Updated:
04/22/2018 21:34:38
Twenty-five members of Dixieland Cruisers have passed away since the Club began. The plaque is on display at Lovezolla's Pizza in Pooler, Georgia where we hold our monthly meetings.
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James (Jimmy) Porter Mays
James Porter Mays, 55, of Ellabell, GA., died Wednesday, April 20th, 2005 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was born in Morgan City, Louisianna, and had lived in Savannah since 1952. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael David Mays. He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam Conflict, from May 15, 1967 until March 5, 1970, serving in the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion of the 27th Marine Regiment. He was employed by Crosby Paving Company for the past 15 years. He was a member of the Dixieland Cruisers. James had many friends and associates. He was loved and will be missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Nina Mays of Ellabell, his mother, Marie Sampay of Morgan City, La; a son, Jimmy Mays of Chicago, IL; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Jean and Harold Swauger, of Ellabell, GA; a brother, Walter Mays of Morgan City, LA; a sister, Doris Griffin of Savannah, GA; three grandchildren, Jordan Mays, Katie Bowling, and Casey Swauger, and many nieces and nephews, and in-laws.
Jimmy Mays was one of the most special people most of us had ever had the pleasure to meet and know. A person with a smile and a bear hug for all the ladies he knew and a true friend for all his men friends. It will be hard to have a cook out without him preparing some good food for all of us. Many special memories will be there to keep him close in our hearts. A true lover of his cars, and his car club, Jim was always putting on some pranks for all of us to smile with him. Some of us saw a really private moment with him on our way to Daytona two years ago. Remember? We will never forget that '35 Chevy who honked and opened doors mysteriously for the patrons of the “Jukebox Journey”. He was a great guy who was a real asset to our club and a genuine friend to all.
Rick Wilson (L), Jim Mays (C), Rudy Bowers (R) NELSON R. “RUDY” BOWERS, JR. (2003) Nelson
Rudolph “Rudy” Bowers, Jr., 67, of Savannah,
Georgia, departed this life to be with his Lord
on Saturday evening, November 29, 2003, at his
home under the care of his family. Born in Savannah, Georgia, he was the son of Annie Laurie Bryant Bowers Foster and the late Nelson Rudolph Bowers, Sr. Rudy was a communicant of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. He was a lifelong resident of Savannah and a 10 year veteran of the United States Air Force. After his discharge from the Air Force, he returned to Savannah and owned and operated Rudy’s Auto Repair. Rudy was a Pilgrim of Savannah Moose Lodge 1550, a member of American Legion Post 36 at Thunderbolt, and a charter member of the Dixieland Cruisers Car Club. Surviving are his wife, Mimps Ratliff Bowers of Savannah, Georgia; his mother, Annie Laurie Bryant Bowers Foster of Savannah, Georgia; five children, Debra Ann Bowers, Diana Bowers Lewis, Nelson R. Bowers, III and Kandy Bowers Williams, all of Savannah, Georgia, and Roxanne Elise Richards of Los Angeles, California; eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Annie and Katie Lewis, Joseph and Justin Bowers, Taylor and Sidney Williams, and Rachel Bowers, and one sister, Sharon Waldon of Palatka, Florida. The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:30 o'clock Monday at Gamble Funeral Service. Funeral service will be held at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning in St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church conducted by The Reverend William M. Brock. Interment will be at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon in Bowers Cemetery near Hampton, South Carolina. Remembrances: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church – 3101 Waters Avenue, Savannah, Georgia 31404 or Hospice Savannah - Post Office Box #13190, Savannah, Georgia 31416. V. William “Bill” Warner, (2003)
Mr. Bill Warner died on Thursday, April 10, 2003, at Hospice of Savannah. He was born in Murray, UT and had lived in Pooler for a number of years. When Mr. Bill was 12 years old he worked on the Hoover Dam. In 1942, he joined the Army and from 1943 to 1948 he was a member of the 303 Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force and flew 23 combat missions over Europe where his position of the B-17 was flight engineer. On the return from missions, the pilot would sometimes let Mr. Bill fly the plane. He suffered a head injury in 1944 and received the following medals and decorations: Air Medal, three clusters; Air Medal, Oak Leaf Bronze, large and small; Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Silver Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, Distinguished flying Cross, and seven combat ribbons. He flew in Vietnam as a private contractor. After getting out of the service he was a self employed crop duster and later went to work for and later retired from Gulfstream Aerospace. Mr. Bill was a charter member of the Savannah Wing of the Georgia Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society which is now called Birthplace Chapter and was an active member of the Dixieland Cruisers Car Club. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jean Warner, of Pooler, and several cousins. “In later years, Mr. Bill shared with his friends how disappointed he was about not being allowed to fly anymore. Well, Mr. Bill, you may fly anytime you want to now.” (L. Creech, Clarksville, TN) He was a fine man, with integrity and wisdom. We respected him and cared for him and will miss him. (several Cruiser Members) “Mr. Bill is probably going to the biggest car shows in heaven, wearing that tacky little bucket hat of his, and yelling ‘Bingo!’ when his name is called for a trophy. (J. Broussard)
Frank E.
