Obituaries for December 19, 2003

Published 11:59 am Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Bertha ‘Birdie’ Martin Rutland

VALDOSTA — Bertha ‘Birdie’ Martin Rutland, age 92, of Valdosta, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Schappaugh officiating. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 tonight.

Born January 19, 1911 in Collinsville, Okla., Mrs. Rutland was the daughter of James Paul and Emma Burton Martin, both deceased. She was a retired owner of Rutland Music and a member of First Christian Church. She was Past Worthy Matron of Valdosta Chapter No. 244 Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Rutland had also played professional softball in Oklahoma before moving to Valdosta in 1952.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bob G. Rutland of Valdosta, Bert and JoAnne Rutland of Lake Park, Pat and Triena Rutland of Valdosta, Riley O. and Rhonda Rutland of Valdosta; grandchildren, Jennifer Rutland of Norfolk, Va., Bert Rutland Jr., Andrew Rutland, Amy Rutland, all of Valdosta, Arabi Hall of Lake Park, and Troy Allen, also of Valdosta; great-grandchildren, Auburn Yules, Colby Hall and Macie Hall; sisters, Sadie Boettcher of McClave, Colo., Georgianna Peay of Sandy Springs, Okla., and Ruth “Punkie” Pavey of Fairbanks, Alaska. Mrs. Rutland was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hugh Rutland, who toured professionally as “Georgia Slim,” the World’s Champion Old Time Fiddle Player.

Carson McLane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.