Obituaries
Published 2:25 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Aug. 27, 2003
Elma Stone Bennett
LAKE PARK — Elma Stone Bennett, 91, of Lake Park, died Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center . She was born in Echols County on Jan. 19, 1912, and was the last surviving child of the late Joseph Louis and Anna Permenter Stone. Mrs. Bennett was of the Primitive Baptist Faith.
Survivors are daughters and sons-in-law, Ernestine and Lawrence Zeigle of Mayday, Shirley and Harold Hughes of Lake Park; son and daughter-in-law, James and Maureen Bennett of Falmouth, Mass.; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Bill and Doris Bennett of Stockton; grandchildren, Ricky Zeigler of Valdosta; Brenda Whitman, Leon Zeigler, both of Statenville, James Bennett, Richard Bennett, John Bennett, Michael Bennett, all of Massachusetts, Mark Bennett of Connecticut, Patty Brady of New Jersey, Scott Hughes of Jacksonville, Fla., seven stepgrandchildren, a number of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husbands, James Aaron Bennett and Wilbur Bennett and three stepsons.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in the chapel of the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Wayfare Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
Oscar O. Fletcher
VALDOSTA — Oscar O. Fletcher, 92, of Valdosta, died on Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on March 2, 1911, in Lowndes County to the late Frank Norton and Minnie Lee Reagan Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher owned and operated Valdosta Machinery and Supply Co. and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. A member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, he was a 32nd degree mason, shriner and jester. He was a member and deacon at Grace Community Chapel.
Survivors are two daughters and one son-in-law, Mary Fletcher and Melvyn Samuelson, Sandra Fletcher, all of Valdosta; one son and daughter-in-law, Otis and Beverly Fletcher of Valdosta; grandchildren, Owen and Leslie Samuelson of Macon; Sam and Kim Fletcher of Lake Park, Tim Samuelson of Kissimmee, Fla., Tracy and Brad Roberts of Lake City, Fla., Jane and Andy Earle of Atlanta, Walter and Toni Fletcher of Lake Park, Dena and Mike Ruiz, Penny and Shannon McCrary all of Valdosta; 16 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Nettie Mae McLeod of Valdosta, Loris Arnold of Riverside, Calif., Alma Carson of Bowie, Md.; four brothers, Horace Fletcher of Tampa, Fla., Maxie Fletcher, Ferdinand Fletcher, and John Fletcher, all of Valdosta. Mr. Fletcher was preceded in death by his wife, Lorena Rykard Fletcher; and two brothers, Claude Fletcher and Frank Fletcher.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends today from 7-9 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
William ‘Bill’ Garrett
LAKE PARK — William “Bill” Garrett, 65, of Lake Park, passed away Monday night (Aug. 25, 2003) at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. He was a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years or more. He was Baptist by faith and a member of Black Ponies. Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by his parents, Coley and Claire Garrett; and stepdaughter, Cami Boss.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Garrett, Lake Park; five daughters and sons-in-law, Cheri Cooper, Westminster, S.C., Sonya and John Merry, Cary, N.C., Claire Fontenot, Statesville, N.C., Cheryl and Greg Murrey, Baxley, Ga., Kathy Williams, Baxley; son and daughter-in-law, William E. Jr. and Miriam Garrett, Roebuck, S.C., Scott and Pam Garrett, Statesville, N.C.; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Howard and Hope Allen, LaGrange, Ga.; and a stepdaughter, Lory Brogdon, Brunswick.
Funeral services will be held at noon, Thursday (Aug. 28, 2003) in the Valdosta Chapel of Music Funeral Services. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. — Music Funeral Services of Valdosta
Carolyn Thomas Harrell
LAKE PARK — Carolyn Esther Thomas Harrell of Lake Park died Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center. She was born in Lake Wales, Fla., on Nov. 4, 1922, and lived in Lowndes County. She was retired from Owens Illinois where she was employed for 29 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church DOC of Valdosta, VFW Auxiliary and UDC.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Mathew and Essie Bell Swift Thomas, her husband Wallace Emory Harrell and son William (Bill) Emory Harrell, sister Nelle Thomas Strom, brothers, Loren (Buck) Thomas, Ernest Thomas, and Mathew (Mickey) Thomas. Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Carolyn K. Harrell of Clyattville, daughter and son-in-law Esther and Billy Rykard of Columbus, Ga., daughter and son-in-law Elaine and Charles McCann of Hahira, son and daughter-in-law, Pat and Beverly Harrell of Dasher, daughter and son-in-law Betty and Raymond Dees of Valdosta and son Ted Harrell and Cindy Baunoch of Madison, Fla.; 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law Libby Thomas and Marthina Harrell of Valdosta and Gladys Thomas of Augusta, Ga., brother-in-law Gerald Harrell of Lake Park.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Carson McLane Funeral Home of Valdosta with burial to follow at Cat Creek Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Ernestine Bender
Ernestine Bender, 92, of Valdosta and formerly of Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., died on Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center after a short illness. Memorial services will be held in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. Donations may be made to The Haven, P.O. Box 5382, Valdosta, GA 31603 or to Methodist Childrens Home, P.O. Box 2947 Valdosta, GA 31604. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Jerry Eugene Parker
Jerry Eugene Parker, 67, of Valdosta, died on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. There will be no local services for Mr. Parker. His family will have services at a later date in Columbus in Riverdale Cemetery. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Vivian Strom
Vivian Strom, 81, lifelong resident of Valdosta, died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at the Life Care Center of North Charleston, S.C. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Tom Daniels officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday between 7 and 9 p.m. — Carson McLane Funeral Home