Obituaries

Mr. James Bailey Swain, 44, departed this life on February 23, 2012.

He leaves to cherish his memories one son, Justin Bailey, of Honolulu, Hawaii; his father, Reverend James Bailey, Jr. and wife, Anna, of McCordville, Indiana; one sister, Anna Everett. of Blountstown; three brothers, Michael Bailey, Aaron Everett and wife, Tonya, both of Bristol, and Sammie Swain and wife, Cynthia, of Lawton, Oklahoma; his mother-in-law, Gayle Suggs, of Clarksville; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 3, at 12 Noon CST at Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church located at 16345 SE River Street in Blountstown with the Reverend Dr. C.L. Wilson (Pastor), Ret. Presiding Elder O.C. Williams, Minister Warren Mosley, Minister Darryl Solomon, and the Reverend James Bailey, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in the New Hope Cemetery in Blountstown.

Vann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (ph. 850-482-3300).

Mr. Thomas Dalton Barker, age 85, of Scotts Ferry passed this life Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

He was a native of Pensacola, FL and resided in Scotts Ferry, FL since 1976. He was of the Primitive Baptist faith. Mr. Barker was a retired letter carrier with the United States Postal service for 33 years. He was a Navy Seaman during WWII. He was an active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers for 65 years, active member of the Florida Sheriffs Association for 17 years, Scotts Ferry Volunteer Fire Department and the National Rifle Association.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marie Barker, Parents Willie L. and Nina Floyd Barker. Granddaughter Tammy Durden Gates, two brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his daughter, Kay Durden, and husband, Ronnie, of Grand Ridge FL; grandson, Phillip Melvin and wife, April; great-granddaughters, Taylor and Kara Melvin all of Altha; granddaughter, Amy Durden Tummenelle, and husband, John; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Heather, Ronnie and Jessica, all of Chipley, FL; great-grandchildren, Crystal and Jason Money, of Victoria Texas, and Susan Gates of Blountstown; and his brother, Joe Barker, of Scotts Ferry, FL. Other survivors include three step daughters, Paulette Warren of Brewton, AL, Pat Thompson of NC and Joyce Shaw of Pensacola; 11 step grandchildren, 13 step great grandchildren, and two step great-great grandchildren. Special niece Kathy Barker of Pensacola FL and many other friends and relatives also survive.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm CT on Thursday March 1, 2012 at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown FL. Service will be Friday March 2, 2012, at 3:00 pm CT at Peavy Funeral Home Chapel in Blountstown. Interment will be at little Flock Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Molino Fl. Saturday March 3, 2012.

A family Service will be Saturday March 3, at 2:00 pm CT at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).

Kathy Renee Fortner of Blountstown passed away Friday, February 24, 2012, at the age of 48 at her mother’s home with her son, Cameo, and her sister, Dora, and brother-in-law, Tony Hall, by her side. Also by her side were neighbors and good friends, Lorene and Anita Holmes, and her son, Alex.

She was preceded in death by her son, Colby Fortner; her parents, Charles Herman and Wanda (Parrish) Fortner; and her sister, LaJuana Downum.

She is survived by two sons, Jeremy Fortner and his wife, Matrona, of Alaska, and Cameo Fortner of Blountstown; three sisters, Opal Brogdon and her husband, Danny, of Wewahitchka, Frankie Darlene ‘Dolly’ Chagnon and her husband, Xavier, of Miami, and Dora Mosley and Tony Hall of Blountstown; seven beautiful grandchildren; four nieces and four nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 3, at Boggs Cemetery in Blountstown (in case of inclement weather, the service will be in Adams Funeral Home Chapel). The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Friday, March 2, at Adams Funeral Home.

Adams Funeral Home in Blountstown is in charge of the arrangements (phone 674-5449). On-line condolences may be made at adamsfh.com.

Linda Kay Burke Hodge of Hosford passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at the age of 63.

Linda lived in Hosford all of her life and was a caregiver for Resources for Human Development in Tallahassee.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Dale and Orean Bell Burke; and two brothers, Warren Burke and Conley Burke.

She is survived by sons, John Hodge of Tallahassee and Charles Hodge, Jr. and his wife, Melisa, of Bristol; a daughter, Brenda Kay Jordan, and her husband, Jason, of Hosford; six grandchildren, Troy, Dennis, Bryson, Taylor, Kelsey, and Nathan; two brothers, Earl Burke and Melvin Burke, both of Hosford; and a sister, Faye Samanie, also of Hosford.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, February 25, at Sanders Cemetery in Hosford with Kyle Peddie officiating. Interment will follow. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. ET, Friday, February 24, at Adams Funeral Home in Bristol.

Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements (phone 674-5449). On-line condolences may be made at adamsfh.com.

Mrs. Kathleen (Kat) Segers, 53, of Blountstown, FL, passed away Saturday, February, 18, 2012 in Blountstown.

Kat was born on June 2, 1958, in Blountstown and had lived here all of her life. She was a caregiver and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Junior and Jeanette Hill. She was of the Holiness faith.

