James Leon Tuten
June 15, 1944 – April 28, 2016

Memorial services for James Leon Tuten, 71, of Cairo, GA, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2016, at Pine Park Baptist Church, Cairo, GA. Rev. Gordon Cloud and Rev. Jimmy Burt will officiate. Services will conclude at the church. Private interment will be in Pine Park Baptist Church Cemetery. Mr. Tuten passed away at his home in Grady County on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

Mr. Tuten was born on June 15, 1944, in Grady County, GA, to the late Mary Frances Tuten. On June 7, 1967, he married Sheila Diane Jones Tuten, who survives, and they shared 48 wonderful years together. Leon worked as a teacher, administrator and food service director in positions in the Thomasville City Board of Education and the Grady County Board of Education. He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Pine Park Baptist Church where he was a devoted member. He was an active member in Kiwanis from 1985 to 1998, and he served as the president, 1990-1991. Leon loved his family, friends, and God’s beautiful world. In retirement, he especially enjoyed photographing scenery of God’s beauty, flora and fauna in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.

Survivors include: wife, Sheila Diane Jones Tuten of Cairo, GA; children, Kevin Tuten (Angel) of Crawfordville, FL, Amy Tuten Bergman (Bobby) of Cartersville, GA, Brian Tuten (Jodi) of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Keira Tuten, Kaeden Tuten, both of Crawfordville, FL, Evan Bergman, Gillian Bergman, both of Cartersville, GA, Kendall Tuten, Chloe Tuten, Sydney Tuten, Elijah Tuten, Tirzah Tuten, Hosanna Tuten, Mercy Tuten, all of Phoenix, AZ; brother and sister-in-law, Charles Garner of Pelham, GA, Evelyn Garner of Tallahassee, FL; and sisters, Sandra Garner Reno (Kenny) of Sylvester, GA, Wanda Garner Beasley (Steve) of Sale City, GA, Jan Garner Blackburn (Mike) of Sale City, GA.

He was preceded in death by: his step-father, Huey Columbus Garner; and his mother, Mary Frances Tuten Garner.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Tuten’s memory to: Leon Tuten Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Southwest Georgia, P.O. Box 2654, Thomasville, GA 31799; Pine Park Baptist Church, 3783 Pine Park Road, Cairo, GA 39828; or A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (http://acmnp.com).

The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the memorial service.