Johnnie Smith Cannister

Johnnie Smith Cannister, 83, of Clyattville, died on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at Smith Northview Hospital. Born on October 13, 1925 in Lake Park, she was the daughter of the late John F. and Mary Frances Brown Smith. She was Mrs. Claus to generations of children for 39 years on Santa Claus Lane in Clyattville. Mrs. Cannister was a member of Clyattville United Methodist Church. She resided at the Presbyterian Home in Quitman for the last 4 years.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Jim and Marilyn Cannister of Waycross, Johnny and Sheila Cannister of Clyattville, Barbara and Raymond "Bud" Smith of Blackshear; grandchildren and their spouses, Derek and Leah Smith of Blackshear, Paul and Tracy Cannister of Valdosta, Dallas Smith of College Park, MD, Matthew Cannister of Valdosta, Jessica Cannister of Nashville, TN; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Faith Cannister of Valdosta, Madeline Reese Smith and Benjamin Grant Smith both of Blackshear; sisters, Kathryne Smith Thomas of Jacksonville, FL and Louella Smith Cribb of Spartanburg, SC. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Newell Cannister, Sr. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Edna V. Higgs, Mary Frances Hunter and Gladys Smith and her brother, Roger Brown Smith.

Services will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 in the chapel of McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park. Burial will follow at Lake Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of the Clyattville United Methodist Church, 5311 Railroad St. Valdosta, GA 31601. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com McLane Lakewood Funeral Home, Lake Park.


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