James Benjamin O'Conner

SOPERTON — James Benjamin O'Conner, 86, of Route 1, Vidalia, died Sunday morning in a Vidalia hospital.

The prominent leader, a Montgomery County native, was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Soperton, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues, director of the Altamaha Electric Membership Corporation, a director of the Soperton Guano Company and an extensive farmer and naval stores operator.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. The Rev. W.D. Johnson and the Rev. Roger Appel were the officiating ministers. Burial was in Hamilton Cemetery in Montgomery County.

Pallbearers were: James Robert Hilton, Mike Adams, J.B. O'Connor, T.J. O'Connor, Russell Burns, Joey Adams, and John O'Conner.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Liza Palmer O'Conner; a son, Ben O'Connor of Chauncey; three daughters, Mrs. Ethel Adams, Mrs. Elizabeth Hilton of Vidalia, and Mrs. Jewel Burns of Tarrytown; 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Sammons Funeral Home of Soperton was in charge of arrangements.