Ethel Alice Craig Dees, 85, died Saturday, January 28, 2006 at her residence at 303 Elizabeth Circle in Tifton. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Elder Charles Tyson and Elder Gaston Barton will officiate with burial to follow at Oaky Grove Cemetery in Berrien County. Brent Walker, Robbie Gilbert, Brian Nolin, Derrick Dillard, Jason (J.J.) Grantham, and Johnny Eaton will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Gilbert, Sammy Dillard, Billy Grantham and Trent Bryan. The body will be at the residence at 303 Elizabeth Circle and visitation will be from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2006 at the residence.
Ms. Dees was born on May 9, 1920 in Cedar Bluff, Alabama and was the daughter of James Craig and Hallie Jones Craig, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Carson Dees, who died on April 25, 1974, 4 brothers and 7 sisters. She was retired from Tifton Cotton Mills, was of the Primitive Baptist Faith and enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law: Anita and Rayford Suggs of Tifton and Carolyn Walker of Macon; 5 granddaughters and their spouses, Angela and Robbie Gilbert, Gloria and Sammy Dillard, Gaye and Bill Grantham, all of Tifton, Stacey and Neal Johnson of Thomasville and Robin and Chris Frischkorn of Macon; 1 grandson and his wife, Brent and Tammi Walker of Macon; 7 great granddaughters and their husbands, Heather and Brian Nolin, Jaci and Trent Bryan, Ashley Dillard, Shauna Mercer, Elizabeth Johnson and Lucy Johnson and Sydney Walker; 4 great grandsons and their wives, Shane and Jessica Gilbert, Jason (J.J.) Grantham, Derrick Dillard and Ryan Frischkorn; and 5 great great grandchildren, Hunter Nolin, Claire Nolin, Jordan Gilbert, Halleigh Gilbert and Tatum Mercer.