Sales tax holiday passesObituaries

Published 3:08 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

VALDOSTA — Georgia may have a sales tax holiday this summer after all.

Despite early predictions that the holiday might not pass this year due to the state’s budget woes, the four-day holiday passed the senate Thursday 46-0 on the 39th day of the legislative session. The bill now goes to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature.

Rep. Ron Borders, one of the original signers of House Bill 1184, said, “Tim Golden was a big asset in the Senate and I want to give a special thanks to Sen. Casey Cagle, who was chair of senate finance, who got it out of finance and the rules committees for me, and he carried it on the Senate floor, working closely with Tim.”

The holiday, designed to give parents relief on back to school supplies and clothing, will begin at 12:01 a.m. on July 29 and continue until midnight Aug. 1. Items exempt from sales tax during the four days include school supplies under $20 per item, clothing and shoes, and computers and accessories under $1,500.

The sponsors of HB 1184 were the Valdosta delegation, including Borders, Rep. Jay Shaw and Rep. Ellis Black, as well as Rep. Richard Royal and Rep. Tom Buck. The bill passed the House by a nearly unanimous vote two weeks ago, despite some opposition.

“This shows there was bipartisan support for this holiday, which I consider to be a revenue enhancement. It’s of a short duration and encourages people to come from out of state to shop and to stay in state.”

The legislative session only has one more day to decide the fate of the rest of the state’s pending legislation, including the state budget. Borders indicated that the House and Senate are taking a break and will reconvene for the final day on April 13, 14 or 15, after the spring holidays are over.

“There are still unresolved issues over the budget, particularly with school funding, between the Senate and the House,” he said.



To contact Business Editor Kay Harris, please call 244-3400, ext. 280.

for Friday, April 2, 2004



William R. ‘Bill’ Blankenship

William R. “Bill” Blankenship, 72, of Ray City, Ga., passed away Wednesday afternoon, March 31, 2004, at his residence following an apparent heart attack. He was born in West Palm Beach, Fla., and had lived in Ray City since 1988.

Mr. Blankenship was a member of several Masonic Lodges and the Hasan Shrine Temple, serving as Ambassador, 3 York Rite Bodies (Council Royal Arch, Commander) York Rite College, 32 Scottish Rite, Kentucky Colonel. He was also a member of Victory Baptist Church in Valdosta.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Wood, and his parents, William and Mary Blankenship.

Survivors include his wife, Hattie Blankenship, Ray City, Ga.; two sons, Jerald Blankenship, West Palm Beach, Fla., Thomas Warren, Okechobee, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Gregg Mead, Italy; two grandsons, Christopher and Kelly Wood, Ray City, Ga., Tom Warren, Ray City, Ga.; three granddaughters, Ashley Mead, Italy, Brittany Blankenship, West Palm Beach, Fla., Lauren Blankenship, West Palm Beach, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Flo Blankenship, Jupiter, Fla.; a sister, Linda Lambert, Jupiter, Fla.; three great-grandchildren, Brittany, Christian and Heather Wood; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2004, in the Lakeland Chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Beaver Dam Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. with the family receiving friends until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com.

Music Funeral Services, Lakeland, is serving the Blankenship family.



Ruby Irene Chandler

ODESSA, Fla. — Ruby Irene Chandler, 83 of Odessa, Fla., died Saturday, March 27, 2004 at Manor Care Nursing Home in Tampa, Fla. after a lengthy illness.

Born in Brooks County, she was the daughter of William and Eula Herring Dukes. She was married to Benjamin Franklin Chandler, Sr. and was a homemaker.

She is survived by four daughters, Irene Dixon of Ft. White, Fla., Willie Coppage of Odessa, Fla., Eula Schmidt of Rocky Mt., N.C., Ruby Ann (John) Windham of Temple; three sons, J.F. Chandler of Mich., James Chandler of Opp, Ala., William Chandler of Ft. White, Ala.; numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Marion Dukes of Quitman.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004 in Oak Hill Cemetery. — Maxwell-Miller Funeral Home, Quitman



John Albert Futch

NASHVILLE — John Albert Futch, 45, of Nashville passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004 at Berrien County Hospital.

He was born on Nov. 21, 1958 in Berrien County to the late John Hershell and Charlotte Gaskins Futch. He was a fiberglass laminator with Chaparral Boats.

He is survived by five sisters, Sherrie Batten of Pearson, Johniette Sizemore, Virginia Taylor, Betty Sue Futch, all of Nashville, Durinda Talley, Montgomery, Ala.; three brothers, Randy Futch, Larry Futch, both of Nashville and Tommy Futch of Riverdale.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004 in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with the Rev. Mickey Lindsey and the Rev. Clarence Luke officiating. Burial will be held in Westview Cemetery. Visitation will be held after 3 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville



Lillie Bell Tann-Porter

VALDOSTA — Mrs. Lillie Bell Tann-Porter, of Valdosta was born on Jan. 20, 1927 in Sycamore, Ga. to the late Rev. John Andrew Tann and Annie Nesmith-Tann. She was married to the late Mr. Robert Porter, Sr. To this union, six children were born.

Mrs. Lillie Bell Tann-Porter departed this life on Saturday, March 27, 2004 at South Georgia Medical Center at the age of 77. Her battle was fought, the victory was won.

She confessed Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Vienna AME Church. She later moved her membership to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Valdosta. At Mt. Calvary, she was a dedicated “worker” on the Usher Board for over 40 years.

Mrs. Porter received her primary and secondary education in Hahira. She attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta on a basketball scholarship. She also attended Valdosta Technical School and received her nursing assistant certificate. She worked as a private duty nursing assistant for many years.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, George, John, Jim, Joseph and Elijah Tann; two sisters, Tiny Tann and Mary Reynolds.

Mrs. Porter is survived by three daughters, Mary Davis, Serenia Porter-Carnegie (James) and Annie Bell Porter, all of Valdosta; three sons, Robert Porter, Jr. and John Porter both of Valdosta and Roddy Porter of Newport News, Va.; one sister, Mamie Tann-Hood of Cleveland, Ohio; one brother, Willie T. Tann (Jessie) of Dayton, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Helen Tann and Rosetta Tann, both of Dayton, Ohio seven grandchildren; Roddy Kenyatta Porter, Michael Porter, Vanessa Carnegie, Jennifer Porter, Anthony Carnegie, Tonya Harris and Timothy Matchett; eight nieces and 11 nephews; a host of great-nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her fishing buddies, card playing partners and special friends: Maude Gillard, Bernice Smith, Corine Christopher, Barbara Werts, Ethel Wiggs, Susie Clark and Elvira Williams.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 3, 2004 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 500 E. Force Street. Pastor David Adams is the pastor and he will officiate. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Scott and Roberts Mortuary



Prince Alexander

Prince Alexander, 77, of Nashville passed away Friday , March 26, 2004 at Berrien County Hospital. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday April 3, 2004 at Communion Christian Center, 316 S. Norman St. in Nashville. Burial will be held in Eastview Cemetery, Nashville. Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m. this evening at Lane Memorial Funeral Chapel, Adel. — Lane Memorial Funeral Chapel, Adel



Rephard “Rip” Moore

Rephard “Rip” Moore, 61, of Valdosta passed this life April 1, 2004 at the South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by Harrington Funeral Home.



E. Steve Norris

E. Steve Norris, 66, of Valdosta died on Thursday, April 1, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Nelson Grist will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m. this evening. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Dee J. Summerlin

Dee J. Summerlin, 64, of Valdosta died Thursday, April 1, 2004, at her home. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home