Obituaries for February 26, 2004
Published 12:05 pm Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Claude Richard ‘C.R.’ Robbins
TIFTON — Claude Richard ‘C.R.’ Robbins, 83, of Tifton, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The Rev. John S. Gibbs Sr., the Rev. Eddie Hutcheson and the Rev. Danny Jones will officiate. Burial will follow at Salem Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be R. Shane Lazenby, Bennie Branch, Richard H. Robbins Jr., Jason Guess, Bob Lazenby and Bobby Hobby.
Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Buckner, Herman H. Buckner, Ricky Hobby, J.B. Stinchcomb, Glenn Green, Orris Hobby and Hubert Jernigan.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Born Jan. 25, 1921, in Saltville, Va., Mr. Robbins was the son of James Eppie Robbins and Frances Snead Robbins, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Geneva Byrd Robbins, to whom he was married for 56 years before her death in 2000, and by five brothers and three sisters.
A four-year Army Air Corps veteran, he had lived in Tift County for 60 years and was a retired building contractor and a member of Second Baptist Church of Tifton.
Mr. Robbins is survived by one son, Richard H. Robbins Sr. (Terrie) of Ty Ty; two daughters, Rhonda Robbins Hobby (Bobby) of Tifton and Claudia Robbins Lazenby (Bob) of Gray; five grandchildren, Shay Lazenby, Dina Hobby Branch, R. Shane Lazenby, Leah L. Robbins and Richard H. Robbins Jr.; and three great-grandchildren, Ben Branch, Annabelle Branch and Jackson Lazenby.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
George W. ‘Joe’ Watson
TIFTON — George W. ‘Joe’ Watson, 60, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The Rev. Terrell Roberts will officiate. Burial will follow at Mount Paran Cemetery.
Mr. Watson’s nephews, Jimmy Watson, Eddie Watson, John Watson, Will Goforth, Lee Gray and Trent Pope, will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Born Oct. 26, 1943, in Berrien County, Mr. Watson was the son of Robert Leon Watson and Georgia Griffin Watson, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by two daughters, Tammy and Robin Watson, and a son, Joey Watson.
He was employed with Kelley Manufacturing and was a member of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include one son, Jamie Watson of South Carolina; two daughters, Michelle Hanson of Enigma and Tracy Harper of South Carolina; three brothers, Robert Watson, Johnny Watson and Jimmy Watson, all of Tifton; one sister, Sue Goforth of Sycamore; and seven grandchildren, Jacob and Joseph Hanson, Tyler and Brandon Watson and Samantha, Dylan and Mison Harper.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Bessie Frances Hancock
TIFTON — Bessie Frances Hancock, 59, of Tifton, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The Rev. Thomas Carroll Rutland will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakridge Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie W. Hall, Jesse W. Hall, William J. Bromlow, James R. Bromlow, Jason R. Singletary and Kyle Webb.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Gifts may be made to United Hospice, 415 E. Fourth Ave., Cordele, GA 31015. The family extends special thanks to Dr. Denise Cawley and United Hospice of Cordele.
Born Jan. 26, 1945, in Berrien County, Mrs. Hancock was the daughter of Ethridge Cawley Hancock and Orlaine Conger Hancock Statham, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth Hancock and Cauley Edward Hancock.
She had lived in Tift County most of her life and was a homemaker and a member of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Hancock is survived by three daughters, Tiny Hall Spell and Dorothy Bromlow, both of Lenox, and Jackie Hutcheson of Tifton; one sister, Cloise Peters of Tifton; a special friend of 51 years, Faye Tawzer; a sister-in-law, Peggy Hancock; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
O.Z. Crawley
ALBANY — O.Z. Crawley, 82, of Albany, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at HCA Palmyra Medical Center in Albany.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at First Church of the Nazarene in Albany. The Rev. Everett Foskey and William H. “Bill” Crawley will officiate. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery in Tift County.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Banks Funeral Home in Sylvester.
Born Oct. 27, 1921, in Worth County, Mr. Crawley was the son of William Edgar Crawley and Nina Lovett Crawley, both deceased.
A Navy veteran of World War II, he served on the USS Breckenridge, which was torpedoed and sank in the Atlantic. He had lived in Worth County for the last 14 years, moving there from Albany, and was retired from the City of Albany as an electrical inspector for Albany and Dougherty County. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt, and was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and the VFW.
Mr. Crawley is survived by his wife, Janet Hobbs Crawley of Albany; two sons and daughters-in-law, William H. “Bill” and Dianna Crawley Sr. of Sylvester and Mark A. Crawley Sr. of Albany; two daughters and sons-in-law, Gloria Crawley and Wayne Smith of Jackson and Leesa Crawley and Graham Thompson of Albany; one brother, Odis E. Crawley of Lillian, Ala.; two sisters, Ozella C. Hobbs of Tifton and Opal C. Young of Omega; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Banks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Kathryn Patrick Rice
HICKORY, N.C. — Kathryn Patrick Rice, 93, of Hickory, died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, in Hickory.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church of Blakely. The Rev. Rex Whiddon will officiate. Burial will follow at Blakely Cemetery, where Mrs. Rice will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Pallbearers will be Mrs. Rice’s grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home in Blakely.
Born Feb. 22, 1911, in Omega, Mrs. Rice was the daughter of the late Russell and Millie Patrick. She was known to friends and family as “Katha.” Following high school graduation, Mrs. Rice graduated from Norman Park College in Norman Park with a degree in education. Her marriage of 50 years to Jean Barton Rice began on June 1, 1931.
Shortly after their marriage, she and Mr. Rice moved to Blakely, where they raised their three children and where she attended First Baptist Church of Blakely. Mrs. Rice was a homemaker and also assisted her husband keeping books for his business, J.B. Rice Plumbing and Electrical Co.
