mr. Draffin is

             also survived by his mother, Anita Eckenrode of Blairsville, Ga.; his father, Roger Draffin of Fla.; his sister, Carla

            Green of Charleston, S.C.; and numerous relatives. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Miles-Odum

            Funeral Home in Waycross. Burial will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery, Waycross. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m.

             Thursday at the Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross. -- Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross. Rick was a

            former school board member for lowndes county in the early 1990's.

          Jerry W. Edwards

            Jerry W. Edwards, 60, formerly of Lake Park and Valdosta, passed away Jan. 13, 2000 at his Seminole, Fla.,

            residence. Mr. Edwards was born in Fulton County to Evelyn M. Tibbitts, Seminole and the late Morris R. Edwards,

            New Port Richey, Fla. Mr. Edwards attended Russell High School in East Point where he resided. He graduated from

             West Georgia College where he was in Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities. He also received a

            Master of Education degree from the University of Georgia. Mr. Edwards was a teacher, coach and administrator at

             Lake Park Junior High School from 1962-1964, Lowndes County High School and then Lowndes High School from

            1965-1975. He was also a former director of Sylvan Learning Center in Jonesboro. Survivors include one daughter,

             Jennifer Edwards, Savannah; one son, Morris Edwards, Cochran; three brothers, Charles Edwards, Fayetteville,

            Robert Edwards, Albany, and Chris Edwards, Valdosta; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in

            death by one sister, Cheryle A. McCrary, Madeira Beach, Fla. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at

            the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard Soper, officiating. McLane Lakewood Funeral Home

          John Nealon Feazell

            John Nealon Feazell died on May 19, 2008, at Langdale Hospice House in Valdosta, Ga. Mr. Feazell was born Jan.

            7, 1930, in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Ga., the son of the late John Otis and Verdye Akins Feazell. He was a

            direct descendent of the early pioneers of Ouachita and Union Parish, Louisiana and Lowndes County, Ga. His

            maternal grandparents were Albert Luther and Emma Ethel Lee Akins of Berrien County, Ga., and his paternal

            grandparents were John Nealon and Elfryda Elvida Mobley Feazell of Jackson Parrish, La. Mr. Feazell was a 1948

            graduate of Valdosta High School, a 1952 Graduate of Valdosta State College and a 1960 graduate of Mercer

            University, Macon, Ga. He also attended Georgia Southern, Florida State University, Emory of Valdosta and

            University of Hawaii. In 1952 Mr. Feazell entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea in the winter and spring

            campaigns of 1953 with the 31st Infantry Regt. of the 7th Division. He received the Combat Infantryman Badge for

            this service. He began his career in education as a teacher at Hahira High School, then principal of Pine Grove High

            School and then became principal of Hahira High School. He was at Lowndes High School the first year of

            operation, 1966-1967. Mr. Feazell then moved on to Hopwood High School, Saipan, Mariana Island for school year

            1967- 1968. He was the Director of Education Majuro, Marshall Islands 1968-1970, district Director of Education in

            Marianas 1970 -1971, Headquarters Department of Education 1971-1972 Saipan, Mariana Islands. From 1972 until

            1980 Mr. Feazell was at Lowndes County Jr. High/Middle School. He then transferred to Lowndes High School until

            his retirement in 1985. After retiring, Mr. Feazell’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, restoring antiques, extensive

            traveling and especially antique automobiles. He was a member of the American Legion, Sons of Confederate

            Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 31st Infantry Regiment Association and Disabled American Veterans. He was

             also a member of the National Rifle Association, the Lake Park Historical Society and the Georgia Retired

            Association of Educators. Survivors are his wife of 56 years, Joyce Hodges Feazell; daughter and son-in-law,

            Rebecca Barton and Kenneth of Homerville, Ga.; son and daughter-in-law, John Nealon Feazell, Jr., and Suzanne of

             Guyton, Ga.; grandchildren, Kristen White and husband, Joey of Okinawa, Japan, Michael Hammond and wife,

