for Feb. 3, 2002



Stella Missouri Thomas Croft

VALDOSTA — Stella Missouri Thomas Croft, 96, of Valdosta, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, at Holly Hills Nursing Home. Born on Nov. 22, 1905 in Georgetown, Ms. Croft was a homemaker and member of Bethelehem Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Allen Croft, her mother Sarah Claudia Searcy Thomas, and her father, Owen Alexander Stephans Thomas. She is survived by her sons, Lee A. Croft, Jr., of Barney, Vernon D. Croft and wife Rose of Meridian, Ind., Franklin M. Croft and wife Sylvia of Tifton, and Colin E. Croft and wife Patricia of Warner Robins; her daughters, C. Alvis Neville and husband Joseph of Tallahassee, Fla., and V. Annette DeCicco and husband the late Tony of Miami, Fla.; sister Adelle T. McCranie of Coolidge; and 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery with the Rev. James Sellers officiating. Casketbearers are Don Croft Arnold Thomas, Billie McCoy, Owen Thomas, Charles McCranie, Talmadge Thomas, and David Price. The family will receive friends on Monday evening, Feb. 4, 2002, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. The family may be contacted at the family home located at rural Route 1, Box 56, Williams Road, Barney, Ga., 31625. — Cobb Funeral Chapel in Moultrie.



Lillie Harris Whitley

VALDOSTA — Lillie Harris Whitley, 87, of Valdosta passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 2, 2002, in the Heritage House Nursing Home after a brief illness. She was born in Waycross and had lived in Valdosta most of her life. She was a charter member of Forrest Street United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. P. Whitley. She is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Marion Halstead of Lancaster, Ky., Wilma and Jairus Cowart of Valdosta, Roberta and Cyle Brunson of Valdosta, and Phyllis and James Shaw of Valdosta; one sister, Margaret Williams of Jacksonwille, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Music Funeral Services, Inc.



John R. Williams

JASPER, Fla. — John R. Williams, 86, of Jasper, Fla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, at Suwannee Valley Nursing Center in Jasper, Fla. Mr. Williams was born in Denton and lived most of his life in Hamilton County. He was a timber and woodlands manager for Hamilton Turpentine for more than 60 years and was a member of Bright Pond Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Inez Williams, in 1990. He is survived by three daughters, Joanna Cassidy of Boynton Beach, Fla., Helen Kansky of Coral Gables, Fla., and Susan “Sue” Jobe of Bartlesville, Okla.; and four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home in Jasper, Fla. Interment will follow in Hebron Cemetery near Jasper, Fla. The family will receive friends between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at the funeral home. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home.



Phil Young

ADEL — Phil Young, 43, of Adel, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2002, at his residence. Born on Oct. 30, 1958, in Adel, Mr. Young had lived in Cook County all his life and was a member of Cornerstone Christian Church in Sparks. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Evelyn McCranie Young. He is survived by his father Jimmy C. Young of Sparks; his wife, Teresa Taylor Young of Adel; one son, Drew Young of Sparks; one stepson, Jesse Lawson of Morgan; one daughter, Amber Young of Sparks; two stepdaughters, Stephanie Lawson of Adel and Mandi Dixon of Tifton; one sister, Deedee Rountree of Sparks; and two step-grandchildren. Funral ser





vices will be held on Monday, Feb. 4, 2002, at 4 p.m., at Cornerstone Christian Church with the Rev. Dale Young and the Rev. Charles Blair officiating. Burial will follow in Brushy Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on South 41 tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Inc.