Mr. Henry J. Giddens, 83, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away December 2, 2014 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia. He was born September 9, 1931 in Ray City, Georgia to the late Henry Jackson Giddens and Rachel L. Futch Giddens. He lived in Miami, Florida and other locations before returning to Cook County in 1997. Mr. Giddens was a retired district manager for United Life Insurance Company, a Master Mason of the Blue Lodge, a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. He also was a member of First Baptist Church of Adel, where he took part in the Joy Sunday School Class and had served as a Deacon. Mr. Giddens served our nation honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Giddens is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mrs. Marilyn Tyson Giddens of Sparks; a daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Steve Meders of Sparks, and their three children: (grandson)Tate and Marki Meders of Adel, and their daughter, (great-granddaughter) Louleigh, (granddaughter) Tai and Ronnie Weeks of Sparks, and their children, (great-grandchildren) Cohen and Cailee, and (granddaughter) Shaye Meders of Sparks; a son and daughter-in-law, Henry Jeffrey Giddens, Jr. and April Giddens of Adel, and their son, (grandson) Henry Jeffrey Giddens, III, of Austin, Texas; and a daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Toney Fulp of Cecil, Georgia, and their children: (granddaughter) Teara and Chris Powell of Cecil and their children, (great-grandchildren) Terri, Maebry, and Charlee Powell, (grandson) Jon and Jori Thompson of Norman Park, Georgia, and their child, (great-grandchild) Raylan Thompson, (grandson) Troy Williams of Cecil, (granddaughter) Angi and Mitchell McClain of Hahira and their children, (great-grandchildren) Stella, Lucy, and Milly McClain, (granddaughter) Joni and Everett Staton of Adel, and their children (great-grandchildren) Laila and Sophie Staton, (granddaughter) Tonya and Bryan Gregory of Morven, Georgia and their children, (great-grandchildren) Kennedy, Maggie, and Addi Gregory. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Elbert Giddens, Jack Giddens, and Edward Giddens; and two sisters, Vera Smith and Ruby Lee Fountain.

The Giddens family received friends Thursday evening December 4, 2014 from 6 until 8 pm at Boone Funeral Home, 1804 S. Hutchinson Ave. in Adel. The funeral service took place Friday December 5, 2014 at 3:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Adel with Rev. Bill Marlette officiating. Interment followed at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Troy Williams, Tate Meders, Henry Jeffrey Giddens III, Toney Fulp, Ken Giddens, Ronnie Weeks, Jon Thompson, Shane Nix, and Chris Powell Served as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were the active and inactive deacons of First Baptist Church which included L.V. McClain, David Fausett, Steve Meders, Gary Cooksey, Ronnie Alligood, Joe Haile, Tony Storey, Mike Carter, Lyndell Jones, Mike Bradford, Glenn Beard, Mike Jones, Ray Alley, Gerry Harris, Larry Felts, Derrell Bryan, Clinton Anderson, Jesse McMillian, L.L. Jones, Rick Jones, Booby Ross Phillips, Dake Boling, Floyd Moon, Ron Holland, Jamie Allen, and Jackson Connell. Steve Meders sang "Midnight Cry," "Thank You," and "The Anchor Holds;" Sheila Humber played the piano.