July 17, 1953 –

June 25, 2012

Funeral services for William Franklin “Sonny” Ross, 58, of West Bainbridge, were held June 30, 2012, at Nelson Chapel A.M.E. Church, with Rev. James Platt officiating. Interment was in Jonas Lobe Cemetery with Corey Ross, Devin Ross, Stacey Ross, Sean Dye, Stephen Dye and Willie Potter Jr. acting as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Ware, Samuel Ross, Howard Smart, William Crawford, Peter Bruton, Roy Lee Davis, Hubert Thomas, and the deacons of Second St. James M.B. Church.

Mr. Ross was born July 17, 1953, in Bainbridge, to Leroy Ross Sr. and Addie Bell Harp Ross. He died June 25, 2012, at Capital Regional Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla.

Mr. Ross graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1971 and entered the U.S. Army, were he served for 20 years, including deployment to the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War. He retired from the military in July 1991 and enrolled in Bainbridge College where he earned a degree in applied sciences and computer science.

He was affiliated with the League of Southeastern Credit Unions for more than 10 years and was very active in the local community, including membership in the NAACP, of which he became Decatur County president. He served faithfully as a trustee, church secretary, secretary of the deacon board and a Sunday School teacher at Second St. James M.B. Church. He loved the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons and golf, as well as many genres of music.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vera Grace Dixon; his mother, Addie Bell Harp Ross; and a sister, Vicki Ross.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Potter Ross; two daughters, Samara V. Ross, Mableton, Ga. and Madelon R. Johnson of Valrico, Fla.; one grandchild, Hitomi Reagan Johnson; two brothers, Dr. Robert (Jeanette) Ross, Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Leroy (Valerie) Ross, Conyers, Ga.; three sisters, Julia Dye, Marietta, Ga., Diane Smith, Taylors, S.C. and Monica (Marlon) Hill, Tallahassee; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Bruton Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.