Annie Marie Willis Tawzer of Tifton died Tuesday, July 18, 2006, at Adel Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 21, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at Wayside Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Wayne Hunter and Rev. Smith Gentry will officiate with burial to follow in Wayside Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. David Willis, Jason Hutchinson, Wayne Griner, Shane Tawzer, Timmy Domingue and Rick Brown will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of Wayside Missionary Baptist Church, Larry Hobbs, W. A. Spicer, Rodney D. Tyson, Sr. and Gus Upshaw. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 20, 2006, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Ms. Tawzer was born on October 3, 1941 in Turner County and was the daughter of the late Clifford H. Willis and Lillian Louise Willis of Tifton. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Thurman Willis and Vachel Willis. She was retired from the Tift County Junior High School lunchroom and was a charter member of Wayside Missionary Baptist Church. She was a down-home Christian woman, who lived for her husband, children and grandchildren. Along with being a member of Wayside Missionary Baptist Church, she was a Sunday School teacher and head cook for Vacation Bible School. She was also involved with the youth of the church by organizing activities and trips. She also helped plan trips for the older adults of the church. She loved playing Bingo and card games.
In addition to her mother, Ms. Tawzer is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald L. and Dana Tawzer of Tifton and Joseph B. and Melody Tawzer of Tifton; three daughters and one son-in-law, Martha L. Tyson of Valdosta, Kimberly A. Tawzer of Tifton and Terry S. and Ricky Kinard of Tifton; one brother, Donnie Willis of Tifton; one sister, Bernice Sullivan of Nevada; and seven grandchildren, Lori Tyson, Rodney Donald Tyson, Jr, Luanne Broome, Paul Kinard, Megan Tawzer, Amber Tawzer and Katelyn Tawzer.