James E. Thigpen

Mr. James Edward “Buddy” Thigpen, age 76, passed away on September 5, 2024 at East Georgia Regional Medical Center. Mr. Thigpen was born in Mt. Vernon, GA on February 17, 1948 to the late Colon Thigpen and Vergie Maddox Thigpen Collins. He was a 1966 graduate of Wheeler County High School and also from Draughon’s Junior College and Brewton Parker College in 1968. After school, he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany. He later went to work for AT&T as an installer and worked his way up to warehouse supervisor. He retired with over 39 years of service. He was currently a funeral attendant at Flanders Powell Funeral Home where he had served over 15 years. Mr. Thigpen was the former pastor of Snow Hill Baptist Church in Wheeler County and Normantown Baptist Church in Toombs County. He also served as a lay minister and Sunday School teacher for many years at various churches in the area. He was a member of Savannah Holy Church of God and was a member of the Senior Statesmen Sunday School Class. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Lawana Durden Thigpen, his father, Colon Thigpen; mother, Vergie Maddox Thigpen Collins; step-father, James Collins; brother, Eugene Thigpen; sister, Nona Thompson and son-in-law, Mike Rosenberg. 

 Survivors include one son, Brent Thigpen and his wife Vanessa of Sumter, SC; two daughters, Robyn Mathis and her husband Ricky of Nevils and Allyson Rosenberg of Ellabell; brother, Danny Collins of Baxley; four sisters, Joann Thigpen of Olympia, WA, Jane Palmer of Glenwood, GA, Sandra Taylor of Waynesville and Joyce Davis of McRae and five grandchildren, Caleb Mathis, Noah Mathis, Alayna Rosenberg, Bailey Rosenberg and James Garrison Thigpen. 

 Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Flanders Powell Funeral Home.

 Funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Flanders Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Doctor Ryan Ralston officiating.

 Burial will be held at Northside Cemetery with military honors. 

 To sign the online register, please visit www.flanderspowellfuneralhome.com.

 Flanders Powell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. James Edward “Buddy” Thigpen.