Virginia Nelson
Virginia Nelson, Hahira, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2000 at Smith Hospital in Hahira following a lengthy illness. Funeral services for Mrs. Nelson will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Passmore-Sumner Chapel. Entombment will follow in the Riverview Memorial Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 7-9 tonight at Passmore-Sumner Funeral Chapel. -- Passmore-Sumner Funeral Chapel

Rhonda Gail Washington
Rhonda Gail Washington, 38, Valdosta, departed this life on April 19, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by the funeral home. -- Harrington Funeral Home

Larry Wane Rogers Sr.
VALDOSTA -- Larry Wane Rogers Sr., SMSGT, U.S. Air Force, Ret., 54, a Valdosta resident since 1988, died in an accident while riding his beloved Harley Davidson, Serena, on Saturday, April 22, 2000. Born on April 7, 1946 in LaFayette, he was the son of the late L.C. and Mary Esther McMillian Rogers. Mr. Rogers had retired from the U.S. Air Force after 27 years of service, which included the Vietnam Era and Desert Storm. A member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, he was employed as an instructor at Valdosta Technical Institute. Survivors are his fiance, Edie Roberts, Valdosta; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry Jr. and Lorna Rogers, Stillwater, Okla., Brian and Tiffany Rogers, Springfield, Mo.; daughter, Sandra Rogers Harlan, Nashville, Tenn.; brother, James Rogers, Signal Mountain, Tenn.; sisters, Barbara Kilgore, Lupton City, Tenn., Wanda Patterson, Chatsworth, Peggy Cogar, Concorde, Calif.; six grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Celeste Nicole Rogers and a brother, Kenneth Rogers. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with the Rev. John O'Brien officiating. A cremains committal service with full military honors will be held at 4 p.m. today at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Gertrude Nash Barton
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. -- Gertrude Nash Barton, 83, Pembroke Pines, died Friday, April 28, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center after a short illness. She was born on Oct. 16, 1916 in Pensacola, Fla., to the late Ed. C. and Debbie Grimes Nash. She was a former resident of Adel before moving to Miami and then to Pembroke Pines. She was a homemaker, member of the Eastern Star and a member of Taft Street Baptist Church in Hollywood, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Milford E. Barton. She is survived by two sons, Michael Barton, Fresno, Calif., Lonnie Barton, McAllen, Texas; one daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Billy Ganz, Cooper City, Fla.; five grandchildren, Bill and Cris Ganz, Deerfield Beach, Fla., Bryan and Brad Ganz, Cooper City, Stephanie and Carman Guirere, Palm Beach, Fla., Debra and Mark Dvakowie, Fresno, Calif.; three great-grandchildren, Danielle Ganz, Deerfield Beach, Christopher and Alexander Guirere, Palm Beach; two brothers, Simon Nash, Lake Park, Allen Julian Nash, DeLand, Fla.; three sisters, Rachael Terry, Sparks, Ollie Clark, Nashville, Lou Nelle Lightsey, Valdosta; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Roy Radney, Lake Park; numerous nieces and nephews. Local funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today in the chapel of Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Hwy. 41 South with the eulogy to be given by Billy Padgett. Services will be held Tuesday in Hollywood, Fla., with burial following in Hollywood Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Shriner's Crippled Childrens Hospital. -- Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, Adel

Allen Claude Carter
ECHOLS COUNTY -- Allen Claude Carter, 69, lifetime resident of Echols County, died on Thursday, April 27, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. He was born on Feb. 6, 1931 in Lowndes County to the late Carroll and Gladys Wisenbaker Carter. A U.S. Navy veteran, he had served as a SeaBee during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Carter was associated with Owens-Illinois Bag Plant for many years and was also associated with Southern Bag. An active member of Francis Lake Baptist Church, he was a volunteer with Hospice of South Georgia and was author of a number of poems that were enjoyed by his friends. Survivors are his wife, Juanita Carter, Lake Park; daughter, Brenda Sue Carter, Valdosta; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gregory Allen and Cindy Carter, Jacksonville, Fla., David Hugh Carter, Valdosta; stepdaughters, Myrna and Rodney Turner, Lake Park, Sharon and Harold Davis, Lake Park; son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Linda Carter, Lake Park; grandchildren, James Alton Carter, Jacksonville, Fla., Jessica N. Carter, James E. Carter, Maria D. Carter, all of Valdosta, Leslie Turner, Jason Turner, Tyler Davis, Trevor Davis, Tara Davis, all of Lake Park; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Claude Blanton, Valdosta; brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Marie Carter, Twin Lakes; sister-in-law, Beverly Carter, Lake Park; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Linda Fletcher, Valdosta; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mr. Carter was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Marie Carter; a sister, Fannie Pearl Morgan; and a brother, Robbie Neal Carter. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. The Rev. Eldridge Lyons will officiate. Burial will follow in Swilley Hill Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Hospice of South Georgia. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Herbert Gene Crosby
QUITMAN -- Herbert Gene Crosby, 65, Quitman, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at Tallahassee Community Hospital Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla., following a short illness. Mr. Crosby lived in Brooks County most of his life and was a member of the Rosedale Church of God. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Crosby; sons and daughters-in-law, Wesley and Linda Barrentine, Howell, Warren and Joyce Coody, Valdosta; daughters, Sherry L. Duncan, Valdosta and Brenda L. King, Quitman; mother, Louise Crosby; three grandchildren, Regina Barrentine (Baby Girl), Adam King (Me-Man), and Christy Coody; also surviving are a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Lemuel Asbel; three brothers, Jimmy Crosby, Danny and Phyllis Crosby, and Layton and Candice Crosby, mother-in-law, Opal Howard, Valdosta; special friends, B. J. Terrell, Ricky Carter, Emily Dyal; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Crosby will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Passmore-Sumner Chapel with the Rev. Franklin Butler and the Rev. Charlie Scarborough officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman. The family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. -- Passmore-Sumner Funeral Chapel