She was an active member in the Eastern Star and received many awards as a member of the Blakely Garden Club. She was known for her “open house” policy for providing wedding showers within the church and for her delicious pound, caramel and chocolate cakes and her wonderful butterfingers.
Following Mr. Rice’s death, Mrs. Rice returned to her place of birth in Omega, where she was a member of the Omega Baptist Church and was active in women’s groups and prayer and Bible study groups. In May 1997, Mrs. Rice moved into Kingston Residence, an independent and assisted living residence in Hickory, N.C., where she made new friends and was lovingly cared for.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jean Barton Rice; sisters Maureen Spinks and Sarah Whiddon and brothers Winton Patrick and C.R. Patrick Jr.
Mrs. Rice is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Rice Proulx and Richard Proulx of Strafford, N.H.; two sons and daughters-in-law, James P. Rice and Patricia Rice of Conover, N.C., and Charles B. Rice and Catherine Rice of Alpharetta; nine grandchildren, Richard Proulx Jr. and wife, Melissa Proulx of Durham, N.C., Diane Proulx Miller of Windsor, Conn., Donna Proulx-Holland of Strafford, N.H., Glenda VanLandingham of Arlington, Va., Eric Rice of Hickory, N.C., Whitney Deese and husband, David Deese of Lexington, N.C., Michael Rice of Marietta, Barton Rice and wife, Andrea Rice, of Roswell and Kim Wall of Alpharetta; eight great-grandchildren, Richard Proulx III, William Proulx, Jack Holland, Payton Deese, Walker Deese, Nicholas Rice, Steven Wall and London Wall; a sister, Faye Hornbuckle; and a brother, Gibbs Patrick, both of Omega.
Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Robert S. Brannen Sr.
TIFTON — Robert S. Brannen Sr., 90, of Tifton, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today at the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The Rev. Edwin Dillard, the Rev. John S. Gibbs Sr. and the Rev. Ronnie Vice will officiate. Burial will follow at Turner Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be B.J. Brannen, John Brannen, Adam Brannen, Jamie Vickers, Kye Eaton and Dan Rakestraw.
Flowers will be accepted, or gifts may be made to Hospice of Tift Regional Medical Center.
Born Dec. 25, 1913, in Fort Myers, Fla., Mr. Brannen was the son of Clarence S. Brannen and Maggie Coker Brannen, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Dalton F. Brannen and Buck W. Brannen.
A veteran of World War II, he was a farmer and truck driver and was retired from Tifton Aluminum. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting and working in his garden. He was a member of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Brannen is survived by his wife, Carolyn Bishop Brannen of Tifton, to whom he was married for 48 years; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert ‘Bobby’ Jr. and Peggy Brannen, Billy F. and JoAnn Brannen and Jerry P. and Nancy Brannen, all of Tifton; two sisters, Mary Luke of Pooler and Willie Mae Laminack of Omega; his grandchildren, Melissa and Jamie Vickers, B.J. Brannen and fiancee Melissa Frazier, Leigh Ann Brannen, John and Dawn Brannen, Adam Brannen and Cari Brannen; and one great-grandchild, Kate Vickers.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Donna Jane Waddell Hardester
AMERICUS — Donna Jane Waddell Hardester, 40, of Americus, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Heritage Church of God, with the Rev. James Womack and the Rev. Frank Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Heritage Church of God, 384 Highway 30 West, Americus, GA 31709, or to Hospice of Americus and Sumter County, P.O. Box 1434, Americus, GA 31709.
Born June 26, 1963, in Dougherty County, Mrs. Hardester was the daughter of Buford E. Waddell and Mary McCrary Waddell of Americus. She was an honor graduate of Americus High School and was employed at Cooper Lighting. She was an avid member of Relay for Life and Heritage Church of God.
In addition to her parents, survivors include her husband, Mike D. Hardester of Americus; a daughter, Jenny Elizabeth Hardester of Americus; a son, Michael David Hardester Jr. of Americus; a sister and brother-in-law, Angela and Gregg Goodin of Butler; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Crystal Waddell of Americus and John and Susie Waddell of Tifton; and several nieces and nephews, Melissa and Chris Scott of Bonaire, Chris and Travis Goodin of Butler, Isabella Waddell of Tifton and Gage Waddell of Americus; and special friends Laura Gregg and Lindsey Barrow.
Aldridge Funeral Services in Americus is in charge of arrangements.
Gail L. Wilson Munoz
TIFTON — Gail L. Wilson Munoz, 53, of Tifton, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church, 1834 Briarwood Road, Abbeville, with burial to follow at the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Perry Funeral Chapel in Ashburn.
Ms. Munoz was born in Santa Cruz, Calif., and was the daughter of the late Andrew and Irene Beatrice King Wilson. She was a graduate of the Abraham Baldwin College nursing program and was a registered nurse at Tift Regional Medical Center.
She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and a longtime resident of Ashburn before moving to Tifton two years ago.
Ms. Munoz is survived by her children, Keith and Sabrina D. Munoz Sr. and Alex and Ashley Munoz, all of Tifton; two stepdaughters, Linda Munoz of Watsonville, Calif., and Terease Collier of Haywood, Calif.; one stepson, Michael Munoz of Watsonville, Calif.; one brother, Matthew L. and Tony Wilson of Ashburn; her fiance, Donald R. Dorminey Sr. of Abbeville; and her grandchildren, Miranda, Brittany, Christian, Haley, Autumn and Keith Munoz Jr., all of Tifton, Lashanna Collier of Watsonville, Calif., and Angelia and Forest Collier of Haywood, Calif.
Perry Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.