Obituaries for April 14, 2004
Published 3:10 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Sam L. Bridges
SAN MATEO, Fla. — Sam L. Bridges, 81, of San Mateo, Fla. died Sunday, April 11, 2004 at the Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla. following an extended illness.
He was born in Cook County, Ga. and grew up in Valdosta. He had been a weekend resident of San Mateo since 1977 and had lived there full-time for the past 23 years, coming from Orlando, Fla. He served honorably in the United States Army. He retired from the United Life Insurance Company in 1983 after 30 years of service as an agent. A devout Christian, he had been an active member of the First Baptist Church of San Mateo where he had served as a Deacon and Chairman of the Usher Committee. He enjoyed fishing, working in his yard and gardening. He was always willing to help his neighbors any way he could.He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Alice (Fender) Bridges; four sisters, Elma Moore, Maude Moore, Gertrude Moore and Lillian Ray; three brothers, Willie D. Bridges, Roy Bridges and Russell Bridges; and one step-son, Wesley McDowell.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Vera Bridges of San Mateo, Fla. ; one daughter, LaVera Bridges of Daytona Beach, Fla. ; one son and daughter-in-law, Sammy and Andrea Bridges of Palatka, Fla. ; three sisters, Vera Bradford of Rebecca, Margaret Register of Fletcher, N.C. and LaMeria Pennington of Valdosta; three grandchildren, Robin Johnson and Rhonda Flippo, both of Tifton, and Brooklyn Belle Bridges of Palatka, Fla.; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today at the First Baptist
Church of San Mateo. A committal service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta. The Rev. Leroy Lewis will officiate both services. Military honors will be bestowed by the U.S. Army. Friends may pay their respects beginning one hour before service time at the cemetery. Memorial gifts may be sent to the First Baptist Church of San Mateo, P.O. Box 56, San Mateo, FL 32187.– Masters Funeral Home of Palatka, Fla.
William Herman “Short” Gray
BRADENTON, FLA. — William Herman “Short” Gray, 64, of Bradenton, Fla. passed away Sunday April 11, 2004 in Bradenton Hospital.
He was born on May 21, 1939 in Irwin County to Archie and Stella McMillan Gray. He was employed with Olson Electric as a lineman for 34 years, member of IBEW Local 222 and member of Bradenton Apostolic United Pentecostal Church.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Gray of Bradenton, Fla. ; one daughter, Flora Jean Stow, Bradenton, Fla.; two sons, William Archie Gray, Sevierville, Tenn., William H. Gray, Jr., Arcadia, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Josephine Rudeseal, Clarksville, Ga., Annis Jean Giddens, Valdosta; five brothers, Reason Gray, Nashville, Jake Gray, Douglas, James Richard Gray, Lakeland, Ga. , John M. Gray, Sparks, and Walter Gray of Bradenton, Fla. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Fannie Mae Miller.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2004 at Vickers Church. Burial will be held in Vickers Cemetery. Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. The family requests memorials to the Apostolic United Pentecostal Church, 5223 9th St., East Bradenton, FL 34203. — Lovein Funeral Home
Lloyd D. Mims
VALDOSTA– Lloyd D. Mims, 72, of Valdosta, died on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 after a lengthy illness. Mr. Mims was born in Clanton, Ala. on Sept. 29, 1931, to the late Jonah and Mae Dell Mims. He moved to Georgia and was principal at Clinch County High School for seven years, and then became principal at Valdosta Junior High School for two years before becoming principal at Valdosta High School in 1971. He retired from Valdosta High in 1984 and moved back to Clanton, Ala. and then returned to this area in 1998 and served as a substitute teacher at Clyattville Elementary School. Mr. Mims was a member of the Lake Park Church of God.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Mims of Lake Park; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Lynn Mims, of Valdosta, and David and Stacie Mims, of Fitzgerald; six grandchildren, Jessica Mims, Lee Mims, Marley Mims, Jake Mims, all of Valdosta, Ethan Mims, and Riley Mims, both of Fitzgerald. Also surviving is a mother-in-law, Rena Burnett, of Clanton, Ala., a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Agnes and Roland Williams, of Selma, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Mims will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2004 at Lake Park Church of God. The Rev. Keith Sandlin will officiate. The burial will follow in Clanton, Ala. on Friday at 4 p.m. The family will receive friends at Carson McLane Funeral Home this evening from 6-8 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the American Heart Association.– Carson McLane Funeral Home
DEATH NOTICES:
Mr. Amos Arnold of Sparks passed away on April 13, 2004 at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home of Adel.
Bobby J. Willis, 52, of Valdosta died Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carson McLane Funeral Home.