Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 6

Democrat Monday, March 16, 2009 OBITUARIES www.TALLAHASSEE.cOm Grady R. Maxwell Robert M. Grady R. Maxwell, Talla- Johnson hassee, died Saturday, Robert M. March 14, 2009, surrounded by loved ones and under the able care of Big Bend Hospice.

Grady was born on December 4, 1924 in Cairo, Georgia. He moved to St. Augustine, Florida in 1935, where he lived with his aunt and uncle, Bob and Claude Arnett, until enlisting in the U. S. Navy on September 22, 1942.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, Grady joined the Florida Highway Patrol, where he remained for the next 22 years. Soon after his retirement from the Florida Highway Patrol, Grady started the Grady Maxwell Corporation, a full-service private investigations firm. Grady operated that company for the next 35 years. Grady was a long-time member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Tallahassee.

He was a teacher in the Ed Wynn Sunday School Class for many years. He moved his membership from St. Paul's UMC to Fellowship Baptist in 2003, when he married Betty Oladell of Madison. Grady also was a long -time member of Toastmasters. Grady is survived by his loving wife, Betty; a brother, Manuel Maxwell of Apopka, a sister, Bertice Adams of Cairo; two sons, Wayne Maxwell (Kim) and Grady R.

Maxwell, Jr. (Theresa), both of Tallahassee; two daughters, Janice Betts of Tallahassee and Cynthia Hurst (Matt) of Atlanta; a stepson, Tony Oladell (Becky) of Madison; nine grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Grady was preceded in death by his parents, Cynthia and Maurice Maxwell of Cairo; five sisters, Etta Hodapp of Ft. Pierce, Jimmie Ruff of Cairo, Rosa Hogg of Albany, Mary Adams of Albany, and Ila Mae Maxwell of Cairo, and one brother, Wilburn Maxwell of Chattahoochee. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

EDT Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at Culley's MeadowWood Riggins Road Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at Gray Memorial United Methodist Church, 2201 Old Bainbridge Rd. with Rev. Nancy Walton and Rev.

Steve McHargue officiating. Interment will follow in Culley's Meadow Wood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Big Bend Hospice, Gray Memorial UMC, or Fellowship Baptist Church. Culley's Meadow Wood Funeral Home Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits TALLAHASSEE Johnson, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2009, at the Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House of Big Bend Hospice.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Monday, March 16, at 7 p.m. EDT at Bevis Funeral Chapel (850-385-2193). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Bob was born April 3, 1924, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He moved to Tallahassee in 1972 to take the position of Director of Aviation for the City of Tallahassee.

He served as President of the Florida Airport Manager's Association from 1979-1980. He was manager of Grider Air Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas from 1962-1971. Bob was a veteran of World War II, serving as a pilot in the Army Air Corp, flying the B-24 He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Frieda I. Turley Johnson; and three brothers, Ed, Carl and Jewel. He is survived by one brother, Clarence, and numerous nieces and nephews, many of whom considered Bob a favorite BEVIS Funeral Home Crematory Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits 8988775 Robert V.

Mears Robert V. Mears died March 13, 2009. He grew up in Tallahassee and attended Leon High School and Florida State University, and served in the U.S. Air Force. Bob was the franchise owner of Avis Rent A Car in Tallahassee in the 1960's and a real estate broker.

He later retired from the Department of Revenue. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. EDT today, March 16, 2009 in Culley's MeadowWood Riggins Road Chapel (850-877-8191). Graveside service will be held 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday, March 17th at Roselawn Cemetery.

Survivors include a daughter, Debra Mears Bragdon, a son-in-law, Tom Bragdon and two grandsons, Logan and Justin Bragdon, all of Tallahassee. Culley's Meadow Wood Funeral Home Dignity Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits Frank Gabor Frank Gabor, 90, of Miami and Ocala passed Saturday, March 14, 2009. In 1946, he founded Gabor Inc. in Miami, which later became The Gabor Agency. Frank along with long time associate George E.

Palmer of Tallahassee started the Tallahassee office of Gabor Inc. in 1950, which they built up to be one of the premiere Florida agencies of its kind. It specialized in writing life and health insurance plus other employee benefits exclusively for FSU, FAMU and many other state universities, community colleges and other Florida State agencies. Frank was until his retirement in 2000 the Chairman and CEO of the Gabor Agency, Inc. which was managed by his son Jeffrey who pre-deceased him.

