James Edwin Harper

NASHVILLE — James Edwin Harper, 72, of Nashville, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at his residence.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Westview Cemetery. Elder Robert Conner and the Rev. J.W. Dukes III will officiate. Visitation will be held after 2 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lovein Funeral Home.

Born Feb. 24, 1933, in Berrien County, Harper was the son of Shellie Harper and Mittie McMillan Harper, both deceased. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Miranda Marie Webb.

A retired owner of Southern Irrigation Company, Harper was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, a member of the Nashville V.F.W. and a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Nix Harper of Nashville; three daughters and a son-in-law, Teresa Harper of Nashville, Vanessa and Derwin Conley of Nashville and Silva Harper of Nashville; a stepdaughter, Cindy Geiger of Fargo; a stepson, Brian Giddens of Anniston, Ala.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia and Jimmy Gaskins of Alapaha and Jean and Buck Bennett of Adel; and six grandchildren, Melissa Webb, Shellie Tracy, Megan Stone, Ashlie Conley, Jarrett Giddens and Chelsey Mathis.

Lovein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Ruth Ann Graham Conger

TIFTON — Ruth Ann Graham Conger, 79, of Tifton, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at her residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church. The Rev. John Cone will officiate. Burial will follow in the Conger Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.

David Morris, Robert Snyder, Andrew Winningham, Michael Winningham, Chris Morris, Stephen Morris and Blake Goff will serve as pallbearers.

Mrs. Conger was born on June 24, 1926, in Live Oak, Fla. She was the daughter of Henry Edward Graham and Matilda E. Terrill Graham, both deceased. She had lived in Tifton for 58 years and was retired from J.P. Stevens.

Mrs. Conger is survived by her husband, Lenward “Bo” Ervin Conger of Tifton, to whom she was married for 60 years; a daughter and son-in-law, Jo Ann and Jim Snyder of Tifton; four brothers, Wesley Graham of Lake City, Fla., Henry Graham of Jacksonville, Fla., Johnny Graham of Lake City, Fla., and Jim Graham of Homosassa Springs, Fla.; a sister, Dorothy Adams of Palatka, Fla.; five grandchildren, Len Winningham and husband Larry of Starke, Fla., B.J. Morris and wife Kim of Doerun, David Morris of Tifton, Roseanne Smith and husband Roger of Syracuse, N.Y., and Robert Snyder of Tifton; and nine great-grandchildren.

To sign the online guest registry, go to www.bowen-donaldson.com.

Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.



Sara Ozborne Sams Gibbs

TIFTON — Sara Ozborne Sams Gibbs, 88, of Tifton, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at Maple Court Senior Residence.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Chapel Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith III will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.

William Sams, Walter Sams, Charles Mullis, Henry D. Knight, Bill Nicholson, Bryan Nicholson, Bo Wright and Mike Dodson will serve as pallbearers.

Mrs. Gibbs was born on Jan. 5, 1917, in Lawrenceville. She was the daughter of Walter Emerson Sams and Lila Jane Deariso Sams, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Frank Gibbs Sr., and a son James Frank Gibbs Jr. She was a retired librarian and a member of First Baptist Church of Tifton. She had lived in Tifton for 69 years.

Survivors include her son, David Sams Gibbs of Panacea, Fla.; a daughter and son-in-law, Jane Gibbs Sinclair and husband Jim Sinclair of Tifton; a brother and sister-in-law, W.E. and Carolyn Sams Sr. of Sylvester; five grandchildren; two nieces; and one nephew.

Gifts may be made to Hospice of Tiftarea or Brother Charlie’s Rescue Center.

To sign the online register, go to www.bowen-donaldson.com.

Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.



Alton Clement

TIFTON — Alton Clement, 75, of Tifton, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at his home following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sunnyside Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Sim Youngblood officiating. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 tonight at Relihan Funeral Home in Pearson.

Mr. Clement was born on Nov. 14, 1930, in Atkinson County. He was the son of Cleon and Elizann Giddens Clement. He had made his home in Tifton for the past 29 years. He was a retired over-the-road truck driver and a member of Sunnyside Freewill Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Alvita T. Clement of Tifton; a son, Ronnie Clement of Vero Beach, Fla.; a grandson, Chris Clement; a sister, Shelby Jean McKinnon and her husband E.G. of Douglas; three brothers, Horace Clement and his wife Jan of Ft. Pierce, Fla., Benny Clement and his wife Cretia of Douglas, and Edward Lee Clement and his wife Daphne of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson is in charge of arrangements.