Walter Leon "W. L." Golden, 69, of Lenox died Thursday, October 12, 2006, at his residence. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Donnie Sloan and Rev. Billy Dawson will officiate with burial to follow in Oaky Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in the West Berrien Community. Pallbearers will be Wayne Sumner, Larry Harris, Terrell Rutland, Lance Golden, Jason Golden, Leroy Golden, Marv Williams and Bobby Drawdy. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnnie Ray Eaton, Gary Gaskins, John Gaskins, Felton Purvis, Mark Rutland, J. W. Baker, Bug Baker, Leon Purvis, J. W. Parr, Ray Peele and Terry Butler. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 13, 2006, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Golden was born on December 20, 1936 in Tift County and was the son of Walter James Golden, Sr. and Alice Sumner Golden, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by six brothers, Clayton Golden, James Golden, Wiley Golden, Pleamon Golden, Eston Golden and William Sumner; and five sisters, Maggie Mathis, Nellie Eaton, Ruth Drawdy, Lena Rutland and Katie Golden.
Mr. Golden is survived by his wife, Juanita Perry Golden of Lenox, whom he married on March 19, 1955; one son, Ted Golden of West Berrien Community; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Gay Whitley of Tifton, Kay and Curtis Billings of Tifton and Barbara Elaine and Roy Lynch of Lenox; one brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Dovie Sumner of Tifton; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Laura Golden of Nashville and Ruby and Olen Harris of West Berrien Community; one sister-in-law, Ida Mae Golden of Enigma; nine grandchildren, Chris Whitley, Chad Whitley and his wife, Natosha, Casey Billings, Brooke Lynch Hancock and her husband, Carl, Jesse Lynch, Teresa Golden Hall and her husband, Zack, Allyson Golden, Teddy Golden and Joey Golden; two step grandchildren, Sharon Hampton and Tammy Burgess and her husband, Mike; five great grandchildren, Austin, Kaylin, Dakota and Kaylee Whitley and Nate Hall; and four step great grandchildren, Jeffery and Jace Hampton, Colt Tomberlin and Brittany Burgess.