Obituaries
Published 3:08 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Monday, April 5, 2004
Willie Fred Blackmon
Mr. Willie Fred Blackmon, 69, Homerville, passed away Saturday, April 3, 2004, in the Veterans Administrative Medical Center, Lake City, Fla., following an extended illness.
A native of Lowndes County, he had lived in Clinch County the last 20 years and was a retired truck driver. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was the son of the late Luke Blackmon and Leaon Colley Blackmon Guy.
Survivors are two daughters, Dana Bovee, Eagle, Mich., and Lynn Blackmon, Lansing, Mich.; two sons, Terry Blackmon and Timmy Blackmon, Colorado; one sister, Wanda Gail Hall, Tifton; four brothers, Emmett F. Blackmon, Yulee, Fla., R.L. Guy, Homerville, Dorman Guy, Valdosta, Donzell Guy, Waycross; several nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Services for Mr. Blackmon will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, from the Wayfare Primitive Baptist Church near Stockton. Interment will be in the Wayfare Church Cemetery. Mr. Blackmon will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today. Mr. Blackmon will be carried to the church one hour prior to the services.
— Roundtree Funeral Home.
Dr. David L. Branch Jr., M.D.
Dr. David L. Branch, Jr., M.D., 77, of Valdosta, passed away on April 4, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on March 28, 1927 in Irwin County, he was the son of the late David L. Branch, Sr. and Janie Mae Rogers Branch. He grew up in South Georgia and graduated from Moultrie High School. After graduation, he volunteered and served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, primarily in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, he graduated from the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. He spent four additional years specializing in orthopedic surgery, then he was the first and for many years the only orthopedic surgeon in Valdosta and South Georgia. During his many years of practice, he served terms as Chief of Staff of South Georgia Medical Center and Smith Hospital. Due to his interest in education while in practice, he served many years on the Lowndes County Board of Education, several of those as chairman. The Moulton-Branch Elementary School was named in his honor. He was a supporter and board member of the Salvation Army; a devout Christian who loved his family and people. Dr. Branch was a dedicated, loving, and compassionate husband, father, grandfather and uncle who cared for his patients and friends. He will be sincerely missed.
He is survived by his children, David III and Jae Branch, Valdosta, Julie and Mike Lansdell, Valdosta, Bob and Diann Branch, Cumming, Bebo and Ronnie Blanton, Valdosta; grandchildren, Madison Taylor, Amber, Micah and Jordan Branch, Davy Branch, IV, and Gracie and Jerry Lansdell; and a brother, Jack D. Branch, Brunswick; plus many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49 1/2 wonderful years, Barbara Ann Sheffield Branch; a brother, J. Curtis Branch Sr.; sisters, Maurine Branch Golden, Mildred Branch, Dorothy Branch Lindsey, and Betty Jane Branch.
Funeral services for Dr. David L. Branch will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, in the Chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Dr. John L. McGowan officiating. A private family graveside service will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Salvation Army in his memory. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
George ‘Tinker’ Downing
George ‘Tinker’ Downing, 48, of Valdosta , died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born in Valdosta on October 15, 1955, to the late George Wilbur and Doris Pearl Minton Downing. Mr. Downing was a truck driver and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Downing; one son, Jeremy Christopher Downing; sister and brother-in-law, Jacqueline Downing Tustin and Donald Tustin, all of Valdosta; brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd Wilbur and Fran Downing of Jacksonville, Fla.; uncles and aunt, Robert Eugene Downing of Valdosta, William Dutch and Liz Downing of Waycross; grandchildren, Garrett Davis, Austin Davis, Savannah Davis and Little Buck Keene; niece, Melody Banes of Jacksonville, Fla.; nephews, Jason Downing of Brandon, Miss., Dillon Banes of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces, Leslie Davis of Lakeland and Laura Byrd of Berrien County; nephew, Rooster Keene of Quitman; stepson, Jason Herring of Valdosta; closest friends, Roger and Aunt Debra Keene of Valdosta; special thanks to Harris and Liz Caldwell of Valdosta.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2004, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial to follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
Myeerah V. Rusk
Myeerah V. Rusk, 74, of Lake Park since 1967 and formerly of New Ross, Ind., died on April 1, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on October 20, 1929, in New Ross, she was the daughter of the late Leslie Keller and Alpha Helms Keller and was class valedictorian of New Ross High School.