Murray Webb Harrell
LAKELAND -- Murray Webb Harrell, 88, Lakeland, passed away Friday, April 28, 2000 at his residence from a lengthy illness. He was born in Grady County and had lived in Lakeland since 1935. He farmed before retirement and was a member of Lanier County Farm Bureau and the Lakeland United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Virgie L. Harrell, Lakeland; two daughters and son-in-law, Sue and Al Barnes and Alice Harrell, both of Lakeland; grandchildren, David and Lynn Berryhill, Lakeland, Suzanne and David Smith, Laurel, Miss., Junior Barnes, Austin, Texas, and Russell Barnes, Tampa, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Zachery Berryhill, Lakeland, Drew Barnes, Allen Barnes, Nichole Barnes, Christin Barnes, all of Austin, John Owens Jr. and Jennifer Owens, Lakeland; four sisters and brother-in-law, Roma Harrell, Nelda Strickland, Whigham, Martha and Homer Spells, Barretts, Oleta Giddens, Lakeland. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Lakeland United Methodist Church with burial following in Springhead Cemetery in Atkinson County. Visitation will begin after 5 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7-9 tonight. -- Music Funeral Services

Edna Powell
NASHVILLE -- Edna Powell, 83, Nashville, died Thursday, April 27, 2000 at Berrien County Hospital. She was born Jan. 17, 1917 in Berrien County to Andrew Morris and Sarah Jordan. She was a homemaker and attended the Nashville Mission. She was the widow of Shelly Powell who died in 1977. She is survived by two daughters, Geraldine Fackler and Jeannine Mathis, both of Nashville; two sons, Wayne Powell, Somerset, Ky., Ronnie Powell, Ormond Beach, Fla.; one sister, Irene Bostick, Adel; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Nashville Mission with the Rev. Fred Hesters officiating. Burial will be held in Westview Cemetery. Visitation will be held after 5 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. -- Lovein Funeral Home

P.H. Walker
VALDOSTA -- P.H. Walker, 61, Valdosta, died Thursday, April 27, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on Oct. 15, 1938 in Berrien County. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a retired lieutenant of the Valdosta Police Department. Mr. Walker was a member of the Forrest Street Church of God. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Dorsett Walker; one son, Steve Walker, Atlanta; and his mother, Grace Rutherford Walker, Berrien County; a brother and sister-in-law, Loyce and Bessie Walker, Franklin; a half sister, Barbara Leiserett; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Lois (Bo) Walker. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Forrest Street Church of God. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery in Berrien County. Mr. Walker will lie in state from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Marshantis Brown
Marshantis Brown, six months, Valdosta, passed this life on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Greater Union Baptist Church and the Rev. Wade S. McCrae will officiate. Burial to follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. -- Harrington Funeral Home

Jeanette S. "Granny" Blitch
YULEE, Fla. -- Jeanette S. "Granny" Blitch, 67, Yulee, widow of Charlton H. Blitch Sr., died Monday, April 24, 2000 at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville. A native of Echols County, she was the daughter of the late Remer and Susie Hunter Sistrunk and resided in Homerville before moving to Yulee 25 years ago. She was a homemaker and former vice president of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Waycross and a member of the Baptist faith. Survivors include a daughter, Rhonda (Randy) Waits, Yulee; four sisters, Daisy Sutton and Rebecca Register, Homerville, Essie Padgett, Jacksonville, and Mary (Talmadge) Rewis, Fargo; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Bible Baptist Church with the Rev. W. Brian Hudson officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in Hughes Cemetery. Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors of Fernandina Beach, Fla., was in charge of the arrangements in Yulee. -- Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville

