Extracted from The Tifton Gazette (Tifton, GA)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Juanita Ridley Champion

CARROLLTON -- Juanita Ridley Champion, 82, of Carrollton, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2007. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, from the chapel of Almon Funeral Home with Rev. Gerald Rogers officiating. Interment was held in Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Butler.

Pallbearers were Adam Ridley, Bert Kight, Eddie Brannen, Jimmy Boatright, Mitch White and Richard Bisgard.

Mrs. Champion was born in Garden Valley on Aug. 6, 1924, the daughter of the late Johnny Whatley and Mary Cox Whatley.

Mrs. Champion was a teacher for 40 years and taught at Franklin High School, Central High, Oak Mountain Academy, Jordan High School, West Georgia College, and retired from Carrollton High School. She graduated from Berry College, the University of Georgia, and Auburn University earning three master's degrees and a PHD in science. She was of the Baptist Faith.

Survivors include her husband, Owen Champion; three children and their spouses, John and Debbie Ridley of Carrollton, Cal and Sheila Ridley of Tifton, Jo Alese Ridley of Duluth, Richard Bisgard of Woodland, Ala.; six grandchildren, Ashley Ridley, Tommy Lee Ridley, Adam Ridley, Casey Gibbs, Chrystal Kendrick and Bert Kight; and seven great grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Ales Ridley.

Messages of condolences may be sent to www.almonfuneralhome.com.

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton in charge of arrangements.