Mary Anne Henderson
Mary Anne Henderson, educator, activist, and matriarch of a family of lawyers, died Wednesday at Hospice Care Center in Port Orange, Florida following a long struggle with Alzheimers. She was 95.
Known to her friends as “Mamie,” Mrs. Henderson was a 37 year resident of Edgewater, Florida, and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She was a teacher at Edgewater Elementary School from its opening in 1967 until her retirement in 1988. During much of this time and in her retirement, she was a tireless activist for the Democratic Party. She was a member of the Volusia Democratic Executive Committee, delegate to the Florida Democratic Convention, and active in the Southeast Volusia Democratic Club. She was an energetic volunteer in the campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Lawton Chiles. Locally, she led grassroots campaigns for the election of her son Clay Henderson to Volusia County Council in 1986 and daughter-in-law Mary Jane Henderson as County Judge in 1990. She was a long time member of Edgewater United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Henderson was born on a dairy farm in Moultrie, Georgia, in 1920. She grew up in Waycross and attended the University of Georgia. World War II interrupted her studies while she worked as a civilian employee at US Army bases at Ft. Stewart and Ft. Benning. Following the war, she taught school in Statenville and Waycross.
In 1952, she married Odis Henderson a lawyer from Jasper, Florida. Shortly thereafter they moved to Tallahassee, Florida, following his appointment as Assistant Attorney General. He died in 1966, and Mrs. Henderson returned to the University of Georgia to complete her studies, now accompanied by two young children. Among her fellow classmates at graduation were students she had taught two decades before.
Mrs. Henderson is survived by two children, New Smyrna Beach lawyer Clay Henderson, and Atlanta, Georgia, lawyer Suellen Henderson, daughter-in-law County Judge Mary Jane Henderson, and two grandchildren, Craig and Ardis.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 18, 2005, at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, with the Reverend Robert C. Brown officiating. Committal service was held on Sunday, June 19, 2005, in Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to either Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Fla. 32119, or to Edgewater Public School, 801 South Old County Road, Edgewater, Fla. 32132.
Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 406 South Orange Street, New Smyrna Beach was in charge of arrangements.
Marie C. Saffles
Marie C. Saffles, age 66, of Jasper, Florida, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at Trinity Community Hospital. She was born April 23, 1939, to the late Carl and Leona Jestes. She retired after 20 years from the Hamilton County Sheriffs office where she worked in the jail.
Survivors include two sons: Elton Cribbs Jr. and Gary Cribbs Sr., both of Jasper; two daughters, Susan Cribbs Miller of Madison, Florida, and Star Fisel of Defuniak Springs, Florida; Two sisters: Sadie Cox of Jasper and Shirley Woods of Albany, Georgia; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a special care giver, Tina Hollie; special niece, Gwen Morgan; nephews and niece: Ken and Jeff Wood, Ben Cox, J.D. Cox, Harry Cox, Jack Cox and Sandra Wood; and her aunt, Edna Meadows.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 10, 2005, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home with Reverend Wendell Hill and Reverend Wendall Mathis officiating. Interment
followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Marie Ragan Scaff
Marie Ragan Scaff, age 92, of Jennings, Florida, passed away Friday, June 10, 2005, in a Valdosta hospital. Mrs. Scaff was a native and long time resident of Hamilton County where she was a homemaker and a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Decar Scaff Jr. of Jennings; two daughters: Barbara Jean Smith of Waycross, Georgia and Annette Stanford of St. Petersburg, Florida; one brother, Byron Ragan of Waterford, Ohio; one sister, Elizabeth Laseter of Jennings; nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, June 13, 2005, in the New Hope Baptist Church with interment
in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial be made to: New Hope Baptist Building Fund, 6592 NW 48th Street, Jennings, FL 32053.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Sr.
Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Sr., age 71, of Old Town, Florida, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at his home following a brief illness. He was born in Newport, Tennessee, on March 26, 1934. He was key in starting and building churches and served as a Church of God pastor for over 40 years.
Survivors include his wife Emogene (Jean) Johnson of Old Town; three daughters and sons-in-law: Freda Osborn (Frank) of Jasper, Florida, Cheryl Davis (Blake) of Chiefland, Florida, and Valarie Henson (Chip) of Old Town; one son and daughter-in-law, Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Jr. (Karen) of Haines City, Florida; three brothers, Charles Johnson of Wildwood, Florida, Steve and George Johnson, both of Tennessee; three sisters: Retha Miller of Virginia, Una Rimmer and Annette Jones, both of Tennessee; 18 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, June 10, 2005, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home with Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Jr. and Reverend Rocky Bray officiating.
