James Traylor Preacher
James Traylor Preacher, 92, of St. Augustine, FL passed away March 2, 2003 at his residence. A native of Ridgeland, SC, he had resided in St. Augustine since 1955. He was sole owner of Preacher Hardware Store in Ridgeland, which he operated for years before moving to St. Augustine. He was a 1928 graduate of Ridgeland High School and attended college in Columbia, SC. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Nettie Mitchell Preacher. Survivors are a daughter, Marion Preacher Center, Alexandria, VA and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 29, from the Pearson-Treadwell Chapel. Interment will follow in the Blackshear Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Community Hospice Northeast, 1955 U.S. 1 South, Suite D-3, St. Augustine, FL 32086. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.

Daniel Robert Dixon Jr.
Daniel Robert Dixon Jr. ,56, of Blackshear died Thursday afternoon, May 22, 2003, at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center in Brunswick after an extended illness. A native of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, he had lived in Blackshear for the past few years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Robert Dixon and Charlotte Ruth Troxsler. He was employed with Ashland Oil Co. as a truck driver. He was of the Catholic faith and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was also a member of the American Legion Post # 181 of Blackshear. He is survived by his daughter, Pam Wade (husband Marty), Alma; three brothers, Richard Dixon (wife Joyce), Hillard, FL William “Billy” Arthur Dixon, Albany and Ronie Dixon (wife Donna), Cordele; a granddaughter Paige Wade, Alma and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Blackshear City Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Legion. Smith Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of the arrangements.

Dr. E. Leon Moore
Dr. E. Leon Moore, 87, of Little Rock, AR, died March 9, 2003, at his home in Little Rock. Born in 1915 in Starke, FL, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, the University of Georgia and received his PhD in Agronomy and Plant Pathology from the University of Wisconsin. He spent his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retiring from the position of staff tobacco specialist in 1979. He served his country in the Navy during World War II. Stationed in Hawaii, he taught aircraft identification at the Fleet Gunnery School at Pearl Harbor. He retired from the Naval reserve as a lieutenant commander. He was a son of the late Daniel and Sarah Moore and was the widower of Dorothea McNeal Moore. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Eunice Tuten and Inez Adcock and three brothers, Everette Moore, Renzo Moore and James Moore. Survivors include a daughter, Martha May Moore and son-in-law, Terry O’Brian, Little Rock, AR; a son, Sam Moore, Madison, WI; and brothers and sisters, Opal Tuten, Jeanette Waldron, Edgar Moore and Glenn Moore of the Blackshear and Waycross areas. Dr. Moore was buried March 15, at the Fairlawn Cemetery in Decatur, Illinois, with full military rites performed by the Macon County Honor Guard. A marker dedication in memory of Leon and Dorothea Moore will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Ben James Church Cemetery with Elder Burt Holder of Perry, FL, officiating. All friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ben James Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Opal Tuten, 3113 Ware Street, Blackshear, Georgia 31516.

John C. Strickland
John C. Strickland, 86, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2003, in Birmingham, AL. A native of Wayne County, he had lived in Alabama for several years. He was retired from Stockham Valves & Fittings and was a member of First Baptist Church-Center Point where he had been a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a son of the late Calvin and Myree Goobee Strickland. Survivors are his wife, Florence Strickland; a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Carl Rydor; two sons and daughters-in-law, James and Jerry Strickland and Gene and Amanda Strickland; seven grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren and several other relatives. Funeral services will be held (today) Wednesday May 28, at Jefferson Memorial in Birmingham with the Rev. Bobby Strickland, Mr. Strickland’s grandson, officiating. Interment followed in the Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Birmingham.

