MONTEZUMA — Otto Elisha Liggin III, affectionately known as Buddy, age 81, of Montezuma, Ga., passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at his home.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Montezuma, Ga., to the late Otto Elisha Liggin Jr. and his wife Bessie Ruth Peel, who died from childbirth complications. Otto later married Elsie Peel Liggin who raised Buddy as her own son.

After graduating from Macon County High School, he attended Middle Georgia College and the University of Georgia where he graduated with a business degree. On June 29, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Taylor. He went to work for Elliot Finance Co. in Macon, Ga., before starting his own business, Liggin Finance Co. in 1960, in Montezuma, Ga. He worked there for 56 years until the time of his illness. He loved downtown Montezuma and enjoyed visiting with other downtown merchants. He took pleasure in planting collards, turnips, caladiums, and tomato plants in front of his office. Buddy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to all. He was an avid golfer, fisherman, and gardener.

He was a member of Cedar Valley Baptist Church where he served as deacon and treasurer for over 50 years. He was the music director for about this long and sang at many weddings, funerals, and other special events.

Buddy is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Taylor Liggin, of Montezuma, Ga.; two sons, Otto Liggin IV (Bud) and his wife Debra Harris Liggin of Leesburg, Ga., Scott Liggin and his wife  Jane Beamon Liggin of Smithville, Ga.; one daughter, Lynde Parker and her husband Emory of Americus, Ga.; six grandchildren, Myles Liggin (Callie McKenzie Liggin), Callie Liggin Rudy (Brenden Rudy), Tripp Parker, Sara Cathryn Parker, Christian Liggin, and Taylor Liggin. He also has two great-grandchildren, Harris Liggin and Grayson Rudy. He is survived by two brothers, Leonard Liggin (Wanda) of Montezuma, Ga., and John Ed Liggin (late Willa Liggin) of Slidell, Louisiana.

Funeral services for Buddy will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov, 22, 2016, at Cedar Valley Baptist Church in Montezuma, Ga., with the Rev. Ed Sandefur and the Rev. Michael Truitt officiating the service. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Ga.

Serving as pallbearers are Troy Meeks, James Taylor, Jeff Taylor, Patrick Taylor, Eddie Liggin, Lance Liggin, Len Liggin, and the men of Cedar Valley Baptist Church.

The family requests that any memorials be made to Cedar Valley Baptist Church, P.O. Box 716, Montezuma  GA 31063 or Gentiva Hospice, 319 Margie Drive, Warner Robins GA 31088.

Friends may express condolences to the family and sign the online guestbook at www.watsonmathewsfuneralhome.com

Watson-Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma, Ga. has been entrusted with arrangements.