Mr. Thurmond was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Duard Thurmond of Madison.  He is survived by; Martha Louise Ponder Thurmond, his childhood  sweetheart who he married in 1962, their one son, William Peter Ponder Thurmond and wife Tracie of Nashville, and three grandchildren; Sarah Frances Thurmond, William Peter Ponder Thurmond, Jr., and Donald Wakefield Thurmond; his brother, Gerald Thurmond of Houston, TX; and his sister Elizabeth of Athens.

Mr. Thurmond is a graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. He earned a Masters degree in taxation from Emory University School of Law, and a graduate degree from the ABA National Trust School at Northwestern University. Mr. Thurmond was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army’s Quarter Master Corps from the University of Georgia’s Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He served two years active duty at Fort Lee Virginia’s Quarter Master Corps headquarters serving as Foreign Liaison Officer and left active service as a First Lieutenant. He received awards for distinguished service from the U.S. Army.

Phyllis Jenkins Barrow, 89, of Athens, widow of Judge James Barrow, died at her residence on Monday, November 30, 2009.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, December 4 at First Baptist Church of Athens.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Clute Barrow Nelson Life Foundation, 320 Milledge Heights, Athens, GA 30606 or the Phyllis Jenkins Barrow Scholarship Fund, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lord and Stephens, EAST, 4355 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 30605 is in charge of arrangements.

Jeanne Torok Davis, 64, of Madison died at her home on Thursday, November 26, 2009. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 29, 1945 to the late A. J. Torok and the late Jean Torok. She moved to Georgia in 1957 and made Madison her home sweet home in 1998.

She is survived by her husband and best friend, Page Davis and her children, Deanna Wilson Holloway, Jack Wilson II, Danny Wilson, Leesa Wilson Puckett, Gary Davis and Nick Davis; a brother, Bob Torok and Leslie, 17 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and her beloved and faithful dog, Beau.

Mrs. Davis was known affectionately to her children as “Momma” and to her grandchildren as “Nannie” and known to many family friends as “Momma Jeanne”. She was also known to everyone as the University of Georgia’s biggest fan. Her passion was cooking but her greatest happiness was spending time with her family.

Her life was full of trials and tribulations, but through it all her faith in God was unwavering. She is a true icon of enduring strength, wisdom and dignity. She always managed to provide priceless guidance and teach us lessons about life and love.
Jeanne: wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, counselor and friends – you will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

The funeral service was held Sunday, November 29 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of A. E. Carter Funeral Home in Madison.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
A.E. Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Hazel Marie Benford, 60, died November 2, 2009. She was born October 24, 1949 to Odessa Jordan and Edgar Kenny. She was a member of New Enon Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her father Edgar Kenny, stepfather Eddie Lee Jordan, sisters, Edna Jordan and Morlene Terrell and a brother Willie Kenny.

She was married to Willie Benford in April 1969 who survives her. Other survivors include a son, Eric (Sheila) Benford of Madison, a daughter, Adrienne Benford of Atlanta, other children, Connie (Robert) Tolbert, Wilma Lewis, Donnie (Rena) Benford, sisters, Ida (Columbus) Roberts, Lottie Kenny of Decatur, Eddie Mae (Robert) Lewis of Madison, Rosa (Dr. Victor) Thomas of Columbia County, Gloria Gleaton of Conyers, brothers, Minister Resbie (Mary) Jordan of Greensboro, Ned Jordan of Madison, sister-in-law Florida Bailey and Betty Jean Mathis, brother-in-law Thomas (Doris) Benford, Rufus (Amy) Benford, Bennie (Margaret) Benford and Robert Benford; three grandsons, Javis Antonio Benford, Dontae Benford, Marcus Tolbert; five granddaughters Kourtney S. Gleaton and Jomiah N. Weaver, Melba Lewis, Eric Lewis, Shanea Tolbert, and two great-granddaughters and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 7 in New Enon Baptist Church with the Rev. Brice Benford, Pastor Resbie Jordan, Rev. Dr. Hoke Smith and Pastor Albert Baker. Interment was in New Enon Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were members of the No Limit M.C. Honorary Pallbearers were Timothy Kenny and Cedric Roberts. Flower ladies were Angela Gleaton, Deborah Gilbert, Charlotte Mack, Lula Mae Hope, Laura Butler, Pamela Benford, Sonya Hope, Damita Hope and Carla Hope Jackson.

Mapp-Gilmore Pyramid Funeral Services, LLC were in charge of arrangements.

Pennie Carol Eaton, 49, of High Shoals, and wife of Randy Eaton, died Monday, November 16, 2009.
    Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 19 at Oconee Chapel Funeral Directors with Reg. Doug Bowers officiating. Burial will follow at Oconee Memorial Park.
    Born in Athens, she was the daughter of Sam and Dorothy Mallory Griffeth of High Shoals. She had worked for St. Mary’s Home Health Care as a Nurses Aid retiring in 1991 and was a member of High Shoals Methodist Church.
    Survivors in addition to her husband and parents include three children, Samuel Randall Eaton, James Scott Eaton and Siera Carol Eaton, brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Terri Griffeth of High Shoals, a nephew Brandon Griffeth and a niece Brandi Griffeth.
    Visitation will be held Wednesday night from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
    Oconee Chapel Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Claudine Conner Craig, 94, of Bishop died November 15, 2009. She was born May 20, 1915 in Hall County to Thomas Marshall Conner and Mellie Martin Conner. She was married to the late John D. Craig. Mrs. Craig was a homemaker and a member of Madison Baptist Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Mellie Ann Thomas and two granddaughters, Amy Chronic and Cathy Schliesmann; three sisters, Martha Lee Plunkett, June Bone and Beatrice Levin; and six great-grandchildren, Catie, Craig, Grace, Will, Andrew and Olivia.

Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel at A. E. Carter Funeral Home with Dr. Jim Ross officiated, assisted by Rev. Matt Goodman. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery.
A.E. Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.