Kimberly “Kim” Suzette Dixon Handley
Kimberly “Kim” Suzette Dixon Handley, 29, of Blackshear, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at her residence. A native of Dekalb County, she had lived in Atlanta for many years before moving to Blackshear. She had worked as a sales associate with Belk’s while in Atlanta and attended the Victory Drive Church of God in Waycross. She was also involved with her sons’ little league. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Dixon and by her husband, George Handley III. Survivors are her mother, Betty Aldridge Dixon, Blackshear; two sons, Timothy Blake Dixon and Christopher Jordan Handley, both of Blackshear; her paternal grandmother, Ethel Crawford Dixon, Blackshear; three sisters, Donna Durkot, Monroe, Debora Tiller, Sugar Hill and Diana (Andrew) Martenn, Monroe; a brother, Steve (Karen) Dixon, Blackshear; nine nieces and nephews, Joey Durkot, John Durkot, Ashley Durkot, Chelsea Tiller, Aaron Martenn, Alex Martenn, Cody Raulerson, Stevie Dixon and Kaitlyn Dixon; several aunts, uncles and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, from the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Bill Young officiating. Interment followed in the Enon Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Rodney Dixon, Revis Dixon, Timmy Thomas, Ray Boyett, Jamie Dixon and Ron Thornton. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.

Lenore Lillian “Lilly” White-East
Lenore Lillian “Lilly” White-East, 68, of Waycross, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 14, 2003, at the Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross. A native of Brantley County, she had lived in several places as a military wife before moving back to Waycross in 1994. She had worked as a bookkeeper and was a member of the Gilchrist Park United Methodist Church. She was a daughter of the late Herbert and Emma Ruth White and was also preceded in death by her husband, William H. East, who passed away in 2002, and by a granddaughter, Rachel Bancroft. Survivors are two daugthers, Altonya (Merv) Bancroft, Albuquerque, NM and Lenore Scott, Blackshear; four sons, Alton (Elena) Franklin III, Bloomington, IL, Guy Franklin, Waycross, Stuart (Missy) Franklin, Fairfax, VA and Robert (Chrissie) Campbell Jr.,Winchester, VA; a sister, Loletta Harris, Blackshear; a brother, Arron White, Waycross; 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Memorialization was by cremation. The family will have a memorial service at a later time. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.

Carl Hyde Tillman
Carl Hyde Tillman, 78, passed away Friday afternoon, May 16, 2003, at the Baptist Village Nursing Home. A native of Dade County, FL, he had lived in Pierce County for most of his life. He had worked as a laborer with the Johnson Lumber Co. and had also farmed. He was a member of the Little River Church of God and was a son of the late Robert and Dessie Hyde Tillman. Also preceding him in death were three sisters and four brothers. Survivors are his wife, Christine Morgan Tillman, Blackshear; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Freddie Sikes, Jesup and Ernestine and Sylvester Scurry, Blackshear; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Peggy Tillman and Kenneth and Darlene Tillman, all of Blackshear; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, May 20, from the Pearson-Treadwell Chapel with Pastor R. B. Gaskins and the Rev. Andy Velie officiating. Interment followed in the Ramah Cemetery. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.

Betty Sue Whitley Jones
Betty Sue Whitley Jones, 62, of Blackshear, passed away Friday, May 16, 2003, at her home following an extended illness. A native of Coffee County, she was born August 2, 1940, to the late Jessie James and Ethel Carver Whitley. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her husband, Spencer Jones, Blackshear; a daughter, Wendy Jones, Blackshear; two sons, Eddie Thomas and Andy Thomas, both of Nicholls; five sisters, Marylee Dean and Gerta Bellaenbaum, Waynesville, LaVerne Cliett, Broxton, Nell Cleckner, Clearwater FL and Sandi Patton, Douglas; five brothers, Lonnie Whitley and Carl Whitley, Nicholls, David Whitley, Holly Pond AL, Mitchell Whitley, Douglas and Johnny Whitley, Waycross, six grandchildren, Jessica Fuller, Mathew Thomas, Amanda Thomas, Andrew Thomas, Megan Thomas and Drake Hilliard, two great-grandchildren, Joyce Fuller and Jacob Fuller, two step-grandchildren, Shelly Ham and Sheila Farrow and nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 19, from the chapel of Sims Funeral Home with the Rev. R. V. Gaskins officiating. Special music was by Carolyn Wright, Chris Purvis and Faye Adams as they sang, “Swing Wide The Gates” and “I’ll be Waiting At The River” with Lois Mills, organist. Burial followed in the Harrell Grove Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Eddie Gilliard, Timmy Whitley, Thomas Whitley, Jeff Ham, Chad Hendley and Jeremy Fuller. Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of arrangements.

