Milton Franklin Mercer

Milton Franklin Mercer OMEGA Milton Franklin Mercer, 74, of Omega, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at home. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 26, at Crosland Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Voyles and the Rev. Terrell Ruis officiating. Interment will follow in Leila Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers for the ceremony are Waylon Stuckey, Jeb Griffin, Charles Sumner, Nate Lane, Steve Sumner, Everett Rowan, Mike Pearce and Steve Pearce. Honorary pallbearers are Buddy Sutton, Bryan McDonald, Harold Israel, Donald Horne, Lawton Matthews, Ronnie Marchant, Donnie Hawkins, Cliff Middlebrooks, Randy Scarbor, Greg Jones, Gerard Krewer, Joey Krewer, John Asbell, Frank Blow, Geoffrey Sumner, Tim Maxwell, Doug Maxwell, Charles Robinson, Don Roberts, Ken Sumner, Carl Woods, Bennie Robinson and the Deacons of Crosland Baptist Church. Born Feb. 4, 1939, in the Ty Ty Community near Omega, he was the youngest son of eight children of the late Ardys Lindsey Mercer and Benjamin Franklin Mercer and graduated from Norman Park High School in 1957. He was a longtime farmer in Colquitt County, who was known for loving the land and being a good farmer, his family remarked. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Colquitt County Farm Bureau. "He was a strong man of faith who dearly loved his church family and was a deacon at Crosland Baptist Church. He was also a fan of the Florida State Seminoles and often attended home football games with his friends, including a special trip this fall for the youth of Crosland Baptist Church," his family also recounted. He was a hard working farmer all of his life, family said, but his real gift was in the generosity and relationships he built with his many valued friends and many of the widowed ladies in the community. From his fish fries to boiled peanuts to fresh vegetables, his family and friends were the beneficiaries of his generosity and boundless energy, his family remembered. "He loved his family and friends dearly," friends recalled. "He always worked hard which was a trait of all of the Mercer family but he believed it was his mission in life to share what he had by giving back to others. He had a huge heart and will be truly missed." In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Eugene Mercer; and three sisters, Mary Whatley, Mildred Willis, and Frankie Asbell. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Sandra Pearce Mercer; two daughters and sons-in-law, Denise Mercer Crouch and O'Neil Crouch of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Deidre Mercer Martin and Barry Martin of Aiken, S.C.; two beloved grandchildren, McIver and Mercer Crouch; his sisters, Reba Sumner, Rubye Maxwell and Mamie Krewer; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Otis and Jackie Jones; his brother-in-law, Willie Scarbor; and a large family of nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Memorials can be made for the youth group and North American and International Missions to Crosland Baptist Church, c/o Linda Roberts, 321 Crosland Scooterville Road, Omega, Ga., 31775. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Baker Funeral Home in Moultrie. Baker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please leave condolences to the family at www.moultrieobserver.com .