Michael Cortez Booker

MICHAEL CORTEZ BOOKER, 63, of Valdosta died Sunday, December 11, 2005 at South Georgia Medical Center after a short illness. He was born on October 30, 1942 in Wildwood, Florida to the late Clarence Cortez and Helen Atkinson Booker and had lived in Valdosta for thirty seven years. Mr. Booker served in the United States Marine Corps from 1960-1964 and was retired from the Lowndes County Board of Education after thirty three years as an educator and administrator. He received his AA Degree from North Florida Junior College in 1968, Bachelors Degree in History in 1970 and his Masters Degree in 1972 from Valdosta State University at which time he wrote his Thesis on the Growth of Catholicism in South Georgia that was published in the Southern Cross and is kept on file at St. John’s Catholic Church. He received his Education Specialist Degree in 1991 and was the recipient of the Liberty Bell Award in 1978 given by the Valdosta Bar Association. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Lorita Booker of Valdosta, two daughters and sons in law, Michele Minyette and Ray Yeager of Jacksonville, Illinois and Nicolette Camille and Sonny Rigdon of Homerville, two sons and daughters in law, Christian Cortez and Laura Booker of Eielson AFB, Alaska and Shannon Michael and Candace Booker of Valdosta, 8-grandchildren, Victoria Catherine Yeager of Jacksonville, Illinois, Lawson Seth Rigdon of Homerville, Stephanie Lea Booker, Collin Cortez Booker, Ashley Danielle Booker all of Eielson AFB, Alaska, Brooklyn Marie Booker, Brayden Michael Booker and Briton Morgan Booker all of Valdosta, his mother in law whom he loved dearly, Myrtle McDonald of Valdosta, a niece, Kimberly Laduska Baldwin of Marietta.

Memorial services will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, December 14, 2005 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with Father John O’Brien officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


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