Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Dewey S. Griffin III
Dewey S. Griffin III, 49, of Blackshear died early Tuesday morning, January 4, 2005, at his residence after an extended illness.
A native of Blackshear, he had lived both here and in Hoboken all of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey S. Griffin Jr. and Frances M. Griffin.
Mr. Griffin retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Jesup as a Correctional Officer. He had also worked at the Federal Prison in South Carolina for a time as well.
He was a lifelong member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church near Hoboken.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Griffin, Blackshear; two daughters, Amber Steverson (husband Corey) and Brandi Herrin (husband Josh), all of Blackshear; a son Chris Smith (wife Patricia), Edgefield, SC; five grandchildren, Taylor Carter, Blackshear, Jaylin Smith, Edgefield, SC, Destin Steverson, Kirsti Smith and Kole Herrin, all of Blackshear; a brother, Jimmy Brooks (wife Barbara), Hoboken; two sisters, Cheri Knox (fiance Delmus Griffin) and Robin Jones (husband Timmy), all of Hoboken, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, from the Mount Calvary Baptist Church near Hoboken.
iIntermentwill follow in the Hoboken City Cemetery.
Visitation will take place from 6-9 p.m. Thursday evening, Jan. 6 at the funeral home.
Smith Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
Andrew Jasper ‘A.J.’ Walker
Andrew Jasper “A.J.” Walker, 92, of the Laura Chapel Community in Pierce County, died early Tuesday morning, December 21, 2004, at his son’s residence in Pierce County after an extended illness.
A native and life-long resident of Pierce County, he was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma E. Youmans Walker; his parents, Isiah W. Walker and Mina Howard Walker; his step-mother, Macie H. Walker; a son-in-law, Larry James and two grandsons, Kevin and Keith James.
He retired from the Pierce Trading Company as the produce manager and was also a retired farmer. He was a longtime member of Laura Chapel Baptist Church and was a member of the Georgia Farm Bureau.
Survivors include four daughters, Montez Davis (husband Jackie), Mershon, Frances James, Eastman, Latrelle Campbell (husband Phil), Blackshear and Elizabeth Swain of St. Simons Island; two sons, Jerry Walker (wife Winona), Patterson, Terry Walker (wife Dale), Blackshear; a son-in-law, Mike Swain, St. Marys; a sister Lillian Lee, Patterson and a brother, J.D. Walker, Blackshear; 12 grandchildren Sandy Trowell (husband Sam), Valdosta, Thomas Davis (wife Diane), Mershon, John Davis (wife Jennifer), Anniston, AL, Debbie Hand (husband David), Janet Strickland (husband Tarver) and Wendy Sinclair (husband Bryan), all of Patterson, Jerrian Waters (husband Jim), Blackshear, Lori Greene (husband Avera), St. Marys, David James, Kingsland, Stacie Smith (husband Dane), Blackshear, Ja Walker, Baxley and his fiance Candi Dowless, Hazlehurst; Michael “Skip” Swain, Jr., St. Marys; 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, from the Laura Chapel Baptist Church.
iIntermentfollowed in the church cemetery.
Smith Funeral Home in Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
Windell Eugene Groover
Windell Eugene Groover, 64, of Blackshear, passed away late Monday evening, December 20, 2004, at the Pierce County Nursing Home.
A native and life-long resident of Pierce County, he had worked as a mechanic with Waters Ford Company for over twenty years. He was a member of the Ramah Primitive Baptist Church but had also attended the Youmans Chapel Baptist Church. He was a son of the late Daniel and Bonnie Davis Groover and was also preceded in death by two brothers, Rothell Groover and Monroe Groover, and by a grandson, little Ricky Sheffield.
