Loren Drue Dodson

Loren Drue Dodson, 57, of Valdosta, GA, passed away on October 30, 2013, in Ocala, FL. He was born on October 2, 1956, in Valdosta. He graduated from Valdosta High School in 1974 and attended Valdosta State College. While at VHS, he played football for the Wildcats under Coach Wright Bazemore and proudly wore #73.

Loren was employed by Tri-State Supply Co. in Valdosta and U.S. Tobacco Co. in Ocala, FL. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Valdosta and the Outlaw Sunday School class.

Loren loved his family and friends, along with Facebook, Georgia football, the Atlanta Braves, NASCAR, country music, a good joke and karaoke.

He will long be remembered for his ever-present smile and good humor, his loyalty to all those he loved and his unbelievable courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

One of his many Facebook friends posted this, which best expresses the sentiment of so many:
"The true measure of a man's success is in the quality and quantity of the people who love him. To Loren "Sledge" Dodson, my most successful friend."

Preceded in death by his wife, Tanya Brooks Dodson and his parents, Fred and Mary Dodson, Loren is survived by a brother and sister in law, Duane E. and Anne Dodson of Panama City Beach, FL; nephews, Drew ( Lindley) Dodson of Austin, TX, Russell (Katherine) Dodson of Miami Beach, FL; and a great niece, Shaw Dodson of Austin, TX.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Reverend Mac Weaver will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday at the funeral home from 1 – 3 p.m. Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association PO Box 11454 Alexandria VA 22312, or to First Baptist Church 200 West Central Avenue Valdosta GA 31601. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602