Obituaries for Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006

Published 8:10 pm Monday, January 30, 2006

GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Ralph Henderson

Ralph Henderson, 77, of Gainesville, Fla., passed away Saturday, Jan. 29, 2006, in Shands at AGH in Gainesville, Fla., following a lengthy illness.

Ralph was born March 4, 1928, to the late Frank and Mary Katherine Henderson. He was preceded in death on Dec. 17, 2004, by his twin brother, Raymon Henderson.

Survivors include a brother and sister-in-law, Alton and Sarah Henderson; a sister, Oleta Henderson Johnson; and sister-in-law, Marth Ruth Henderson, all of Jasper, Fla.; several nieces and nephews also survive.

A graveside service will be held at 4;30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1,2006, at Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper, Fla. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla.



HOMERVILLE

William Franklin Griffis

William Franklin Griffis, 81, of Homerville passed away Sunday Jan. 29, 2006, at the VA Medical Center in Lake City, Fla. after a lengthy illness. He was born Oct. 30, 1924, in Clinch County to the late Rob and Emma Alice Griffis. He served his country in the United States Army. He worked in the woods as a logger. He was preceded in death by his wife Minnie Rozier Griffis.

Survivors include his daughter, Evelyn Carter of Alma; sons Bobby Griffis, Townsen, Mass., Eddie Griffis, Stanley Griffis, Tiny Griffis. all of Homerville, Ray Conner, Donald Conner, both of Sylvania; companion, Melva Griffis, Homerville; 23 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; stepchildren, Lorine Douglas, Rebeeca Waters, Edward Rozier, all of Macclenny, Fla., Ann Bennett, Atlanta, James Rozier, Pete Rozier, both of Macclenny, Fla.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 1, 2006, in Oak Grove Cemetery in Macclenny Fla. The Family will receive friends today at the Trinity Baptist Church in Homerville from 1-8 p.m. Sympathy may be expressed to the family online at www.musicfuneralservices.com. — Music Funeral Services, Lakeland .



MONTEZUMA

Clyde Kendall Lester

Clyde Kendall Lester, 91, of Montezuma, died on Jan. 30, 2006, in Valdosta.

Born Sept. 28, 1914, she was the daughter of William Pickney and Clyde Bolton Kendall. She was a graduate of Valdosta High School and the Georgia State Woman’s College, now Valdosta State University. While she was teaching school in Byromville, she met her husband, James Daniel Lester. They lived in rural Dooley County between Byromville and Montezuma.

As a young woman, she became active in community affairs. A member of the Byromville United Methodist Church, she taught Sunday School and served in the Woman’s Society at both the local and conference levels. She was a member of the Montezuma Music Club. Eventually, her love of children called her back to the classroom and she was employed in the Montezuma Public Schools for many years. She completed her teaching career at Southland Academy, a private school in Montezuma. Until the time of her recent illness, she remained active in the music club and her church where she was a member of the Loyalty Sunday School Class and was one of its teachers.

Survivors include a brother and sister-in-law, Riley and Ella M. Kendall, of Valdosta; two sisters, VaNelle Anderson and Lamar Altman, both of Valdosta; a sister-in-law, Mary B Lester Brooks and a large extended family. Mrs. Lester was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and one brother, Lt. William P. Kendall, Jr.

A funeral service for Mrs. Lester will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at Byromville United Methodist Church, in Byromville. The Rev. Edward Braswell and the Rev. Edwin Smith will officiate. Burial will follow at Felton Cemetery in Montezuma. Mrs. Lester will lie in state at the church from 1 p.m. until service time. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanefuneralservices.com — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



VALDOSTA

Brenda Gail Hunter

Brenda Gail Hunter, 54, died on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at her home in Valdosta. Born in Duluth, on Jan. 12, 1952, she was formerly of Cumming and had lived in Valdosta for the past 30 years.

Mrs. Hunter was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Survivors are her husband, William Hunter, Sr. of Valdosta, sons and daughters-in-law, William Jr. and Suzanne Hunter of Valdosta, Thomas and Tammy Tucker of Cumming; daughter and son-in-law, Bobbie Gail and Robert Simpson of Cumming; eight grandchildren; her parents, Charles and Thelma Garmon of Cumming; sisters and brothers-in-law, Debra and Joe Bridges, Wanda and Ricky Voyles of Cumming, Sheila and Eddie Ramey of Donalsonville, Vicki and Jeremy Welchel of Calhoun, Lisa and Tim Huff of Cumming; brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Vivian Garmon; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Graveside services and interment will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at 2 p.m. in Lebanon Cemetery at Abbeville. The Rev. Chuck Taylor will officiate. The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home this evening from 6-8 p.m. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



VALDOSTA

Gladys May

Gladys May, 81, of Valdosta, died on Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, after a short illness.

Born in Nanticoke, Pa., to the late Percy and Margaret Masters, she had lived in Nanticoke for most of her life and had lived in the Valdosta area for the past 10 years. She was a former member of the Primitive Methodist Church in Nanticoke, Pa. She knew and loved Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and she was a devoted wife and mother.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeffrey and Terrie May, of Valdosta, and Jon C. and Mary Ruck, of Castle Rock, Colo.; four grandchildren, Joshua May, Ian May, and Hilary May, all of Valdosta, and Jon C. Ruck, Jr. of Castle Rock, Colo.. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Sullivan of Winter Garden, Fla.; a special friend, Rachel Wilkins of Savannah; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, John S. May, sisters, Claudia Parry, and Margaret Lawrence, brothers, Harold Masters, Percy Masters and Robert Masters.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. The Rev. Ken Webb, the Rev. Richard Lewis and Mr. Larry Conniff will officiate. Placement of the urn in the niche of the McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum will follow the service. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



NOTICES

Louis Edward Conaway

Louis Edward Conaway, 65, of Lake City, Fla., passed away Saturday, Jan. 28, 2005 in Shands at Lake Shore Hospital following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla. Burial will follow at a later date. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla.



Terry Junior Jividen

Mr. Terry Junior Jividen, 57, of Madison, Fla., passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2006, in Madison. The family will receive friends at Beggs Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006. — Beggs Funeral Home, Madison, Fla.