Ronald Hugh Sturdivant

Mr. Ronald Hugh Sturdivant of Tifton passed away on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the age of 87.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. in the Memorial Chapel of First Baptist Church with Dr. Wayne Roe officiating and a eulogy given by his daughter, Lori King. Interment will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:45 A. M. on Thursday at the church before the service.

Harold Abbott, Earl Branch, Buddy Harden, Ron Lawhon, Jerry Shiver and Marvin West will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Benny Hutchinson, John Windom, Ferrel Paulk, Dylan Windom and Ronnie’s nieces and nephews.

Ronnie was member of First Baptist Church of Tifton and an active member of the Boch Sunday School Class whose mission is to minister to numerous needy people in the community. He is a Past Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge #1114 and a Past Master of Masons Chapter #47. Additionally, he was a charter member of Daylight Lodge #745 and a member of the Hasan Shriner’s Scooter Unit.

Mr. Sturdivant was born December 28, 1933 in West Monroe, Louisiana to the late Oliver Hugh Sturdivant and Antoinette Marie Simpson Sturdivant. At the age of 10, his family relocated to Tampa, Florida. There he helped his dad in his jack-of-all-trade businesses and when time allowed, he mowed lawns and sold GRIT newspapers to buy BBs for his BB gun and to ride the streetcar to Ybor City to watch movies at the Ritz Theatre. As a teen, Ronnie was baptized at State Highway Baptist Church where two years in a row he was awarded a trip to North Carolina for perfect attendance at the Baptist Training Union (BTU). There he met the young evangelist, Billy Graham. In 1955, while riding his Harley Davidson, he met Ruth Skipper whom he would soon marry, and they would spend the next 66 years together.

After graduating high school in 1954, Ronnie went to work for Stromberg-Carlson, a telecommunications and electronics manufacturing company. During his six years there, he worked with converting rural telephone systems to dial services. Ultimately, in 1961, he used those skills to begin a 40-year career with Plant Telephone, retiring in 2001.

Ronnie was an avid hunter and member of Pasture Hunting Club. He was an excellent marksman and used his skill to hunt wild game, particularly turkey, wild hogs, and especially deer. In his eighties, he gave up climbing deer stands and took up the Daniel Boone moniker protecting his heavily wooded neighborhood. He kept his pond clear of beavers, armadillos, and a particularly large cottonmouth moccasin.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Jim, sister Kitty, daughter Marie, and grandson Scott.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn Ruth, daughter Lorelei (Carey), sisters Joyce (late husband Danny) and Louise (Benny), brother Steve (Jacki), grandchildren Ronnie (Morgan), Laura (Andrew), Suzanne, Laura, and great-grandchildren Miliana, August and Aidan.

The Sturdivant family would like to say a special thank you to Legacy Village and Homestead Hospice and their wonderful caring teams.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.