Samuel Baxter

Samuel Mack Baxter, 83, retired turpentine producer, timberman, and businessman died Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Center in Statesboro following a long illness.
A Tattnall County native, Mr. Baxter was the son of the late Raleigh Blanton Baxter and Eunice Hendricks Baxter. He was a 1945 graduate of Glennville High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia in 1949. While a college student, he enlisted in the newly reorganized Battery B, 101st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion ("Liberty Independent Troop") Georgia Army National Guard at Hinesville, and was part of that unit when it was mobilized for active duty during the Korean War. A short time after mobilization he completed officer candidate school at Fort Jackson, S.C. for commission as a second lieutenant.
In 1950, he married Betty N. Durrence, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cleveland Durrence of Glennville. They made their home in Glennville thereafter until Mrs. Baxter's death in 2002. Mr. Baxter was a member of the First Baptist Church in Glennville for 60 years serving both as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He was also active in the community and business affairs serving for many years as a member of the Glennville Industrial Authority Board, a member of the Farmers Home Administration (FMHA) Loan Board for Tattnall, Evans, and Toombs counties, a member of the Georgia Forestry Association, a member of the American Turpentine Farmers Association, the local American Legion Post, and the Glennville Fishing Club. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and horseman.
He is survived by a sister, Lois Baxter Brown of Macon, three children: D. Mark Baxter of Macon, Rebecca Baxter Thompson of Glennville, and John S. Baxter also of Glennville; eight grandchildren: Elizabeth Baxter Bennett of Sandy Springs, Denby Baxter Heard of Dunwoody, David M. Baxter, Jr. a cadet at The Citadel, Ansley Thompson Rogers of Glennville, Branford Thompson, Jr. of Augusta, Catherine Thompson of Glennville, Wiley M. Baxter, a student at Georgia Southern University, and Maggie Baxter of Glennville, 5 great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm Monday, April 23, 2012 at Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 4:00 pm at Glennville First Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Howard officiating. Burial will follow in the Glennville City Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Branford Thompson, Jr., Wiley M. Baxter, David M Baxter, Jr., Cortland Bennett, Preston Heard, Brad Rogers
Honorary Pallbearers: Barnie R. Baxter, Ned Gross, Jared Durrence, Charles Winge, Truman Anderson, Dan Dubberly
The family suggests memorials in lieu of flowers be directed to the Georgia Alzheimer's Association, 201 Television Circle, Savannah, GA 31406 or the First Baptist Church of Glennville, 321 Barnard St Glennville, GA 30427.