Robert M. Ponder, 86, of Omega died Thursday, May 17, 2007, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2007, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. John Sikes Gibbs, Jr. will officiate and Paul Ponder will give a eulogy with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Rogie Dunn, Chris Ponder, Cory Ponder, Bert Ponder, Cy Ponder, Thomas Sumner and Johnathan Vice will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Gibbs Patrick, Earl Branch, Buddy Brogdon, Edd Powell, Johnny Brown, William Brown, Jesse Terrell and Stephen Rakestraw. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 18, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Ponder was born on November 15, 1920 in Tift County and was the son of William Roy Ponder, Sr. and Lena Jones Ponder, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, W. Roy Ponder, Jr. and Edwin Ponder. He was a retired framer and a member of Omega United Methodist Church. He, his father and three brothers were pionees in the growing and shipping of vegetable plants. They were also growers of sweet potatoes. Mr. Ponder later was a cattle breeder of Santa Gertrudis and was the secretary for the Georgia Santa Gertrudis Cattlemen's Association.
Mr. Ponder is survived by his wife, Charlotte Gibbs Ponder of Omega; and one brother, Jones Ponder of Omega.