Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Fred C. Kight
CORDELE — Funeral services for Fred C. Kight were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 from the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services with the Rev. Warren Williams and Lee Guerry officiating.
Norma Turton, pianist, played soft music and accompanied Sandra Windham and Harry Knox as they sang “Whispering Hope.” The family received friends immediately following the service.
Mr. Kight, 88, died at Crisp Regional Hospital Friday, Dec. 29, 2006. He was born Tuesday, August 20, 1918 in Dublin and was the son of the late Buddy B. and Caroline Clark Kight.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Kight was the owner and operator of Cordele Livestock Company. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he had served as a captain during World War II. He also was a member of the Georgia Cattleman’s Association, and was a faithful member of the Cordele First United Methodist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. He was instrumental in the planning phase for the new education building at First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Kight is survived by his wife, Mildred Kight of Cordele; three children, Fred Kight of Augusta; Anna Rentz of Lake Lure, NC and Leila Kight and her husband, John Ballou of Miami Beach, FL; a sister, Carolyn Ripple of Myrtle Beach, SC and three grandchildren, Sky Kight, Justin Kight and Tracy Frye and her husband, Brandon.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Cordele First United Methodist Church, 302 East 12th Avenue, Cordele, GA 31015. Rainey Family Funeral Services had charge of arrangements.
William B. ‘Bill’ Goodson
CORDELE — A memorial service for William Bernard “Bill” Goodson of Cordele will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Grace Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at Rainey Family Funeral Services today from 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Goodson died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, at his residence following an extended series of medical conditions for which he had received treatment.
Born in Mitchell County on April 9, 1937, he is best known in Cordele as the owner, station manager and chief engineer of WSST-TV station. Mr. Goodson and his business partner, Phil Streetman, originally applied for an operating license in the early 1980’s. WSST began as a local cable-provided television station to provide programming for Cordele and Vienna in 1981.
In 1983, WSST gained the ability to air “live broadcast” produced within its facility. WSST gained further approval for a license to operate through airwave broadcast in addition to being carried through local cable TV in 1988. The station began to operate both cable and broadcast transmissions in June of 1989.
One of the station’s greatest achievements was to be one of the first television stations of its size to accomplish digital transmission beginning in the summer of 2003.
Within his lifetime, Mr. Goodson saw his dream of beginning a television station in a small south Georgia town both become a reality and grow to become a successful full power station with reception in homes both in Cordele and many surrounding cities.
Although the last 25 years of his career fulfilled his dream of operating a television station, he actually began his broadcast career in radio. Mr. Goodson’s radio career began in the early 1950’s through internships at radio stations WCLB and WMTM in Camilla and Moultrie.
His initial employment in communications began in Albany where he worked at radio station WALB as a script writer and a broadscast announcer on WALB-TV. Subsequent positions included engineer, chief engineer and station manager at radio stations WJAZ in Albany and WMJM in Cordele.
While working in the radio broadcast industry, Mr. Goodson enhanced his education by attending school to earn an engineering license from the federal government. This training prepared him to pursue the position in 1967 as general manager and operator of a regional group of radio stations extending from Atlanta and Athens to Albany. In this capacity, Mr. Goodson was instrumental in maintaining radio broadcast stations and beginning new radio transmission stations in additional cities simultaneously.
Mr. Goodson’s entire professional life was dedicated to the radio and television broadcast industries. His accomplishments and achievements within this industry were numerous and significant despite his diminishing clarity and eventual loss of eyesight.
Among his greatest qualities was his never fading determination to fulfill his lifelong professional dreams despite his blindness. Mr. Goodson greatly valued quality time with his immediate family for whom he held great love, including his wife of 49 years, Shelby Dean Herrington Goodson of Cordele, two daughters and their husbands, Cheryl and Richard Azbell of Warner Robins, and Tammy and Kenny Calhoun of Vienna, and his grandchildren, Brittni Rodriguez and Braxton Azbell.
He was an active and supportive member of Grace Baptist Church.
Mr. Goodson is predeceased by his father, William Labon Goodson, his mother, Charlie Mae Shirah Goodson, brothers, Billy Jackson Goodson and Charles Levi Goodson.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is also survived by two brothers and their wives, Jerry and Wanda Goodson of St. Cloud, Fla., and Jimmy and Donna Goodson of Washington, D.C. and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, as a symbol of condolence, the Goodson family expresses a desire that Mr. Goodson had communicated to them during his last illness, that any expression of kindness be given as donations to the Missions Fund of Grace Baptist Church, 1997 Royal Road, Cordele, Ga., 31015 to fund the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ through world missions or to Camp Littleshot, an organization committed to providing education to improve the quality of life for juvenile diabetics such as his granddaughter, Brittni Rodrigues.
Camp Littleshot donations may be made through Medcen Community Health Foundation @ The Medical Center of Central Georgia, 777 Hemlock St., Hospital Box 118, Macon, Ga., 31201.
In celebration of Mr. Goodson’s life and because of his love for the color red, the family asks that anyone who so desires wear something red to his memorial service.
Arrangements are under the direction of Rainey Family Funeral Services.
Merle Perry Elrod
BYROMVILLE - Merle Perry Elrod, 88 of Byromville passed away Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007 at Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5 from the Byromville United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Jason Shirah and Rev. Edwin Smith will officiate, and burial will be in Salem Baptist Church cemetery in Cochran.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at Watson-Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma.
Born April 13, 1918 in Cochran, Mrs. Elrod was the daughter of the late Green Byrd Perry and Ruth Bordeaux Perry. She attended Middle Georgia College and later graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. She taught for several years in the public schools of Bleckley and Fulton Counties.
