Reverend Jimmy Wayne Defore, 56, of Rocky Face, Georgia, departed this life on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Defore was born in Whitfield County, a son of Della Williams Defore also of Rocky Face, and the late Otis Defore. Along with his father he was also preceded in death by his brother, Calvin Defore; and his father-in-law, Robert C. Smith. Mr. Defore became an ordained minister in the early 1980s, and was a member of the North Whitfield Missionary Baptist Church. Along with his mother he is also survived by his loving wife Ruby Joliene Defore of the residence; his daughter, Lisa Defore Pickett of Tunnel Hill; grandchildren, Barrett Defore, Kelsey Smith, and Cierra Pickett all of Tunnel Hill; sisters and brother, Barbara Defore of Dalton, Sandra Hough of Rocky Face, Robert Timothy Defore of Tunnel Hill, and Kathy Brooks of Rocky Face; mother-in-law, Ruby Smith of Dalton; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends survive. Services to celebrate the life of Reverend Jimmy Wayne Defore will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. from the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home with Reverend Lillard Stringer and Reverend Michael Deems officiating. He will be laid to rest at the Dunagan Cemetery with Matthew Brooks, Casey Brooks, Russell Defore, Gary Arnold, David Arnold, and his special friend and cousin, Billy Joe Pickens all serving as pallbearers. The family will begin receiving friends at the funeral home on Monday, July 28, 2008 after 5:00 P.M. The family requests in lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Reverend Jimmy Defore to the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee.
cause of death:: Accident, a lawn mower turned over on him in a ditch