Obituaries

for Saturday, May 29, 2004



Junior Benefield

NASHVILLE — Junior Benefield, 67, of Nashville died Thursday, May 27, 2004 at South Georgia Medical Center.

He was born on Feb. 8, 1937 in Berrien County to Enoch Benjamin and Viola Hughes Benefield. He was a retired employee with Nashville Mills as an inventory control inspector; Air Force veteran and was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Jean Benefield who died in 1972.

He is survived by two daughters, June Marie Singletary of Lakeland, Tracey Moore of Hahira; two sisters, Gladys Gable of Los Angeles, Calif., Rose Kohler, Nashville; four grandchildren, Jarred Flores, Rachel Flores, Amanda Singletary, Ben Singletary; one brother, Buren Benefield, Ray City.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 30, 2004 at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Vernon Hughes and the Rev. Charles Shelton officiating. Burial will be held in Poplar Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville



Dennis I. Divens

Dennis I. Divens, 61, who was district contract coordinator for the Department of Transportation, died Thursday, May 28, 2004.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. EDT today at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel (877-8191).

A native of Troy, Ohio, he was a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He loved running and completed many marathons. While living in Hawaii, he appeared in episodes of “Hawaii Five-O,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Charlie’s Angels” and several Japanese commercials. His greatest love was helping others. He was a dedicated volunteer for many organizations serving the elderly. Dennis attended the Church of the Nazarene in Thomasville, Ga.

He is survived by his wife, Vickie Divens; his mother, Viola Jones of Greenville, Ohio; his mother-in-law, Betty Robinson of Moultrie, Ga.; two daughters, Dawna Brooks of Valdosta, Ga., and Debbie Henley of Fort Walton Beach; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death his father, Ivan Divens, and his brother, Dexter Divens. — Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home



Ben Harper

NASHVILLE — Ben Harper, 78, of Nashville died Thursday, May 27, 2004 at his residence.

He was born on Nov. 30, 1925 in Berrien County to John and Mary Crosby Harper. He was a retired farmer and member of Rowetown Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Nita Bowen Harper of Nashville; three daughters and sons-in-law, Juanita Terrell, Alveta (Greg) Vickers, all of Nashville, Christine (Ed) Hammock, Sylvester; one son and daughter-in-law, Laster (Denise) Harper of Lakeland; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Riley Harper, of Tifton. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Jesse, Willie, Johnny and Mack Harper; two sisters, Ludelle Fogarty and Maude Rowe.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday May 30, 2004 in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral home with the Rev. Junior Swain and the Rev. Johnny Guy officiating. Burial will be held in Nashville Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville



Fonder DeWitt Jones

Fonder DeWitt Jones, 78 of Valdosta, died on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at his residence after a lengthy illness. Born on July 15, 1925, in Perry, Fla., he was the son of the late Harvey and Nancy Baisden Jones. Mr. Jones was a retired self-employed brick mason.

He is survived by his wife, June Jones, Valdosta; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Patricia and Winston Sirmans, Valdosta; Fonda and Bob Melton, Valdosta; Brenda Fogarty, Valdosta; one son, Franklin Harvey Jones, Valdosta; nine grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; one sister, Lucy Ward, Valdosta, Ga.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Zelphia and James Smith, Nashville, Tenn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Jones will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, 2004, in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Reverend John Akers officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



James J. Roper Jr.

James J. Ropert Jr., 80, of Hahira died Thursday, May 27, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on Jan. 16, 1924, in Asheville, N.C., to the late James J. Sr. and Hattie Jones Roper and had lived in Lonwdes County since 1996. Mr. Roper was a retired self-employed building contractor and was a Methodist. He veteran of the U.S. Marines having served in World War II.

Survivors include two daughters and sons in law, Cheryl and Jim Kelty of Hahira, Kay and Richard Androlevich of Lake Butler, Fla., two sons, James J. Roper, III of Boise, Idaho. And John R. Roper of Florida, 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one sister, Elizabeth Carter of Morganton, N.C.

Mr. Roper will be cremated and there will be no formal services. Memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, Ga. 31603. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



James Ivory “Bunk” Williams

Mr. James Ivory “Bunk” Williams, 65, of Valdosta was born June 10, 1938, in Lowndes County, Ga., to Mr. Jimmie Williams and Mrs. Lessie Williams, both of whom preceded him in death.

He accepted Christ at an early age and joined River Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Williams died Thursday, May 27, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, two sisters and one brother. He leaves to cherish his memories: one son, Cyrus Williams of Jacksonville, Fla.; eight sisters, Helen Moody and Eula Copeland (Samuel), both of St. Petersburg, Fla., Hatti Simmons, Reatha Williams, Evelyn Wilson (Obie), Shirley Bradley (Fred), Diane Williams and Addie Holsendolp (Charles), all of Valdosta, Ga.; one brother, Willie Williams (Ida) of Valdosta, Ga.; one devoted niece, Teresa Simmons of Valdosta, Ga.; one brother-in-law, J.W. Wilson of Valdosta, Ga., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 30, 2004, at 2 p.m. at River Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. W.R. Jenkins, pastor, and Rev. Edgar Roberts will officiate. Burial will follow in the Pallbearer Cemetery. — Scott and Roberts Mortuary Inc.





Henry Clay Coleman

Henry Clay Coleman, age 60, of Nashville died Friday at his residence. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Lovein Funeral Home.



Polly Tucker Kilcrease

Polly Tucker Kilcrease, 92, of Clyattville died Friday, May 28, 2004, at her home after a lengthy illness. Graveside services will be held at 11am, Monday at Benevolence Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the funeral home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.



Infant Dawn Rajene Walker

Infant Dawn Rajene Walker, 14 day old daughter of Rachel and Jason Walker of Hahira, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30, 2004, in the chapel of Martin/McLane Funeral Home with burial following in Friendship Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. — Martin/McLane Funeral Home.