Carlton "Hillbilly-Butterbean" Lavender age 84, passed away Saturday, December 22, 2018. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, December 27, at Snow Hill Congregational Methodist Church with Rev. Kim Jeanes and Rev. Phillip Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Snow Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Lavender was a native and life-long resident of Wilkinson County. He worked at Engelhard Kaolin as a Machinist until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Lee and Inez Bloodworth Lavender, his wife of 54 years Sue Carr Lavender, in-laws Darrell (Dock) and Vallie Tindall Carr, sisters-in-law Janie Carr Swafford and Katie Carr Meeks. Mr. Lavender was a talented musician and was an original member of Swampland Opry and later he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his daughter Debra Hinkle and husband Randall of McIntyre, his son Darrell Lavender of Gordon, two grandchildren, Jennifer Hinkle McDaniel and husband Jake and Jason Hinkle and wife Kristy, two great step-grandchildren Caleb and Josh Thigpen.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. at the church.

Couey-Reece-Stanley Funeral Home of Gordon Has charge of arrangements.