Friday, Dec. 21



Mattie Bryant Carruthers

Services for Mattie Bryant Carruthers, 72, 309 Bay St., Thomasville, are at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at St. Luke CME Church, 134 Chatman Dr., Thomasville. The Rev. James N. Greene Jr. pastor and the Rev. U.A. Hammonds officiating and interment is in Peaceful Rest Cemetery. Active pallbearers are members of the class of 1946 and 1947 of Douglass High School and Steward Board of St. Luke CME Church. Honorary pallbearers are Willie Ponder, John Davison and Robert (Sug) Brown. Mrs. Carruthers died Dec. 18 at her residence. Born April 2, 1929 in Thomas County, she was a daughter of the late John Bryant Jr. and Pearlie Williams Bryant and was raised by David and Gussie Williams. She was married to Morris G. Carruthers. She had lived in Thomas County most of her life and had lived in Fitzgerald for 10 years. She was a retired teacher and taught home economics for 30 years. At her church, she was director of board of Christian education, Sunday School teacher, CYF director, financial secretary, chairman board of trustees, member of Missionary Society, member of Doris Johnson Choir, member of Joint Board of Finance and member of St. Luke CME Church. She was a 1947 graduate of Douglass High School, 1951 graduate of Paine College and held a bachelor of science in secondary education (home economics). Survivors include husband, Morris G. Carruthers of Thomasville; daughters, Debra G. (Njagi Makanga) Njagi of South Africa, Angela C. (Wilbert) Young of London, England, Catherine Carruthers of Thomasville; son, Wayne Carruthers of Thomasville; granddaughters Wianesha Carruthers of Miccosukee, Fla., Nyambura Njagi of Atlanta; grandsons, Makanga Njagi of Atlanta, Roosevelt Young, Wesley Young both of London; granddaughters, Whitney Young of London, Nanya Hopkins of Thomasville; great-grandson, Morris Canty of Miccosukee; stepson, Winford S. Thompson of Cleveland, Ohio; stepdaughter, Ophal Murray of St. Petersburg, Fla.; brothers, Oscar Bryant of Tallahassee, Fla., Edward Bryant of Miami, Fla., Perry Bryant of Miami; sisters, Theatta Mitchell of Thomasville, Annie Mae Crowder of Denver, Colo.; brothers, Charles Bryant of Denver, Curtis Bryant of Miami; stepmother, Annie Grace Bryant of Miami; stepbrothers, Connell Thomas of Miami; stepsisters, Elizabeth Morgan of Miami, Helen Gardner of Newark, N.J.; three godsons, Kevin Howell of Savannah, Russell Howell of Atlanta, Bryan Howell of Atlanta; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts, other relatives and devoted friends. She was preceded in death by stepbrothers, Alonzo Bryant and Alfred Bryant. — Hadley’s Funeral Home





Hiram “Bud” Davis Sr.

Services for Hiram “Bud” Davis Sr., Thomasville, are at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at Providence Missionary Baptist Church where he was a member. The Rev. Emory Virgil will officiate and interment is in Magnolia Cemetery in Metcalfe. Active pallbearers are deacons of the church. Honorary pallbearers are Men About Town Association. Mr. Davis died Dec. 17 at his residence. Born July 18, 1921 in Thomas County, Ga., he was a son of the late Rufus and Elizabeth Jones Davis. He was maintenance supervisor at Warners Inc. and a native of Thomas County. He was a Mason of the Subline Prince of the Royal Secret 32 degrees, founder of the Men About Town Association, served in the U.S. Army during World War II and lifetime meber and past commander of American Legion Post No. 519 of Thomasville. Survivors include son, Most Worshipful Grandmaster 32 Degrees Hiram Davis Jr. of West Haven, Conn.; son and wife Mark Davis (Keva) of Thomasville; son, Willie Frank Davis of Hartford, Conn.; daughter, Casandra “Penny” Davis of Detroit, Mich.; brother and wife, Fred Davis Sr. (Corine) of Thomasville; beloved friend and daughter, Grace Scott and Connie Scott of Thomasville and Tallahassee, Fla.; grandchildren, Andre Davis of Hartford, Lester Davis of Detroit, Mich., Shelvy Davis serving in the U.S. Army in Bosnia, Brandy Davis of Detroit, Shelton Davis serving in the U.S. Air Force in Connecticut, Will





iam Davis, Ashley Davis both of Detroit, Akia Davis of Thomasville; daughter-in-law, Margaret Davis of Thomasville; brother-in-law, Willie Lockett of San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law, Bernice Birdsong of Hartford; three great-grandchildren; longtime friend, Doris Robinson of Thomasville; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. The body will be on view from noon until the funeral hour with no viewing after the eulogy. The family will receive friends after the services at the church. — Grooms Funeral Home