Survivors include his wife, Wynelle Lee Groover, Blackshear; five daughters and sons-in-law, Gina and Robin Crawford, Diane and James Mancil, Wendy and Paul Hunter and Debbie and William Peacock, all of Blackshear and Christina and Doug Odle, Pineville, KY; a son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Angela Sheffield, Blackshear; a sister and brother-in-law, Norene and Jerry Bennett, Valdosta; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Thurmond and Carol Groover, Ellabelle, and Marlow Groover, Waycross; 20 grandchildren, Chris (Chrystal) Carter, Josh Carter, Micah Carter, Kayla Carter, Heather Mancil, Wesley Mancil, Brandon Mancil, Kaitlynn (Coot) Mancil, De Sears, Jonathan Sears, Payton Hunter, Niki Peacock, Will Peacock, Mandy Sheffield, Ciara Bryan, Seth Bryan, Jennifer Cannon, Heather Crawford, Rusty Crawford and Kasey Crawford; a great-grandchild, Gracie Odle; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, from the Youmans Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Randall Gunter and Elder Winston Boyett officiating.
iIntermentfollowed in the Ramah Cemetery.
Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
Bessie Mae Corbitt Newbern
Bessie Mae Corbitt Newbern, 73, died Tuesday, December 21, 2004, at the Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross after a short illness.
She was a native of Nashville, but she had resided most of her life in Pierce and Ware Counties. She was a homemaker and a member of the Liberty Christian Church.
She was the wife of the late Lemuel Meeks Corbitt and was preceded in death by her parents, George Mose Lee and Nellie Sweat Lee and a son, Odis W. Corbitt.
Survivors include five daughters, Lillian Taylor, Blackshear, Darlene Cason, Pierce County, Gail Duncan, Ware County, Nancy Schlumbrecht, Blackshear and Emma Taylor, Waycross; four sons, Ira Corbitt and Albert Corbitt, both of Kissimmee, FL, Chester Corbitt, St. Cloud, FL and Lemuel Corbitt, Blackshear; an aunt, Isabel Sweat, Blackshear; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, from the Liberty Christian Church.
iIntermentfollowed in the Waresboro Cemetery.
Music Funeral Home of Waycross was in charge of arrangements.
Lynda Jane Mattson Shermer
Lynda Jane Mattson Shermer, of Folkston, passed away Monday, December 20, 2004, following a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Charles L. (Chuck) Shermer in 2001. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Wilma Mattson of Folkston, her step-mother, Mary Brantley Mattson, Blackshear and her step-brother, George Brantley, Blackshear. She was born December 29, 1944 in Lincoln, Michigan. She lived in Folkston for the past 29 years and was a faithful member of the Folkston United Methodist Church, where she also served as secretary.
Mrs. Shermer was an avid golfer in her youth and was a Florida Junior Golf Champion. She graduated from Fernandina Beach High School in 1962, attended South Georgia College and graduated from Jones College in 1966. She was multi-talented and enjoyed painting, sewing, woodwork, crafts and dancing. She could just as easily bake a wedding cake or fix a car engine. She shared her many talents with the community of Folkston by contributing her time to the Ladies Golf Association, Band Boosters, Sunshine Circle, Folkston United Methodist Church Altar Guild, the FUMC Choir, the Embroidery Guild, the Chamber of Commerce Beauty Pageant, the Folkston Centennial Celebration Committee, Friends of the Mizell House, Keep Charlton Beautiful, the Sesquicentennial Comittee and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Survivors include her loving children, Jeremy Shermer and his wife, Robin, Folkston and Jennifer Shermer Pack and her husband, Denny, currently stationed in Japan; grandson, Dallas Shermer, Folkston; three step-sisters, Mary Linn Kimbrell and Jane Bowen (Sonny), both of Blackshear and Betty Brantley, Charlotte, NC; two step-brothers, Duncan Brantley (Nancy), McDonough and Ed Brantley (Sylvia), Charlotte, NC.
Memorial services were held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, from the Folkston United Methodist Church.
Shepard Funeral Home of Folkston was in charge of arrangements.
George F. Pomeroy Sr.
George F. Pomeroy Sr., 98, of Tallahassee, FL, died Saturday, December 11, 2004.
