From the Dec 6, 2001 issue of The Star
Opal Thomas
Opal Thomas, 76 of Port St. Joe, passed away Wednesday, November 28, in Bay Medical Center following an extended illness. She was a native of Calhoun County, and a resident of Gulf County for the past 65 years. Ms. Thomas is survived by her two daughters, Bennye Lou Nelson and husband George of Crestview, and Fleeca Lancaster of Port St. Joe; three grandchildren, Daniel Glaze of Crestview, Raymond Nelson of Long Beach CA, and Wanda Nelson of Orlando; one sister, Evelyn Raffield and husband Carl of St. Joe Beach; three brothers, Billy Branch and wife Nadine of Port St. Joe, Freddie M. Branch and wife Henrietta of White City, and Harold Branch and wife Catherine of Tallahassee. Funeral services were held Friday, November 30, at the Honeyville United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. CT with the Rev. Gus Howerton officiating. Interment followed in Roberts Cemetery.

From the Dec 6, 2001 issue of The Star
Frances Lawrence
Frances Hunt Lawrence, 89 of Port St. Joe, passed away Wednesday, November 28 at Bay St. Joseph Care Center. She was 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 Feb 14, 2002 issue of The Star
James W. Self
James Willard Self, 83, 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 born July 17, 1937 to the late David Byrd, Sr. and Portia Price Byrd in Apalachicola. As a child she moved to Port St. Joe. Her education began at the Catholic School in Franklin County and later transferred to Washington High School. Her career was centered around the Gulf County School system as a bus driver, in guidance, as receptionist, and transportation department secretary. She was also an active member of her church, the Thompson Temple First Born Church of the Living God. Sister Pittman leaves to cherish her loving memory her son, James (Jeanette) McGee; two daughters, Dorothea "Rose" Peterson (Willie), and Barbara Baxter; two brothers, David (Lois) Byrd, and Jeffery Dixon; one sister, Cassandra Russ; six grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, February 11 at the Thompson Temple First Born Church of the Living God with Bishop Frank Hogan officiating. Interment followed at Forest Hill Cemetery.

From the Feb 14, 2002 issue of The Star
Carl J. Raffield
Capt. Carl Jackson Raffield, 86, of St. Joe Beach 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 born April 10, 1917, and passed away August 25, at the Gulf Pines Hospital in Port St. Joe. He was the fifth of nine children born in Grady County, Cairo, Georgia, to Edgar and Rhenora Burns Sasser. He retired in 1973 from the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in Miami, where he was an electrical supervisor. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, one sister, and his first wife, Ruth. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, who he 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. passed away peacefully at his residence in Millville on Sunday, August 25. Mr. Myers was 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 born June 21, 1921 to Andrew Smith and the late Mother Lelar S. Kennedy in Barth. He attended public school in Barth and later moved to Port St. Joe and made it his home. He was converted and saved as a young man and joined Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church where he served as an usher. He served in the United States Marines Corps and was employed at the St. Joe Paper Company for many years until he retired. He was united in holy matrimony to Ollie Scott, to which two children were born, and in later years married Covine Jackson, to which two more children were born. His son David (Buddy) Smith preceded him in death. In 1972 he married Hattie B. Nelson. He will greatly missed by all who knew him-his devoted wife, family, the church and many friends of the community. He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Hattie B. Smith; five daughters, Pearlie Young and husband, Nathaniel, and Cherry Smith, both of Titusville, Dot Moton of Cleveland, Ohio, Velma Harris and husband Willie of Miami; son/grandson, Desmond Quinn of Tampa; son, Gary Hall of Port St. Joe; and stepson, Anthony Gordon of Atlanta, GA; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren; a god-sister, Sylvia Jackson of Wewahitchka; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Brown and Minnie Session, both of Miami; a very special friend, Jim Phillips; a very special cousin, Ruth Lowery; and a host of other cousins, relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 26, at Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. EDT with the Rev. Jesse Hawkins officiating. Interment followed in Forest Hill Cemetery. All services were under the direction of the Comforter Funeral Home.

From the May 1, 2003 issue of The Star
Perry S. Holley
Perry Samuel Holley, 75, of Wewahitchka, 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 died Wednesday, July 30, at her residence in Georgia. She was the daughter of the late Robert Luther and Gladys Norene Collins Jackson, and was 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.

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