Willis L. “Junior” Linahan, 72, of Irwinville, died Monday, June 13, 2011, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 4 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald with Rev. Jim McDuffie Elder Charles Tyson officiating. Interment will follow in Irwinville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Tuesday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Linahan was born November 20, 1938 in Valdosta to the late Willis L. and Ruth McGee Linahan. He was 14 years old and still in school when he went to work at Harvey’s Super Market in Valdosta. He worked his way up from bag boy to head cashier and retired at Harvey’s in Fitzgerald as Front End Manager. Mr. Linahan was the longest working employee other than Joe Harvey himself with more than 57 years of service. He was a former city councilman for the city of Remerton where he also was a volunteer for the fire department. Mr. Linahan was a former Boy Scout leader, a big supporter of Relay for Life and volunteered at the Fitzgerald Nursing Home. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and working in his yard. Mr. Linahan attended New Corinth Baptist Church while in Valdosta and after moving to Irwin County attended Mystic Baptist Church.
He is survived by his sisters: Joyce McQueen and Lavon Sapp of Irwinville; niece: Patsy Zorn; great nieces and nephews: Stephanie Young, Keri Dixon, Christopher Young and Austin Carter; special aunts: Mattie Snowden and Sarah McGee as well as many special and beloved cousins. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Nadine Linahan.