SOUTHERN, Winford WINFORD (WIN) PHARO SOUTHERN Winford (Win) Pharo Southern went to Heaven peacefully during his sleep on Friday, March 2, 2012, at age 85 at his residence in Woodstock. Born February 14, 1927, in Haleyville, Alabama, he has been blessed with good health all of his life and through this day. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Johnnie Eubanks Southern, who was previously married to the late Rev. Paul Eubanks. Win was preceded in death by his wife Hazel Dillard Southern in 1986, after they married during their twenties in Phil Campbell, Alabama, and raised three children in Atlanta. Win is survived by his son Mike and his wife Kathy Southern and their three children: Daniel and David Southern, and Rebecca Southern Mills and her husband Joel, of Atlanta. He was preceded in death by daughter Patricia and son Steve. He and Johnnie are also survived by her children: daughter Paula and Rev. Wayne Wright and their children Kelley and husband Joseph Hightower of Jasper, and Charlie and Wesley Wright of Jasper; daughter Nancy and Burt Croy and their son David Paul and wife Tonya of Woodstock; son Rev. James and Carol Eubanks and their sons Jared and wife Anna, Andrew, and Michael Eubanks of Woodstock. Great-grandchildren include J. T. and Presley Hightower; Bryce and Lexie Wright; and Makayla and Carson Croy. Many nieces and nephews live throughout the country. Win graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in building construction, and he worked in the grading business and retired from Chatham Brothers grading company in Atlanta. He graduated from Phil Campbell (Alabama) High School. He is a veteran of the US Army and served our country in WWII. A devoted Christian, Win and his wife Johnnie are members of First Baptist Church of Woodstock and its Grace Sunday School Class. He formerly attended Briarlake Baptist and Scott Boulevard Baptist Churches in Atlanta. His family and friends are grateful for his life of service to Jesus Christ, family, church, community, and country, with integrity and exemplary impact as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, community volunteer, and military serviceman. Win and Johnnie served American Red Cross disaster relief volunteers for 20 years and were 1997 Volunteers of the Year for the Northwest Metro Service Center in Marietta. They square danced with Wheel Around in Marietta, and Cherokee Squares in Woodstock. Win is the son of the late Harl Fletcher Southern and Mary Hughes Southern of Haleyville, Alabama, and Atlanta. He is survived by two brothers and a sister: Charles Southern of Atlanta; Cranford and his wife Cloie Sue of Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Ima and her husband Jack Rowland of Sandy, Oregon. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Hazel Southern Camp, of College Park; and Blanche Southern Carlisle of Colton, California. Woodstock Funeral Home, 8855 Main St., is handling arrangements. Visitation there will be held Saturday, March 3, 4:00-6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, March 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m. A service celebrating his life will be in the chapel Monday, March 5, 11:00 a.m., followed by a service and interment at 3:30 p.m. at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, 3000 Lawrenceville Highway at I-285 in Tucker.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Mar. 4, 2012