            Belle of Tuscon, Ariz., Christopher Hammond of Okinawa, Japan; four great-granddaughters, Mackenzie Turner and

             Madison White of Okinawa, Japan, Anika Hammond and Maiyah Hammond of Tucson, Ariz.; one great-grandson,

            Nealon White of Okinawa, Japan; two sisters, Lenora Johnston of Livingston, Texas and Elvida Driskell of Cape

            Canaveral, Fla.; three sisters-in-law, Winnie Hodges of Jasper, Fla., Louise Jones of Boerne, Texas, and Mildred

            Hodges of Hahira, Ga. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008, at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the

            Carson McLane Funeral Home. The Rev. Ed Falgout and Mr. Paul Johnson will officiate. Burial will follow in

            Friendship Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. In

            lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia or to the Georgia Sheriff’s Boys Ranch.

            Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane

            Funeral Home

          Anna Jean Fennell [Courson]

            Anna Jean Courson Fennell, 74, of Valdosta, died at South Georgia Medical Center on Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, after

            a brief illness. Born on March 22, 1931, in Pearson, she was the daughter of the late Dan and Floy Pearson

            Courson. Mrs. Fennell was a homemaker, a former school teacher and a member of Park Avenue United Methodist

            Church. She greatly loved and doted on her children and grandchildren. She loved playing cards with her Bridge

            Group and loved quilting. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Roy Fennell of Valdosta; two sons and

            daughters-in-law, Chip and Beth Fennell of St. Simons, Dan and Lorri Fennell of Limestone, Tenn.; three

            grandchildren, Libby Fennell and Jacob Fennell both of Athens at the University of Georgia and Danni Fennell of

            Knoxville, Tenn. at the University of Tennessee and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death

            by two sisters, Marjorie Simpson and Mary Farnell and a brother, Dr. Jack D. Courson. Funeral services will be held

            at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. V.L. Daugherty

            and the Rev. Craig Rikard officiating. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial

            Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home this evening from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations

            may be made to the Building Fund of Park Avenue United Methodist Church or the United Methodist Children’s Home

            or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page at

            www.mclanefuneralservices.com — Carson McLane Funeral

          K. E. Folsom

            You may remember my father, K.E. Folsom. He recently passed away (November 23, 2004). He served the

            Lowndes County Schools faithfully for 30 years as transportation supervisor. He kept those yellow buses running

            every morning. A man of high standards and integrity he was responsible for throwing more than a few scoundrels

             off the bus too.

                                    Cindy Folsom Morris (Class of '76)                                              centralumc01@alltel.net

          Peggy  Griffin [Peden]

            Peggy Peden Griffin of Hahira passed away on Saturday, the 27th of March, 2010 at the age of 80 after a long

            illness. She was born in Pulaski, Tennessee on December 10, 1929 to the late Ben and Blanche Smith Peden. She

            attended David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee on scholarship and received her Master’s Degree and

            Specialist Degree from Valdosta State College. Mrs. Griffin was a longtime educator in the Lowndes County Public

            School System beginning her teaching career in Hahira in 1951. She was a member of the Hahira United Methodist

            Church and had been a lifelong Sunday School teacher in Hahira. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44

             years William E. (Billy) Griffin of Hahira. Mrs. Griffin is survived by her sons and their wives, Douglas and Karen

            Griffin of Athens, GA., Joe and Kim Griffin of Rincon, GA., four grandchildren, Jessica Griffin Malloy and her

            husband, Ryan of Nashville, TN., Jake Griffin of Athens, Patrick Griffin and Aaron Griffin both of Rincon, GA., her

            sister and brother in law, Betty and John Francis of Franklin, TN. and her brother, Mahlon Peden of Pulaski, TN.

            Funeral services will be held at 2pm, Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Hahira United Methodist Church with Rev.

            Lynn Hurley, Rev. Ken Morgan and Mr. Joe Sisson officiating. Burial will follow in the Friendship Cemetery. The

            family will receive friends on Monday from 6-8pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made

            the William E. and Peggy P. Griffin Foundation for Excellence in Public Education Instruction in care of the Citizens

            Community Bank. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com.

