Clarence L. “Bud” Reaves, 64, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, at the Osceola Nursing Home in Ocilla.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M., Saturday, April 7, 2007, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with Rev. Robby McDearmid and Rev. Tracy Clements officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 Friday evening at the funeral home.
Mr. Reaves was born January 4, 1943, in Randolph County, Alabama to the late Damon and Vera Levens Reaves. Following the death of his mother, he was raised by his step-mother Eula Spradlin Reaves Smith. He attended school in Mystic. He was a former security guard for Pioneer and Ben Hill County, and a former employee of Dorsey Trailer Manufacturing in Griffin, Melnor Manufacturing and Elixir Industries in Fitzgerald. Mr. Reaves raised his family in Griffin, living there for 25 years before returning to Fitzgerald. He will be remembered for selling produce in this area, a tradition passed down from his father’s vegetable garden. He was a member of Westside Baptist Church.
He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law: Denise & Scott McGuffey of Jacksonville, FL, Melissa & Danny Toland of Fayetteville, GA, Michele & John Higginbotham of Springfield, GA, and Cynthia Wilson of Estes Park, CO; eight grandchildren; five sisters and brothers-in-law: Virginia Wright of Ocilla, Gelene & Wayne Spradlin, Betty Spradlin, and Glenda & Lamar Giddens, all of Fitzgerald, and Vickie & Jimmy Branam of Brunswick; four brothers and sisters-in-law: Buck & Rhomelle Reaves of Fitzgerald, Ray & Brenda Reaves of Glynn County, Bobby Joe & Dolores Wiggins and Gene & Anna Reaves, all of Fitzgerald; as well as many nieces and nephews.