In addition to his leadership of The Gabor Agency, Frank was a past president of the Florida Accident Health Underwriters Association, and a member of boards of directors of several publicly traded companies. He was a strong supporter of Florida State University and had established endowments for exceptional employees at Florida State as well as other state universities and colleges in Florida. He is survived by Selma, his wife of 68 years and children, Ron Gabor (and his wife Nancy) of Miami and daughter, Cynthia Cushman of Santa Fe, N.M. He was predeceased by son, Jeffrey Gabor. He also leaves behind many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren who loved him dearly including Lisa Chase (Brook), Adam Cushman (Alexandra), Robert Gabor and Michael Gabor (Diana) and many great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the Roberts Funeral Homes, Downtown Chapel 606 SW 2nd Ave, Ocala, at 2 p.m. EDT with the burial to follow at Beth Shalom Temple cemetery in Ocala, Fla. Arrangements are by Roberts Funeral Homes, Ocala Fl. 352-622-4141. Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits 8988774 Lyles Leland Harper Mr.

Lyles Leland Harper, 94, died March 15, 2009, in Greenville. Services will be Tuesday, at 11 a.m. EDT in Greenville Baptist Church, with visitation 6 to 8 p.m. today at Beggs, Madison Chapel. In lieu of flowers, make donations to Greenville Baptist Church, P.O.

Box 27 Greenville, FL 32331. Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits 8988777 BIG BEND HOSPICE your hometown hospice since 1983 (850) 878-5310 Big Bend or (800)772-5862 Hospice Jean W. Pearson Mrs. Jean W. Pearson, 77, of Perry, passed away Saturday March 14, 2009 at her sister's residence following an extended illness.

Mrs. Pearson was a native of Taylor County and returned in 2004 from Georgia where she had lived since 1952. She was of the Methodist Faith and was a member of the lake Bird Methodist Church. Mrs. Pearson worked as a Paraprofessional Teaching Assistant in Richmond Hill, Ga for 10 years.

In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and keeping in touch with family. Mrs. Pearson is survived by, her husband of 57 years, Tom Pearson of Perry; a daughter, Linda Ashley (and husband Gene), of Richmond Hill, a son, David Wade (and wife Sue) of Panama City, two brothers, Talmadge W. "Buddy" Whiddon, of Climax, and Robert D. "Bob" Whiddon (and wife Tommie) of Lake Bird, three sisters, Wanda Bodiford (and husband Jack) of Athena, Frances English, of Eridu, Fla.

and Dahlia Blue (and husband Perry; four grandchildren, Ryan Ashley (and wife Jenni), Eric Ashley, Wesley Wade (and wife Katrina) and Dee Brown (and wife Brenda); greatgrandchild, Michael Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral serviced for Mrs. Pearson will be conducted at 11 a.m. EDT today March 16, 2009 at graveside in Lake Bird Methodist Church Cemetery with Rev. Wallace Holmes officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the lake Bird Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, Yvonne Read, 3735 Preston Sheffield Perry, FL 32347. All arrangements are under the care of Joe P. Burns Funeral Home of Perry (850-584-4149). You may sign the guestbook at www.joepburnsfuneralHomes.com Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits FLORIDA www.bigbendhospice.org your hometown hospice, licensed since 1983 fax at 599-2295. If you take charitable giving personally, you should know about us.

Set up a special fund. When you make a gift of cash, appreciated stock, or other assets to your community foundation, we can establish a Donor Advised Fund in your name. You receive immediate tax benefits in the year your gift is made. 2 COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Of North Florida FOR GOOD. FOR EVER.

For more information, call 222-2899 or visit www.cfnf.org COF CFA 8988772 Online Obituaries and Guest Books Express your condolences or share your memories at www.tallahassee.com/obits. Click the name of the deceased, then click the link to Guest Book at the bottom of obituary. OBITUARY POLICY Obituaries are submitted to the newsroom by funeral homes. The first 1.5 inches are free and must contain standard information, such as funeral information. Additional lines, which may include a photo, and an online version at www.tallahassee.com are available for set fees.

Obituaries are edited for grammar, spelling and taste. Deadline for publication the following day is 3 p.m. weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends. Proofed and signed obits must be returned by 4:30 p.m.

Our hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekends For more information, please contact us by phone at (850) 599-2170 or fax at 599-2295.

partners quality of life development working together positive impact you do 8988776 Material 8988769 Charles F. Pittman Charles "Charley" F. Pittman, 84, died Saturday, March 14, 2009. The service will be held at First Baptist Church, Tallahassee with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Havana at a time and date to be announced. Charles McClellan Funeral Home, Quincy (850-627-7677) is handling arrangements.

Express condolences in our guestbook at www.tallahassee.com/obits 8988773 Help your community when disaster strikes! State of Florida employees are eligible to volunteer up to 15 days per year with full pay for disaster relief operations for the American Red Cross. Contact the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at 878-6080 or visit our web site at www.tallytown.com/redcross. American Red Cross When United Way of the Big Bend "gets the most impact out of your contribution," that's you doing it. When UWBB "brings people and resources to the community table to address current concerns by creating strategic that's you doing it. When UWBB "listens to what the community needs for the future and creates communitywide initiatives to address them," that's your partner in action.

www.uwbb.org United Way United Way of the Big Bend.