Willie Atwood Lane

June 23, 2017

Mr. Willie Atwood Lane, age 95, of Cairo, Georgia, passed away June 23, 2017, just one week short of his 96^th birthday, at Seminole Manor Nursing Home, Donalsonville, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, June 27, 2017, Eastside Baptist Church, 404 5^th Street N.E., Cairo, Georgia. The Rev. Andrew Donaldson and Rm. Eugene Kelly will officiate. Interment will follow at 2 pm, Corinth Cemetery, Ash Crossing Road (Co. Rd. 12), Iron City, Georgia, with Masonic graveside rites and military honors. Stanley Lane, Roger Lane, Brad Hornsby, Carlton Lane, Larry Lane, Phillip McDaniel, John Bielski, Jason Gambrell, and Marty Kuntz will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends 5-7 pm, Monday, at the Cadwell Chapel of Cox Funeral Home, Bainbridge, Georgia.

Atwood was born on June 30, 1921, in Iron City, Georgia, to the late Will and Ellen Cross Lane. The third of six children, he attended Iron City School. After serving in the US Army during World War II, Atwood met Mae Herring. They were married December 8, 1951 and he became father to Mae’s two sons, Johnny and Calvin. They settled in Bainbridge where Atwood worked at The Post Searchlight until 1957, when he moved his family to Cairo. Atwood then went to work for the Cairo Messenger, where he was proud to say he worked for four generations of the Wind family.

Atwood was a 60 year-plus Master Mason, Masonic Lodge # 299, a Shriner since 1972, served for over 50 years with the Order of the Eastern Star, was a member of the American Legion Post #122, Eastside Baptist Church, and the morning group at Hardee’s in Cairo.

A loving and devoted grandfather, Atwood doted on his six grandchildren, taking them fishing, teaching them to drive, and taking them to visit his many friends and relatives. Atwood loved fishing and music. He not only caught his fish, he also cooked and served them to family and friends. Music was a huge part of Atwood’s life. He loved playing his guitar with fellow pickers and singing for anyone who would listen.  

Atwood is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John and Barbara Daniel of Columbia, South Carolina; his granddaughters, Debbie Kuntz (Marty) of Island Lake, Illinois, Alyssa Daniel of Columbia, S.C., Erin Bielski (John) of Hinsdale, Illinois, Ashley Gambrell (Jason) of Peekskill, New York, Erica Daniel of Columbia, S.C.; a grandson, Bobby Daniel (Roxana) of Chula Vista, California; 8 great-grandchildren, Jessica Miller (Nate), Graham, Kai, and London Harrison, John Bielski, III, David, Preston, and Elizabeth Daniel; a sister, Martha Ann McDaniel of Iron City; and many nieces and nephews. Atwood was preceded in death by his wife and parents, his son, Calvin Daniel, his great-grandchildren, Joel Harrison, his sisters, Jewell Powell and Lucy Hornsby, and his brothers, Bennie and Jack Lane.

The family wishes to thank Seminole Manor Nursing Home and Kindred Hospice for their loving care and support, and to his many friends who have visited and shown their support, especially his niece, Beverly McDaniel, his dear friends, Evelyn Bishop, Frank Pritchett, and Jerry and Mary Tate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Corinth Cemetery Fund, P. O. Box 447, Iron City, Georgia; Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607; or Eastside Baptist Church, P. O. Box 749, Cairo, Georgia 39828.

On-line condolences may be sent at www.Coxfuneral.net. Cox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.