Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Jessie Collins Altman
Jessie Collins Altman, 86, died March 27 at her home. The Tattnall County native was residing in Guyton, but formerly resided in Claxton. She was a member of the Claxton Primitive Baptist Church and a homemaker all of her life.
Mrs. Altman was preceded in death by her husband, David E. Altman Jr.
Surviving are three daughters, Dian (Stan) Vincent of Guyton, Joyce (Allen) Morgan of Guyton and Denise (Mark) Marvin of Richmond Hill; one brother, Randy L. Collins of Jefferson, Ga.; two sisters, Evelyn Durrance of St. Mary’s, Ga., and Marie Arnsdorff of Sandy Springs, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Billy (CiCi) Sellers, Scott (Becky) Sellers, Stephanie (Bobby) Harvey, Kerri (Kevin) Moore, Miranda (Jonathan) Gerson, Christopher, Alexander and Sarah Marvin; five great-grandchildren, Garrett, Lane, David and Collin Harvey and Brigman Moore; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 28, 6-8 p.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 29, 2 p.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will be in Cedar Creek Church Cemetery.
J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Emory Powers Smith Jr.
Dr. Emory Powers Smith Jr., died Tuesday, March 19 at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro. He was born in Fort Valley, Gs., and grew up in Pembroke, Ga. where he graduated from Bryan County High School. He attended Northern Illinois College of Optometry and in January 1950 he opened his optometric practice in Evans County. He practiced 46 years in Claxton until his retirement in June of 1996. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
Surviving are his wife, Lothair E. Smith of Claxton; one son, Dr. Emory Powers (Lynn) Smith III of Statesboro; one daughter, Michelle Smith (Mike) Tootle of Claxton; one brother, Dr. Herbert Dean (Sandy) Smith of Evans, Ga.; two sisters, Barbara Smith (Bill) Tippins of Dunwoody, Ga., and Carolyn Smith Schefflin of Pensauken, N.J.; four grandchildren, Leslie Tootle (Matt) Tucker, Pharm D and Lauren Tootle (Eric) Bluestein, all of Claxton, Nathan Emory Smith of Statesboro and Rachel Marie Smith of Macon; two great-grandchildren, Maclain Tucker and Maggy Bluestein; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 21, 9-11 a.m., at First United Methodist Church of Claxton.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 21, 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Claxton.
Burial will be private at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Service Sunday school class.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to First United Methodist Church, 401 W. Main St., Claxton, Ga. 30417; or Ogeechee Area Hospice, 200 Donehoo St., Statesboro, Ga. 30458.
J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Wayne ‘Bob’ Lackman
Robert Wayne “Bob” Lackman, 54, passed away March 17 at Ogeechee Area Hospice. He was a native of Joliet, Illinois, but resided in Bulloch County since 1999. He was of Baptist faith and worked as a computer engineer.
Surviving are two sons, Adam and Cody Lackman of Portal, Ga.; his best friend and life partner, Sharon Wilson of Portal; two sisters, Dena Wrona and Judy Martinson, both of southern Illinois; several nieces and nephews and a large family in southern Illinois.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Loyd Gulledge Jr.
Loyd Gulledge Jr., 82, passed away March 18 at Hospice Savannah. The Evans County native moved to Guyton in 1977, where with the help of family and friends, he built his family home. He was of Baptist faith and served in the U.S. Navy for seven years. He worked and retired from Union Camp where he was supervisor of Bag Storage and Shipping.
Loyd was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Kate Gulledge Sr.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Allie Griffin Gulledge of Guyton; two sons, Dennis Gulledge of Ellabell; Daryl (Pam) Gulledge of Guyton; one daughter, Diana (Earl) Hodges of Ellabell; one sister, Nell Lewis of Savannah; six grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 20, 6-8: p.m., at J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 21, 2 p.m., at J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will be in Brewton Cemetery, Hagan, Ga.
Remembrances may be sent to Hospice Savannah, P. O. Box 13190, Savannah, Ga. 31416.
Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tommy Augustus Todd
Tommy Augustus Todd, 87, passed away March 17. The Evans County native resided most of his life in Tattnall County. He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and also served in WWII. He was a farmer and worked at Ft. Stewart until retiring.
Mr. Todd was preceded in death by his wife, Clyde B. Todd.
Surviving are one daughter, Suzanne Faust of Savannah; two granddaughters, Tammy (Troy) Pittman of Glennville, and Nikki (Derek) Demeter of Titusville, Fla.; four brothers, Harold and Aaron Todd of Claxton, Jack Todd of Statesboro and Bobby Todd of Fayetteville, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 19, 6-8 p.m., at J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 20, 11 a.m., at Antioch Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Cordie Lee Swafford
Mr. Cordie Lee Swafford, age 101, passed away Friday, March 15 at his residence. The Swainsboro native had lived in Millen before moving to Hagan. He was a retired trucker that loved to fish, hunt and garden. Mr. Swafford is a member of Bible Holiness Church in Hagan.
He was preceded in death by his children, Barbara ManHeim, Loretta Faye Swafford, and Kermit Swafford.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Swafford of Hagan; grandchildren, Kenneth Manheim of Atlanta, Clifford Allen Manheim of Black Creek; stepchildren, Sammy D. Brown of Jesup, Robert K. Brown of St. Augustine, Fla., Tommy Ellis Brown of Statesboro, Barbara Jackson and Shirley Bramblet, both of Millen.
Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday from the Bible Holiness Church. Funeral services will be conducted 3 p.m., Sunday, March 17 from the Bible Holiness Church with the Reverends Dewayne Morgan, Jeff Hensley and Jeff Butler officiating. iIntermentwill follow in the Reidsville City Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers will be brothers, Melvin Sapp, Bobby Sapp, Vincent Conley, Johnny Sikes, Armando Hinojosa and Harry Cannon.
Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home, Reidsville Chapel is serving the Swafford family.
Cartha D. ‘Deke’ DeLoach
Cartha D. ‘Deke’ DeLoach, a civic leader former deputy director of the FBI, and corporate vice president with PepsiCo Inc and local banker, died March 13 at 9 p.m.from natural causes. He was 92 years of age.
A native of Claxton, he graduated from Stetson University in 1942. He also attended Stetson Law School. While in college he played varsity football and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, and the Stetson Debating Team.
After graduation, he entered the FBI at 21, the youngest applicant to be accepted in the agent ranks. After a brief service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he reentered the FBI and rapidly rose through the ranks to Agent-Supervisor, Inspector, Special Agent in Charge, Assistant Director, and Deputy Director to J. Edgar Hoover. He is credited with supervising many of the FBI's toughest cases.
After 28 years in FBI service, he retired and immediately became vice president of PepsiCo Inc. He remained in that capacity for 15 years. He then retired and moved to Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Mr. DeLoach served on many corporate boards. He was Chairman of yhe J. Edgar Hoover Foundation, 1973-2007, and was instrumental in awarding many college scholarships to deserving men and women. He was awarded four Gold Medals from the Freedoms Foundation for outstanding civic work. He was recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from Stetson University and elected to that institution's Hall of Fame; the American Legion's "Man of the Year" award; as well as the "Man of the Year" for the Hilton Head Hospitality Association. He received the "Humanitarian Award" from the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI in 2005. He was given the "Alice Glenn Doughtie Award" by Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce for outstanding civic service, as well as the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civic award by former Governor Beasley.
He served as founding chairman of the Hilton Head Council for the Arts for 10 years and after devoting much time, his efforts largely resulted in the building of what is now known as The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. He remained Chairman Emeritus of the Center until his death. He was vice chairman and chairman of the marketing committee of the Heritage Classic Foundation for over 10 years. He was founding chairman of two highly successful banking operations on Hilton Head Island and involved in activities at Holy Family Catholic Church for many years.
Mr. DeLoach is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Owens DeLoach; three daughters, Barbie, Theresa, and Sharon; four sons, Deke Jr., Tom, Greg, and Mark.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. A private burial will follow at Six Oaks Cemetery, Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Lena Pace Hagan
Lena Pace Hagan, 85, passed away March 13. She was a native of Effingham County, Springfield, Ga. and lived most of her adult life in Claxton. She was a member of Turkey Branch United Methodist Church, but attended First Baptist in Claxton. She was employed for 15 years by Southern Bell, and 35 years at Evans Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Hagan was preceded in death by her husband, R. G. (Doug) Hagan.
