William Grady

"Bill" Massey

Obituary

William Grady "Bill" Massey, 90, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at his residence. His funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 2003, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe and the Rev. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III officiating. Mr. Massey was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Dr. Morris Davis, the Rev. Grady Jones, Bob Burnett, Marvin Moore, Mack Suggs, Ed Rigdon, Billy Wood, Curtis Branch Jr. and Pat Malcolm served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Men's Bible Sunday School Class and the Joyful Sound Choir of Tifton's First Baptist Church.

Born July 22, 1912, in Turner County, Mr. Massey was the son of the late Florence Lawson Massey and the Rev. R. M. Massey; three brothers; and three sisters. Before retiring, he was a local businessman, who was active in real estate and owner and operator of the former Massey Furniture Store in Tifton. He was an active member of Tifton's First Baptist Church for 60 years, where he was a member of the Men's Bible Sunday School Class, the Joyful Sound Choir, the Extension Group (visiting nursing homes) and the I-75 Hospital Ministry. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and past Matrons and Patrons Club; a Mason, where he was past Master of the local Masonic Lodge and a life Sponsor of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. He was also a Shriner; and a member of Woodmen of the World, where he was past president and past treasurer for the State of Georgia. He had been a resident of Tifton since 1938.

Mr. Massey is survived by his wife, Faye Ridley Massey of Tifton; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry Grady and Brenda Massey and Tony Curtis Massey, all of Tifton; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.