Larry V. Dennis

Larry V. Dennis, 75, of Lake Park, passed away on Sunday, October 13th, 2019 at the Langdale Hospice House following a short illness. He was born and raised in Valdosta, Ga to the late Vernon and Ava Nell Pipkins Dennis. He was a graduate of Lowndes County High School in 1962, and attended South Georgia College where he played baseball. After returning to Valdosta, he worked for Georgia Plate Glass, and then for Retail Credit as an insurance investigator before beginning to farm for 38 years. He was a member of the Lowndes County Young Farmers Association and was named Outstanding Large Farmer of the Year in 1979 by the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. In 1978 he was instrumental in bringing cotton back to this area by becoming the first farmer to grow cotton in Lowndes County after a 20 year span. Lowndes Ginning Company was founded soon afterward where he served as a co-owner and general manager. He served as the chairman of the Advisory board of the Gold Kist Grain in Valdosta, the advisory board for Production Credit Association, past director of the Farm Bureau's Legislative forum, and on the Bureau's Legislative forum all in the late 70's. One of his most memorable moments as a farmer was helping lead a tractorcade to Washington, DC from Atlanta, GA in 1977 as the American farmers were demonstrating for the American Agriculture Movement as they drove tractors on the steps of the Capital.
His pride and joy was his family. He enjoyed his grandchildren to the fullest watching them play baseball and all of their sporting events. But in the local baseball community he was known and loved as "Papa Larry." PaPa Larry was known for his infamous chair, his love of the sport and his early arrival for the games! He was a Son of the Confederates and enjoyed researching his family Genealogy over the years.
He was a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Valdosta. He was a man of God that was kind, generous and greatly loved and respected by all of those who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Charlotte Lunsford Dennis of Lake Park; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Stacy and Bruce McFarland, Lisa and Hernan Posas, both of Valdosta, and Jillyn Dennis of Lake Park; 8 grandchildren and spouses, Shelby and Mike Mills of Woodstock, GA, Jake and Sam McFarland of Valdosta, David Posas of Macon, GA, and Emily and Eric Posas of Athens, GA, Jose Posas and Anna Whitlow of New Orleans, LA. and Carlos Posas of Salt Lake City, Utah. Three great grandchildren, Hayden Mills of Woodstock, GA, and Nelmy June and Theodora Posas of New Orleans, LA.; 2 sisters and brothers-in-law, Glenda and Ealie Herring, and Judy and Jimmy Whiddon, both of Lake Park, GA; 3 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law, Glenda Powell of Thomasville, GA, Ruth and Wendell Clements of Winston Salem, NC, and Melba and Clyde Amerson Jennings, FL; many nieces and nephews as well as the Carnley family from Pensacola Florida.
A memorial service for Larry V. Dennis will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2019 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Scott Horne officiating. The inurnment will follow in the Hickory Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund for Redeemer Presbyterian Church and/or Hospice of South Georgia, or to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane