Obituaries
Published 2:50 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004
Ida Powell Girtman
QUITMAN — Ida Powell Girtman, 92, of Quitman died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Brooks County Hospital after a brief illness.
Born in Brooks County, she was the daughter of Jim Thomas and Estelle Renfroe Powell. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Quitman.
She is survived by three nephews, Ron (Nancy) Booher of Ellicott City, Md., Dwain (Sally) Wheeler of Olympia, Wash., Wayne (Cindy) Fann of Valdosta; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Loren Hilldebrant officiating. Those desiring may make contributions to First Baptist Church of Quitman. — Maxwell-Miller Funeral Home
Larry Gene Carver
STATENVILLE — Larry Gene Carver, 57, of Statenville died Jan. 7, 2004, at Malcomb Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla.
He was born Dec. 22, 1946, in Fort Pierce, Fla., the son of Loney Carver and Thelma Beltz Carver. He was an Army Veteran, having served in Vietnam, and was a forklift operator for Lewis Dreyfus Citrus in Winter Garden, Fla.
Surviving are his wife Shirley; mother, Thelma Heatherly; daughter, Terrie Jackson; and brother, Melvin, all of Statenville; son, Tyson of Lakeland, Fla.; daughter, Tammie Farman of Mascotte, Fla.; and six grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12 in the Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Dr. Walt Fowler will officiate. Interment will follow in Ocoee Cemetery with honors provided by the American Legion Post 286. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. — Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home
Delila Ann ‘Pudd’ Bennett
VALDOSTA — Delila Ann “Pudd” Bennett, 60, of Valdosta passed away after early Friday evening, Jan. 9, 2004, at John. D. Archbold Hospital in Thomasville after a brief illness.
She was born in Lanier County and had lived in Valdosta for most of her life, was a waitress, and a Baptist by faith. Mrs. Bennett was known for her talent of cooking and was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2001 Valdosta Daily Times Cookbook Contest.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Earl Bennett; a daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Cliff Miley; a grandson, William “Boo” Baver Jr.; a granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Anna Maria and Shannon Goodrum; two great-grandchildren, Dakota and Lexy Goodrum; and a brother, Madison Scurrey, all of Valdosta. She was also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12 at the Stockton Baptist Church with burial following in Wayfare Cemetery in Echols County. Mrs. Bennett will lie in state at the church one hour prior to service time. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com.
— Music Funeral Home of Valdosta
Virginia Ware Reed Terry Kelly
VALDOSTA — Virginia Ware Reed Terry Kelly, 80, of Valdosta died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at her home after a lengthy illness.
She was born in Waycross on June 6, 1923, to the late Millard Harmon and Ella Elizabeth Lavendar Reed. Mrs. Kelly was a loving mother, wife and child of God, a born-again Christian who walked daily with her Lord. She had lived in Pottsville, Pa., and York, Pa., before moving to Lowndes County. Mrs. Kelly worked at Spears Drug Store Soda Fountain in Waycross, the Eagle Hotel in Pottsville, Pa., and as a seamstress in York, Pa.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Faith Kelly and Richard Wolfe of Valdosta; a son, David Reed Terry Sr. of Palm Bay, Fla.; two stepsons and stepdaughters-in-law, Joseph Donald and Donna Kelly of Joliet, Ill., James Robert and Kathy Kelly of New Strawn, Kan.; four grandchildren, David Reed Terry of Florida, Joshua Wolfe, Leanne Wolfe, Jakxon Wolfe, all of Valdosta; stepgrandchildren and their spouses, Donnie and Sandy Kelly, Dennis and Jamie Kelly, all of Joliet, Ill.., James Kelly Jr., Margaret Ann Kelly and Kimberly Kelly of Kansas; five stepgreat-grandchildren, April, Kevin, Ryan, Matthew and Hannah Kelly, all of Joliet, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Herbert Smedley Terry and Joseph Henry Kelly; two sisters, Thelma Reed Murphy and Sarah Reed Kelly; two brothers, Fred Anderson Reed and Nelson Reed.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m., today, Jan. 11 in Lake Park Cemetery with the Rev. Lance Kindred, associate pastor of Park Avenue United Methodist Church, officiating. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Dorothy Arnold Lile Jones
VALDOSTA — Dorothy Arnold Lile Jones of Valdosta passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Langdale Place in Valdosta. Born May 24, 1908, in Middlesboro, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Roscoe Blaine Lile and Ora Beryl Arnold Lile. Dorothy was the devoted wife of the late Carl Lee Jones, a Valdosta native for 63 years. She was the mother of Anne Lile Jones Glavan (Joe) of San Antonio, Texas, Carl Lee Jones II (Ingried) of Titusville, Fla., Margaret Jones Vann ( Mack) of Huntsville, Ala., Richard Bruce Jones (Linda) of St. Louis, Mo., Ross Andrew Jones (Carol) of Thomasville and Sarah Jones Edwards of Birmingham, Ala.