Mrs. Rusk is survived by her husband, Thomas Rusk; daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Ron Lane of Lake Park; granddaughter, Nikki Heath, San Diego, Calif.; great-grandson, Tristan Rusk of San Diego; sisters, Virginia Axsom of Crawfordville, Ind., Louise Williams of Citrus Springs, Fla.; cousin, Penny Krout of Veedersburg, Ind.; several brothers and sister-in-laws; nieces and nephews. Two sons, Mike Rusk and Bill Rusk, also preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, in the chapel of the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home, with the Rev. Keith Sandlin officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or charity of choice. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home.
Edwin Dale Thornton
Edwin Dale Thornton, 46, of Barney died Friday, April 2, 2004, at the Brooks County Hospital after an apparent heart attack. He was born on March 12, 1958, in Albany and had lived in Brooks County most of his life. Mr. Thornton was a painter and a member of Barney First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Kelly Thornton; two daughters, Angie Marie Thornton and Sidney Marie Thornton; his mother, Mary Jean Bourquine Thornton, all of Barney; his father, Jerry Herman Thornton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Alvin Gene and Tina Thornton of Dickinson, N.D.; sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and Hall Cardin of Moultrie; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hardy and Avalon Lewis Bourquine and Edwin and Elizabeth Taylor Thornton.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 5, 2004, at the Barney First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charlie Scarbrough and the Rev. Darrell Williams officiating. Mr. Thornton remains will be buried at Campground Cemetery, 1 p.m. Monday. — Martin/McLane Funeral Home.
Dr. Brett K. Warren
Dr. Brett K. Warren, 31, of Atlanta, died unexpectedly Friday, April 2, 2004.
He was born Sept. 21, 1972, in East Point to Winston and Anita Gail Warren, Valdosta. Dr. Warren graduated from Griffin High School, Emory University, Medical College of Georgia, in addition to a residency at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia, S.C. He was the owner of Miltown Dental Studio, LLC, Atlanta, and an associate with Dr. Todd Bruno, Ellenwood. In death, Dr. Warren chose to give others life by being a donor.
He is survived by his parents, Winston and Anita Gail Warren, Valdosta; one brother and sister-in-law, Darren and Jennifer Warren, Griffin; nephew and niece, Adam and Megan Warren, Griffin; uncle and aunt, H.C. and Eula Mae Moore, Smyrna; cousins, Gentry and Kristy Moore, Ball Ground, Ga., Todd Moore, Douglasville, Ga. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Gilbert and Alice Anding, Jacksonville, Fla.; and his paternal grandparents, Isaac and Bessie Warren, Adel.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, Griffin, with Dr. S. Ed Hoard officiating. Graveside services will be held 4 p.m. Tuesday, with interment in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Adel, with the Rev. Dillard Ensley officiating. Visitation is 7-9 p.m. today, Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin. — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home.
LOCAL DEATHS
Timothy Kevin Dubose, 20, Lenox , died Saturday from injuries received in an auto accident in Berrien County. Graveside services will be held 4 p.m. today, Lakeland City Cemetery. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.
Connie L. Hunter, 85, Quitman , died Sunday at her residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will be announced by the Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home.
Rephard “Rep” Moore, 61, died Thursday at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are 2 p.m. Tuesday, Greater Morning Star Baptist Church, with Pastor William C. Morgan officiating. Burial follows in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Harrington Funeral Home.
Lucy B. Rose, 94, Quitman , died Sunday, at the Presbyterian Home of Quitman. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will be announced by the Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home.