Florence Juliar Connell Akins, 87, died Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at Tift Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2010, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Joseph Crumley will officiate with burial to follow in Lawrence Cemetery. Her grandsons, Troy Harper, Doug Griffin, Chris Howard, Lee Howard, Marty Frazier and Andy Sizemore will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 22, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Akins was born on May 11, 1922 in Berrien County and was the daughter of Leonard Grady Connell and Mary Melissa Gray Connell, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Troy Lee Akins; one son, Michael Lee Akins; one daughter, Rosemary Sizemore; two sisters, Melba Griffis and Faye Lipham; and one brother, Jay Otis Connell. She was retired from Fitzgerald Underwear.
Mrs. Akins is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Howard of Tifton, Sandra and Jimmy Harper of Ocilla and Julia and Lamar Frazier of Tifton; two sisters; Ila Jean Thompson of Tifton and Bobbie Burma Swinney of Mississippi; eleven grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.