Cleo Jackson Stone, 87, of Tifton passed away Friday, February 2, 2018, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2018, at Eldorado Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Stone and the Rev. Bob Christmas officiating. Mr. Stone will be laid to rest at Eldorado Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, February 4, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Stone’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
Born September 14, 1930 in Berrien County, Mr. Stone was the son of the late Coy Stone and Rebecca Metts Stone. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Oris Stone. He started farming with his dad when he was a child and was a lifetime farmer. He also grew peaches and vegetables, which he loved to share with family and friends. For the last 25 years, on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, he and his family would gather for syrup-making and sausage and biscuits and fellowship. In the past, the Stone family was awarded Farm Family of the Year by the FHA. He loved farming and his family. He had been a member of Eldorado Baptist Church since 1950, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and church treasurer.
Mr. Stone is survived by his wife of 70 years, Doris Noland Stone of Tifton; four sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Francine Stone, Tommy and Kathy Stone and Bobby and Ginger Stone, all of Tifton and Kenneth and Carol Stone of Florence, South Carolina; his grandchildren and their spouses, Travis and Anna Stone, Tracey and Trae Stevens, David and Holly Stone, Christopher and Cindy Stone, Tommy Jr. and Erica Stone, Coy and Michelle Stone, Kris and Amanda Stone, Ginny and Mike Webb, Daniel Stone and Andrew Stone, Trey and Beth Green and Chris and Laura Jones; 24 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Iola Davis and Sara Jane Thompson, both of Tifton.