From the Dec 6, 2001 issue of The Star
Frances Lawrence
Frances Hunt Lawrence, 89 of Port St. Joe, born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. She lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee for thirty years before returning to Port St. Joe.
She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church of Port St. Joe. Her first career was her family and later a floral designer.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Garland F. Lawrence and daughter Margaret V. Lawrence.
She is survived by her son, Raymond E. Lawrence and wife Edwena, and a sister Kathryn E. Hunt, all of Port St. Joe; five grandchildren, Steven C. Law rence and wife Pam of Port St. Joe; Raymond E. Lawrence, Jr., and wife Pam of Watkinsville, Georgia; David G. Lawrence and wife Alicia of Arcadia; Diane Thompson and husband Michael, and Kathy Clay and husband Phil all of Newark, Ohio; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held in the sanctuary of St. James Parish Hall on Monday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. with the Rev. Jerry Huft officiating.
From the Dec 6, 2001 issue of The Star
Opal Thomas
Opal Thomas, 76 of Port St. Joe, passed away Wednesday, November 28 at Bay St. Joseph Care Center. She was passed away January 29th at Talladega Health Care Center in Talladega, Alabama.
He is survived by three sisters, Maebell Roberson of Talladega Springs, Alabama, Edna Butler of St. Joe Beach, and Liz Baker of Alexander City, Alabama; one brother, Lee Self of Jackson, South Carolina; and one nephew, Elbert (Aboe) Hay of Mexico Beach.
From the Feb 14, 2002 issue of The Star
Daisy B. Pittman
Daisy Lee Byrd Pittman answered her call from the Lord Wednesday, February 6. She was passed away Wednesday, February 6 at a local hospital. He was the founder and fleet captain of the Raffield Fisheries, Inc. He was preceded in death by one son, Carl Eugene Raffield, Sr., a sister, Jewell Eddins; and brothers, Bert, Robert, and T.J. Raffield.
Capt. Raffield is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Laura Evelyn Raffield of St. Joe Beach; three sons, William Harold (Sandra) Raffield of St. Joe Beach, Ronald Clayton (Peggy) Raffield of Port St. Joe, and Danny Lee (JoAnn) Raffield of Simmons Bayou, and daughter-in-law Emogene Raffield of Port St. Joe; one brother, Donald Raffield of Tennessee; sisters, Bertie Davis of Sanford, Myrtle Curti and Myrtice Smith of Panama City, Sue Wesler and Eloyce Pratt of Port St. Joe; 15 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held February 9 at Gospel Assembly Church in Panama City with the Rev. Steve Coy and the Rev. Clyde Sharber officiating. Interment was in Pleasant Rest Cemetery in Overstreet.
Asked to serve as active pallbearers were Joey Raffield, Eugene Raffield, Randy Raffield, Daniel Raffield, Randall Raffield, Robert Raffield and Jackie Raffield. Honorary pallbearers included Donnie Griner, Vernon Griner, Lavern Griner, Buddy Maddox, Leroy Bramton, Ronnie Tharpe, Gaylon Fuquoa, Jim Shealy, Junior Segers, Skipper Drew, Mark Lyles, Ricky Lancaster, Danny Tankersley, Dickie Raffield, Walter Eddins, Tommy Humphrey, Bink Norton, David Fuquoa, Howard Wombles, Jack Bryant, Bobby Bramton, Jimmy Harris, Bill Holten, Chris King, Austin Davis, Mike Crocker, Ricky Flowers, Leon Hayes, Michael Hay, Nevin Stewart, Charles Wall, Oneal Sanders and James Hay.
From the Aug 29, 2002 issue of The Star
Leslie E. Sasser
Leslie Edgar Sasser, 85, of Mexico Beach, was passed away August 25, at the Gulf Pines Hospital in Port St. Joe. He was the fifth of nine children married in 1978, three sisters, Sammie Wilder of Cairo, Georgia, Laleah Thacker of Albany, Georgia and Ruth Campbell of Lakeland; a son, Roger Sasser; a daughter, Saundra Ruckle; two step-daughters, Carol Cathey and Gayle Goff; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Southerland-Gilmore Funeral Home, 507 10th St., Port St. Joe, on Monday, August 26, with the Rev. Dr. Jack Zimmerman officiating. Interment services were held at the City Cemetery in Bainbridge, Georgia, on Tuesday, August 27.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Florida Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 8190, Lakeland, FL 33902-9963.
From the Aug 29, 2002 issue of The Star
Robert Lee Myers, Jr.
Mr. Robert (Bob) Lee Myers, Jr. born May 10, 1938 in Miami.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy (Dot) Mae Myers, and his special mother-in-law, whom he called Mom, Lee Whittington.
He is survived by his loving children, daughter Rosa Andrus and husband Phil, son Ricky Ard and wife Billie, son Harold Dorman and wife Lisa, guardian son, Jim Whittington; eleven grandchildren, Amy Mullins, Brian Ard, Kevin Smith, Jeremy Ard, Chris Dorman, Lindsay Martin, Lauren Andrus, Kevin Andrus, Matthew Dorman, Osheena Nowlin, and Andrew Dorman; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 28 at 11:00 a.m. ET, conducted by Dallas Presley.
Interment followed at Holly Hill Cemetery. The family received friends at the home of his son Ricky Ard.
From the May 1, 2003 issue of The Star
David L. Smith, Sr.
A Godly life ended on April 17, when Bro. David L. Smith, Sr., was taken from us. There are three steps to heaven-out of self, into Christ, into Glory.
David Smith took these first two steps in life and lived a beautiful life in Christ, now he has taken the third step where there is no more weeping, no pain, no sorrow, and no disappointment.
He was married Covine Jackson, to which two more children were born. His son David (Buddy) Smith preceded him in death. In 1972, he https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/bmd_death/" target="_blank">passed away Wednesday, April 23, in Bay Medical Center.
He is survived by four sons, Ben Holley, Charles Holley, Wallace Holley, all of Wewahitchka, and Doug Holley of Houston, TX; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one brother, Buddy Dee Holley of Tallassee, AL.
Memorialization was by cremation. At his request, there will not be a memorial service. Those who wish may make a donation to the First Baptist Church in Wewahitchka, in his memory.
All services are under the direction of the Comforter Funeral Home.
From the Aug 21, 2003 issue of The Star
Maxine J. Walker
Maxine J. Walker born in Thomasville, Georgia. She was an inventory specialist retired from Robins Air Force Base and was a member of the Daughters of the Nile and a member of the North Macon Line Dance Group. She was a member of Bloomfield United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Busy Bees and treasurer of the United Methodist Women.
She was a sister of the late Robert Luther Jackson, Jr., and is survived by her husband Donald Walker of Macon. She is also survived by sisters, Geraldine Van Landingham of Thomasville, Georgia, and Norene Cooper of Port St. Joe; a brother, Warren Jackson of Thomasville, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Sunday, August 3, at Snow's Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono Avenue, Macon, Georgia, with the Rev. Charles Cravey officiating. Interment followed at Macon Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 5511 Bloomfield Road, Macon, Georgia, 31206, or to the Leukemia Research Foundation, Suite 420, 820 Davis St., Evanston, Illinois, 60201.
