Thurlus Pitts

Funeral services for Thurlus H. “Tabby” Pitts, age 64, 200 Perry Drive, Ashburn will be held Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. at the Ashburn First Baptist Church with burial to follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn. Mr. Pitts died Tuesday at Tift Regional Medical Center following a sudden illness.

Mr. Pitts was born in Turner County and was the son of the late Joe Lee and Mable Lee Walker Pitts. He lived all of his life in Turner County and was a member of the Dakota Baptist Church.

Tabby, as he was known to all, in his childhood was injured in a fall leaving him paralyzed and unable to sit up. His life was lived on a specially designed motorized stretcher and drove his own specially equipped van. Tabby never let his handicap hold him back or kept him from having a full life. He cared for his parents until their deaths on Sept. 29, 1998. From his early childhood he had a love for horses and kept his own horse for many years.

Tabby played the guitar and sang with gospel groups and was an everyday provider of news for the Turner County News. He was a member of the Fire Ant Festival Committee and was a volunteer at the Crimes & Punishment Museum in Ashburn and Relay for Life.

He was the recipient of the 2001 Citizen of the Year Special Award from the Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce.

Friends made a lifelong trip to Nashville, Tenn. come true for Tabby in October 2003 when he toured Nashville and especially enjoyed the Grand Old Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

He is survived by two uncles: Eddie B. Brown of Florida and Reuben B. Pitts of Swainsboro, Ga. He is also survived by a large number of cousins and a special devoted friend, Jean DeBorde of Ashburn.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Perry Funeral Chapel.