Obituaries
Published 9:35 pm Monday, December 5, 2005
for Monday, April 28, 2003
Ann Elizabeth Bryan Dees
JASPER, Fla. — Ann Elizabeth Bryan Dees, 92, of Jasper, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 26, 2003, at Suwannee Valley Nursing Center following an extended illness.
Mrs. Dees was born in Valdosta on April 28, 1910, to the late William and Mary Bryan. She was a former resident of Bethlehem, Palatka, Fla., and Quincy, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years in December of 2002, Mr. James N. Dees.
Survivors include one son, James Norman Dees of Orlando, Fla.; three daughters, Lee Richardson (Rodney) of Bethlehem, Mary Sue Stevens (Michael) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Betty Baggett (Lloyd) of Bradenton, Fla.; one sister, Rose Mary Blake (Bob) of St. Augustine, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2003, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla. Interment will follow in New Hope Baptist Church. The family will receive friends Wednesday morning beginning at 10 a.m. for one hour prior to the service. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home.
Damon C. Dodd
The Rev. Damon C. Dodd of Norman Park died at Lakehaven Nursing Home in Valdosta Sunday, April 27, 2003. The Rev. Dodd was 87 years old at the time of his homegoing.
The son of the late Robert F. and Elizabeth H. Dodd, he was born in Flat River, Mo., Feb. 14, 1916. He was converted and accepted Christ as Savior in July 1932. In July 1933, he answered the call to the Gospel Ministry and for almost 70 years had been actively preaching and teaching the Gospel in many areas of the country. He served as a pastor of local churches in Missouri, Tennessee, and his adopted home state of Georgia. He was a noted evangelist for many years, conducting revival meetings throughout the United States. He and his first wife, Sylvia, served as missionaries to Cuba during the 1940s, and he served as denominational executive secretary in the 1950s. He served on the Board of Directors for the Free Will Baptist Bible College, of which he and Sylvia were charter alumni, for several terms in the 1960s and 1970s.
He completed requirements for and had conferred the Doctor of Ministries degree in the 1980s. He authored a number of books and study guides, and was a prolific writer of inspirational prose and poetry. He was a respected teacher of aspiring young ministers, Christian workers, and of anyone who wanted to learn more about God’s Word. During his lifetime, he organized many Free Will Baptist congregations and supervised the building of their churches and parsonages. In his retirement, he served as a mentor and a source of inspiration and encouragement to many pastors, laypeople and to any others who were placed in his life and under his care.
His wife of 58 years, the former Sylvia R. Wood, preceded him in death, as did his parents and three of his four siblings. He is survived by his wife, the former Ola Maude Mercer; his daughters and their husbands, Marilyn D. and Wayne Hudson of Macon and Barbara D. and Bobby Tucker of Hahira; his five grandchildren, Jonathan Hudson of Macon, Brian Tucker of Valdosta and Susanne, Lauren and Alison Tucker of Hahira; his brother, Leeman R. Dodd and family of St. Louis, Mo.; his stepchildren, Cheryl and Hinton Sinclair, Mike and Pat Mercer, Denise and Jerry Brooks, Debbie and Darrell Roberts, and Tammy Mercer of the Moultrie area; eight step-grandchildren and ten step-great-grandchildren; and a host of friends who loved and respected him.
A homegoing celebration for The Rev. Dodd will be held in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home in Moultrie on Tuesday, April 29, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Bellview Church Cemetery in Miller County. The family will receive friends at the funeral home tonight from 7-9 p.m. Flowers will be accepted, or donations may be made to United Hospice of Moultrie or Valdosta, or to Grace Free Will Baptist Church in Moultrie. — Baker Funeral Home, Moultrie.
Charles Campbell Giddens III
Charles Campbell Giddens, III, 66, passed away on Thursday, April 24, 2003, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Born Nov. 30, 1936, to the late Charles C. Giddens and Mildred Castleberry Giddens of Adel, Campbell became an accomplished musician in voice and piano early in life. Later, he earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Emory University and taught philosophy for a number of years at Valdosta State University.
During his retirement years, he pursued an avid hobby in nature photography.
Survivors include his wife, Marian Giddens of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; four daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret and Mike Cline of Dahlonega, Cathryn and Paul Watson of Hahira, Rena and Mike Nelson of Valdosta, and Alexa and Chris Finke of Roswell; three grandchildren, Perry and Clay Watson of Hahira and Lila Jane Finke of Roswell; and many close friends in both Georgia and Arizona.
Graveside funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the Woodlawn City Cemetery with the Rev. Dillard Ensley officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:30-8:30 p.m. tonight. — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home.
Alma Guthrie
NASHVILLE — Alma Guthrie of Nashville died Saturday, April 26, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center.
Born in Berrien County to J. H. Warren and Mary Harris, she lived a long and happy life. She was retired from Levi Strauss and was a homemaker. She was a member of Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW.
She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Warner Guthrie of Nasvhille; two daughters, Marie Atkins of Nashville and Evelyn Jarvis of Sparks; one sister, Lena Belle Stone of Nashville; two brothers, Leon Warren of Enigma and Wallace Warren of Nashville; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2003, in Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Bobby Fussell, the Rev. Junior Swain, the Rev. Richard Williams, and the Rev. Dillard Ensley officiating. Burial will follow in Poplar Springs Cemetery. Visitation is after 4 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. — Lovein Funeral Home, member by invitation of selected independent funeral home.
Florence Carter Hughes
VALDOSTA — Florence Carter Hughes, 90, of Valdosta, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center.
Born on October 31, 1912, to the late Staten “Cat” and Betty Deloach Carter in Echols County, Mrs. Hughes was a member of Sardis Baptist Church.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Murial Wilbur and Jan Hughes of Valdosta; daughters and son-in-law, Jo Ann Hughes and Buddy Brooks of Valdosta and La Wanna Hughes Adams of Lake Park; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Clayton Hughes; two grandchildren, William Lambert and Clayton Ray Hughes; and five sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at Sardis Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Cotterill and the Rev. Milton Sellars officiating. Burial will follow at Carter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
J.D. “Jake” Garner
J. D. “Jake” Garner, 52, of Lake Park and Echols County, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home of Lake Park.
John Franklin Giddens Jr.
John Franklin Giddens Jr., infant son of John and Angie Giddens of Valdosta, died on Friday, April 25, 2003, the same day of his birth. There will be a private family graveside service today. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
William Foster Godwin
William Foster Godwin, 69, of Sparks, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2003, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2003, at Brushy Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Warren Chesser officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Purvis Funeral Home. — Purvis Funeral Home of Adel.
Gail Johnson
Gail Johnson, 51, of Lake Park, passed away early Sunday afternoon, April 27, 2003, in South Georgia Medical Center after being in declining health for some time. Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced by Music Funeral Services. — Music Funeral Services.