Thomas County GaArchives Obituaries.....John Mitchell Weaver 2003 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sheila Martin sheilam78@comcast.net May 26, 2003, 5:31 am Thomasville Times Enterprise May 18, 2003 John Mitchell Weaver A special tribute By Sandi Olson THOMASVILLE -- For months John Weaver planned, prepared for and looked forward to this year's Memorial Day activities. The disabled American veteran even took an extra step to get the younger generation involved by signing them up to place flags on deceased veterans' graves throughout Thomas County. Now the service scheduled for May 26 -- Memorial Day 2003 -- at Sunset Memorial Gardens will be dedicated to the husband, father and friend. John Mitchell Weaver, Feb. 28, 1934 -- April 18, 2003. "I think John would be filled with gratitude," his wife said. "He put his life into the service and these organizations. I'm real proud of him." The program will be presented by the Thomas County Veteran's Council; American Legion Posts 31, 222, 262 (Ochlocknee) and 509; Disabled American Veterans Chapter 59 and Veterans of Foreign Wars-Posts 4995 and 11088. "John was an important part of the veteran movement in Thomasville and was very special to all who knew him," said Thomas County Veterans Council President James L. Price. Weaver was a retired Staff Sgt. with the U.S. Army. His military service began with the Korean War and lasted more than 20 years. He became a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Thomas County Veterans Council, Veterans of Foreign War, Vietnam Veterans of America and Cairo Church of God. "John was a great husband and a good father," Kay Weaver said. "He was dedicated to the organizations, to the children and to the church. He did a terrific job with the Memorial Day ceremony at the church with the kids last year and was planning another one for this year." The annual ceremonies are a way to recognize those who served their country with honor and are now departed. They are designed to remember their sacrifices and to honor the families of the brave Americans. "It is important to honor the memory of veterans, especially ones as special as John Weaver was to the veteran community," Price said. "He was extremely active although he himself was ailing, but he persevered and carried on like a champ." The local veterans groups are continuing with the flag placing project chaired by their fellow comrade. "It was John's idea to enlist the aid of the school children to educate them on veterans issues," Price said. "It is bigger this year because of John's insistence to place a flag on every veterans' grave. We have 2500 flags, due to a lot of donations from private individuals and from each veterans group in Thomasville." Private donations were submitted by William Garrity, Mickey Ivey, Curtis Crowe, George Passmore, and Price. VFW Posts 4995 and 11088, American Legion Post 31 and DAV Chapter 59 also contributed to the project. More than 175 students from Central Middle School volunteered during the school's career fair to assist Weaver in placing the American flags, which will be provided. Those who have not signed up but are interested in participating can meet the veterans groups at 8 a.m. at the American Legion Post on Madison Street. After all the flags are placed appropriately on the known grave sites, all volunteers and veterans organizations will meet at Sunset Gardens at 10:45 a.m. for the final Memorial Day ceremony scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. The VFW Memorial Day ceremony will not only include all three veterans organizations, the ladies auxiliary will participate as well. "The ceremony will be dedicated to a true American husband, father, soldier, veteran and friend," Price said. During the program the names of those deceased within the year will be read by the Master of Ceremonies. "A very important part of the ceremony is the reading of the names of those who have passed during the previous year, honoring their memory and the branch of service," Price continued. "It is a time to reflect on how they spent this important time serving their country to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today still remain for the people of this great country." Thomasville Times Enterprise April 20, 2003 John Mitchell Weaver Services for John Mitchell Weaver, 69, of Thomasville, are at 3 p.m. today at the Cairo Church of God, with Rev. DeWayne Atkinson and Rev. Brian Boutwell officiating. The interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Mr. Weaver died at his home Friday. He was born on Feb. 28, 1934 in Redlands, California to John Weaver, Jr. and Elizabeth Eichelberger, who both preceded him in death. Mr. Weaver was retired from the United States Army and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Cairo Church of God. Mr. Weaver was married to Kay Frances Blankenship Weaver, who survives, in 1981. He is also survived by sons Joshua Weaver, of Thomasville, Jon Weaver of Omaha, Neb., David Weaver of New York, Tommy Tomlin of Norfolk, Va.; daughters Patricia Weaver, Nancy Tomlin of Thomasville, and Paula Volkers of Ill.; sisters Jeanie Lewis of Fla., and Sandra Kespohl of Miami, Fla.; brothers David Weaver and Paul Weaver; and five grandchildren. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com. -- Allen & Allen Funeral Home. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb