Obituaries
Published 9:32 pm Monday, December 5, 2005
for April 6, 2003
Jerry “J. C.” Courson
VALDOSTA — Jerry “J. C.” Courson, 48, of Valdosta, passed away Friday evening, April 4, 2003, after injuries he received in an automobile accident. He was born and had lived in Lowndes County all of his life. Mr. Courson was a member of Mt. Zion Methodist Church. Suvivors include his wife, Babara Raines of Valdosta; four sons, Jerry Courson, Jr., Shawn Shinell of Jacksonville, Fla., Dewayne Hughes of Valdosta, and Devon Courson of Berlin; grandson, William Lane Shinall; eight step-children; 16 grandchildren; father, Jessie Courson, Jr., of Hahira; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sharon and David Johnson of Lake Park and Jane and Greg Daniels of Lake Park; one brother, Timmy Courson of Clyattville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2003, in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services, Inc., with burial following in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. — Music Funeral Services, Inc.
James Austin Griffin
BRUNSWICK — James Austin Griffin, 83, of Brunswick and formerly of Valdosta, died on Thursday, April 3, 2003, at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center in Brunswick. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at First Baptist Church, followed by a 3 p.m. committal at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville. Rev. Mac Weaver will officiate. Mr. Griffin was a native of Carroll County and had made his home in Brunswick since 2001, moving from Valdosta where he lived for 43 years. He was a World War II Army veteran and a salesman with Sunnyland Packing Co. in Thomasville, retiring in 1982 with 45 years of service. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Valdosta. Preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Thelma Holley Griffin. He is survived by a son, Larry (wife, Rebecca) Griffin of St. Simons Island; daughter Cindy (husband, Ricardo) Martin-Carvalho of Atlanta; granddaughter, Jessica Martin of Atlanta; several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or to a charity of choice. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
Eloise Roberson
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Eloise Roberson, 71, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away Friday night, April 4, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. She was a member of the Loyal Star. Survivors include her seven children, Virginia Holland, James Roberson, Jessie Harvey, George Roberson, Annette Myers, Ella Silcox, and Ronald Roberson; one brother, James Walden; two sisters, Grovene Thomas and Gladys Wright; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in the Longbranch Cemetery in Maxville, Fla. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2003, at Town and Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, Fla. — Music Funeral Services, Inc.
Donald R. Sellers
QUITMAN — Donald R. Sellers, 68, of Quitman, died on Thursday, April 3, 2003, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., after a short illness. Born on Oct. 8, 1934, he was the son of the late Casper and Kathryn Fender Sellers. Mr. Sellers was retired from Owens Illinois. A devoted, loving father and husband, an avid hunter and fisherman, he was a Mason and a member of First Baptist Church of Quitman. Survivors are his wife, Anita Williams Sellers of Quitman; daughter and son-in-law, Ramona and Richard Rhoden of Pine Bluff of Arkansas; sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Karen Spell of Quitman, Vick Sellers of Hanahan, S. C., Vance and Theresa Sellers of Conway, S.C., Ferrell W. and Olga Walker of Valdosta, Daniel C. and Joy Walker of Quitman; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Kay Perry of Valdosta; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Jerry Leggette of Valdosta; brother, Phillip Sellers of Lake Park. He was preceded in death by a brother, Carl Sellers. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Loren Hilderbrant officiating. Burial will follow at Benevolence Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 1292, Albany, 31702. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
Nancy Verdie Hendrix Walker
HOMERVILLE — Mrs. Nancy Verdie Hendrix Walker, 78, passed away Friday, April 4, 2003, in the South Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness. A native of Ware County, she had lived in Clinch County most of her life. She was a beekeeper, homemaker, member of Shiloh Southern Congregational Methodist Church, Ladies Prayer Band, Senior Citizens of Homerville, and the Special Ladies Group of Stockton Baptist Church. She was the daughter of the late Farley Hendrix and Lottie Mae Pittman Hendrix and was the widow of Sidney Walker. She was preceded in death by one brother, Huey Hendrix. Survivors are eight children, Jeanette Smith of Lake Panasosskee, Fla., Roselyn Norman of Stockton, Rita Stalvey of Homerville, Kenneth Walker of Pearson, Sue Johnson of Valdosta, Ann Douglas of Waycross, and twins Rhonda Henry and Ronald Walker, both of Valdosta; three sisters, Dollie Mae Murphy of Fayetville, N.C., Doris Peek of Homerville, and Maybelle Harper of Orlanda, Fla.; six brothers, Sammie Hendrix of Homerville, Sherman Hendrix of Homerville, Hubert Hendrix of Homerville, Robert Hendrix of Homerville, Lois Hendrix of Waycross, and Horace Hendrix; 53 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several other relatives. Funeral services for Mrs. Walker will be held at 2 p.m. today from the Shiloh Southern Congregational Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Shiloh Cemetery. Mrs. Walker will remain at the funeral home. The family received friends Saturday night. Mrs. Walker will be carried to the church one hour prior to the services. — Roundtree Funeral Home, Inc.
Debbie Ann Whelan, 50, of Valdosta, died Thursday, April 3, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center. A celebration of Debbie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7, 2003, at Northside Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.