Obituaries for Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004
Published 4:08 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Nathaniel Johns Jr.
VALDOSTA — Mr. Nathaniel Johns Jr., 46, of Valdosta was born on Jan. 18, 1958, to Nathaniel and Maurice Johns in Lowndes County. He attended the Lowndes County school system and Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. Nathaniel worked for Langdale Forest Company as a truck driver for 12 years.
Mr. Nathaniel Johns Jr. passed this life on Dec. 16, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was preceded in death by one sister, Clementine Williams, two brothers-in-law, Johnny Williams and Anthony Williams, one uncle, Benjamin Franklin Brown, and grandparents, BJ and Kathleen Johnson and Dea. James and Mearlon Johns Ward.
He leaves to cherish his memories a loving wife, Ardell W. Johns; devoted parents, Nathaniel and Maurice Johns; a devoted daughter, Rhonda Herring; two sons, Cleveland Herring Jr. (Nattelie) and Marcus Herring (Sharette); one sister, Celestine Thomas; father and mother-in-law, Dixie and Eurdice Williams; grandchildren, Jasmine Herring, Brianna Sherman, Marcus Thomas and one special grandson, Brandon Herring; eight aunts, Princey Hall, Marilyn Ward, Elder Louvenia (Dr. Johnny) Straughter, Mattie (Timothy) Smith, Marjorie (Ernest) Dumas, Annie (Bill) Haynes and Elder Almarean (Cornelius) Whitfield, Thelma Branham; one uncle David (Ruth) Ward; seven sisters-in-law, Patricia (Jerome “Bo” special brother-in-law) Scurry, Debra Williams, Marilyn (Sweetie) Williams, Cheryl Williams, Tracey Jones (Greg), Barbara Jones, and Janice Williams brother-in-law, Dixie (Junebug) Williams (Vickie) and Janice Williams; two nieces, Stacey Gary and Tangee Thomas; one nephew, Boncel (Buffy) Thomas; three great-nieces, Diamond Thomas, Kishera Thomas and Jayla Watson; one great-nephew, Zackary McClain; one godson, Rafael (Tamara) Williams; best friend, Roosevelt Thomas; close friends, Valeria (Herring) Smith, Eddie and Ethel Dennard, Carrie Moses, Neville and Yvonne Thomas, Jerry Sanders, Raymond Roberts, Donnie, Langdale Forrest Truckers and staff, the Thomas Chapel Church family, and a special thanks to Pastor Edgar Roberts.
Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 at Thomas Chapel Baptist Church. The Rev. Edgar Roberts, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Scott And Roberts Mortuary
Jetty McLeod Lawrence
VALDOSTA — Jetty McLeod Lawrence, 69, of Valdosta died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at the Heritage House Nursing Home after a lengthy illness.
Born in Brooks County, Ga., she was the daughter of Jeptha and Florence Corley McLeod. She was a seamstress for Levi’s and a member of the Baptist faith.
She is survived by her husband, Hoke Lawrence of Valdosta; one daughter, Teresa (Ut) Tran of Lake Park; three sons, Stephen Lawrence of Adel, Mike Lawrence of Valdosta, Bryan K. Lawrence of Valdosta; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Catherine M. Graves of Jacksonville, Fla., Audrey M. Taylor of Anderson, S.C., and Jewell M. Baldree of Nashville, Ga. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Murray McLeod, Ray McLeod, and Donald McLeod.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, in Evergreen Church with the Rev. Sherman Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening. Flowers will be accepted or those desiring may make contributions to United Hospice, 101 Northside Dr., Bldg. C, Valdosta, Ga. 31602. — Maxwell-Miller Funeral Home, Quitman
Tommy Lumpkin
VALDOSTA — Tommy Lumpkin, 50, of Valdosta passed away Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, in South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. He was born in Tifton on Jan. 11, 1954. He was employed with Reames Concrete for 17 1/2 years and was employed by Scruggs Concrete as plant manager until declining health forced him to resign. Mr. Lumpkin was preceded in death by his daughter, Lelia Melissa Lumpkin, and grandparents, Alton and Lois Lumpkin and Thomas and Selma Lumsden.
