Mr. Thurman Binder died Nov. 17. The son of the late Ms. Ella Binder, he was born in 1921 in Jasper County. He joined Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Mansfield, at an early age. He served as steward, trustee, lay member and Sunday School attendant until his health failed. Mr. Binder was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 295 and the Newton County Senior Citizens Services. He married Mrs. Hazel Brintley who preceded him in death as did sons Mr. Clarence Smith and Mr. Charlie Smith and brothers and sisters Mr. Ernest Smith Sr., Mr. Roy Binder, Ms. Emma Ruth Binder and Mrs. Emma Peterson.

Mr. Binder served in World War II. He then worked as a truck driver for J.B. Spears and Sons and later for Mobile Chemical. Mr. Binder was known for telling jokes and talking about the good old days. His hobbies were gardening, fishing and watching football and baseball games on TV. He was a loving and caring person.

Surviving are daughter Ms. Sandy Howard of Newborn; grandchildren Mr. Clarence Smith, Mr. and Mrs. April Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Tony (Chandra) Foster, all of Covington; three great-grandchildren; nieces Ms. Martha Binder, Mr. and Mrs. Travious (Tiffany) Grier, Mrs. Yvonne Gaffney, San Diego, Calif.; nephews Mr. Roy Lee Smith, Conyers, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest (Margaret) Smith Jr., Mr. Kareem Binder, Covington, Mr. Lucius Peterson, Los Angeles; special godson Mr. Norricus Freemen; other godchildren Mrs. Josephine Brown, Ms. Lynette Tuggle, Mr. John Burdette of Covington, Mrs. Rosie McCoy, Mrs. Ethelene Ashford of Atlanta, Dr. Franklin Burdette, Minneapolis, Minn.; sister-in-law Mrs. Pocohantas Reed, Covington; special friends Mr. Willie Smith, Mr. Hollis Blackshear, Mrs. Jacqueline Pitts, Mrs. Mamie Kelly; a host of other relatives and friends and the Jamestown Community.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Nov. 20 at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Mansfield, with the Rev. Benjamin Franklin officiating. Interment followed at Springfield Memorial Gardens, Newborn.