Obituaries

for Tuesday, March 30, 2004



Lorne Byers

VALDOSTA — Lorne Byers, 96, passed away at his home in Valdosta following a brief illness on March 24, 2004. He was born on Dec. 25, 1907, in Chippewa County, Mich., to the late Joseph A. and Isabelle E. Haugh Byers. He was raised on a farm with a one-room school house on his property, which he was responsible for having ready each day before school. He worked for 35 years for General Motors and retired in 1969. He moved to Florida in 1970, with his wife, Ruth.

He will be remembered as a loving father and grandfather who loved to tell stories to his family in great detail. He taught a strong work ethic to all those around him in both word and deed. He was a lot of fun to be around and would never hesitate to help family members in need. He will surely be missed.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Chester Byers, and his wife, Ruth Byers. Survivors include his daughter, Sylvia Ann Willis; two sons, James and John Moore; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at 1 p.m., Sunday, March 28, 2004, at Fountainhead Funeral Home in Palm Bay. — Fountainhead Memorial Funeral Home, Palm Bay, Fla.



Jordan Dressel

VALDOSTA — Jordan Dressel, infant daughter of Kenny and Robin Dressel, died on Saturday, March 27, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. The Dressel family are members of Crossroads Baptist Church. The Dressel family rejoices in the time that they had with Jordan and eagerly look forward to the day they will be with her again in Heaven in the arms of Jesus.

Jordan is survived by her parents, Kenny and Robin Dressel of Valdosta; three sisters, Brittney Dressel, Kayte Dressel, and McKenna Dressel, all of Valdosta; and a brother, Andy Dressel, of Athens. Also surviving are grandparents, Tom and Joan Dressel of Placentia, Calif., and Bob and Carol Linn of Lewiston, N.Y., and numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.

Funeral services will be held for Jordan at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Crossroads Baptist Church. The Rev. Tom Daniel will officiate. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home this evening from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pregnancy Support Center, 206 West Gordon St., Valdosta, GA 31601. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Sylvia M. Futch

VALDOSTA — Sylvia M. Futch, 84, of Valdosta, died on Monday, March 29, 2004, at a local nursing home after a lengthy illness. Born on Jan. 25, 1920 in Ashburn, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Anna Youngblood McCorvey. Mrs. Futch retired after 28 years of service with the First National Bank of Valdosta. She was a member of the Joy Fidelis Sunday School Class, Outreach Leader and Choir Member at First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Ronnie Futch of Valdosta; sister, Dorothy Herring of Nashville, Tenn.; a brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Billie McCorvey of Jacksonville, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Mac Weaver officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Eugene (Jack) Giddens

LAKELAND — Eugene (Jack) Giddens, 77, of Lakeland, passed away Sunday morning, March 28, 2004, at his residence after a lengthy illness. He was born and lived most of his life in Lanier County. He served 30 years with the U.S. Navy retiring as master chief. He was preceded in death by his parents, W.K. and May Crumb Giddens, and one sister, Kristine Giddens Bauernsmidt. Mr. Giddens was Baptist by faith.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Allen Giddens of Lakeland; two daughters and son-in-law, Traci and James White, Atlanta, Joy Barbagallo, Huntsville, Ala.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rocky and Patty Giddens, Calif., Ricky and Carol Giddens, Flowerbound, Texas; one stepdaughter and son-in-law, Joann and Marshall Mathis, Lakeland; two stepsons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Janet Murray, Lakeland, Dixie and Ann Murray, Brunswick; one brother and sister-in-law, Billy and Carolyn Giddens, Lakeland; sister, Gerry Dillworth, Seneca, S.C.; and a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Lakeland United Methodist Church with burial in Beaver Dam Cemetery in Ray City. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com — Music Funeral Services of Lakeland



Bessie McCranie

ADEL — Bessie McCranie, 93 of Adel passed away on March 28, 2004, at Memorial Convalescent Center of Adel.

She was born on April 19, 1910, in Abbeville to the late Jacob Wendell and Virginia Lou McAnally Walker. She lived in Adel most of her life. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church of Adel. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudolph Guyton McCranie; one son, Dr. Jerry McCranie; one daughter-in-law, Kay Bolton McCranie; two grandchildren, Kathy and Michael McCranie; two brothers and one sister.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Rae McCranie, Stockbridge, the Rev. Jon and Debbie McCranie, Adel; one daughter-in-law and husband, Sue and Ron Holland, Adel; eight grandchildren and spouses, Beth and Eddie Sheek, Carol and Xavier Magri, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Jerri and Andy Blanton, Jeff and Renee McCranie, Jason and Heather McCranie, Minda McCranie, Matt and Stacey McCranie; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim Ed Walker, Atlanta, Harry Walker, Abbeville; two sisters, Lorene Keen, Abbeville, Eugenia Anderson, Macon.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Adel with Dr. Mike Ruffin and the Rev. Jon McCranie officiating. Burial will be held in Woodlawn City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. this evening at Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, 202 N. Hutchinson Ave., Adel. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Charlie Parrish Scholarship Fund c/o First Baptist Church of Adel. — Boone Lipsey Funeral Home, Adel



Jimmy Thomas

LAKELAND — Jimmy Thomas, 67, of Lakeland, passed away Sunday morning, March 28, 2004, at his residence following a short battle with cancer. He was born in Lanier County and had lived in the Lakeland area most of his life. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1977, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 4382 in Waycross. He retired from Brockway Container in Homerville, worked at Carolina Skiff in Waycross and Wild Adventures, Valdosta, in the security department.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy Thomas, Lakeland; daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Danny Drawdy, Nashville; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Sherry Thomas, Graham, N.C.; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Nikki and Justin Blanchard, Macon, Ga.; stepson, Alan Wheeler, Brunswick; a stepson, Jessi Wheeler, Lakeland; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Lakeland Chapel of Music Funeral Services. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Lakeland.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. today with the family receiving friends 7-9 p.m. today.

Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com. — Music Funeral Services, Lakeland



Geoge Michael Jones

George Michael (Mike) Jones, 56, of Barwick died Monday, March 29, 2004, at Archbold Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, 2004, in Rosewood Cemetery with the Rev. Sherman Hall officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. — Maxwell-Miller Funeral Home, Quitman



Christopher McEady

Christopher McEady, 28, of Valdosta, departed this life on Sunday, March 28, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by Scott and Roberts Mortuary.



Lillie Bell Tann-Porter

Lillie Bell Tann-Porter, 77, of Valdosta departed this life on Saturday, March 27, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by Scott and Roberts Mortuary.