            Martin/McLane Funeral Home of Hahira.

          Calhoun Wilson (Bill) Hendrix, Sr.                                                                     Picture

            Calhoun Wilson (Bill) Hendrix, Sr., 84, of Lake Park died Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the Langdale Hospice

            House. He was born on February 16, 1923 in Lowndes County to the late Thomas Walter and Fannie Lee Lyons

            Hendrix. Mr. Hendrix was a member of the Redland Church of Christ and an avid fisherman and enjoyed gardening.

            He served in the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard the USS Montpelier CL-57 and was one

             of the first trained radar technicians. Mr. Hendrix was an retired teacher and administrator for forty two years

            having taught math and industrial arts at Lowndes High, Madison County and Dixie County, Fla.  Survivors include

            his wife, Wilhelmina Martin Hendrix of Lake Park, his seven children and their spouses, Calhoun Wilson, Jr. and

            Anne Hendrix of Charlotte, NC., Walter Adrian and Karen Hendrix of Raleigh, NC., Wilma Rey and Barry Denard of

            Flowery Branch, Martin Lee and Terrie Hendrix of Columbus, Kenny and Linda Hendrix of Andalusia, Ala., Etrenda

            Saralyn Hammock of Valdosta, Andy and Teresa Hendrix of Marianna, Fla., grandchildren, Jeffrey and Nikki

            Hendrix, Amy Louise and Don Steil, Josh Hendrix, Jennifer Hendrix, Heidi Hendrix, Frederick Denard, Curtis Hendrix,

            Ashley Hendrix, Justin Hendrix, Marisa Hendrix, Kendall Hendrix, Clayton Hendrix, Saralyn Singletary, Lindsey

            Hammock, Whitney Jacobs, Brandon Hendrix, Dalton Hendrix, stepgrandchildren, Julie Gaines, Becky Shead,

            Wendy Bergstrom, Sandi Denard, great grandchildren, Reid Hendrix, Mary Peyton Hendrix, Brielle Steil, Frederick

            Denard II, Madison Denard, Camden Singletary and Justin Pierce, step great grandchildren, Aubrey Gaines, Jeffrey

            Gaines, Wesley Gaines, Will Shead, Audrey Shead, Logan Bergstrom and Gage Lunsford., sister, Lois Moye of

            Tampa, Fla, brother, Gerald Hendrix of Wilmington, NC. He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Malone Hendrix.

            Funeral services will be held at 4pm, Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral

            Home with Mr. Bruce Barwick, Jr. officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Copeland Cemetery. The family

             will receive friends on Tuesday from 6-8pm at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of South

            Georgia. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane

            Funeral Home.

          Jim Wesley Hesters                                                                                      Picture

            Jim Wesley Hesters, 61, of Valdosta, passed away Wednesday, May, 5, 2010, at his home after a short illness. 

            Wesley was born Feb. 20, 1949, in Hahira, a son of the late Jim Alvin and Jewell Marie Jones Hesters. He was a

            lifelong Lowndes County resident, graduating with the last Class of Lowndes County High School in 1966, and from

             Valdosta State University. Wesley was a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, retiring after 30 years of service

             with the Lowndes County School System.  He was a member of The Gathering United Methodist Church of

            Valdosta. His love and passion was being a member of The Gathering Praise and Worship Ministry.  He is survived

            by his wife, Shirley A. Hesters of Valdosta; a son, Adam Wesley Hesters of Clyattville; a sister, Judy Lee Hesters

            of Brunswick; a brother, Jon Mitchell Hesters; a daughter and son-in-law by marriage, Alicia Nicole and Randy

            Tillman Merriman of Lexington, Ky.; he was “Pooh-bah” to six grandchildren, Chandler Haden, Elizabeth Kathleen,