Elton Wood
Elton Wood, 68, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at his residence. A native of Coffee County, he has lived here since 1975. Mr. Wood and his mother have helped to raise over 90 foster children. He was of the Quaker faith. and a retired claims representative with the Social Security Administration. He was the son of the late Leon J. and Bessie Luke Wood. Survivors include two sisters, Hazel Smith (husband Joe), Brunswick and Bessie M. Roberts, Warner Robbins; a brother, Dan Wood, Walthourville; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 9 from the Pearson-Treadwell Chapel. Memorialization was by cremation. Contributions may be made to the Hospice Satilla, 1929 Alice Street, Suite A-1, Waycross, Georgia 31501. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.

Emmie Hickox Griffin
Emmie Hickox Griffin, 87, of Nahunta died early Wednesday morning, May 7, 2003 at the Waycross Health and Rehabilitation after a long illness. A native of a section of Wayne Co. that is now Brantley Co. she was a homemaker and had worked as a cook for the Paloma Court Restaurant. She was a member of Mt. Zion Christian Church and loved being at church. Her parents were the late Newton Riley Hickox and Zillie Aldridge Hickox. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Harvey W. Howell; a great grandson, Thomas J. Reeves; a sister, Dora Lee Hickox Deal; and by six brothers, Earnie, Joseph, Melvin, Riley, Ned and Ellis Hickox. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, William “Bill” Griffin, Nahunta; two daughters, Yvonne H. Queen, Waycross and Evelyn H. Strickland (Buster), Nahunta; four grandchildren, Sandra Ann Westberry and Donald Ray Queen, Waycross; Teresa Johns (Richard), Nahunta and Harvey Strickland (Sandy), Blackshear; three great-grandchildren, Renee Zuniga (Israel), Dustin and Thomas Johns, all of Nahunta; a sister, Ethel Lewis, Nahunta and a brother Foster Hickox, Richmond Hill, GA; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Friday, May 9, from the Chambless-Frye Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Silas Aldridge officiated. Interment followed in the High Bluff Cemetery. Pallbearers were Bruce Dean, Rodney Pittman, Detra Crews, Charles Highsmith, Mark Crews and Ronald Dykes. Chambless-Frye Funeral Home of Nahunta was in charge of arrangements.

BettyJo Altman Tarrant
Betty Jo Altman Tarrant, 72, passed away late Saturday afternoon, May 10, 2003, at the Southeast Georgia Medical Center in Brunswick. She was born in Blackshear, but lived her adult life in Brunswick. She was a bookkeeper by trade working with many companies throughout her career. Mrs. Tarrant was of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Flem Altman and Ava Shuman Altman. Survivors are four daughters, Sherry Pickett (husband Mike), St. Simons, Sandy Collins (husband Eddie), St. Simons, Donna Holder, Brunswick and Debbie Lloyd, Brunswick; a son, Ray Tarrant, Brunswick; two sisters, Sara Beck (husband Gene), Cornville, AZ., and Violet Bevis (husband Jim), Jacksonville, FL; four grandchildren, Vikki Johnson, Bert Dyal, Dana Lloyd and Amanda Kicklighter; four great-grandchildren and nieces, nephews and other relatives. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. (today) Wednesday, May 14 from the St. Johns United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the St. Johns Church Cemetery. Memorialization will be by cremation. Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.