Funeral services for Rayford Wallace, of Brookhaven, are at 11a.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at New Hope United MethodistChurch. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the timeof the service.

Graveside services will be held immediately following at the churchcemetery in Wesson.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, from 5 until 9p.m. at Riverwood Family Funeral Service.

Mr. Wallace, 80, died July 27, 2010. He was born in Lincoln Countyon April 16, 1930, to Albert and Velma Brumfield Wallace.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Velma Wallace;and his grandson, Michael Derek Tanner, who died March 11, 2008. Hewas also preceded in death by his sisters, Mable McNeil, Lurline W.Cutrer and Gloria Jean Wallace; and his brothers, Robert Wallaceand Sonny Wallace.

Mr. Wallace left home at a young age to work in the northernstates. He worked with Joyce and Western Pipeline. He returned tothe Auburn community and started a business of his own doing dozerwork. He was a commercial fisherman for years. He enjoyed huntingand fishing, but his true love was gardening. He was known for thelast two years at the farmers’ market with his produce, which hegrew in Auburn. He grew a Florida giant yellow watermelon in July2000 that grew to be 75 pounds.

He would always say, “I just love to watch a small seed grow intosuch a big plant and produce vegetables.”

Mr. Wallace was a member of John A. Quitman Lodge #244 of Auburnfor 54 years.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Kathleen Johnson Wallace;one son, Audie Ray Wallace and wife, Rita Wallace, of Monticello;three daughters, Nancy K. Tanner and husband, Mike, of UnionChurch, Debby Victory and husband, Danny, of Brookhaven, and BeckyLofton and husband, Lloyd, of Brookhaven; his grandchildren, DamonWallace, Jasmine Dixon, Amy K. Tanner, Ivy P. Tanner, JonathonWallace, Stephen Christa, Matthew Christa and Amber Christa; hisgreat-grandchildren, Morgan and Hunter Dixon, Zoe, Tommy, Malachai,Zed, Mena, and Trent Wallace, Marley Christa, Vivianna Tanner andJoseph R. Wallace; his sisters, Dorothy Moak and husband, Delton,of Moak’s Creek, and Mattie Lee Hughes, of Auburn; and hismother-in-law, Katherine Johnson, of West Palm Beach, Fla.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitwww.riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave acomment.