He is survived by his spouse, Tamara “Tammy” Retzloff, Valdosta; two sons and daughters-in-law, T.J. and Miranda Lumpkin, Decatur; Eric M. Lumpkin and fianc, Casie Deerman, Valdosta; daughter, Melissa High, Valdosta; parents, Lamar and Jewell Lumpkin, Valdosta; step daughter and stepson-in-law, Jennifer and Tony Troutt, Ariz.; two stepsons, Roshad Retzloff, Big Rapids, Mich., Nathaniel O’rme, Flint, Mich.; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Adrian and Carla Cervini, Linden, Mich., Karl and Pat Retzloff, Fla.; grandchildren, Matia Adrianna Troutt, Kaley, Jasmine, and Madison Dearman; brother, Terry Lamar Lumpkin, Sparks; brother-in-laws, Karl, Tim, Christopher Retzloff, all of Mich.; grandmother-in-law, Merle Hunt, Clint, Mich.; and a dear friend, Marchelle Sullivan.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004, in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to United Hospice Inc., 101 Northside Drive, Valdosta, Georgia 31601, The Break Bread Together at the First Presbyterian Church, 313 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, Ga. 31602 or your favorite charity. Sympathy can be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com– Music Funeral Services of Valdosta
Marie M. Pearce
VALDOSTA — Marie M. Pearce, 66 of Valdosta, formally of Tampa, Fla. died on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on Sept. 8, 1938, in Indian River County, Fla., to the late Jody and Estell Wynn. She was a member of Temple Terrace Church in Tampa.
Survivors are sons, Melvin Jackson and Robert Hegwood both of Valdosta; daughters, Anita Tinner of Valdosta and Louise Vetzel of Tampa; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and 10 brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, in the chapel of the Martin McLane Funeral Home with Mr. Bob Vetzel officiating. A private burial will be held later in Tampa. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Martin McLane Funeral Home
James C. Perry Sr.
CLYATTVILLE — James Charlie “J.C. Buster” Perry Sr., 94, of Clyattville, died early Friday morning, Dec. 17, 2004, at home after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Perry was born June 1, 1910, near Francis Lake. He married Oma Williams on May 22, 1932, and she preceded him in death in 2000. They were married 68 years, and both passed at home on the farm they purchased in Depression-era 1933 at 6634 Clyattville-Lake Park road. The couple raised 10 children on the farm. As with Mrs. Perry, he was lovingly cared for by his family at home for several years following the onset of Alzheimer’s disease until his death with family at his side.
Mr. Perry’s homegoing services will be held at St. Paul AME Church and interment will be at Francis Lake AME Church, where he became a member as a youth and served as a lifetime member and official of the Church, starting as the church secretary as a teenager, and as a steward, trustee and Sunday School superintendent for many years. Mr. Perry was also schooled at an early age at the Francis Lake Church, which will now be his resting place. He also attended other church schools in Valdosta to reach the seventh-grade level.
A lifetime farmer, Mr. Perry was a tenant farmer on the Clyattville farm before he purchased it in 1933 and a second farm in the early 1960s, becoming one of the largest black-owned family farms in Lowndes County. As a successful farmer (tobacco, peanuts, corn, cotton, other row crops and livestock — cattle and hogs), Mr. Perry was a respected and contributing member of the southern Lowndes County community and surrounding Valdosta area for many years. During these active years of farming, the Perry family also sharecropped (swapped labor) with several local families, including the Elzie Thomas and Carrie Shiver families, to produce the main cash crop — tobacco.
Before retiring from full-time farming, Mr. Perry was involved in many farm-related and community organizations. He also retired as a bus driver from the Lowndes School system. He helped organize and participated in the popular Lowndes County Ham and Egg Show for more than 30 years, and served as president of the county’s Farm-Home Improvement Association for a number of years. Mr. Perry’s proudest farm accomplishment — which he was quick to share — was his countywide election by fellow farm owners to the Lowndes County Farm Service Agency Committee.
Family, relatives and friends throughout the community affectionately called Mr. Perry “Papa.” His beloved wife, “Omie” as he called her, preceded him in death on Sept. 30, 2000, as well as one son, Roman Edward Perry, and an infant daughter. He is the son of the late Josephine Perry and was raised with his grandmother, Alice Perry, following the early death of his mother. A brother, Aaron Smith, and a sister, Mary Alice Perry-Johnson, also preceded him in death.
J.C. “Buster” Perry leaves to celebrate his passing four devoted daughters, Mrs. LaVerne Shiver-Carter (Sully), Mrs. Mary Nell Bryant (LaBarfield), Mrs. Linda P. Denton (Lonnie), and Mrs. Velma Miles (John); five sons, Mr. Robert L. Perry (Naomi-deceased), Mr. James C. Perry, Jr. (Mildred-deceased), Mr. Bernard Perry (Sheena), Mr. Leonard Perry (JoAnne), and Donald A. Perry (Marilyn) of Lithonia, Ga.; daughter-in-law, Rose Perry, Valdosta; 27 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; niece, Nell Amos of Orlando, Fla.; devoted caregivers; many, many close friends, relatives and neighbors, and the staff at Southern Homecare Services/Eldercare and Odyssey Healthcare-Hospice.