John Hall "Pete" Deas
JASPER, Fla. -- John Hall "Pete" Deas, 82, Jasper, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2000 at Holly Hill Nursing Home in Valdosta. The Hamilton County native and lifelong resident was a farmer and member of the First Presbyterian Church in Jasper. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mamie Tuten Deas; two daughters, Jean Reid Jones and Carolyn Reid Imboden, and a grandson, John Imboden. He is survived by his wife, Agnes Blair Deas, Jasper; two stepsons, Bobby Howell, Jennings, Fla., and Richard Howell, White Springs, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Sharon Page, Clearwater, Fla., and Joan Hartman, Valdosta; two brothers, Santa Deas, Lake Park, and Earlis Deas, Kernsville, N.C.; six sisters, Elaine Ramsey, Merrit Island, Fla., Louise Morgan, Pompano Beach, Fla., Leonora Blount, Fayetteville, N.C., Louell Braslin, Billie Smoak and Wynette Good, all of Atlanta; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Jasper. -- Harry T. Reid Funeral Home

Mariam Thomas Hickman
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mariam Thomas Hickman, 87, passed away Thursday night, April 27, 2000 at the Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., following an extended illness. A native of Wheeler County, she had lived in Jacksonville for 25 years. She was a retired Duval County school teacher and administrator. She was a member of the Magna Charter Dames, Daughters of the American Colonist, United Daughters of Confederacy #471, Daughters of the American Revolution, First Families of Georgia and the Huxford Society. She attended the Christian Science Church. She was the daughter of the late Allen W. Thomas and Eva Faircloth Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Mark Winfrey and Charles Hickman and one son, Mark Winfrey Jr. Survivors include one son, Larry Lonergan, Jacksonville, Fla.; one niece, Eva Shaffeford, Jacksonville, Fla.; cousin, Judge Brooks Blitch, Homerville, and special friends, G.C. and Hazel Lee, Dupont. Funeral services for Mrs. Hickman will be held at 11 a.m. Mondayin the chapel of Roundtree Funeral Home in Homerville. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Monday in the Northview Cemetery, Dublin. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until funeral time Monday. -- Roundtree Funeral Home

Charlie Mock
VALDOSTA -- Charlie Mock, 91, Valdosta, died Saturday, April 29, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on May 31, 1908 in Adel to the late Asa and Mattie Hart Mock and had lived in this area all of his life. Mr. Mock was a retired cabinet maker and a Baptist. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Wagoner, Cobbtown; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles H. Jr. and Linda Mock, Valdosta; five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; a sister, Gerstelle Pippin, Miami, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Irene Mock, California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mashburne Mock. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Hickory Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Rudy Wagonhoffer
LAKE PARK -- Rudy Wagonhoffer, 63, Lake Park, passed away Friday, April 28, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Mr. Wagonhoffer was born in Thomaston and had lived in Valdosta for the past 25 years. He was a printer for the Valdosta Daily Times for 17 years and was a member of the Grace Baptist Church. Mr. Wagonhoffer is survived by his wife, Vera Wagonhoffer, Lake Park; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Terry and Kathryn Grammer, Valdosta, Stephen Wagonhoffer and Rodney Wagonhoffer, North Dakota; two daughters, Linda Sirmans, Lake Park and Stephanie Rourke, Warner Robins; three grandchildren, Amanda Slaten, Thompson, Tiffany and Blair Grammer, Valdosta, two great-grandchildren, Angel and Anthony Slaten, Marietta. Funeral services for Mr. Wagonhoffer will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, graveside, in Sunset Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Gary Hampton officiating. The family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at the Passmore-Sumner Chapel. -- Passmore-Sumner Funeral Chapel

Martha Mozelle Allison
The Rev. Martha Mozelle Allison, born Nov. 2, 1911, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2000 at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial to follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Franklin Butler and the Rev. Jimmy White will officiate. The visitation will be from 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Troy P. Jones
Troy P. Jones, 81, passed away Friday, April 28, 2000 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lake City. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Homerville First Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Pine Forest Cemetery. -- Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville

