Obituaries for March 17, 2006
Published 9:30 pm Thursday, March 16, 2006
B.F. ‘Ben’ Whiddon
ASHBURN — B.F. “Ben” Whiddon, 90, of Ashburn, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at Tift Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Ashburn First Baptist Church with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Perry Funeral Chapel.
Mr. Whiddon was born in Turner County and was the son of the late Preston D. and Lillie Reece Willis Whiddon. He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Mary Lou Lawson Whiddon.
He was a retired farmer and a member of the Ashburn First Baptist Church.
Mr. Whiddon served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a tank driver in the 81st Tank Battalion. He was in the Normandy, Holland, Rhineland, Ardennes and Northern France campaigns. He drove his tank into Germany as far as the Elbe River. He was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Star.
Mr. Whiddon is survived by his wife, Hester Griffin Whiddon of Ashburn; his children, R.F. “Buddy” and June Whiddon of Ashburn, Randall and Elaine Whiddon of Ashburn and Benita and Ronald Faircloth of Tifton; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
You may sign the online guest book and share your special condolences and memories with the family by visiting Perry Funeral Chapel’s Web site at www.perryfuneralchapel.com.
Perry Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Christine L. Webb
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Christine L. Webb, 66, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Wednesday, March 15, 2006.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in New Griffin Baptist Church in Alapaha with the Rev. Sim Youngblood officiating. Interment will follow at Brogdon Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 tonight at Fraser Funeral Home, 8168 Normandy Blvd., and also one hour prior to services in Alapaha.
Mrs. Webb was a native of Lenox and was a longtime resident of Jacksonville. She retired from Revelon Company after 25 years of service and was a member of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Webb; a son, Robert Wayne Webb; and a sister, Peggy Moates.
Survivors include her daughters, Patricia A. Malone and Judy Koranda; brothers John H. Langdale and Junior Woodrow Langdale; a sister, Betty Jean Goodwin; special friends, Diane and Kevin Baltes and Frank and Juanita Sutton; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give special thanks to Community Hospice and Jacksonville Urban League for all their kindness.
Fraser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Annie Louise Payne
COLUMBUS — Annie Louise Payne, 78, of Columbus, formerly of Tifton, died Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at Columbus Specialty Hospital in Columbus.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. today at Oakridge Cemetery in Tifton. The Rev. W. Ches Smith III will officiate.
Mrs. Payne was born on March 24, 1927, in Sylacauga, Ala. She was the daughter of Ira Edward Smith and Nina Jean Johnson Smith, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Eugene D. Payne, and a son, Jerry Wayne Payne.
She was a homemaker and a member of Northside Baptist Church in Columbus and former member of First Baptist Church in Tifton. She moved to Columbus from Tifton 11 years ago.
Survivors include a son, Terry Eugene Payne of Cairo; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Gordon Borkat of Columbus; a brother, Hershel Smith of Sylacauga, Ala.; two sisters, Lurline Demedicis of Leeds, Ala. and Fay Bullard of Weogufka, Ala.; five grandchildren, Michael Jay Borkat, Daniel Bryan Borkat, Jarrod Eugene Borkat, Adam Alon Borkat and Thomas Payne; and four great-grandchildren, Michael Christopher Borkat, Brandon Andrew Borkat, Bailey Katherine Borkat and Jacob Tyler Borkat.
Sign the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn Tucker Moore
LENOX — Carolyn Tucker Moore, 50, of Lenox, died Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the West Berrien Community. The Rev. Jim Williams will officiate. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 9 a.m. today and lie in state until the hour of services.
Sons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Mrs. Moore was born on Dec. 7, 1955, in Winter Haven, Fla. She was the daughter of A.C. Tucker, deceased, and Ruth Simons Ivester of Young Harris.
She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in the West Berrien Community and was a homemaker.
Survivors in addition to her mother are three sons, Joey Moore of Manchester, Tenn., Sam Moore of Woodbury, Tenn., and Danny Moore of Polk County, Fla.; a daughter, Melissa Rhodes of Mary Hill, N.C.; a brother, Jay Tucker of Macon; three sisters, Martha Dean of Winter Haven, Fla., Patty Daurghty of Macon and Angel Ledford of Young Harris; seven grandchildren; and two cousins who were caregivers, Sue Walker of Lenox and Jennifer Harnage of Lenox.
Sign the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
Sara Bethea
FITZGERALD — Sara Bethea, 85, of Fitzgerald, died Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cat Creek Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Chad O’Quinn, Elder Jabin James and Elder Bob Dickerson will officiate. Burial will follow at Cat Creek Cemetery. Visitation is from 7 to 9 tonight at Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.
Mrs. Bethea was born on March 8, 1921, in Duval County, Fla. She was the daughter of Lonnie Stovall Kinnebrew and Sara Pearl Parker, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Elder Fred Bethea, who died in 1979; a brother, Melvin Kinnebrew; and a grandson, Richard “Ritchie” Bethea.
Mrs. Bethea was a homemaker and a retired teacher with the Berrien County School System in the Old Enigma School and a member of Irwinville Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Kynette and Earl James of Fitzgerald; a son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Linda Bethea of West Union, S.C.; eight grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Irwinville Primitive Baptist Church or the Blue Gray Hospice in Fitzgerald.
Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville, is in charge of arrangements.
Mattie Glenn Knight
TIFTON — Mattie Glenn Knight, 77, of Tifton, died Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Liberty Baptist Church. The Rev. Gerald Purvis and the Rev. Billy Joe Butler will officiate. Burial will follow at Pelham City Cemetery in Pelham. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The family will be at the residence of Sheryl Turner, 12 Creekwood Drive, in Tifton.
Bruce Dunkelberger, Freddy Turner, Richard Sammons, Harry Brewer, Ricky Fletcher, George Steedley and James Harris will serve as pallbearers. Members of the Cleo McAllister Sunday School Class of Liberty Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Ms. Knight was born on September 25, 1929, in Mitchell County. She was the daughter of Joseph K. Glenn and Willie Mae Ragen Glenn, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Doris Butler.
She was the manager of Alert Answering Service and a member of Liberty Baptist Church.
Ms. Knight is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, J. Robert “Bob” Knight and Carol Knight; a sister, Louise Dunkelberger of Tifton; and two grandsons, Matthew Knight of Auburn, Ala., and Bradley Knight of Fayetteville.
Sign the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com.
Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.
W. A. ‘Bill’ Owens
REBECCA— W. A. “Bill” Owens, 90, of Rebecca, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at Tift Healthcare.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Big Creek Baptist Church in Irwin County. The Rev. Wayne McCrimmon and Rev. Jack Perrin will officiate. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ocilla from 7 to 9 tonight.
Born April 16, 1915, in Turner County, Owens was the son of James Daniel and Ella Lunsford Owens, both deceased.
A farmer, an avid fisherman and a member of Big Creek Baptist Church, Owens lived in the community most of his life. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Owens; a grandchild, a great-grandchild, four brothers and five sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gene P. Owens of Irwin County; ten children and their spouses, Mildred and J.L. Goodman of Ocilla, Herman and Patricia Owens of Irwinville, Faye and Bill Busbin of Ocilla, Troy and Bernadette Owens of Irwin County, Nina and Carroll Whitley of Fitzgerald, Camilla Mancil of Mystic, Debbie and Larry Gurr of Douglas, Morris Owens of Ocilla, Albert Owens of Mystic and Betty and Henry O’Kelly of Commerce; 32 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Paulk Funeral Home in Ocilla is in charge of arrangements.