Willie (Peter) Wimbley
Mr. Willie (Peter) Wimbley, 73, of Ft. Pierce, Fla., passed away Friday, August 3, 2001. Mr. Wimbley, a native of Douglas, Ga., was the son of the late Will and Cora Barnes Wimbley. He moved to Sanford, N.C., in 1950 and worked at Sanford Tobacco Company for 25 years. Upon moving to Ft. Pierce in 1991, he joined New Beginning Ministries. Survivors include: his wife, Rosa McMillian Wimbley; five daughters, Cora Owens and husband, Jackie, Sandra Cox and husband, Robert, Karen Ray, Donna Hooker and husband, Nathane, and Pamela Spruill and husband, Willie, all of Sanford, N.C.; three sons, Willie F. Wimbley and wife, Gail, Griggs C. Wimbley and wife, Audrey, and Donald K. Wimbley, all of Sanford, N.C.; one brother, O'Neal Wimbley of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Cora Scippio, Elnora Strickland, and Dorothy Howard, all of Douglas, Ga.; 27 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 14 step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at Victory Center Church of God in Hazlehurst, Ga., with Michael Brown officiating. Special musical selections were rendered by the choir and soloist Wayne Shaw. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were friends of the family. Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Flossie Newton
Mrs. Flossie Newton, 76, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Thursday, August 9, 2001. Mrs. Newton, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 2, 1925, the daughter of the late Joseph Duncan Newton and Lettie Lott Newton. She joined Oak Grove A.M.E. Church at a young age and was a faithful member. She was the widow of the late Joseph Nelson Newton. Survivors include: five children, Joseph Newton and wife, Mable, of Philadelphia, Penn., Samuel Newton and wife, Henrietta, and Edward Lewis Newton, all of Douglas, Ga., Elaine Shaw and husband, Otis, Jr., of Atlanta, Ga., and Steve Newton and wife, Mary Ann, of Hinesville, Ga.; two brothers, Ellis Newton and wife, Elizabeth, of West Green, Ga., and Joseph Newton and wife, Mary, of Douglas, Ga.; one sister, Annie Ruth Pace of Douglas, Ga.; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Sunday, August 12, 2001, at Oak Grove A.M.E Church in West Green, Ga., with Min. Glenda Newton officiating. A special musical selection was presented by Remiza Jeffery. Interment followed at the Oak Grove A.M.E Church Cemetery in West Green, Ga., Active pallbearers were Jimmy Johnson, Willie Carter, Ronnie Moore, Darrell Eiland, and nephews. Honorary pallbearers were Joseph Newton, Sr., Ellis Newton, and Joseph Newton, Jr. McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred Louise Adams
Mrs. Mildred Louise Adams, 86, of Alvin Gieger Road, Douglas, Ga., passed away Thursday, August 2, 2001, following an extended illness. Mrs. Adams, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born March 1, 1915, the daughter of the late Joseph T. and Agnes Pearl Tanner Blackwell. She was the widow of the late Hoke Smith Adams, was a food service worker in the school food services, and a member of Harrell Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include: one daughter, Mary Helen Fender, of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Gertrude Mancil and Nellie Joe Harper, both of Douglas, Ga., and Nora Mae Darley of Willacoochee, Ga.; two grandchildren, James Stephen Fender and Jimmy Fender, both of Douglas, Ga.; and five great-grandchildren, Jason Fender, Timothy Fender and Adam Fender, all of Douglas, Ga., and Nick Fender and Miranda Fender, both Waycross, Ga. Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by one grandson, Michael Fender; one sister, Grace Medders; and one brother, Bruce Blackwell. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 4, 2001, at 1 p.m., at Harrell Grove Baptist Church with Rev. John Thomas officiating. Special music was provided by The Cady Sisters who sang "Beulah Land" and "Hand in Hand," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Harrell Grove Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Kenny Adams, Billy Waldron, Wallace Tanner, Howard Holt, Dewayne Holt, Mark Elder, and Adams Darley. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Quincy Robinson, Sr.