Dorothy grew up in Middlesboro, Ky., and New Philadelphia, Ohio, graduating from New Philadelphia High School in 1927. Dorothy came to Valdosta to live with her dear aunt and uncle, Anne and Maude Ousley, and matriculated at the former Georgia State Woman’s College (Valdosta State University) where she was a member of Phi Kappa Athletic Association, Sock and Buskin, Pine Cone staff, the Honor Roll all four years and graduated in the Class of 1930, the first four-year class at GSWC. Her B.A. was in education and her first job was in a one-room, eighth grade, rural school in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
Dorothy taught throughout her adult life, both professionally and as a volunteer. She taught English, History, Civics, Latin and French. After retiring from a 40-plus year career in teaching, she regularly led classes for senior citizens. She touched many lives and is fondly remembered by her students. He influence in teaching is shown by the fact that five of her six children are teachers and four of her children’s spouses are teachers. She maintained her interest in history and languages through travel and crossword puzzles.
She and her husband were members of the Holiday Ramblers Club and participated in rallies all over North America and England. She was proud to have traveled to 49 of 50 states and 5 out of 7 continents. When she wasn’t traveling or visiting family, she could be found in her garden. She loved her flowers and spent many hours tending them and enjoyed visiting famous botanical gardens.
Dorothy’s interests were varied. An active thespian, Dorothy won a Big Spring Award as Best Supporting Actress of the Huntsville Little Theatre in 1959. She was a Senior Girl Scouts leader for three years, a member of the Huntsville Literary Society, Broadway Theatre League, Friends of the Symphony, the Wymodausis Club, Valdosta Readers Club, VSU Alumni Association, Redstone Recreation Association, Valdosta Historical Society, Literary Guild and Reserve Officers Association Auxiliary.
Dorothy, a fifth-generation member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was active in her church, served as deacon, was a member of CWF, and participated in Sunday School Classes. Dorothy felt blessed that one of her children and one of her grandchildren became ministers in the Christian Church (DoC). She attended many General Assemblies of the Disciples of Christ as supporter and delegate. Currently, a member of the First Christian Church (DoC) in Valdosta, she was a member for over 40 years of the First Christian Church (DoC) of Huntsville, Ala.
In addition to her six children, 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren survive. One grandson and one great-grandson preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held at noon, today, Jan. 11 at the First Christian Church (DoC), Valdosta. Memorials may be made to the Carl and Dorothy Jones Great Teaching Fund, Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, Ky., or to Hospice of South Georgia, Valdosta. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Mary Martha Watson Wallace
HIAWASSEE — Mary Martha Watson Wallace, 82, of Hiawassee died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Brasstown Manor in Hiawassee after a lengthy illness.
She was born on Nov. 10, 1921, in Valdosta to the late Forrest B. Sr. and Effie McAulay Watson. Mrs. Wallace was a retired supervisor with Bell South and a member of the Presbyterian Church in Clarksville. She was a professional nature photographer whose photographs appeared on many Georgia phonebooks and had many books published containing her pictures of nature.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Helen Watson of Valdosta; and six stepchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Wallace.
Graveside memorial services will be held at 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12 in Sunset Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Mac Weaver officiating. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Ruth Vernell Branch Barnwell
MIAMI, Fla. — Ruth Vernell Branch Barnwell, 86, of Miami, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at the South Shore Hospital in Miami.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 12 at the chapel of Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors. The Rev. Wayne Mitchell will officiate and burial will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. The grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour before services at Albritton-Beaumont.
Mrs. Barnwell was born to the late William Branch and Ora Cravey Branch on March 3, 1917, in Tift County. She was a homemaker, farmer’s wife and a member of the Methodist faith. She resided 50 years in Miami and was formerly of Enigma and Chula.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis Clay Barnwell; one son; two granddaughters; and four brothers.
Survivors include five sons, Tommy Barnwell of Miami, Bobby and Sandy Barnwell of Fitzgerald, Billy and Juanita Barnwell of Titusville, Fla., Ted Barnwell of Miami and Randy and Zena Barnwell of Miami; two daughters, Dorothy and Bob Zino of Nashville and Mary White of Miami; a sister, Dorothy Vance of Tifton; many nieces and nephews, 25 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
— Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors, Tiftarea Chapel
Margaret Rogers
Margaret Rogers of Winder, formerly of Valdosta, passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 10, 2004, at the Barrow County Health Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.
James Tewell
James Tewell, 61, of Valdosta died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Loogootee, Ind. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Valdosta. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Helen Marie Rowell
Helen Marie Rowell, 69, of Valdosta died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13 in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from noon until 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home