Interment
followed at Osborn Family Cemetery near Jasper.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
C. Howard Hall
C. Howard Hall, age 71, of Jennings, Florida, passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born in Jennings on November 3, 1933, he was the son of the Leonard Lee and Jimmie Lee Collins Hall. Mr. Hall was a Navy Veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. He had owned and operated C. Howard Hall Appliances for several years and worked for Specialty Distributing for several years.
Survivors are his son and a daughter-in-law, Dan and Joye Hall of Douglasville; daughters and a son-in-law, Katrina and Jordan Essoe of Pittsburg, California and Melinda Hall of Valdosta; a sister, Frances Howell of Valdosta; a brother, Lonnie Hall of Lake Park; grandchildren: Rebecca Hall, Danielle Hall of Douglasville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Condolences may be conveyed online at obituaries at www.mclanefuneral services. com.
Carson McLane Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Doris Marcella Elliott
Doris Marcella Elliott, age 71, of Jasper, Florida, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Mrs. Elliott was born September 1, 1933, to the late Herbert and Susie Wadsworth Sr. She moved to the Jasper area six years ago from Live Oak where she maintained a daycare center in her home.
Survivors include her husband, Elvis Elliott of Jasper; one daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Sammy Tanner Jr. of Jasper; one brother and sister-in-law Mackie and Genie Wadsworth of Orlando, Florida; and three grandchildren: Taylor Parker, Shania Tanner and Trevor Tanner.
Graveside services were held Monday, June 20, in Evergreen Cemetery with Reverend Mark Collins officiating.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangement.
Audis Dolvin Weldon
Audis Dolvin Weldon, age 85, of Jasper, Florida, passed away Thursday, July 21, 2005, at Suwannee Valley Nursing Center in Jasper. The former Valdosta, Georgia, resident worked at Cracklin’ Good Bakery for over 20 years and retired from the United States Army with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Survivors include seven children: Donna Roberson (Decker) of Valdosta, Audis D. Weldon Jr. of Statenville, Georgia, Shirley Whiddon of Lake Park, Georgia, David “Pete” Weldon of Orange, Texas, Ronnie Weldon of Statenville, Donny Weldon of Lake Park, and Joey Weldon of Valdosta; five brothers: French Weldon and Corben Weldon of Jacksonville, Florida, Donald Ray Weldon of Cantonment, Florida, and Clayton Weldon and Willie Earl Weldon both of Sylacauga, Alabama; three sisters: Lucille Brewer of Bessemer, Alabama, Annie Jo Wedge of Childersburg, Alabama, and Lillie Pearl Morris of Mississippi; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; also surviving is the mother of his children, Dora Montgomery.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 23, 2005, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home with Reverend Carlton Allen officiating. Interment
followed in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta, Georgia.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
William T. (Bill)
Carden Jr.
William T. (Bill) Carden Jr., of Jennings, Florida, formerly of Panama City Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, July 20, 2005, at South Georgia Medical after a lengthy illness. He was retired from the United States Air Force.
He is survived by one daughter, Sandi Allen of Jennings; two sons: William Scott (Kimberly) Carden of Germany, and Clint (Connie) Carden of Green Cove Springs, Florida; one sister, Ruth (Hal) Almand of Conyers, Georgia; one granddaughter, Sherri (Craig) Summerlin of Doerun, Georgia; four grandsons: Reverend Tommy (Jodie) McDonald of Moultrie, Georgia, Scotty Carden of Evansville, Indiana, Brandon Carden of New Mexico, and Steve Carden of Green Cove Springs; four great-granddaughters: Sandi (Jason) Bennett of Valdosta, Georgia, Britni Summerlin of Doerun, Georgia, and Meredith McDonald and Katie McDonald, both of Moultrie, Georgia; two great-grandsons: Chris Summerlin of Doerun, and Ryan McDonald of Moultrie.
His wife, Jean Carden, his mother and father, William and Margarite Carden, his brother, George Carden and his son-in-law Ben Allen, preceded him in death.
Memorial services were held July 23, 2005, at Wilson Funeral Home, Panama City, Florida. His grandson, Reverend Tommy McDonald of Moultrie, Georgia, conducted memorial services.
Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sharon Gay Douglas
Sharon Gay Douglas, age 55, of Plant City passed away July 26, 2005. She was predeceased in death by her mother, Vivian Hogan, her father, Ralfe Wilson, and her brother, Brent Wilson.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Douglas; two daughters: Lisa Audette and Kimberly Hill; one brother, Danny Wayne Wilson; one sister, Delane Wilson; and four grandchildren.
Services were held Friday, July 29, 2005.
Hopewell Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens was in charge of arrangements.
