Berrien County GaArchives Obituaries.....Stallings, Gerald Ray "Big Daddy" July 28, 2014
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Shirley McMillan Durden http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006039 December 1, 2021, 9:47 am

The Berrien Press - August 6, 2014
 Gerald Ray “Big Daddy” Stallings, 84, of Bartow, FL, died of heart failure July 
28, 2014, at his home.
 Born in Valdosta on September 17, 1929, he was raised in the community of New 
Lois. He attended New Lois Community School, Gordon Military School and the 
University of Georgia until he was called to duty in Korea in July 1952, where 
he served honorably as a 1st lieutenant until March 1954. Upon his return, he 
rejoined the family business and worked on the farm and at the family feed and 
seed store. While working, he attended Valdosta State College and married his 
wife, Lavern Hayes, in December 1955. He farmed many more years with his 
brother, Wayne, and worked as a fertilizer salesman until 1963 when he went to 
work for Federal Crop Insurance Corporation in Valdosta. In 1973, he and his 
family moved to Lakeland, FL, where he resided and worked with FCIC until his 
retirement. He founded Stallings Crop Insurance Corporation which was purchased 
in 1996 by his son, Bob, who continues the family business today in Lakeland.
 In his best of times, he is remembered by many as an honorable husband and 
father, an avid golfer and card player, gun collector and hunter. True friends 
and business associates appreciated his outspoken ways and new what a strong, 
honorable and caring man he was. Very few friends knew that for many years, he 
taught Sunday School and loved it, due to his strong knowledge of the bible and 
the debates that came from his contradictions. He lived and resided in his 
Bartow family home and citrus grove from 2004 until the present. He was preceded 
in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Lavern H. Stallings; daughter-in-law, 
Tina; granddaughter, Cami; as well as his father, L.R., and mother, Minnie O. 
Stallings.
 Survivors include two sons, Buck, of Tampa and Bob, of Bartow; granddaughter, 
Brandi, of Nashville; his only brother, Wayne Stallings, and wife, Sylvia and 
their son, Lee and his family, and daughter, Lynn, of Nashville.
 A graveside service was held August 5 at 10 a.m. at Westview Cemetery.
 Memorials may be made to MacDonald Training Center where his eldest son, Buck, 
has attended for many years: MacDonald Training Center, 5420 W. Cypress Street, 
Tampa, FL 33607; 1-813-870-1300, or www.macdonaldcenter.org.
 Lovein Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.








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