Melvin "Gopher" Otha Hines, Sr.
June 13, 1933 — October 29, 2017
Melvin Otha “Gopher” Hines, Sr., 84, of Tifton, Georgia passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 2:00pm in the chapel of Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Joseph Carter and Rev. Ronnie Howell officiating. Interment will follow at Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, October 31st from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the funeral home.
Melvin Hines, III, T. J. Hines, John Henderson, III, Kalin Henderson, Colby Henderson and Eric Hall will serve as pallbearers. Fred Barnes, Morris Davis, William Hancock, W.A. Hines, Clinton Moore, Carl Goodwin, Terry Ham and Terrell Roberson will serve as Honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Hines was born June 13, 1933 in Tift County to the late Tommy Lee Hines and Alma Baker Hines. He was married to Opal Joyce Pitts Hines. He had lived in Tift County all his life where he was a member of Mt. Calvary Methodist church, was a retired farmer, veteran of US Army serving during Korean conflict, enjoyed hunting and was a deputy game warden for a while. For many years he ran the petting zoo at the local fair in Tifton and Cordele.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Hines is survived by one son and daughter in-law, Melvin and Susie Hines of Tifton; two daughters and son-in-law, Ramona and Donnie Ward of TyTy, Renee Henderson, of Tifton; one brother and sister-in-law, Merrice and Roxie Hines of Tifton, one son-in-law Jeffery Faucette of Quitman; and one sister-in-law, Jean Hines of Maclenny, Fla; and special niece Tommy Sue Hyde; eight grandchildren; Melvin and Rebekah Hines, III, Thomas Jacob Hines, Kimberly Dawn Hines, John and Sarah Henderson, Kalin Adam Henderson, Colby Ryan Henderson, Mandi Leigh Ward, and Charles Jeffrey Faucette, five great grandchildren; Melvin Otha Hines, IV, Hunter Gaven Hines, Keaton Cain Keith, Kaylee Elizabeth Henderson, and John Ward Henderson, IV.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters Regina Hines, and Renita Faucette, one son; Mickey Wayne Hines, son-in-law John Ward Henderson, Jr., one brother J. B. Hines, three sisters; Melba Jean Hyde, Alma Annette Turner and Mary Ellen Hines.