Thomas Howard Tawzer, Jr. of Tawzerville died Friday, September 9, 2011, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 12, 2011, at Wayside Baptist Church. Rev. Wayne Hunter, Rev. Bill Hamilton and Rev. Smith Gentry will officiate with burial to follow in Wayside Baptist Church Cemetery. Tate Johnson, Ronnie Braswell, Johnny Tawzer, Don Tawzer, Hal McBrayer and Ty Sumner will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Wayside Baptist Church and Mr. Tawzer's nephews. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Tawzer was born on May 17, 1929 in Brookfield and was the son of Thomas Howard Tawzer, Sr. and Ofelon Hightower Tawzer, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mae Evelyn Braswell Tawzer; one brother, Donald Tawzer; and one sister, Carol McBrayer.
Mr. Tawzer and his wife operated T&S Electric and the Southside Superette. He enjoyed working on the family farm and was devoted to his two pets, Buddy and Sasha.
Mr. Tawzer was the 1952 Tift County Farmer of the Year and a charter member and deacon of Wayside Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school for 30 years. He volunteered at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and loved to watch Atlanta Braves baseball.
Mr. Tawzer is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, June and Tim Johnson of Tifton and Janet and Dennis Vickers of Hahira; four brothers, Harold Tawzer, Harmon Tawzer, Glynn Tawzer and Coy Tawzer, all of Tifton; two sisters, Elizabeth McBrayer and Ruth Hall, both of Tifton; three grandchildren, Tate Johnson, Wendy Whiddon Failor and Letisha Whiddon; and two great-grandchildren, Benjamin Failor and Katie Failor.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 412 First Street, SE, Moultrie, GA, 31768.