The Rev. Billy Morris Dawson, 86, of Tifton passed away Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His home-going celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Church of God Campground Tabernacle with the Rev. Ray Dawson, the Rev. Kevin Dawson, the Rev. Keith Gunter and the Rev. Phillip Kirkland officiating. Bro. Dawson will be laid to rest at Union Grove Church of God Cemetery in Eldorado. The family will receive friends Sunday, February 11, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Tift Avenue Church of God. Bro. Dawson will be placed in the tabernacle one hour prior to the service.
Bryan Busby, Caleb Dawson, Joshua Dawson, Billy Waldron, Dale Dawson, Steve Dawson, Scott Haire, Brent Haire, Greg Harrell and Mike Kirkland will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be all ministers attending the celebration.
Born September 5, 1931 in Iron City, Bro. Dawson was the son of the late Johnnie Steven Dawson and Ruby Olene Brooks Dawson. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Janice Faye Haire Dawson, who passed away in 2007; one sister, Marie Dawson Harrell; two great-grandchildren, Brock Gene Waldron and Leigh-Parker Renee’ Waldron; and four brothers-in-law, Robert Haire, Terry Haire, Jackie Kirkland and David Phillips. He was a retired minister and a member of Union Grove Church of God.
Bro. Dawson is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and the Rev. Keith Gunter of Powder Springs; two sons and daughters-in-law, the Rev. Ray and Pam Dawson of Galax, Virginia and the Rev. Kevin and Jamie Dawson of Tifton; one brother and sister-in-law, John Frank and Betty Sue Dawson of Tallahassee, Florida; two sisters, Mildred Kirkland of Madison, Florida and Hilda Haire of Attapulgas; a brother-in-law, J. P. Harrell of Bainbridge; six grandchildren, Dawn Busby Stowers, Bryan Busby, Renee’ Dawson Waldron, Caleb Dawson, Joshua Dawson and Emily Dawson; and nine great-grandchildren, Savannah, Brayden and Jackson Busby, Camille and Emerson Stowers, Brandon Shepherd, Will and Lilly Waldron and RaeAnne Dawson; and two great-great-grandchildren, Brielle Shepherd and Ralyn Shepherd.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Tift Avenue Church of God for Emily Dawson Peru Mission Trip, 2220 Tift Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794; or gift cards may to done at the florist of choice to be used by the family at a later date.