Royce Dale Frazier, 52, of Tifton died Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Ty Ty. Rev. Jim Duggan, Rev. Randall LaRoche and Rev. Richard Collins will officiate with burial to follow in Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Irwin County. Joel Griffin, Sephus Willis, Steve Shaw, Chuck Goins, Steve Hobbs, David Gibbs, Vernon Tanner, Keith Beasley, Shannon Sledge and Clark LaRoche will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of the First Baptist of Ty Ty and the Saints of the First Baptist Church of Tifton. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 19, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mr. Frazier will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. The family will be meeting at his mother’s residence at 418 W. B. Parks Road in Ty Ty.
Mr. Frazier was born on August 18, 1961 in Tift County and was the son of Susie Mae McCrary Frazier of Ty Ty and the late Raymond Leland Frazier. He was employed for 26 years at Tifton Aluminum Company and briefly at the First Baptist Church in Tifton. He was Santa Claus for 20 years, rode in the Tifton Christmas Parade and Hometown Holidays and helped with Santa’s Helpers. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ty Ty.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Frazier is survived by his wife of 30 years, Denise McSwain Frazier of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Heidi Frazier LaRoche and husband, Rev. Randall LaRoche of Ocilla; one brother and sister-in-law, Leland and Lisa Frazier of Ty Ty; one sister, Joyce Frazier Lovett of Callahan, Florida; two granddaughters, Anna Catherine LaRoche and Abigail Claire LaRoche; extended family, Harvey and Debbie Collins of Tifton; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Georgia Chapter, 5105 Paulsen Street, Suite C236, Savannah, GA 31405; the American Heart Association, 305 University Drive, Suite 1, Valdosta, GA 31602; or Backpack Blessings, First Baptist Church of Tifton, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.