            Aaliyah Marie, Hannah Marie, Landon Joe and Abigail Grace-Hesters Merriman, all of Lexington, Ky.; two nephews

            and one niece, Dusty Pickering, Andy Pickering and Melissa Pickering; one grandniece, Katie Pickering; and one

            grandnephew, Kyle Pickering, all of Brunswick.  Funeral services for Mr. Hesters will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday,

            May 8, 2010, at The Gathering United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Minton officiating. Mr. Hesters’ family will

             receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Carson McLane Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial

            contributions to The Gathering, 4381 N. Forrest St. Ext., Valdosta, GA 31605.  Condolences may be expressed to

            the family online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home

          Nancy Clare Johnson [Peters]

            Nancy Clare Peters Johnson, 77, of Valdosta, died at home after a lengthy illness on Thursday, July 17, 2008. She

            was born in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 1930. She was the fourth child of Melville F. Peters and Clare Hindle

            Peters of Beltsville, Md. At the age of 16, Nancy moved to Georgia to attend Brenau College. That is where she met

            her future husband, who was teaching at Riverside Military Academy. She married Ralph B. Johnson on July 15,

            1949, and they had a full marriage of 43 years. They moved to Valdosta in 1951. Nancy taught in the Valdosta

            school system for one year and then taught the rest of her career in the Lowndes County School System. In

            addition to being a fifth grade teacher for one year, she spent the remainder of her teaching with the Discovery

            Gifted program. After retiring from teaching, she worked a few years for the South Georgia Regional Library. She

            retired from the library due to poor health. Nancy was a member of the Joy Sunday School class at First Baptist

            Church of Valdosta, and enjoyed activities of Learning in Retirement at VSU Continuing Education. She was a

            member of the Eastern Star and Friends of the Library of SGRL. She instilled deep Christian values in her children,

            and loved everyone. Being a very loving and giving person, she opened her home during the Holiday season to

            many friends and family members through the years. She is survived by her four children, Stephen N. Johnson of

            Lake City, Fla., Dixie Lee Johnson of Hortense, Erika Jim Rowlette of Tijeras, N.M., and Valerie Jo Peacock of

            Tallahassee, Fla.; six grandchildren, Christopher Noel Johnson, Noel B. Johnson, Kevin Lee McDaniel, Heather Lane

            McDaniel, Jay Walter Peacock and Ernest Clay Rowlette; two great-grandchildren, Emmalane Marie Johnson and

            Alexa Marie McDaniel; a half brother, Todd Peters of Cape Cod, Mass., and numerous nieces and nephews. She

            was preceded in death by her husband in 1991, a sister, Emily Peters Rennie of Detroit, Mich., and two brothers,

            Melville H. Peters and William H. Peters of Beltsville, Md. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July

             19, 2008, in Sunset Hill Cemetery with Dr. Phil West officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the

            service from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may be

            conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com — Carson McLane Funeral Home.

          Barbara R Kent

            She was a teacher for about 4 years at the high school before she died at 4:25 pm Nov 10, 1998.

          Thelma Sue Love

            Mrs. Thelma Sue Love who taught math for many years at LHS passed in June of 2001.

          A. B. "Sonny" Martin                                                                                       Picture

            passed away Saturday, September 25, 1982. He served 20 years (1960-1980) as the superintendent of the

            Lowndes County School System. Prior to that he had served as a teacher, coach and principal of Hahira High

            School for 10 years. The students named the LHS football stadium "Martin Stadium" after him. He is survived by his

            wife Mrs. Sue Boyette of Adel; one daughter, Mrs. Dani Buchanan of Nashville, Tn.; and one son Alex B. Martin Jr.

            of Valdosta; three grandsons, Alex B. Martin III, Blake Martin, and Jay Buchanan

          S. Louis McHargue                                                                                        Picture

            S. Louis McHargue, 90, of Valdosta, passed away on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 at South Georgia Medical Center. He

            was born April 8, 1918 in Clyattville, son of the late Boyd McHargue and Ethel Cook McHargue Kemp. Mr. McHargue

            retired from the U.S. Army, where he saw action in World War II and Korea. During his enlistment, he was with the

