for September 4, 2002



Leila L. Butts

QUITMAN – Leila L. Butts was born June 15, 1906, in Twiggs County to Vilia Lingo and De Costa Anderson. She died Aug. 29, 2002, after a lengthy illness at the Presbyterian Nursing Home in Quitman. Mrs. Butts received her formal education at Hammock Elementary, Twiggs County; Bedi Etta Institute, Macon; and Forsyth Normal School, Forsyth. At an early age, Mrs. Butts converted to Christianity and began a life of dedicated service which continued uninterrupted until her health failed in late 1994. During her teen years, she served as Sunday School superintendent of Griffin’s Gift Baptist Church in Twiggs County. She was president of the senior choir of Union Baptist Temple Bridgeton, N.J., for 20 years. Also, at Union Baptist she served several years as president of the Worker’s Council and chairperson of the pastor’s anniversary. In her later years, she served faithfully as a member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman. At Beulah, she was a member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman. At Beulah, she was a member of the senior and gospel choirs, president of the missionary society and “Mother” of the church. Mrs. Butts was married to Jim Butts II, a Wilcox County sharecropper. To their union, five children were born. Husband, Jim; two sons, Russell and Jimmy; and one daughter-in-law, Jean, preceded her in death. She leaves to celebrate her homegoing and cherish her memory one daughter, Florence Louise, Quitman; two sons, Thomas (Delores) of Bridgeton, N.J., Donald (Sandra) of Clayton, N.J.; one daughter-in-law, Hattie Kate, Chandler, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; 30 great-grands; 23 great-great-grands; and one brother-in-law, L.C. Butts of Philadelphia, Penn.; a host of nieces, nephews and friends of all ages. Four special others that were like daughters, Naomi Lackamy, Minnie Hayman, Eva Earven and Ester Register; and two others that were like sons, Robert C. Marshall and Eddie Surrency. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6 at Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman with Dr. Horace L. Tucker officiating. Burial will follow at noon, Saturday, Sept. 7 in the Griffin’s Gift Church Cemetery in Twiggs County. The family will receive relatives and friends between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. — Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home Chapel



Ricky L. Pounds Jr.

LAKELAND — Ricky L. Pounds Jr., 24, of Lakeland, passed away Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002. He was born in Valdosta, April 17, 1978, and was a lifelong resident of Echols County. Ricky was a police officer for the Lakeland Police Department, enjoyed hunting and fishing and attended Sardis Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mary Ethel Pounds, Albert Clifton Pounds and best buddy and granddaddy Farris Hiers, all of Echols County. He is survived by his wife, Debora Pounds, and their children, Colt and Malinda; his mother and her husband, Elaine and Ed Parker of Valdosta; his father and his wife, Ricky and Cheryl Pounds of Lakeland; a grandmother, Evelyn Hiers of Echols County; four sisters, Rozanne Pounds of Valdosta, Angel Pounds of Lakeland, Nichole and Eric Boyett of Columbia, S.C., Doris and Jeff Wray of Sylvester; three brothers, Cal and Alicia Parker of Reynolds, Vic and Melanie Parker of Sylvester and Jack Paulson of Boston; grandparents, Bill and Nanette Davis, J.D. and Alene Patten; and a niece, Bristol Parker, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins who loved him dearly. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Lakeland First Baptist Church. The Rev. Brad Royal and the Rev. Marvin Smith will officiate. Burial will follow in Carter Cemetery in Echols County. The family received friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to your favorite charity or church. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Charleen Blalock of Valdosta died Tuesday at South Georgia Medical Center. A visitation is tentatively scheduled for Thursday and a funeral service is tentatively scheduled for Frida





y. Plans will be announced by Carson McLane Funeral Home.



Evelyn Courtney Parramore, 93, died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002, in Bolivar, Tenn. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. today in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Christina M. Powell, 93, of Valdosta, and mother of Charles A. Powell III of Valdosta, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, at South Georgia Medical Center. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Melbourne, Fla. — Carson McLane Funeral Home