Elias Warren “Buddy” Gladden, 87, of Irwin County, Georgia, died Thursday, August 27, 2026, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 4PM, Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Ike Thomas officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3PM until the service hour.
Mr. Gladden was born April 20, 1939, in Tift County, to the late Warren Ander & Eva Loraine Wright Gladden. He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. Mr. Gladden was a farm machinery mechanic and worked for the Sutton Tractor Company for over 25 years. He enjoyed helping others in the surrounding area and was a very proud man. He loved his children and grandchildren very much. Mr. Gladden was a member of Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
He is survived by a son, Gerald Gladden of Tifton; a daughter, Patricia Karen Reeves of Hahira; grandsons: Luther A. Reeves of Barney, Elijah Lane Reeves (Ashley) of Hahira, Samuel Lawrence of Barney; a granddaughter, Becca Lorraine McAlpine (Maken) of Laurel, Mississippi; great grandsons: Merritt James McAlpine, Theodor Cain Reeves and Elric Adam Reeves. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Fincher Gladden; a daughter, Theresa Gladden and a brother, Ronald Shaw.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.