            Army Attaché in France and Afghanistan, as a linguist and translator. In 1953, he instructed R.O.T.C. at UNC Chapel

             Hill. After retiring from the Army, he completed his education at UGA as a Journalism major and returned to the

            Valdosta area where he taught at Valdosta High School and was later head of the English Dept. at Lowndes High

            School, retiring in 1978. During his lifetime, he served or traveled to every major country. He was a member of

            Crossroads Baptist Church, the Hemerocallis Garden Club, the Elks, Masons, Shriners, Valdosta-Lowndes Retired

            Educators Assoc., and was active in many other organizations too numerous to mention, in all of which he held

            leadership positions. Mr. McHargue is survived by his niece, Barbara McElvey Stafford and her husband James A.

            Stafford of Casselberry, FL; his nephew, Robert Boyd McElvey and his wife Connie of Lake Park; his niece, Sandra

             Ring of Quitman; grandnieces and grandnephews, James A. Stafford, Jr., Jennifer Dreznin, Kathryn Stafford, and

            Robin Wood. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his step-father, Robert L. Kemp, and two sisters,

            Vera McElvey and Pearl Coll. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 in the chapel of Carson McLane

            Funeral Home with Rev. Charlie Scarbrough officiating. Burial will follow in Redland Baptist Church Cemetery with

            full military honors. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers,

            please consider contributions to the American Heart Association or Crossroads Baptist Church. Condolences to the

             family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.

          Diane  Meeks [Hughes]                                                                                  Picture

            Diane Hughes Meeks, 54, of Lake Park, died Thursday, July 10, 2008, at her home. She was born in Hahira on Aug.

            2, 1953. Mrs. Meeks was a school teacher. She taught at Lowndes Middle School, St. Jerome Catholic School in

            Hyattsville, Md., and St. John Catholic School of Valdosta. Mrs. Meeks is a member of Frances Lake Baptist

            Church.She is survived by her husband, Raymond Meeks; one daughter, Katie Meeks; her parents, L. C. and Hazel

            Hughes, all of Lake Park; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and Sue Hughes of Jacksonville, Fla. and Marshall

            and Kay Hughes of Valdosta; two nieces, Rita Hughes and Jennifer Hughes; and one nephew, Douglas

            Hughes.Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 12, 2008, at 2 p.m. at the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in

            Lake Park with the Rev. Eldridge Lyons and the Rev. Robert Dawson officiating. Burial will follow in Lake Park

            Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted

            or donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Lake Park. Condolences to the family may be expressed

            online at mclanefuneralservices.com.— McLane Lakewood Funeral Home, Lake Park, Ga.

          Betty Clenny Scruggs

            CITY OF HAHIRA

            RESOLUTION

           

            A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAHIRA:

           

           

            WHEREAS, it has pleased Divine Providence in His omnipotent wisdom to remove from our midst our friend, faithful

            servant and former City Council Member, Betty Scruggs bringing to an end a life filled with kindness and courtesy;

            and

            WHEREAS, throughout her years of public service, Betty earned the respect, admiration and high regard of all those

             with whom she came into contact and the love and affection of all of high and low degree, who were proud to call

            her friend;

            BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Honorable Mayor and City Council take public and official cognizance of her

            faithful service to the citizens of this city, and express to her sorrowing family our sincere appreciation for her

            dedicated performance of her duties while holding the office of City Council of the City of Hahira, first Chair Person

            of the Hahira Historic Preservation Commission, and serving as a member of other boards, and committees. As a

            mark of respect, and our deep realization of the loss we have sustained, the city flag shall be displayed at half staff

             on April 18, 2000: and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the record and that a copy hereof, properly

            embossed and inscribed, be transmitted with our heartfelt sympathy to her bereaved family.

