Obituaries for Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005

Published 4:58 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

John Frank Thomas

Sgt. John Frank Thomas, 33, of Valdosta, passed away July 24, 2005, after injuries he received in Iraq with the Georgia Army National Guard 48th Brigade in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was born in Valdosta at South Georgia Medical Center Dec. 16, 1971. Sgt. Thomas was preceded in death by his father, Antonio R. Thomas, who retired from the U.S. Air Force.

Sgt. Thomas attended Lake Park Elementary School and Valdosta High School. He also attended North Florida Junior College in Madison, Fla. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, from 1994 to 1998. He worked in Valdosta for the Crackin’ Good Bakery, the Publix supermarket and several construction companies.

He was in the Georgia Army National Guard for the past 18 months and was called into active duty with the U.S. Army 48th Brigade on Jan. 7, 2005. He was sent to Iraq May 15, 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Thomas; his grandfather, John E. Thomas, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force; his maternal grandfather, Joseph R. Perron, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force; his grandmother, Manuela F. Thomas; one brother, Antonio M. Thomas; four uncles, Clarence L. Thomas, Daniel J. Thomas, Frank S. Thomas, who are all veterans of World War II, and John M. Thomas; one aunt, Elisa E. Thomas; father-in-law, Freddie Smith Sr.; seven sisters-in-law, Agnes Robey, Felicia Lane (James), Pamela Owens, Patricia Green (Avery), Wanda Walker (Lonnie), Lucy Bonner, Sharee Bonner; 10 brothers-in-law, Michael Robey (Lynetta), Greg (Gwen) Robey, Antwane Robey, Freddie Smith Jr., Craig Walker, David Walker (Kathy), Patrick Walker, Sham Walker, J. Ceaser Walker, Glen Walker; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at the New Greater Union Ministries Church and Rev. Wade S. McCrae is pastor and Dr. J.P. Miller will officiate. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, at the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. The family will be leaving 2009 Bradley Ave. at 9:30 a.m. — Harrington Funeral Home Incorporated.



Sue Cauthen Little

Sue Cauthen Little, 72, of Valdosta, and beloved wife for 52 years of Dr. Robert L. Little, died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 11, 1932, in Natchez, Miss., to the late William A. and Edith Trudell Cauthen and had lived in Valdosta for 36 years. Mrs. Little was Anglican Catholic.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. Robert L. Little, of Valdosta; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael R. and Judy Little of Omaha, Neb.; one daughter and son-in-law, Trudy and Steve Hurd of Newport, Vt.; four grandsons, Peter R. Hurd and Thomas A. Hurd both of Newport, Timothy M. Little and Christopher J. Little both of Omaha; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Samuel L. and Connie Cauthen, Robert P. and Pamela Cauthen all of Natchez; two sisters, Betty Joe Ferrill and Mary Francis Gwinn, both of Natchez; numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at the McLane Funeral Home with memorial services to be held Thursday in Natchez. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to your favorite library. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



Alma

Hughes Cowart

Alma Hughes Cowart, 73, of Valdosta died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center. She was born in Lowndes County Jan. 12, 1932, to the late Payton Perry Hughes and Mamie Irene Poole Hughes. Mrs. Cowart had worked at Strickland Cotton Mills and retired from Levi’s Manufacturing. She was a loving and kind mother and grandmother and a member of the Victory Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond S. Cowart, of Valdosta; one daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne M. and Roger D. Fender of Bedford, Texas; one son, Mark Cowart of Chicago; two grandsons, Jeffrey D. Fender, serving with the U.S. Air Force in Japan and Benjamin R. Fender of Ft. Worth, Texas; two brothers and a sister-in-law Jim Hughes of Sugarland Texas; Bobby and Barbara Hughes, of Jesup; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Alice Hughes, of Waycross, and Carolyn and Billy Ragsdale, of Rosenburg Texas. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Rogers and Mary F. Sanders.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at the Victory Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Ward officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Victory Baptist Church Mission Program, 3229 Madison Highway, Valdosta, Ga., 31601. Mrs. Cowart will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



Lois Giles Prater

Lois Giles Prater, 89, of Valdosta, and formerly of Atlanta, died peacefully of natural causes Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at Lakehaven Nursing Home. Born in Atlanta May 25, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Annie Biggers and Charles Roy Giles. Mrs. Prater was a homemaker and a member of Capital View United Methodist Church in Sylvan Hills and later, East Point First Baptist Church. Mrs. Prater was preceded in death by her husband, Gladstone J. Prater, Sr., and companion, Andrew J. McCoy.

Survivors are her son and daughter-in-law, G. J. Prater Jr. and Kathy Prater; former daughter-in-law, Lynda W. Prater; granddaughter Paige Prater Creasman and husband, Scott; grandson Patrick Prater and wife, Jennifer; great-grandsons Max Creasman, George Creasman, and Tyler Prater, and great granddaughter Sara Prater. She is also survived by a sister, Martha Chapman of Cumming, and numerous, beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services for Mrs. Prater will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta. The Rev. Rick Dobbs will officiate. The Prater family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until services time at Westview. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. – Carson McLane Funeral Home.

Julian P.

‘Billy’ Cumbus

Julian P. “Billy” Cumbus, 73, of Nashville, died at his residence Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005. Born in Coffee County April 19, 1932, he was the son of Morris Cumbus and Francis Williams. He was a retired mechanic and farmer and of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mott Cumbus, of Nashville; four daughters, Rose Wilson, Mary Ann McIntyre, Joyce Gettle and Loretta Chauncey, all of Nashville; one son, Randy Cumbus of Nashville; two sisters, Betty Rigdon of Ray City, and Ann White of Eustis, Fla.; two brothers, Ancil Cumbus of Ray City and Bobby Cumbus of Abdington, Va.; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home. Chaplain Skip Van Nus will officiate. Burial will follow at Fellowship Cemetery. Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening at the Lovein Funeral Home in Nashville.



Eula Mae

‘Tinker’ Taylor

Eula Mae Tinker Taylor, 66, of Lakeland, passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at her residence after a lengthy battle with cancer.

She was born in Lanier County April 1, 1939, to the late Chandler F. Watson and Annie Bell Luke Watson. She was a member of Browning Chapel Church of God, an anointed Sunday school teacher, the church clerk for more than 50 years and a servant to many people, especially her family.

She was preceded in death by a sister Melba Diliberto. Survivors include her husband, W.A. Taylor, of Lakeland; a son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Clara Taylor of Valdosta; granddaughters Stephanie, SaraBeth and Rebecca Taylor, all of Valdosta; sisters Dorothy Tyson of Nashville and Nadine Sheffield, of Lakeland; and a number of nieces nephews.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at Browning Chapel. The family will receive family and friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservice.com. — Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.