Lawton Wendell Giddens

Lawton Wendell Giddens November 15, 1924- March 6, 2006 ELLAVILLE, GA— Mr. Lawton Wendell Giddens, ate 81, of 63 Broad Street, Ellaville, Georgia died Monday, March 6, 2006 at his home. Funeral services will be held at Ellaville Baptist Church at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 with burial to follow in the Ellaville Cemetery. Rev. Ben Foxworth, Rev. Ken Mauldin and Bro. Troy Fripp will officiate. Mr. Giddens was born November 15, 1924 in Eastman, Dodge County, Georgia, the youngest child of Benjamin Franklin Giddens and Annie Maude Mullis Giddens. Mr. Giddens graduated from Dodge High School in Eastman, Ga. and from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. He purchased Collins-Giddens Funeral Home in Ellaville in 1961, later changing the name to Giddens Funeral Home. He was the owner and funeral director until the business was sold in 1999. In the early 1960's, he was co-owner of Giddens-Tante Funeral Home in Buena Vista, Georgia. He established Giddens Used Cars in 1970, and operated this business until his declining health prevented him from doing so. He was an agent for the United Family Life Insurance Company for many years. Mr. Giddens designed wire floral trays for carrying potted plants, which he established into the business known as "Ellaville Floral Trays". Having them made locally, he and his wife shipped them around the United States. Mr. Giddens was one of the original ten businessmen who established Schley County Industrial Corporation, who purchased property to promote the growth of our community. Mr. Giddens and his wife are owners of Schley Homes, Inc., of which he was a founding member, and then purchased this business several years ago. Mr. Giddens was a charter member of the Ellaville Lions Club, a past member of the Schley County Board of Education, a former president of the Schley County PTA an was the Schley County Coroner at one time. Mr. Giddens had been a member of Ellaville Baptist Church since 1961, was a Deacon Emeritus, served as Training Union Director, and was a member of the church choir. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Marie M. Giddens; a daughter, Ginger G. Eubanks of Ellaville; and a son, Daniel Lawton Giddens and wife Stephanie of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren include Scott Giddens of Raleigh, Steven and Lauren Vickery, Larry D. Eubanks, Jr. and Land Bradley Eubanks, all of Ellaville; great grandchildren include Tiffany Brianne Vickery and Steven Tyler Vickery of Ellaville; one brother, Joel Giddens of Athens, Ga. also survived. Mr. Giddens was preceded in death by his sister, Aurelia Johns; two brothers, Ernest Giddens and Fred Giddens, all of Eastman, Ga. He was also preceded in death by his son in law, Capt. Larry D. Eubanks, Sr., on September 15, 2004. Active pallbearers will include Larry D. Eubanks, Jr., Lane Bradley Eubanks, Steven Vickery, Scott Giddens, Clint Long, Vernon Dillard, John Oscar Mathews and Robbie Brown. Honorary pallbearers will include Frank Thrift and the active and inactive deacons of Ellaville Baptist Church. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2006 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Watson-Giddens Funeral Home in Ellaville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ellaville Baptist Church Future Building Fund, P.O. Box 325, Ellaville, Georgia 31806. You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Mr. Giddens by visiting Watson-Giddens Funeral Home's website at www.watsongiddensfuneralhome.com Watson-Giddens Funeral Home of Ellaville, Ga. is in charge of arrangements.