            SIGNED AND SEALED THIS 17th DAY OF APRIL, 2000

            John F. Adams Mayor

          Betty Clenny Scruggs

            Betty Clenny Scruggs, of Hahira, died Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.at Smith Hospital after a lengthy illness.  She

            was born on September 14, 1928 in Edison to the late Robert Lee Sr. and Mollie Henley Clenney and had lived in

            Hahira for 50 years.  Mrs Scrugggs was a retired administrator with the Lowndes County Board of Education and

            was a member of many educational organizations.  She was a charter member of the Hahira Historical Society, had

             served on the Hahira City Council, first chairperson of the Hahira Historical Preservation Commission and was the

            former chairperson of the Lowndes County Board of Elections.  Mrs. Scruggs was a member of the Hahira First

            Baptist Chuirch, the Literary Guild and the Withlacoochee Bird Watchers.  Mrs. Scruggs is survived by two

            daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy S. and Gary Pennington, San Bernardino, California, and Emily S. and Mike

            Morgan, Apopka, Florida; one son Herbert H. Scruggs, Jr. (Bert), Hahira; two grandchildren, Jennifer Morgan and

            Jeffrey Morgan; four sisters, Gussie Peak, Jimmie Wall, Dorothy Carter, and Emmie Johnston;  and one brother, Ben

            Clenney.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Harry Scruggs and two brothers Robert Lee

            Clenney, Jr. and Richard Bowen Clenney.   Funeral Services wiill be held at 11 a.m Tuesday, April 18, in the chapel

            of the Martin/Mclane Funeral Home in Hahira with the Rev. Jimmie Cone and the Rev. Lyn Hurley officiating.   Burial

            will follow in the Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m Monday night, April

             18, at the Martin-McLane Funeral Home in Hahira.

          Betty Clenny Scruggs

            I think a lot of people at Lowndes High School were taught by my mother. She served as director of special

            education and then worked in the county office at Lowndes County Schools. She passed away April 15, 2000

            after having cancer for several years.

                                                  Emily Scruggs Morgan                                       mailto:emmorga@attglobal.net

          Willis Gordon Sears

            Dr. Willis Gordon Sears, age 71, of Winder, Georgia, died September 20, 2008. A native of Valdosta, Georgia, he

            was a son of the late Willis Ford Sears and Frances Napier Sears. Dr. Sears was a graduate of Valdosta High

            School, where he was a member of the football and baseball teams. He graduated from Valdosta State College with

             a B. A. in biology and chemistry, M. ED. in educational leadership and Ed. S. in Educational Leadership. Dr. Sears

            was a graduate of Georgia State University with a PH. D. in educational leadership. He made a career in public

            education after working as a pharmaceutical representative for Hoechst Pharmaceutical in Mobile, Alabama and

            Southern California. Dr. Sears served as a teacher at Lowndes High School and Lowndes Junior High in Valdosta,

            Georgia, Assistant Principal at Lowndes Junior High and Hahira Junior High School, Principal at Hahira Junior High

            School and Lowndes High School, Superintendent of Schools in Lowndes County and Barrow County and served

            with the Georgia Department of Education as a facilities consultant. He was a member of the Winder First United

            Methodist Church, Phi Delta Kappa, the Order of Kentucky Colonels, National Association of School Superintendents

             and the Rotary Clubs of Valdosta and Winder.Surviving are his wife of 37 Years, Ginger Summerlin Sears;

            children, Chuck and Leigh Sears, Ginny and Vince Henderson, Grandchildren, Maggie and Anna Sears, Natalie and

            Clayton Henderson, all of Winder, Georgia; brother and sister-in-law – James and Sandra Sears of Orange, Texas;

            brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Nancie Summerlin of Brussels, Belgium; two nephews and two

            nieces.Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2008 from the chapel of Carter Funeral

            Home with the Rev. Terry Tippens officiating. Interment will be in Barrow Memorial Gardens. The family will receive

            friends Monday from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Winder

            First United Methodist Church, or the Charley Parrish Scholarship Fund of the First Baptist Church of Adel, Georgia.