Visitation with the body lying in state was held from 6:30 -7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, at Francis Lake Church. Funeral services will be held at noon today, Dec. 21, 2004, at St. Paul AME Church. The Rev. Linda Matchett will officiate. Burial will follow in the Francis Lake Cemetery, which is located within eyesight of his birthplace 94 1/2 years ago. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Southern Home Care — Alzheimer’s (229) 245-0545 or to the Francis Lake Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 152, Lake Park, GA., 31636. — Stevens Funeral Home of Valdosta
Susie
Frances Schofill
ADEL — Mrs. Susie Frances Schofill, 78, of Adel died Dec. 19, 2004, at Memorial Convalescent Center of Adel after a long illness.
She was born on Feb. 19, 1926, in Cook County to the late John Thomas and Ellen Thelma Schofill Davis. She lived most of her life in Cook County. She was a homemaker and member of Gordon Avenue Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Chester Schofill, Sr.
Mrs. Schofill is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert “Buddy” and Lisa Schofill Jr., Adel, Gary and Vonnie Schofill of Nashville and Richard Schofill of Hahira; two daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and David Sanders, Adel, Carolyn and Carl Vredeveld of Lake City, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Milton Schofill, Tallahassee, Fla.; one sister, Liz Bratzel, Pompano Beach, Fla.; one brother-in-law, Jimmy Schofill, Adel and one sister-in-law, Ruth Penrod of Muncie, Ind.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brushy Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Phillip Simmons and the Rev. Harris Whitman officiating. Burial will be held in Woodlawn City Cemetery. — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Adel
Donald
Eugene White
CECIL — Donald Eugene White, 70 of Cecil, died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada on Jan. 2, 1934, to the late Hants Alexander and Phyllis Draper White. Mr. White grew up in Mars Hill, Maine, and had lived in Valdosta and Cecil since 1953. He was a retired automotive instructor from Valdosta Tech, served in the United States Air Force, attended Salem United Methodist Church and was a member of St. John The Baptist Masonic Lodge No. 184 of Valdosta.
Mr. White is survived by his wife, Raney Futch White of Cecil; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Pam White of Greensboro, N.C., and David and Kelly White of Alpharetta, Ga.; six grandchildren, Wes and Robin Staley of Kennesaw, Ga., Kenneth Staley of Aiken, S.C., Alex White of Athens, Ga., Margaret Ann White of Atlanta, Logan and Lael White of Alpharetta, Ga.; three step grandchildren, Amanda, Wade and Stephanie Garrett of Atlanta; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Martha and Walter Lawrence of Mars Hill, Maine, Wanda White of Tahuya, Wash.; four brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Delores White of Moses Lake, Wash., Jim and Janet White of Yuma, Ariz., Roy and Connie White of Ellendale, Del., Wayne and Jennie White of Spring Valley, Calif. He is preceded in death by one daughter, Donna White Staley.
Funeral services for Mr. White will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 22, 2004, at Salem United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Houseal and Mr. Charlie Merwin officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. He will lie in state for one hour prior to service time. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the Martin McLane Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to your favorite charity. You may convey condolences online at mclanefuneralservices.com. — Martin McLane Funeral Home.
Mytrice D. Wright
VALDOSTA — Mytrice D. Wright, 64, passed this life Dec. 16, 2004, at the South Georgia Medical Center. Mrs. Wright was born Nov. 3, 1940, in Broxton, Ga. to the late Valene Robinson. She was a member of the St. Peter AME Church and was employed by the Valdosta Orthopedic Associates for over 24 years and upon her demise worked under Dr. John P. Kendrick.
Mytrice D. Wright leaves to lament her passing and cherish her memory two beloved daughters, Genise Jackson and Marlene Greene of Valdosta; nine grandchildren, Keith Wright, Rodney Turner, Shakeana Turner, Octavia Johnson, Jarvis Wicks, Vincent Johnson, Jeremy Greene, Sepheria Greene and Darius Jackson of Valdosta; six great-grandchildren, Tre’vone Wright, Ke’yundra Wright, Ianna Wright, Jaylyne Wicks, Xaviana Wolfe and Khlon Johnson of Valdosta; one nephew, James Jenkins Jr. (Minnie) of Valdosta; special friends, Dr. John P. Kendrick, Barbara Seago, Connie Cason and Leah Nelms of Valdosta; one daughter, Shirley Wright Turner, and sister, Lena Stokes Baker, preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Peter AME Church and the Rev. Thomas Bailey is Pastor and the Rev. Johnnie Mannings will officiate. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Harrington Funeral Home
Leon Turner
Funeral services for Mr. Leon Turner, 48, of Adel will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at Mount Olive Baptist Church, Sparks. He was a decedent in the U.S. Armed Forces. Visitation hour will be held from 5-8 p.m. this evening at Lane Memorial Chapel. The remains will lie in state at the church from 11 a.m. until the hour of service on Wednesday. Burial will be held in Sparks Cemetery. — Lane Memorial Chapel of Adel.
Lucius Curtis Whitfield
Mr. Lucius Curtis Whitfield, age 74, of Quitman passed away on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, in Brooks County, Ga. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be announced later by the Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home of Quitman.