George Howard Ponder Sr.

George Howard Ponder, Sr., 77, of the County Line Community, Rankin County, passed away Tuesday, March 5, 2013 in Jackson. Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00pm Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services will be Friday at 2pm in the funeral home chapel with interment to follow at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery, Rankin County, MS. Rev. Mickey Ferguson will officiate.

Mr. Ponder was born May 24, 1935 at home in the County Line Community to the late, Garland B. and Malinda Burnham Ponder. He was a graduate of Puckett High School and attended Hinds Junior College in Raymond. He served in the US Army and ranked Specialist 3. In June of 1961 he married Shirley Ann Hebron Ponder at Crestwood Baptist Church. During his life he lived in Raymond, Jackson and the County Line Community in Rankin County. His work history included the Texaco Service Station, Railway Express Agency, Purolator Courier and George Ponder Jewelers. He served the Lord in each community he lived in. He was a deacon and member of Crestwood Baptist Church, Midway Baptist Church and most recently at County Line Baptist Church. He loved flying his ultralight airplane, camping, traveling, army reunions, and family reunions.

Mr. Ponder was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Elizabeth Ponder Carter; brother, Charles Burwood Ponder; and brother-in-law, Osler Carter.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; son, George Howard Ponder, Jr. and wife, Frances Le-Quieita Allen Ponder of the County Line Community; daughters, Malinda Ponder Miller Buchanan and husband, James Buchanan of Hattiesburg, MS and Kathy Lynn Ponder Tisdale and husband, Daniel Barry Tisdale of Grapevine, TX; grandchildren, Patricia Lynn Miller Beech, Laura Nicole Miller Clinton, James Alexander Ponder, Kristin Amber Blair, Crystal Diane Miller, Tyler Andrew Tisdale, and Abby Nicole Tisdale; great-grandchildren, Iain Miller, Victoria Beech, Audie Beech, Preston Clinton and Ethan Clinton; brother, James Edward Ponder; nephews, Dwight and Nathan Ponder, Kenneth, Alton and John Carter; nieces, Quida Carter Salter, Donna Ponder Harpole and Tracy Carter Price.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Youth Ministry Program, County Line Baptist Church, 1353 County Line Road, Mendenhall, MS 39114.