Survivors include her husband, Aaron Segers, of Blountstown; two sons, Jimmy Taunton and his wife, Connie, of Altha, and Jacob Segers of Blountstown; one daughter, Marsha Furr, and her husband, Andy, of Marianna, FL; two brothers, Ruben Hill of Blountstown, and Johnny Hill and his wife, Darlene, of Tallahassee, FL; two sisters, Annette Hill of Blountstown, and Lindy Sherrod and her husband, Charles, of Blountstown; three grandchildren, Tia Miller, Leigha Knowles and Kaleb Wells; one great-granddaughter, Ansleigh Knowles; a great niece, Jordan Lee; a great nephew, Jensen Lee; and a host of other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 21, at 2 pm (CST) from the graveside at Wood Cemetery in Blountstown with Reverend Ernie Gray officiating. Interment will follow. The family will receive friends Monday, February 20, from 6 pm until 8 pm (CST) at Peavy Funeral Home.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).

Roy Pitts of Wewahitchka, FL went home to be with the Lord on February 13, 2012. Roy was born April 20, 1925 to George and Rosella Pitts of Kinard, FL. Roy was a veteran of World War II in the United States Navy.

He was preceded in death by a son, Dewey Pitts, and a daughter, Windale Laurimore.

His survivors include one son, Winiferd Pitts, of Wewahitchka; and one daughter, Charolette Hysmith, of Camden TN; his brothers, Jesssie Aaron, Barnum, Cllifford and Williard Pitts of Kinard; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Kinard Community Holiness Church at 2:00 P.M. CT Thursday, February 16, with a visitation for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Cypress Creek Cemetery, Kinard.

All services are under the direction of the Comforter Funeral Home, Wewahitchka Branch Chapel.

Mrs. Frances Elaine (Pendarvis) Finlay, 90, of Blountstown, FL, passed away Friday, February 10, 2012, in Tallahassee.

Frances was born on September 3, 1921, in Washington, DC, to George Richard and Elizabeth Lydia Pendarvis. Due to her father’s career in the United States Navy, the family lived in several locations including Honolulu, Hawaii, and San Diego, CA. The family moved to Blountstown in 1931. She graduated from Florida State University, worked for the Department of Children and Families until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Burns Finlay; parents; brother, Richard (Dick) Pendarvis; sister, Kathryn (Kathy) Clements Pendarvis Allen; a son, David Hume (Dave) Finlay; and a grandson, W. Lyle Hubbard.

Survivors include her sons, William W. (Bill) Finlay and George Clement Finlay; a daughter, Frances Elizabeth (Beth) Finlay; granddaughter, Shari Elaine Hubbard; and great-grandson, Lyle Hakes Reeves.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 13, at 2:00 pm (CST) at the Blountstown First United Methodist Church with Reverend Jim Jines officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Memorial Cemetery in Blountstown. The family will receive friends Monday, February 13, 2012 from 1:00 pm (CST) until service time at 2:00 pm (CST) at the Blountstown First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials may be made to the Blountstown First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 299, Blountstown, FL 32424 or any organization of your choice.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).

Mrs. Rita Griffin, 65, of Altha, FL passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2012, in Panama City, FL.

Rita was born on October 19, 1946, in LaPorte, IN. She and Olan were married on May 26, 1973, in LaPorte and moved to Altha in 1977. She was a homemaker and, as a child, baptized at LaPorte Missionary Baptist Church in LaPorte.

Rita was preceded in death by her mother, Lenora Evans, and a sister, Gloria Evans.

Survivors include her husband, Olan Griffin, of Altha; her father, Rollie Evans, of LaPorte, IN; a stepson, Todd Griffin, of FL; a brother, Larry Evans, and his wife, Karen, of Michigan City, IN; a sister, Geri Marganti, of LaPorte, IN; her mother-in-law, Ella Griffin; and several nieces and nephews

God saw you were getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you,
and whispered “Come to Me”.
With tearful eyes we watched you,
and saw you pass away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hardworking hands at rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 12, at 2:00 pm (CST) at Peavy Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend David Goodman officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Memorial Cemetery in Blountstown, FL. The family will receive friends Saturday, February 11, from 5 until 7 pm (CST) at Peavy Funeral Home. A memorial service will be announced at a later date in LaPorte, IN.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).

Mrs. Margaret Ann Jenks, 60, of Wewahitchka, FL, passed away Sunday morning, February 5, 2012, in Panama City, FL.

Margaret was born on August 30, 1951, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and had lived in Wewahitchka for most of her life. She was a retired CNA, working with Robinson Retirement Home. She was a member of the New Life Beginnings Holiness Church in Wewahitchka.

Margaret was preceded in death by her mother, Myrtice Barton, and a son, Charles Raymond Jenks.

Survivors include her father, J. Frank Bailey, of Kinard, FL; two sons, Tim Jenks and his wife, Greta, of Scotts Ferry, FL, and Jason Jenks of Wewahitchka; one daughter, Delores McDaniel, and her husband, Ray, of Wewahitchka; five brothers, Tommy Wayne Bailey and Tony Frank Bailey, both of Florida, Kevin Bailey of Wewahitchka, Phillip Bailey and Scotty Bailey, both of Kinard, FL; one sister, Shawn Pitts, and her husband, Lonnie, of Kinard; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorialization will be by cremation.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).