for September 18, 2002



Thomas E. Johnson

NASHVILLE — Thomas E. Johnson, 68, of Nashville, died on Monday, Sept. 16, 2002, at his residence. He was born on Oct. 25, 1933, in Irwin County to the late John Thomas and Lizzie Giddens Johnson. He was a retired M/Sgt. U.S. Air Force and served with the Germany Occupation Post WW II, Korea Conflict and Vietnam War; was a member of Nashville Post VFW and was past post commander, and was of the United Methodist faith. He is survived by his wife, Maria Brigitta Johnson of Richardson, Texas; one daughter, Donna Vesel of Richardson, Texas; one son, John T. Johnson of Albany; six grandchildren; two sisters, Sue Cook of High Springs, Fla., Gerri Bailey of Douglas; and one brother, Frank Carlton Johnson of Nashville. Graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 19 in Bethlehem Cemetery in Irwin County with full military rites with the Rev. Johnny Hendley officiating. Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. today at Lovein Funeral Home. — Lovein Funeral Home



James Lawrence (Larry) Massey

CAIRO — James Lawrence (Larry) Massey, 67, of Cairo, died on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002, at his residence. Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. today at Clark Funeral Home, Cairo. Funeral service will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002, at First United Methodist Church, Cairo, with the Rev. Richard Soper officiating. Burial will be held in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Cairo. Active pallbearers will be Wyman Richter, Randy Wind, Truman Lastinger, Johnny Hurst, Wayne Gilliard, Larry Tatum, Jimmy Mitchell, Skeet Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Marshall, Billy Walden, Preston Mitchell, Durwood Sellers, Tommy Bond. Mr. Massey was born on Jan. 19, 1935, in Barwick to the late Bennett Leslie and Lucille Goodson Massey. He was retired with Ford Dealership in Cairo, was a member of Cairo Country Club, Cairo Rotary Club, Southeast Senior Golf and was a member of First United Methodist Church, Cairo. He is survived by Nora; daughters and sons-in-law, Tammy and Jaime Ledo, Cairo, Teresa and Terry Prince, Cairo, Tina and Mitchell Frix, Dalton; sisters, Montez Mosling, Jacksonville, Fla., Marjorie Willis, Toronto, Canada, Louise Strauss, Miami, Fla., Virginia Welch, Albany; a brother, Joe Massey of Dalton; grandchildren, Carrie Kesler, Georgia Kesler, Tyler Frix, Trent Frix, Rafaella Ledo and Joseph Ledo. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Crew Massey. — Clark Funeral Home



Myrtle Polk

ADEL — Myrtle Polk, 83, of Adel, died Sept. 16, 2002, at Tift Health Care, Inc. after a long illness. She was born on May 10, 1919, in Whitley County, Ky., to the late John Winston and Delara Siler Smith. She lived in Adel since 1985. Mrs. Polk was a retired sales clerk and was a Baptist by faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Dave Polk. She is survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Geneva and Barney Connell of Sparks; sisters-in-law, Roberta Smith of Lake City, Tenn., Delia Smith of Caryville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. today in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. A.D. Connell officiating. — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home



Nellie Barnes Roland

COLQUITT — Nellie Barnes Roland, 67, of Colquitt, died on Sept. 17, 2002, at her residence. She was a homemaker, member of Union Baptist Church and member of Choir and Senior Ladies Sunday School Class at Union Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Ferrell Wayne Roland of Colquitt; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Theresa Roland of Newington, Clay and Linda Roland of Donalsonville; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Jack Barnes of Marietta; two sisters, Carolyn House and Betty Sue King, both of Thomasville. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Richard (J.R.) and Jewel Ray Barnes; and one brother, Raymond Barnes. Graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19 in Union Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Gans Earnest officiating. Active pallbearers will be Percy Hornsby, Max Kelley, Carlto





n Thomas, Harmon Jernigan, Enoch Benefield and Roy Lashley. Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Colquitt Funeral Home



Dianne (Traynor) Stoddard

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. — Dianne (Traynor) Stoddard, 58, wife of William J. Stoddard, departed this life peacefully in Somersworth, N.H., on July 24, 2002, after a period of declining health. Born in Hartford, Conn., on July 20, 1944, she was the daughter of the late James Traynor Sr. and Marjorie (Correia) Traynor of East Hartford, Conn. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Hampton, N.H. She is survived by her husband of 10 years, William J. Stoddard of Hampton, N.H.; daughter, Deborah (Grant) Montelione of Bristol, Conn.; son, Keith Grant of Florida; brother, James (Henrietta) Traynor of Valdosta; sisters, Valerie Traynor, Brooks County, and Marcia Fourness of Coudersport, Pa.; her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her cremains were interred in Simsbury, Conn. after a graveside ceremony.



Sarah Austin Zorn

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sarah Austin Zorn, 89, of Westminster Oaks, died Sept. 16, 2002, in Tallahassee. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, the Rev. George Luey Zorn. One memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002, at the First United Methodist Church, 307 Flint Ave., 229-432-7407, in Albany. Dr. Donald M. Kea and the Rev. Robert Beckum will officiate. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors (229-883-4152) of Albany is handling arrangements. A visitation will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. today at Kimbrell-Stern, Albany. A second service will be held at 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20 at Westminster Oaks (1st floor Gallery, Parry Center) in Tallahassee. The Rev. John Fletcher will officiate. Born on Dec. 7, 1912, in Dunwoody, she was the daughter of Glenn Greer Austin and Nettie Southern Austin. She graduated from Agnes Scott College and taught in the Atlanta public school system. She was a dedicated homemaker and strong supporter of her husband’s ministry in the South Georgia conference of the United Methodist Church. Together they served pastorates in Micanopy, Fla., Macon, Sylvester, Valdosta, Tifton, Waycross and Albany where they retired. For nearly 50 years, she was a Sunday School teacher and circle leader for the United Methodist Women. Among many other things, she was famous for her hot pound cakes, a tangible expression of her love and warmth, which she provided for friends, family and those in need. Other survivors include three sons, Dr. George Luey Zorn Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., Dr. Richard Lee Zorn and Dr. Donald Austin Zorn, both of Tallahassee; a sister, Nettie Mae Kelley of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Edward J. Austin of Cumming; 10 grandchildren, Dr. George Luey Zorn III of Charlottesville, Va., Dr. Kristen Kelley Zorn of Rockville, Md., Carolyn Elizabeth Zorn of Auburn, Ala., LeighAnne Elizabeth Zorn, Brian Christopher Zorn, Kelly Austin Zorn, James Tyler Zorn, Sarah Kathryn Zorn, Thomas Austin Zorn, Susanna Taylor Zorn, all of Tallahassee; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John S. Austin of Atlanta, Glenn T. Austin of Buford; and a sister, Gladys Austin Mann of Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sarah Austin Zorn Memorial Fund to benefit First United Methodist Church of Albany, P.O. Box 448, Albany, GA 31702-0448 or to Habitat for Humanity, 2921 Roberts Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. — Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors, Albany, Ga.



LOCAL DEATHS



Thelma Joiner Gibbs, 76, of Zebulon, passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 2002, at Spalding Regional Hospital. She was a member of Forrest Street Church of God in Valdosta. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today in the chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Music Funeral Services of Valdosta



Mary L. Moye, 67, of Hahira, passed away Sunday morning Sept. 15, 2002, at her residence after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1

9 in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral services with burial following in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Music Funeral Services of Valdosta



Arthur R. Watson, 53, of Morven, died on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002, at the Brooks County Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Martin/McLane Funeral Home of Hahira.