Bettye Simmons Johnson

Services for Bettye Simmons Johnson Cairo, are at 11 a.m., Sat. Dec. 22, 2001 at Greater New Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo where she was a member. The Rev. W.R. Jenkins pastor, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Simmons will officiate and interment is in Crestview Cemetery in Cairo. Active pallbearers are Lemond Cornell, Larry Simmons, Albert Simmons and Ezekiel Hadley. Mrs. Johnson died Dec. 18 at her residence. Born in Cairo, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Perry Simmons and Pinkie Simmons, who survives. She was married to the late Willie L. Johnson. She was a social worker with Southwestern State Hospital in Thomasville. Survivors include daughter, Lorane Johnson of Cairo; sons, Kenneth (Hazel) Johnson of Miami, Fla., Frederick (Barbara) Johnson of Cairo; daughter, Ailisa Bogan of Cairo; sister, Geraldine S. Faulk of Cairo; brothers, Dr. Perry (Emma) Simmons Jr. of Newark, N.J., Samuel (Daryle) Simmons of Atlanta, Dr. Daniel (Diane) Simmons of Albany; sisters, Marilyn (Ansu) Mason of Cairo, Cheryl D. Simmons of Waycross; brother, Phillip (Linda) Simmons of Cairo; sister, Naomi (Neville) Stuart of Cairo; sisters-in-law, Helen (Cleveland) Sanders of Iron City, Eloise (Alfred) Leonard of Bainbridge; brothers-in-law, Melvin (Nora) Johnson Jr. of Bainbridge, James (Ethel) Johnson of Opalocka, Fla., Howard (Betty) Johnson of Tallahassee, Fla., Clemmon (Grace) Johnson of Cairo, Phearis (Reather) Johnson of Cairo, J.W. Johnson of Miami, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and a special friend, Patricia Ann Spence. — Weston’s Funeral Home



Eva S. Storch

Services for Eva S. Storch, 79, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. are at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at Lake Ellen Baptist Church in Crawfordville, Fla. Interment is in Lake Ellen Cemetery in Crawfordville. Mrs. Storch died Wednesday, Dec. 19 in Thomasville. A native of Wakulla County she had lived in Jacksonville Beach all her life. Survivors include her husband, Richard C. Storch, to whom she was married for 38 years; son, Richard Turner of Thomasville; daughter, Jackie Winchester of Thomasville; four sisters; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. — Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home



Mose Walden Sr.

Services for Mose Walden Sr., 84, 3046 Wurst St., Ochlocknee, are at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, 4293 Hall Rd., Thomasville. The Rev. Kenneth L. Boyd Sr. pastor officiating. Interment is in Springhill Cemetery. Active pallbearers are Willie Edwards, Johnny Cox Jr., Ricky Hopkins, Eddie Lee Myrick, Horace Spears Sr., Jasper Bodiford and Willie Evans. Honorary pallbearers are deacons of Springhill M.B. Church. Mr. Walden died Dec. 13 at Archbold Hospital. Born Oct. 22, 1917 in Thomas County, he was a son of the late James and Blanche Lee Wilson Walden. He was married to Rosa M. Donaldson, who preceded him in death. He was a farmer. Survivors include sons, James Walden, Mose Walden Jr. both of Thomasville; daughter, Hazel Hightower of Moultrie; son, John H. Walden of Thomasville; daughter, Annie L. Cox of Meigs; sons, Ira L. Walden of Thomasville, Jerry L. Walden, Willie Walden both of Ochlocknee; daughter, Eva M. Taylor of Moultrie; son, Elijah Walden of Ochlocknee; daughters, Elizabeth Spicer of Ochlocknee, Nakita D. Wyche, Catherine Hawkins, Abbie G. Bodiford all of Thomasville; 36 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends. — Hadley’s Funeral Home





Gladys Mixon

Wheeler

Graveside services for Gladys Mixon Wheeler, 88, are at noon, Friday, Dec. 21, 2001 at Greenwood Cemetery in Cairo. The Rev. Dr. Ron McCaskill will officiate. Mrs. Wheeler died Wednesday, Dec. 19 in Thomasville. Born Aug. 18, 1913 in Newton, Ala., she was the daughter of the late Aris A. and Votie Mullins Mixon. She was married to Charlie L. Wheeler who preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 2000. She was a longtime resident of Grady County, a bookkeeper and a member of First Baptist Church in Cairo. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Jacque Wheeler of Valdosta; grandchildren, Melissa Wheeler of Valdosta, Kit Wheeler of Colquitt, Megan Wheeler of Valdosta; sister-in-law, Carolyn Mixon Lewis of Cairo; and a number of nieces and nephews including Priscilla Mixon. — Clark Funeral Home