Mr. Quincy Robinson, Sr., 80, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Sunday, August 5, 2001, following a brief illness. Mr. Robinson, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born May 11, 1921, the son of the late Simon and Pinky Lott Robinson. He was the widower of the late Girlie McCuthen Robinson. Survivors include: five children, Florence Paulk and husband, Trevor, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Pinkie Engram of Brunswick, Ga., and Patricia Fletcher and husband, Jimmy, Quincy Robinson, Jr., and Tonia McRae and husband Willie, all of Douglas, Ga.; four sisters, Elza Traywick and husband, Pete, and Ora Lee Robinson, all of Clewston, Fla., Lillie Mae Roberts and Artie Mae Bowens, both of Willacoochee, Ga.; 32 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Robinson was preceded in death by three children and two brothers. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 11, 2001, at Pine Street Church of God in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Albert Wimberly officiating. Special musical selections were presented by Kathy Sweat and Tameka Self. Interment followed at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Pearson, Ga. Active pallbearers were Larry B. Hunt, Demetrius Campbell, Dexter Paulk, Luther Engram, Lorenzo Bailey, and Larue Robinson. Honorary pallbearers were Isaac O. Roberts, Willie C. Graham, Bud Lott, Shavor Lott, Vonnie Wells, Lonnie Campbell, and Charles Robinson. McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Eliza Fender
Mrs. Mary Eliza Fender, 67, of Blairsville, Ga., passed away Friday, August 10, 2001, at Union County Hospital in Blairsville, Ga., following a brief illness. Mrs. Fender, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born April 19, 1934, the daughter of John Dennis and Emma Ruth McGovern McDuffie. She had made her home in Valdosta for a number of years before moving to Blairsville three years ago. Survivors include: her husband, Quitman Fender of Blairsville, Ga.; three sons, Roger Fender and wife, Jeanne, of Bedford, Texas, Ronnie Fender of Blairsville, Ga., and Johnny Fender of Jacksonville, Fla.; one daughter, Cathy Sasnett and husband, David, of Pinetta, Fla.; three sisters, Marie Fender of Pearson, Ga., Bunny Thigpen of Waycross, Ga., and Ruth Strickland of Blackshear, Ga.; one half-brother, Glenn McDuffie of Willacoochee, Ga.; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, August 12, 2001, at New Bethel Cemetery with Rev. Carlie Lastinger officiating. Special musical selections, "Amazing Grace" and "The Old Rugged Cross," were sung by Charles and Tammy Wood, with Charles accompanying on the guitar. Interment followed in the New Bethel Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Roger Fender, Ben Fender, Quincy Fender, Joe Ben Batten, Ronald Anderson, and Willie McGovern. Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Jessie David Merchant
Jessie David Merchant, 61, of Interlachen, Fla., passed away Saturday, August 11, 2001, at Putnam Community Medical Center in Palaka, Fla., following an extended illness. Mr. Merchant, a native of Pearson, Ga., had resided in Interlachen for 25 years following a move from Orlando. He had worked for 14 years as a ramp supervisor with Eastern Airlines and also as a union shop stewart. He had been a member of the Loyal Order of Moose in Jacksonville, the Lions Club in Interlachen, an honorary member of VFW Post #10164, and a special deputy with the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. Survivors include: his wife, Flora Barfield Merchant of Interlachen, Fla.; two sons, Tim Merchant of Lakeland, Fla., and John Merchant of Interlachen, Fla.; one daughter, Cindy Merchant of Lakeland, Fla.; four brothers, Howard Merchant of Sumter, S.C., and Collan Merchant, Glenn Merchant, and Pete Merchant, all of Douglas, Ga.; one sister, Lucille Lott of Douglas, Ga.; two grandchildren, Linzie Merchant and Leah Merchant, both of Lakeland, Fla. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2001, at Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Interlachen, Fla., with Rev. Scott O'Neil officiating. Interment followed in the Pine View Cemetery in Interlachen, Fla. Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home of Interlachen, Fla., was in charge of the arrangements.

V. Bob Owens
Mr. V. Bob Owens, 84, of English Street, Douglas, Ga., passed away Tuesday, August 7, 2001, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness. Mr. Owens, a native of Monmouth County, N.J., was born October 20, 1916, the son of the late Frank and Almetta Walling Owens. He was a technician for a Coffee County company and was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church. Survivors include: his wife, Ellen Owens of Douglas, Ga.; three sons, Ronald Owens of Toms River, N.J., Michael Owens of St. George, Grenada, and Robert Owens of Ft. Drum, N.Y.; two daughters, Elizabeth Wilkins of Phoenix, Ariz., and Vivien Parker of Douglas, Ga.; 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 11, 2001, at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Father Ted Johnson officiating, assisted by Deacon Miller, brother-in-law to Mr. Owens. Bertha Capotillo and Melissa Konigsdorffer read the scripture readings. Special music was provided by Ginger Burress who sang "The Holy City," and by the Saint Paul Choir and Mrs. Burress who sang "Holy God We Praise Thy Name," "You Are Near," "Ava Maria," and "Let There be Peace on Earth." Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Michael Owens, Chris Martin, Randall Parker, Bill Cummings, Ron Owens, and Timothy Smith. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Lena Agnes Gardner