A native of Delhi, NY, he had lived in Tallahassee since 1940. He was a mechanical engineer and was formerly employed by Allis-Chalmers Tractor Co. in Milwaukee and Seabrook Machinery Co. He retired from the Florida Department of Transportation. He graduated from Auburn University in 1930. He was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Philip “Phil” Pomeroy.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Mary O’Quinn Pomeroy, Tallahassee; a daughter, Mary Anna Mohr (and husband, Chuck), Tallahassee; a son, George F. “Jeff” Pomeroy Jr., Pensacola, FL; a sister, Anna P. Mayo, Waycross; a daughter-in-law, Charlotte “Lolly” Yeager Wier (and husband, Carl), Tallahassee; nine grandchildre and 12 great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services were held at Noon, Tuesday, December 13, at Roselawn Cemetery.
Culley’s Meadow Wood Funeral Home of Tallahassee was in charge of arrangements.
Victoria T. Smart
Victoria T. Smart, 59, of Blackshear died Friday, December 17, 2004, at Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross, after a brief illness.
Born in Adel, to the late Lory Austin Tyson and Virdia Sweat Tyson she had moved from Bartow, FL six years ago to make her home in Blackshear. Along with her parents she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Keisha Lynn Smart, two sisters Elva Cherry, Eva Booth and a brother, Lori Austin Tyson, Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Claude A. Smart, Blackshear; her children, Dwayne Henderson, Lynn Reisinger (husband Ben) and Ricky Henderson, all of Blackshear; her grandchildren, Douglas Smart, Misti Smart, Joshua Smart, all of Blackshear, Hannah Henderson, St. Augustine, FL; three sisters, Virginia Alderman (husband Norman), Lorene Taylor and Christine Hall, all of Blackshear; three brothers, James Tyson (wife Rita), Tommy Tyson (wife Karon), both of Plant City, FL and Terry Tyson (wife Diane), Lake City, FL and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, from the St. John’s United Methodist Church near Blackshear.
iIntermentfollowed burial in Blackshear City Cemetery.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross was in charge of arrangements.
Margie McCarty Varnadore
Margie Marlene McCarty Varnadore, 54, of Blackshear died Monday morning, December 20, 2004, at her residence after an extended illness.
A native of Pontiac, Michigan, she had lived most of her life in Waycross and Blackshear. She was preceded in death by her father, Bill McCarty and a sister, Shelly Scott.
She was a homemaker and a member of The Church of New Beginnings in Blackshear. She was formerly very active in the Women’s Aglow Ministry.
Survivors include her husband, Jerald Varnadore, Blackshear; her mother, Juliette McCarty, Big Rapids, MI; three sons, Michael White (wife Rhonda) Pontiac, MI, Jason Varnadore (wife Sharon), Seattle, WA and Jacob Varnadore, Waycross; two daughters, Kimberly Music (fiance Donald Bullard), Waycross, and Sara Sapp (husband Brian), Blackshear; nine grandchildren; four sisters, Barbara Przybylski (husband Joe), Wichita Falls, TX, Kathleen Moore (husband Melvin), Fernandina Beach, FL, Roxanne Greenhoe and Colleen Presley (husband Ralph) all of Big Rapids, MI; two brothers Rod McCarty (wife Carol) Pontiac, MI, and Woody McCarty, Clarkston, MI, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 23, at The Church of New Beginnings in Blackshear.
Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 22) at the funeral home.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
Smith Funeral Home in Blackshear is in charge of the arrangements.
James William Pursell
James William Pursell, 89, died Sunday, December 19, 2004.
He was born May 1, 1915 in Alexander City, AL to William and Bessie Pursell. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lucille Thornton Pursell, whom he married
on September 10, 1938. He had a long career as a diesel mechanic. He had returned to Okeechobee from Blackshear in June 2003.
Survivors are two sons, James William Pursell Jr. and Danny Lee Pursell; three grandchildren, Paul William Pursell, Brian Lee Pursell and Christie Lynn Marfil; six great-grandchildren; and many friends and loving relatives.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 23, from the graveside at the Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church cemetery in Appling County.
Visitation will be this evening (Wednesday, December 22) from 7-9 p.m. at Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Okeechobee, 411 SE 4th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34974.
Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