Balcom, Jr., (2002)
Wilbert
Gillis
Wilbert
Gillis - beloved husband, father, and dedicated
Club member leaving the Shriner's Show with his
trophy! I only knew Wilbert for a short time but will miss his smiling face in the years to come. I interviewed his best friend for about 40 years and fellow club member Bobby Phillips who told me the following about our friend: Let's start with Wilbert dragracing at a local dragstrip in the late 50s and early 60s. His Ford Anglia is still being raced today by another friend. He also raced a 55 Chevy which was his dream car. Bobby was with Wilbert about 5 years ago when they found his beautiful 1969 Chevy truck. It was in really rough condition and took 16 months to rebuild. Wilbert bought another truck for parts and put a 90 Chevy bed on .. He took it to the bare frame, changed the front spindles to accommodate disk brakes, rebuilt the motor and transmission, installed AC, tilt wheel, cruise control, power steering, sandblasted the framework, painted it himself, did all the body work, and hired out the upholstery only. It has a 350 Chevy engine with a 350 turbo. It will be driven in the future by his son in law who is with the Special Forces and will be a future club member also. As mentioned before Wilbert's dream car was a 55 Chevy Belair and he had purchased one which is still being worked on: it will live on with his good friend Bobby. Bobby remembers his friend as a caring person with a heart as big as he was. He was a Shriner who lived his beliefs and helped many children. He was a family man, loved the club, loved visiting and eating Margaret's baking, the old cars and people in general. Wilbert it has been an honor and privelige knowing you and we will miss you! Memorial
Trophy awarded for the first time... in loving
memory of Wilbert Gillis.  
 
Dottie's daughter expressed her pride and thanks to the Club for honoring her dad .... Dottie and her girls posed with the 1st trophy to be given in Wilbert's name ... 
William Earl Pullin 1933-1998 Mr. Pullin was born in 1933 in Savannah. He went to Savannah schools, graduating from Savannah High in 1951. He attended Armstrong State College from 1951 till 1953. He then attended Clemson University from 1953 –1955. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1955 – 1957. He retired from Corp. of Engineers-U.S. Army in 1991, with 37 years of service. He was married to Rebecca (Becky) and had two sons, Stephen Earl and David Hogan. He and Becky joined the Dixieland Cruisers in 1991. Rudy Bowers wrote the following salute to Mr. Pullin. “Earl was one of the best friends a street-rodder could dream of having. He had a smile that you could see even over the telephone. He had a way of making work seem like a joy. He enjoyed sweeping walks and work shops just to help his friends and neighbors. Earl had only kind words for those he knew. You could always count on him for a great joke. Laughing at the punch line before he finished only made his presentation that much more comical. Earl’s dedication to the club was never more obvious than when he attended our car show in a wheelchair when he became ill. We honor him with this remembrance and think of him often.”
Robert "Shelby" Morris, Sr. (1997) Gerald Cameron (1995) John Newsome (1991) charter member Anthony Cinelli (1991) charter member |