Gerald Patrick Garrett Sr.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gerald Patrick Garrett Sr., 64, died of natural causes on April 20, 2000 in Jacksonville. Born at Ousley, he was a native of Valdosta, attended St. John's Catholic School and graduated from Naylor High School. After high school, he worked as a chemist for Nelio Chemical before being transferred to Jacksonville to work for Union Camp. He retired in Jacksonville. Survivors include his sons, Gerald Patrick Garrett Jr. and Roy Garrett, both of Jacksonville; a daughter, Jana Garrett Lund, Lakeview, Mich.; his mother, Annie Lee Garrett, longtime resident of Valdosta; brothers, James L. Garrett, Fort Myers, Fla., William R. Garrett, Valdosta, John M. Garrett, Valdosta; sisters, Myra Louise Guarino, Valdosta and Annie M. Metts, Hilliard, Fla.; five grandchildren, Rickey, Jason and Kyle Lund, Branda and Amy Garrett. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends from a strong network of love from Florida, Michigan and Massachusetts. Mr. Garrett was preceded in death by his father, Roy Garrett, and a brother, Raymond C. Garrett. Memorial services will be held at 12:10 p.m. Thursday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Father John O'Brien will officiate. A rosary will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesdayat St. John's. "My heritage was strong, meek, humble and charitable and powerless over fate. Because of their love I was a stranger to the lean days until the monotonous pounding of experience awakened me too late to say 'thank you.' Further along the path of my ancestors, memory came and told me, son, we did all that for the sake of your children. They shot the rebel who told me: therein is the real history and survival of man -- posterity -- clumsy word for those courageous people, your creative saviors. (written by Raymond Garrett, 1929-1975). Gerald Garrett will be missed by all. -- Carson McLane Funeral Home

Winston Junior Pittman
JASPER, Fla. -- Winston Junior "Buddy" Pittman, 52, Jasper, passed away Monday, May 1 from an apparent heart attack. The Valdosta native was a heavy equipment operator for Hamilton County Road Department. He was preceded in death by his father, Carroll Pittman, and brother, Billy Pittman. He is survived by three daughters, Penny Wood, Gainesville, Fla., Ashley Pittman and Lauri Ferguson, both of Live Oak, Fla.; one son, James Pittman, Live Oak; his mother, Verdia Mae Muench, Lakeland; three brothers, Jonathan Pittman and Bobby Pittman, both of Albany, and Richard Pittman, Live Oak; four sisters, Wanda McCall, Jasper, Fla., Jean McGarrah, Thomasville, Elizabeth Moore, Statenville and Patricia Lord, Live Oak; seven grandchildren; and Hazel Strickland, his longtime companion. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Jasper. The family will receive friends from 6-8 tonight at the funeral home. -- Harry T. Reid Funeral Home

Bessie Mae Terrell Smith
BETHANY, Fla. -- Bessie Mae Terrell Smith, 97, Bethany, died on Thursday, April 20, 2000. She was born March 11, 1903 in Echols County. She came to Bradenton in 1925 from Statenville and moved to Bethany in 1939. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Prescott Smith Sr.; mother, Beadie Melissa McMillan; father, F.J. "Frank" Terrell; sister, Maggie Terrell Tomlinson; daughters, Vella Mae Smith and Bernice Ivadell Smith; sons, Jesse Prescott Smith Jr. and Franklin "Jack" Smith. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Martie Smith, Bradenton; daughters and sons-in-law, Eva Nell and Warren Smith, Hitchcock, Texas, Earline Smith and Freeman Suggs, Mayday, Nelma Smith Whitman, Mayday, B.J. Smith Whitman, Bethany, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Vivian S. Smith, St. Augustine, Fla.; sister, Frankie Terrell Howell, Mayday; 22 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services was held at 2 p.m. April 25, 2000 at Bethany Baptist Church in Bethany. Burial was held in Bethany Cemetery, Bethany. -- Griffith-Cline Funeral Homes

Henry Lee Taylor
Henry Lee Taylor, 81, Valdosta, passed this life on April 29, 2000 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church where the Rev. Charles Carr serves as pastor and the Rev. William C. Morgan will officiate. Burial to follow in the Lynnwood Cemetery in Hawkinsville. -- Harrington Funeral Home

Phoebe L. Drew
BRUNSWICK -- Phoebe L. Drew, 88, Brunswick, died Wednesday, May 3, 2000 at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. She had been a resident of Brunswick for the past 60 years, coming from Lowndes County. She was a member of Glyndale Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Carolyn Hardwick, Waynesville, Marion Kittler, Long Island, N.Y.; four sons, Von Drew, Brunswick, John H. Drew, Baxley, Gary Drew, Brunswick, K.G. Drew, Nahunta; one sister, Mimia Schikler, Rochester, N.Y.; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers will be Brian Drew, Todd Drew, John Drew II, Robbie Robertson, Kenneth Hardwick, Kevin Hardwick, Larry Davis, Bobby Davis, George Walker and Ernest Murphy. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today in the chapel of the Glynn Rose Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Glynn Rose Cemetery. -- Brunswick Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home.