Mrs. Elrod was a member of the Byromville United Methodist Church where she was active in the Loyalty Sunday School Class and United Methodist Women. She also was a member of the Byromville Woman’s Club.
She was preceded in death by a son, Richard H. Elrod Jr., a sister, Mary M. Westberry and an infant daughter.
Surviving her are her devoted husband of 64 years, Richard Horace Elrod of Byromville; two sisters, Neail Porter of Cochran and Shirley White of Greenville; two brothers, Byrd Perry of Cochran and Quinton Perry of Greenwood, MS.
Watson-Mathews Funeral Home of Montezuma has charge of arrangements. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Byromville United Methodist Church.
William B. “Bill” Goodson
A memorial service for William Bernard “Bill” Goodson of Cordele was conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 at Grace Baptist Church.
Mrs. Jean Kent provided soft music and accompanied Betty and Bruce Eastman as they sang, “Amazing Grace” and “Precious Memories.” Rev. George Nelson officiated with Richard Azbell and Lee Wright giving eulogies.
Mr. Goodson died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006 at his residence following an extended series of medical conditions for which he had received treatment.
Ida Mae Mauldin Wood
MCALPIN, Fla. — Graveside funeral services for Ida Mae Mauldin Wood, 93, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 at Bethel Baptist Church cemetery in Turner County.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at Perry Funeral Chapel, prior to the service. Perry Funeral Chapel of Ashburn has charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Wood died Monday, Dec. 18, 2006, in Dowling Park, Fla., following an extended illness.
Dallas Taylor
ASHBURN — Funeral services for Dallas Taylor, 78, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 in Perry Funeral Chapel with burial to follow in Snowridge cemetery in Ashburn. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Perry Funeral Chapel of Ashburn has charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Taylor died Monday, Dec. 18, 2006, in Tift Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Willie Joe ‘Wap’ Clark
DOOLING — Funeral services for Willie Joe “Wap” Clark, 56, of Oglethorpe and Dooling, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 in the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Dooling.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. Pastor Aaron Bandy will officiate.
Mr. Clark died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at his residence.
He was the son of the late Willie Clark Jr. and attended Dooly County Public Schools. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and was a construction worker.
Survivors include his companion, Pearlie Mae Joseph of Oglethorpe; a son, Demorris Clark of Warner Robins; a daughter, Sandra Turner of Montezuma; his mother, Bernice Clark of Dooling; three sisters, Gloria (John) Wiggins and Ruthie Mae Clark of Dooling, and Mahalia Clark of Byromville; four brothers, Oscar (Doris) Clark of Dooling, Johnny (Tammie) Clark of Atlanta, Jessie Clark of Pelham, and Robert (Katrina) Clark of Buford; a grandson, Talos Pearson; a granddaughter, Semmies Clark; four uncles, two aunts and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family may be contacted at the residence on Church Street in Dooling.
Alvie Coes Funeral Home of Unadilla has charge of the arrangements.
Cecil Wayne Taylor
ROCHELLE — Graveside memorial services for Cecil Wayne Taylor, 57, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 in the Pine City cemetery in Pitts. The Rev. Carlton Webb will officiate for the services.
Mr. Taylor died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at his residence.
Born Aug. 16, 1949, in Wilcox County, he was the son of the late Sara Lee Johnson Taylor and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his father, R.C. Taylor of Rochelle; sons, Robert Mack Taylor of Atlanta, and Billy Jack Taylor of Tifton; brothers, Larry Taylor of Sycamore, Dan Taylor of Ashburn and Richard Taylor of Rochelle; a sister, Shirley Wilcox of Warner Robins; a stepdaughter, Patricia Poss; and six grandchildren.
Frazier and Son Funeral Home of Rochelle has charge of the arrangements.
Frances Farr
1911-2005
Athens
Frances Farr, 93, of Hardin Drive, died on Tuesday May 3, 2005.
A native of McDuffie County, Mrs. Farr was the daughter of the late Claude and Willie Fouche Brock. She was a retired beautician and a member of the Elks Auxiliary. Mrs. Farr was preceded in death by her husband, James Leonard Farr.
She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 11 am at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery with Rev. Luther Fouche officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 pm Wednesday at Bernstein Funeral Home. In lieu of flower the family asks that memorial contributions may be made to Elk’s Aidmore Children’s Home 2394 Morrison Road Conyers GA 30094.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Earlie Montford Sr.
CORDELE — Funeral services for Earlie Montford Sr. will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 in the chapel of J.W. Williams Funeral Home in Cordele with Bro. James Wise officiating. Burial will follow in Westview Cemetery.
Mr. Montford died Monday, Nov. 27, 2006, in Crisp Regional Nursing and Rehab.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Hardy Montford of Cordele; children, Dennis (Gwen) Hardy, Wayne (Juliet) Montford and Scottie (Alisha) Montford, all of Cordele, and Earlie (Ibet) Montford Jr. of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; sisters, Louise Flythe of Columbus, Ella Marie (Lonnie) Cuffie and Lola (Durrell) Mackey, all of Cordele; a brother, Cornelious Mitchell of San Jose, Calif.; a son-in-law, James Ford of Cordele; a daughter-in-law, Tonya Montford of Cordele; a brother-in-law, Barney Jackson of Florida; a sister-in-law, Juanita Montford of Cordele; 19 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a special cousin, Leroy Walls of Cordele; and special friends, Sammie Hoskins, Keisha Sanders and Essie Gaye all of Cordele; five sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
J.W. Williams Funeral Home of Cordele and Vienna has charge of the arrangements.
