Obituaries
Published 2:49 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Monday, Jan. 5, 2004
James ‘Jim’ Lucas
VALDOSTA — James ‘Jim’ Lucas, 81, of Valdosta, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Born March 22, 1922, in Smithfield, N.C., he was the son of the late Jake and Katherine Johnson Lewis. He was of the Baptist faith and a United States Navy Veteran who served during World War II. Mr. Lucas was a member of the Alapaha Masonic Lodge 209 in Statenville and loved to perform bluegrass music.
He is survived by his wife Bert Lucas of Valdosta; daughters Faye Lucas of Valdosta, Margaret Lucas of Topeka, Kan.; son Jimmie Lucas of Hopewell, Va.; grandchildren, Donald and Sonja Corbett, Sarina and Dan Bennett, Robert and Kelly Simpson all of Valdosta, several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, James Lucas, Jr.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at Lake Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 2-4 p.m. at the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home.
James C. Fryslie
VALDOSTA — James C. Fryslie, 77, a lifetime resident of Valdosta, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at home with his family after a lengthy illness. He was born June 1, 1926, in Flasher, N.D. to the late Arthur D. and Lucille H. Fryslie. Mr. Fryslie was retired from the U.S. Air Force as a SMSgt, having served in World War II and the Vietnam war. He was also retired from the State of Georgia, Valdosta Area Vocational Technical School where he was a Vocational Educator for 17 1/2 years. Mr. Fryslie was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
He provided numerous hours of volunteer support to the American Red Cross, Moody Air Force Base and Langdale Place. In recognition, he received the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the American Red Cross and the Angel Certificate of Recognition from Moody Air Force Base.
Survivors include his children, Nancy J. McGee of Quitman, Penny and Jerry Inscore, Debra Baker, Jami and Robert Backensto, Tammy and Ronnie Vitolo all of Valdosta, and one son, James C. Fryslie II of Valdosta; grandchildren Clifford and Beth Baker, Shannon Baker, Joshua and Kim Baker, Kenna and Jamison Chinn (Backensto), Melissa and Morris McGee, Matthew Backensto, Jonah and Patrick Vitolo, Angela, James and Andrea Fryslie; great grandchildren Clifford Pierce Baker, III, Brianna Backensto; sister-in-law, Jane Fryslie of Calif.; brother, Arthur Fryslie of Bismark, N.D.; sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and William Otto of South San Francisco, Calif.; brother, Gordon Fryslie of South San Francisco, Calif; and brother and sister-in-law, Everett and Colleen Fryslie of San Jose, Calif. He was preceded in death by his brothers John and Norman Fryslie; and two sisters, Alice and Crystal Fryslie.
A memorial service for Mr. Fryslie will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Don Stanley officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, Georgia 31603. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
William Henry Pittman
FARGO — William Henry Pittman, 74, passed away Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, in the Clinch Memorial Hospital, following a long illness.
A native of Atkinson County, he lived in Fargo most of his life. He was retired with the St. Regis Paper Company and was the son of the late Henry Lugene Pittman and Darcus Jordan Pittman.
Survivors include his sister-in-law, Martha Pittman of Fargo; one special niece, Doreen Jewell of DuPont; two special nephews, Alan Pittman and Leonard Pittman, both of Fargo; four sisters, Inone Welch, Hazel Infinger and Lorene Odum, all of Fargo, and Annie Mae Oliver of Fernandina Beach, Fla., a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Services for Mr. Pittman will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Fargo Church of God. Interment will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Atkinson County. — Roundtree Funeral Home.
George Lee West
VALDOSTA — George Lee West, 73, of Valdosta, passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at his residence from an apparent heart attack.
He was born in Thomasville and was a former resident of Lakeland. Mr. West served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. Mr. West returned to Lakeland after his time in the military, where he farmed until 1987, at which time he moved to Valdosta and went to work with the U.S. Postal Service until he retired. Mr. West also worked with Allied Chemical and Escambia Chemical. Mr. West was a former member of Unity United Methodist Church, and served on their Board. He was a former Lanier County School Board member and an active member of the Georgia Farm Bureau, having served on their board. He was also a member of the Statesboro ELKS Lodge. Mr. West was a member of Park Avenue United Methodist Church and a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Eleanor Nall West of Valdosta; four daughters and sons-in-law, LeAnne and Rick Findley of Easley, Sharon and Tim Tucker of Macon, Mary Beverly and Ross Stonecipher of Roswell and Patricia West of Amelia Island, Fla.; five granddaughters, two grandsons and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Griffith of Lakeland and Nell Watson of Waycross; a brother, Bill West of Valdosta and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, in Unity United Methodist Church in Lakeland, with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. tonight, Jan. 5, 2004, with the family receiving friends until 8 p.m. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com–Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.
John Allen Bell
HOMERVILLE — John Allen Bell, 30, passed away Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, in the Satilla Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained from an automobile accident.
A native of Hahira, he had lived in Clinch County most of his life. He was a self employed carpenter and the son of Thomas Allen Bell and the late Edna Gail Ratliff.
Survivors other than his father are his wife, Elizabeth Bennett Bell of Homerville; two daughters, Eliza Bell and Layla Bell, both of Homerville; a son, Nathan Bennett of Homerville; two sisters, Karen Bell of Homerville and Holly Bell of Brunswick; a brother, Jay Bell of Atkinson; stepmother Donna Cheser of Waynesville and a number of other relatives.
Services for Mr. Bell will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, from the Argyle Church of God. Interment will be in the Ramah Cemetery.
Mr. Bell will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends today from 7-9 p.m. with visitation after 5 p.m. — Roundtree Funeral Home.
Billy Joe Grundell
HOMERVILLE — Billy Joe Grundell, 24, passed away Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
A native of Claxton, he had lived in Homerville from the last year and a half. He was employed with B-Way.
Survivors are his parents, Garry and Gwendolyn Grundell of Claxton; a special friend, Amber Goss of Homerville; two sisters, Christina G. Suder of Statesboro and Jennifer Crews of Homerville and a number of other relatives.
Services for Mr. Grundell will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, from the New Vision Church of God. Interment will be in the Camp Branch Church of God Prophecy Cemetery in Manor.
Mr. Grundell will remain at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. with visitation after 5 p.m. — Roundtree Funeral Home.