Thomas E. Rutland, 91, of Lenox, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2007, in Rutland Cemetery. Rev. Jimmie Hinson and Rev. Dillard Ensley will officiate with burial to follow in Rutland Cemetery. Brad Rutland, Daniel Rutland, Randy Godwin, Shawn Jones, Jerry Rutland and Harold Rutland will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Rutland, Ike Dillard, Cobert Wagner, Bruce Rutland, Roy Rutland and Michael Godwin. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Rutland was born on October 27, 1915 in Tift County and was the son of Charles Robert "Charlie" Rutland and Lutitia Baker Rutland, both deceased. He was a retired farmer and of the Primitive Baptist faith.
Mr. Rutland is survived by his wife, Virginia Tyson Rutland of Lenox; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Charles and Teresa Rutland of Jacksonville, Florida, Mark Rutland of Lenox and Steve and Melissa Rutland of Lenox; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Cobert Wagner of Lake City, Florida; two sisters, Peggy Godwin of Lenox and Betty Jean Sumner of Lenox; seven grandchildren, Brad Rutland, Ramona Rutland, Amy Jones, Matthew Rutland, Elle Rutland, Daniel Rutland and Katie Rutland; and three great grandchildren, Corina Rutland, Sierra Valdez and Naython Jones.