Thomas Franklin Layfield

Thomas Franklin Layfield March 27, 1918 - April 27, 2005 ELLAVILLE, GA — Mr. Layfield died Sunday evening April 24, 2005 at his home. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 27 at the Ellaville Baptist Church with burial to follow in the Ellaville Cemetery. Reverend Eddie Allen will officiate. Mr. Layfield was born March 27, 1918 and was the son of George Willis and Lula Leola Hill Layfield. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Venida Tidd Layfield, his parents, one brother, George Wilburn Layfield and one sister, Inez Layfield Wiggins. Mr. Layfield is survived by his dear sister, Sara Layfield King of Albany, Ga.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon Layfield Skinner and husband, Norman of Chattanooga, Tenn., Amy Layfield Parker and husband, Steve Parker of Ellaville, Ga.; one son, Thomas W. Layfield of Atlanta, Ga. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Thomas Marshall Skinner, age 21, Taylor Nicole Skinner age 13, and Kevin William Parker, age 10. Although born in Ty Ty, Ga., Mr. Layfield lived most of his life in Schley County, as part of the Ellaville Community. While growing up, he lived in Daytona, Albany, Smithville and Schley Co. His father and brother were carpenters and farmers and as a youth, he helped build the school house in Leslie, Ga. Mr. Layfield served in the Navy during World War II on the USS North Carolina and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After the war, Mr. Layfield, his brother and father bought an 100 acre farm in Schley County- the prettiest farm land in all of Schley County as he liked to recall. When his brother died and his father fell in to poor health, he sold the farm and opened Greenfield Metal Products in Ellaville with his partner, Aubrey Greene. They later purchased Amermac Inc., in Americus. As he prospered, he and his brother in-law, Joe Tidd, bought the Tidd family farm and built a 26 acre pond for all the family to enjoy. He loved farming and the outdoors. He planted many trees, grape vines, and blueberry bushes. He was a good steward of the earth. Mr. Layfield attended Phillipi Primitive Baptist Church in Schley County. He served as a bank director of Central Bank of Georgia in Ellaville. He was a proud member of the American Legion Post 191 and served as commander several times. He loved Southland Academy where he served on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman for several years as well as serving on the Southland Academy Endowment Fund Committee. He also started the Venida Layfield Scholarship Fund at Southland Academy. Pallbearers will include Bobby Miller, Johnnie Wall, Joey Tidd, Johnny Tidd, Tarron Layfield, John Gill and Goober Robinson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the American Legion Post 191. Watson-Giddens Funeral Home of Ellaville, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.