Harry Whiddon, 100, of Sparks, Georgia, passed away March 1, 2017. He lived in Cook County most of his life and was a member of Sparks United Methodist Church. He was born on January 29, 1917, in the Spring Hill Community of what is now Cook County, to his late parents Duncan and Luella Lovett Whiddon. Mr. Whiddon passed away at his home on part of the same land lot that had once belonged to his maternal grandparents, land on which he was born and had inherited. The Whiddon farm was recognized as a Georgia Centennial Family Farm in 2001 and Cook County Family Farm of the Year in 1968, reflecting Harry's love of the land and livelihood as a farmer/rancher and gardener, always sharing his produce with others. During that time, he was an active member of the National Farmers Organization. He was also on the Board of Directors for Cook County Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Harry began his education in the one-room Pineview School near his paternal grandparents' homestead in Tift County. After returning to Cook County, he attended Brushy Creek and Spring Hill Schools, graduated from Sparks-Adel High School, and attended ABAC.

In helping the nation prepare for war, Mr. Whiddon helped build U.S. military bases in the South, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabees) during World War II. There he served in the South Pacific, participating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Mr. Whiddon is survived by his children Sherrill Whiddon Napier and her husband Charles of Sparks, Van Whiddon and his wife Lana of Adel, and Cecelia Whiddon of Sparks. His seven grandchildren are Shaina Whiddon of Richmond Hill; Baaer Whiddon of Colorado Springs, CO; Chaila Hutchinson of Savannah; Phaydra Hunt of Greensboro, NC; Jolene Byrne of Savannah; Shane Massey of Sparks; Mia Luke of Tifton; He also has five great-grandchildren: Van Davis Hutchinson, Lennon Hunt, Rachel Luke, Kate Luke, and Liam Byrne. He was preceded in death by his wife Frances VanBrackle Whiddon; two sisters, Reba Kessler and Merle Sirmans; a brother, Emerick Whiddon.

The Whiddon family received friends on Friday, March 3, 2017, at Boone Funeral Home. The funeral service took place Saturday, March 4, 2017, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Boone Funeral Home with Rev. Roger Mays and Rev. Al Lewis officiating. Interment followed at Spring Hill Church Cemetery with a military service by the Vietnam Veterans Association of Cook County. Mr. Whiddon's relatives, Lance Lovett, Clifford Lovett, Billy Joe Lovett, Craig Betts, Kevin Betts, Brian Betts, and Jamey Betts, served as pallbearers. Susie Betts played piano and the Betts family sang "In The Garden," "How Great Thou Art," and "Amazing Grace." Donations may be made to The American Heart Association (www.heart.org), The American Lung Association (www.lung.org), or to The American Cancer Society (www.donate.cancer.org). Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.boonefunerals.com.

--Boone Funeral Home is serving the Whiddon family.