Murray Arnold Whiddon

James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel 4278 Lafayette Street Marianna, Florida 32446 850.482.2332 850.526.4143 fax Murray Arnold Whiddon, 79, of Marianna went to be with the Lord Friday, January 21, 2011 at his home in Marianna. A native of Sylvester, Georgia, Mr. Whiddon was a former employee of Gay Plumbing and Heating in Albany and of the Veteran Administration of Lake City, Florida. A member of East Side Baptist Church of Marianna where he loved his church family and bible study group. He had resided in Marianna since 1999. Mr. Whiddon was known for his love of his family and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and he loved gardening, fishing, hunting and his five rat terrier puppies. He was preceded in death by his parents, Green Manasas and Maggie Arnold Whiddon; sisters and brothers in law, Florence Anna and Cullen Odom and Ruby Marie and Eddie Trout. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 44 years Phyllis Ward Whiddon of Marianna; one son, Gary Wayne Whiddon of Jacksonville; one daughter, Leisha Whiddon Lavender and husband Gene of Tifton, Ga.; one grandson, Matthew Murray Whiddon of Tallahassee, Fl; one granddaughter, Kayla McCrary Jones and husband David of Leesburg, Ga.; one sister, Virginia Whiddon Morgan and husband Bob of Villa Rica, Ga.; one step grandson, Robert Lavender of Cordele, Ga.; one step granddaughter, Melissa Griffin and husband Jessie of Griffin, Ga.; two great grandsons, Noah Jones of Leesburg, and Slade Griffin of Cordele, Ga. Funeral services will be 10 am CST Monday, January 24, 2011 at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel with Dr. Steve Canada and Rev. Craig Walker officiating. Additional graveside funeral services will be at 3:30 pm EST Monday in Red Oak Cemetery in Sylvester, Ga. with Banks Funeral Home of Sylvester, Ga. and James & Sikes Funeral Home of Marianna directing. The family will receive friends from 9 am till funeral time Monday at Maddox Chapel.