Franklin Jessie Bodiford

Franklin Jessie Bodiford, 79, of Tifton, died at his residence on October 02, 2016.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, October 05, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Northside Baptist Church with Rev. Jay Shingler, Dr. Fred Evers, and Rev. Charles Parker officiating. Interment will follow at Snowridge Cemetery 345 Snowridge Road Ashburn Georgia. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.

Adam Curles, Tommy Nalls, Johnny Crawford, Randy Crenshaw, Stewart Adams, Josh Darby, James Walker, Dale Wiggins and Billy Selph will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Bodiford’s Sunday school class will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Mr. Bodiford was born on October 14, 1936 to the late Frank Jefferson and Jessie Tucker Bodiford in Mitchell County. He was married to Carline Wiggins Bodiford for 52 years.

Mr. Bodiford graduated from Pelham High School in 1955, attended Berry College in Rome Georgia and later attended ABAC.  He also served in Korea in the U.S. Army where he was chosen to be in the Division Honor Guard.  As a member of Northside Baptist Church, Mr. Bodiford was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and sang in the Senior Adult choir. He loved his church, his family and his friends.  Mr. Bodiford loved camping with his family, traveling, working in his yard, fishing, flowers, agriculture, gospel music and University of Georgia football.

Mr. Bodiford worked for the Georgia Federal State Inspection Service (Agricultural Products) for over 53 years, of which he was the Director for 35 years. During this time he led the inspection service into the computer age and to become #1 in the United States.

In addition to his wife, Carline Bodiford, Mr. Bodiford is survived by three daughters and three sons-in-law, Amanda Leigh and Jeff Wilson of Tifton, Lisa Joy and Charles Seabrook of Whitesburg, GA and Lori Ann and Craig Betts of Lenox; his grandchildren, Jessie Wilson, Brooke Wilson, Haley Taggart, Sarah Betts, Laney Betts, Gracie Betts, and Josie Betts; two great grandchildren, Hannah Taggart and Kaelan Taggart; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Frankie Wiggins of Ashburn,  and his nieces, Sherrell and Jon Darby, Vickie and Tyler Adcox and Tammie and Audie McDearis.

Mr. Bodiford was preceded in death by one grandson, Chase Seabrook; one sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Douglas Harrell and his father-in-law, Mr. H.R. Wiggins.

Flowers will be accepted or donations to Hospice of Tift Area, P O Box 747 Tifton, Georgia 31793 or Northside Baptist Church Building Fund 4605 Murray Ave. Tifton, Georgia 31794.