            — Carter Funeral Home of Winder.  Published in The Valdosta Daily Times from 9/21/2008 - 9/23/2008

          William Milton Webb                                                                                      Picture

            William Milton Webb, 82, of Valdosta died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at the Langdale Hospice House. He was born on

            Sept. 20, 1926, in Valdosta and was the son of the late Clifford A. Webb and Neita Milton Webb Cook and had lived

            in this area most of his life. Mr. Webb was a member of the Westside Baptist Church and loved his Sunday School

            Class deeply. He was a retired Baptist minister, having served at Pleasant Way Baptist Church and Pauline Baptist

            Church, and had served as interim minister at Lakeland First Baptist Church. Mr. Webb was also a retired teacher

            from Lowndes High School and a veteran of the United States Navy. Survivors include his wife, Mary Webb of

            Valdosta; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Murray Webb of Athens, David and Jan Webb of Clearwater, Fla.,

            Bill and Linda Webb of Jacksonville, Fla., Paul and Cheryl Webb of Valdosta and Franklin and Becky Webb of Lake

            Park; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; three sisters and two brothers-in-

            law, Merle Downing, Martha McCabe both of Valdosta and Mary and Wassie Griffin of Gainesville, Fla.Funeral

            services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with Dr.

            Ernie Jones and the Rev. Bob Willis officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive

            friends this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at

            www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.

          O C Williams                                                                                                 Picture

            A Legacy was bornThe Rev. O.C. Williams was born in Quitman, Ga. on Dec. 7, 1926, to the late Rev. Booker T.

            Williams and the late Annie Lee Jackson. He received his early educational experiences in Brooks County in

            Georgia, and graduated from Albany State College with the Bachelor of Science degree. He did further study in

            Indiana University, University of Georgia and Bethune Cookman College. He graduated from Interdenominational

            Theological Center with a certificate in theology. Reverend Williams retired after he faithfully pastured 27 years in

            the South Georgia Region Conference, Sixth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He also

            retired from the Lowndes County School System, and received an honorable discharge from the United States

            Navy. Through his church ministry and coaching career, he helped mold and shape the lives of those he served. He

             held membership in several organizations which include Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the

            Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His genuine love for people was manifested through his untiring generosity and

            hospitality. This was readily apparent in his willingness to share his time, resources, and "Great" sense of humor

            with all who were blessed to know him. He is predeceased by his parents, Annie Lee Jackson and the Rrev.

            Booker T. Williams; and son, Charles D. Williams. Reverend Williams leaves to celebrate his legacy of love and

            devotion his beloved and caring wife, Betty Jo Watson Williams; sons Todd L. Williams (Sadiqua) of Valdosta; Todd

            M. Coley (Catherine) of Wichita, Kan.; daughter Sherian Hunter, Columbia, S.C.; grandchildren; Todd II, Octavius,

            Destinee, Brenajah (Earth Angel) Roslyn, Stephanie, Jennifer, and Jeffrey; a host of great-grandchildren; god

            daughters, Dorian K. Abney and Karye B. Carter; and Brenda W. Pryce; god sons, Archie Zee Zanders and Eric

            Blades; brother-in-law, Tally Watson (Susan) of Peoria, Ariz.; and endeared sister-in-law, Eunice W. Abney (Otha)

            of Eatonville, Fla.; cousin, Mary Frances Weldon, Mary Lee Anderson, Minnie Motley, Chillie Holsendolp, Dionne

            Phillips, Rev. James N. Green (Geraldine "Sis"); special friends, Annie M. Harris and Levy Taylor. He leaves a host

            of devoted relatives and friends. Funeral service will be held Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 11 a.m. at The Vision

            Church on 2711 Bemiss Road in Valdosta. The Rev. Franklin Walden, Jr., Pastor and the Rev. Ellis C. Jackson,

            pastor of Bethel CME Church of Valdosta will officiate. Burial will follow in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Fort White, Fla.

            The family will receive friends this evening from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to

            the American Heart Association 2851 Remington Green Circle Suite C, Tallahassee, Fla., 32308. — Scott And

            Roberts Mortuary

                                                                                             Updated   Wednesday, June 16, 2010