Mrs. Lena Agnes Gardner, 87, of Douglas, Ga. passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2001, at Shady Acres Nursing Home, Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness. Mrs. Gardner, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 26, 1914, the daughter of the late James Matthew and Fannie Smith Strickland. She was the widow of the late George Gardner, a homemaker, and a member of Goodwill Assembly of God in Pearson, Ga. Survivors include: one daughter, Lena Mae McQuaig of Douglas, Ga.; three sons, Glenn Gardner of Douglas, Ga., Jimmy Strickland of Pearson, Ga., and Gerald Gardner of Ft. Myers, Fla.; one sister, Vera Ricketson of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Willie Strickland of Auburndale, Fla.; six grandsons, Tim Gardner, Craig Gardner, Glenn Gardner, Jr., Chris McQuaig, Dusty Gardner, and Grant Gardner; three granddaughters, Michelle Mizell, Gwen McDaniel, and Crystle McQuaig; and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 11, 2001, at First Assembly of God with Rev. Roy Davis and Rev. Tim Cleveland officiating. Special music was provided by Glen Vaughn who sang "My God is Real" and "Come Spring," with Becky Taylor accompanying at the organ. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Craig Gardner, Grant Gardner, Glenn Gardner, Jr., Chris McQuaig, Michele Mizell, and Gwen McDaniel. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Donnie H. Luke
Mr. Donnie H. Luke, 50, of County Line Road, Wray, Ga., passed away Saturday, August 4, 2001, as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident in Irwin County, Ga. Mr. Luke, a native of Irwin County, Ga., was born January 2, 1951, the son of the late Charles Aubrey Luke and Mary Alice Harper Smith. He was a farmer and a member of Lax Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include: his mother and stepfather, Mary A. and Bob Smith of Alapaha, Ga.; one sister, D'Anna Tucker and husband, R.B., Jr., of Alapaha, Ga.; one brother, Dewayne Luke of Alapaha, Ga.; one niece, Latasha Luke of Alapaha, Ga.; and two nephews, Sam Tucker and Nathan Tucker, both of Alapaha, Ga. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, August 6, 2001, in the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home with Rev. Dan John officiating. Lois Mills played a medley of songs for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Spring Hill Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Irwin County. Active pallbearers were Mike Harper, Darren White, Randy Vickers, George Darrell Harper, Dan Paulk, R.B. Tucker, Jr., J.B. Sanders, and Rhett Royal. Honorary pallbearers were Duck Batten, Eddie Reyes, Steve Fussell, Keith Highsmith, George Purvis, and Tim Kelley. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Cecil Francis Spell
Mr. Cecil Francis Spell, 83, of Clear Lake Drive, Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday, October 6, 2001, at Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Ga., following an extended illness. Mr. Spell, a native of Laurens County, Ga., was born June 14, 1918, the son of the late Lee Francis and Pearl Starley Spell. He was a retired heavy equipment operator with Coffee County Road Department. Survivors include: his wife, Willie Maude Bishop Spell of Douglas, Ga.; two daughters, Frances Paulk and Margie Harper, both of Ambrose, Ga.; three sisters, Eva Roberson, Mildred Chaney, and Jackie Morgan, all of Douglas, Ga.; two grandsons, Vic Paulk and Blaine Paulk of Ambrose, Ga.; two granddaughters, Crystal Harper and Roxeann Harper, both of Ambrose, Ga.; five great-grandchildren, Steven Paulk, Emily Paulk, Victor Paulk III, Ashley Joiner, and Patrick Sweat; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Spell was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas Spell, and one sister, Anna Lee Giles. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., Monday, October 8, 2001, at Franklin Holiness Baptist Church with Rev. Harold Barnes, Rev. Kenneth Mathews, and Rev. Donnie Sloan officiating. Special music was as follows: Mann and Janie Kirkland sang "Long, Long Journey," soloist June Merritt sang "Far Away is a Land," and Chris Purvis, Carolyn Wright and Faye Adams sang "I Know What Lies Ahead," with Bonnie Musgrove accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Danny Chaney, Terry Morgan, Timmy Morgan, Don Stokes, Gene Chaney, Clyde Rucker, Eustace Wright, and Ken Burnam. Honorary pallbearers were Rev. Charles Williams, Rev. Tim Cleveland, Rev. Jimmie Sayer, Rev. Bryon Griffis, James Arthur Griffin, Orvis Vickers, Frank Jackson, Vickers Smith, W.E. Miller, John Moore, Woodrow Gray, Buddy Carver, Troy Woods, Dr. Amin, Jimmy Spivey, Johnnie Roper, Robert Vining, C.A. Veal, Wilbert Phillips, Jerry Daniels, Randy McKinnon, W.J. Wilson, Raymond Musgrove, Wendell Troupe, W.L. Coley, L.R. Fuller, Leroy Sapp, Ricky Hutto, Johnny Brigmond, Rev. Thurman Griffin, and the Farm Bureau staff. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Frank Douglas, Jr.
