Obituaries

Published 2:27 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

for Sept. 7, 2003



Mildred M. Bowen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mildred M. Bowen, 87, passed away on Sept. 4, 2003. She was born in Valdosta and was a member of the Church of Christ.

She is survived by her son, Robert Bowen and wife, Mary; brothers, John Robert and J.J. Howell; grandchildren, Vicki, Jeff, Todd, Tabb and Tara; and seven great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003 in Riverview Cemetery in Valdosta. — Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville, Fla.



Douglas Gerald Henderson III

Douglas Gerald Henderson III, 27, of Valdosta, died Saturday, September 6, 2003 at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. He was born on March 23, 1976, in Pensacola, Fla. and had lived in Valdosta since 1991. Doug was a compliance auditor with South Georgia Medical Center and a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He was a member of the 1992 national football championship team at Valdosta High School, a graduate of the University of Georgia where he received his B.S. in accounting and a member of the Sigma Phi Fraternity at UGA. Doug received a master’s degree in accounting from Valdosta State University and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing with his dogs, Mike and Harley, watching movies, and attending UGA football games.

Survivors include his parents, Doug and Bev Kelly Henderson; two brothers, Ashley Henderson and Justin Henderson both of Valdosta; grandfather, Jerome Kelly of Pensacola, Fla.; his aunts and uncles, Mary Jane McGonagle, Kay Spearman, both of Pensacola, Janie and Chris Wey of Lakeland, Fla., Sherry Kelson, Michael and Kathi Kelly, all of Pensacola, Patrick and Grace Kelly of Houston, Texas, Timothy and Val Kelly of Plant City, Fla., Teresa Ellis of Deltona, Fla., Paul and Laura Kelly of Pensacola, Woody and Claire Spearman of Spanish Fort, Ala.; and numerous cousins and other relatives. He was preceded in death by grandparents Edna Kelly, Doug, Sr. and Vivian Henderson, all of Pensacola.

Funeral mass will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father John O’Brien, Father Marvin LeFrois and Deacon David Lasseter officiating. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at St. John Catholic Church with visitation to follow until 9 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to South Georgia Medical Center Foundation or to St. John Catholic Church Building Fund. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Zella Mae Clanton Thigpen

Zella Mae Clanton Thigpen, 99, passed away in Lakeland on Friday afternoon, Sept. 5, 2003, at her residence, 501 West Thigpen Street, where she had lived for the past 62 years. Until the last several weeks, she had enjoyed excellent health throughout her lifetime.

Born on Sept. 3, 1904, Mrs. Thigpen was the daughter of the late Charlie Clarence and Mollie Jane Ganas Clanton. The Ganas family were among the pioneer settlers of the Good Hope section of Lanier County.

She was the widow of Edward “Eddie” Thigpen, to whom she was married for 69 years. Her husband was a longtime member of Lakeland City Council who later served several terms as mayor of Lakeland.

Mrs. Thigpen was her husband’s helpmate during the many years that he operated the Lanier County Freezer Locker Plant. Together, they influenced numerous young people in the community by offering a class wherein they provided instruction on the processing and wrapping of meat. Her husband was a community leader who always had a ready story and a frequent laugh wherever groups gathered. With her dry sense of humor, Mrs. Thigpen played the “straight” person to her husband’s starring role as comedian and general all-around humorist.

She had a masterful talent for needlework that was best represented by the many types of crocheted items she created. She was known for her crocheted baby blankets and other types of needlecrafts that even today are cherished by generations of local residents who continue to use her handmade, original pieces. For a number of years, she operated a cloth shop and advised her customers in creating their own clothing and other types of needlecrafts.

The oldest living member of the First Baptist Church of Lakeland at the time of her death, Mrs. Thigpen joined the church early in her life and remained one of its most loyal, active members. She was among those who sold bricks when the new church structure was in the planning stage during the early 1950s.

Mrs. Thigpen taught Sunday School classes, led Sunbeam Groups, and continuously baked cakes and provided homemade ice cream for church activities. When her church started the mission that became Lakeland’s Southside Baptist Church, she volunteered and was among the first Sunday School teachers at the new church.

Two days before her death, a host of friends and loved ones dropped by to see Mrs. Thigpen at her residence where her 99th birthday was observed. An avid Braves fan, she spent many hours watching the Atlanta baseball team on television including the last several weeks.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Thigpen was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Thigpen Stembridge of Daytona Beach, Fla., and a grandson-in-law, Mark Hughes of Walterboro, S.C.

Mrs. Thigpen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Zellna and Charles Shaw of Lakeland; five granddaughters and two grandsons-in-law, Peggy and Mike Acuna, Phoenix, Ariz.; Cindy Broadbent of Connecticut; Vicki Hughes, Lake Alapaha; Pam Fowler, Valdosta; and Sheri and Mark Futch, Adel; nine great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

The memorial service celebrating Mrs. Thigpen’s life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Lakeland on Monday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Evans Patten officiating. Mrs. Thigpen’s son-in-law, Charles Shaw, will give the eulogy. The deceased will be placed at the church and lie in repose one hour before the memorial service. The graveside service and burial will take place at the Good Hope Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will take place at Music Funeral Services in Lakeland at any time on Sunday, signifying that Mrs. Thigpen’s door was always open to anyone who chose to stop by and visit. Music Funeral Services is handling the arrangements for Mrs. Thigpen’s homegoing. — Music Funeral Services



Nelson Allen DeLoach

Nelson Allen DeLoach, 42, of Remerton, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial to follow in Wayfare Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home