Surviving are one son, Allen (Sheree) Hagan of Vidalia, Ga.; one daughter, Leigh Chambers of Claxton; three grandchildren, Lance Hagan and Candice Hagan and Ladson Mosley; eight great-grandchildren, Andrew, Ava, Cason and Bryson, Tyler, Taylor, Gabe Mosley and Lily Bland; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, March 15, 5-7 p.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 16, 10:30 a.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. at Turkey Branch United Methodist Church Cemetery, Springfield, Ga.
Remembrances may be sent to Evans County Cares, P.O. Box 186, Claxton, Ga. 30417.
J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Sue Seltzer Mitchell
Mrs. Sue Seltzer Mitchell, 78, passed away Saturday, March 9, at Memorial Health University Medical Center.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Garden City where she attended the Libby Tyner Sunday School Class. She graduated from Georgia Southern University (formerly Georgia Teachers College) and taught in Chatham County Elementary Schools for 19 years.
Mrs. Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Selma Seltzer; brothers, John Robert Seltzer and William L. Seltzer; a brother-in-law, Cleon Mitchell.
Survivors include her husband, Billy A. Mitchell; daughter and son-in-law, Robbie Kaye Egan and Mark A. Egan; granddaughter, Kaia Camille Egan; a number of nephews and nieces, including Robert N. Seltzer, Billy L. Seltzer, Rhana Lee Hackett, Michelle Mobley, Barry Mitchell, Robin Ingraham, Renee Sweatman, Teresa Lanier and Brian Mitchell; several great-nieces and great-nephews; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Freddie L. and Annette Mitchell and Leon and Faye Mitchell and former sister-in-law, Linda Mitchell.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Wednesday in the chapel of the funeral home with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens located at 315 Bonaventure Road in Thunderbolt.
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – West Chatham Chapel – 901 W. Hwy. 80 – Pooler, Ga. 31322 is in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Lynn
Ruby Lynn, 96, passed away March 7 at Northspring Assisted Living. She was a native of Tattnall County, raised mostly in Collins, Ga. She was member of Bellville United Methodist Church. In early years she was the oldest member of Manassas United Methodist Church prior to its closing.
Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Betty and Ed Mosley of Bellville and Grace and Howard Scarbrough of Claxton; five grandchildren, nine step grandchildren and numerous great and great-great-grands, nieces and nephews.
Vistiation will be Saturday, March 9, 5-7 p.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m., at Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will be in Anderson Church Cemetery.
NeSmith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Eloise Davis Burnham
Mrs. Eloise Davis Burnham died March 1 at Camellia Health and Rehabilitation Center in Claxton at the age of 92. She was born in Statesboro, Ga., on October 28, 1920. She graduated from Nevils High School and later moved to Savannah, Ga., where she and her husband lived for many years. Mrs. Burnham retired from Sears Roebuck & Company after 22 years of service. She was the department manager over each, the children’s and the preteen’s department. She loved children and enjoyed her work with Sears while making many lasting friendships during her tenure. After retirement, Mrs. Burnham and her husband moved back to the community of Nevils. She loved spending time with her family and enjoyed gardening and fishing in her free time. She was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad P. Davis; her husband, Lewis A. Burnham; a brother, A. L. Davis (Doris); two sisters, Jean D. Iler (John) and Sara D. Sharpe (J. D.).
Survivors include one daughter, Gail B. Stanek (Clyde) of Claxton; three grandchildren, Kim Lee of Meldrim, Carla Lee of St. Simons Island, and Lewie Lee of Bluffton, S.C.; one great-grandson, Avery Lee Yarbrough of St. Simons Island; a sister and brother-in-law, Sue D. Wilson (Robbie) of Phoenix, Az; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. at Deloach’s Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Eller officiating.
iIntermentfollowed in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Ga. 30459.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