Mr. Frank Douglas, Jr., 68, of Waycross, Ga., passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2001, at Satilla Medical Center in Waycross, Ga. Mr. Douglas, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 11, 1933, in Atkinson County, Ga., the son of the late Frank Douglas, Sr., and the late Annie Williams Douglas. He was a machine operator for Union Camp. Survivors include: six children, Alfred Peacock, Wade Douglas, Anthony Douglas and wife, Mary, Franklin Douglas, Robert Douglas andwife, Helen, and Diana Ogunbunmi and husband, Michael, all of Douglas, Ga.; five sisters, Louise Colquitt of Ambrose, Ga., Daisy Douglas and Irene Douglas Lewis, both of Douglas, Ga., Mary Denning and husband, Lewis, of Denton, Ga., and Annie Harris and husband, Tommy, of Tampa, Fla.; one brother, John Douglas of Douglas, Ga.; several other relatives. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church of Ambrose, Ga., with Rev. Paul Thomas officiating. Interment followed in Oak Grove Cemetery in Pearson, Ga. Active pallbearers were Cornell Douglas, Early Williams, Joe Ben Williams, Charlie L. Williams, Jackie Williams, and Larry Douglas. Honorary pallbearers were Willie J. Brockington, John H. Douglas, Mose Johnson, George Merritt, and Hubert Hall. McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Jamari Na'aim Osborne
Mr. Jamari Na'aim Osborne, newborn, of Shreveport, Louis., passed away Tuesday night, September 18, 2001, at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louis., during birth. Mr. Osborne, a native of Caddo Parish, Louis., was the sone of Simone Stewart and Charles Osborne. Survivors include: his mother and father, Simone Stewart Osborne of Albany, N.Y. (Douglas, Ga.) and Charles Osborne of Queens, N.Y.; two brothers, Brannon Charles Osborne of Columbus, Ga., and Jerome Williams, III, of Douglas, Ga.; his maternal grandmother, Caroletha Stewart of Douglas, Ga.; his maternal grandfather, Elvis Stewart, Sr., of Menands, N.Y.; his paternal grandmother, Lillie B. Osborne of Hephzibah, Ga. Mr. Osborne was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, the late Anthony Luck of Bronx, N.Y. Graveside services with interment were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 23, 2001, at the Douglas City Cemetery with Min. Bennie Graham officiating. McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Vernell Batten Taylor
Mrs. Vernell Batten Taylor, 71, of Brandy Road, Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday, October 6, 2001, at home following an extended illness. Mrs. Taylor, a native of Coffee County, was born September 27, 1930, the daughter of the late Eddie and Ethel Day Batten. She was a homemaker, a retired sewing machine operator, and a member of First Assembly of God. Survivors include: her husband, William Junior Taylor of Douglas, Ga; four sons, James Taylor and wife, Joyce, of Broxton, Ga., Gerald Taylor of Jeffersonville, Ga., Gary Taylor and wife, Becky, of Douglas, Ga., and Ricky Taylor and wife, Debbie, of Douglas, Ga.; four daughters, Julie Cliett and husband, Jimmy, of Pridgen, Ga., Laverne Batten and husband, Herman, of Tifton, Ga., Sharon Cothren and husband, Horace, and Clara Dowdy and husband, Donald, all of Douglas, Ga.; four sisters, Florine Purvis, Earline Simmons, and Melba Morris, all of Douglas, Ga., and Jessie Mae Counce of Jesup, Ga.; three brothers, Edward Batten of Stockbridge, Ga., Ralph Batten of Ocala, Fla., and Russell Batten of Jacksonville, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-granchildren; several other relatives. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 9, 2001, at the First Assembly of God Church in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Sime Morris and Rev. Tim Cleveland officiating. Interment followed at the Salem Church Cemetery near Douglas, Ga. Active pallbearers were David Cliett, Wesley Taylor, Ronnie Allen Batten, Cameron Taylor, Kenneth Batten, Lamar Nettles, Chris Howell, and Corey Cothren. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Ladies Sunday Class of First Assembly of God. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Sarah Elizabeth Clark
Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Clark, 92, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Friday, October 5, 2001, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas following an extended illness. Mrs. Clark, a native of Ben Hill County, Ga., was born July 26, 1909, the daughter of the late Walter Louis and Mary Alice Woodliff Stovall. She was a retired nurse after years at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, N.Y., and a member of Douglas First Baptist Church. Survivors include: one brother, George W. Stovall of Macon, Ga.; one sister, Katherine Stovall of Douglas, Ga.; three nieces, Lynn Cass of Macon, Ga., Mary Ed Barlow of Atlanta, Ga., and Jamie House of Wilsonville, Ala.; one nephew, Walter Stovall of New York City, N.Y.; several great-nieces and great-nephews. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, October 11, 2001, at the Douglas City Cemetery in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.