John C. Dodson, better known to his friends as Mr. Jay and to his family as Granddaddy passed away at his residence in Caledonia on March 27, 2008 at the age of 88. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by his family and friends in the bedroom in which he was born on April 10, 1919. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2008 at Border Springs Baptist Church located on Highway 12 East in the Caledonia area. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. The service will conclude at the church with private burial to follow at Rowan Cemetery. Arrangements will be handled by Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus with visitation at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. Rev. Glen Edmonds, Rev. Milton Spotts, and grandson, Mike Dodson will be officiating the services. Active pallbearers will be Ray Adair, Wilburn Beatty, Bob Fleming, Larry Graham, Joe Moseley, Harold Partain, Mickey Wiggins, and Tommy Wiggins. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Atkins, Bobby Edwards, Bill Mixon, John Partain, Larry Williams, and Bryan Windle. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served both stateside and overseas. Upon returning home from active duty, he operated the family farm for a number of years prior to joining the Columbus Air Force Base Civil Engineering Group where he retired in 1981. He served faithfully for over sixty years as a deacon at Border Springs Baptist Church, where his father served as deacon for 46 years and his grandfather was one of the founding fathers when the church was established in 1845. He was preceded in death by his parents James Michael Jimmy and Ava Cockerham Dodson, 11 siblings, Lucile McDaniel, Leroy Dodson, Grady Dodson, Kathleen Dodson, Nelson Dodson, Estelle Nash, Gladys Wiggins, Buck Dodson, Clayton Dodson, Carolyn Lockhart, and Virginia Vaughn. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Frances Lagrone Dodson, son, John Dodson (Brenda), grandsons, Mike Dodson (Missy), and Mark Dodson (Christy), and great-grandchildren Ashley, Taylor and John Curtis Dodson all of Caledonia area, and one sister, Annie Sue Hankins of Meridian. Memorial gifts may be made to Border Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, 12725 Hwy. 12 East, Caledonia, Ms 39740 or any charity of choice.
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