Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Derrick Smart
Derrick Smart, 16, of Blackshear died Thursday, October 14, 2004, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Born in Orange Park, Florida, he had made his home in Blackshear since 1996. He was a tenth grade student at Pierce County High School. He first began attending First United Methodist Church of Blackshear and was currently attending Emmanuel Baptist Church of Blackshear. He was involved with the church youth groups at both First Baptist Church of Blackshear and Emmanuel Baptist Church. He enjoyed football, baseball, playing the guitar and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his father, Tony Smart, grandparents, Talmadge and Jackie Smart, and a grandfather, Hollis Joyner.
Survivors include his mother, Tonya Smart, Blackshear; a brother, Taylor Smart of Blackshear; his grandmother, Delorice Joyner, Waycross; an uncle, Terris Joyner and his wife Mary and family, Hoboken, five aunts, Teresa Courson and her husband Tim and family, Bethlehem, Tania Hyers and her husband Billy and family, Waycross, Betty Selph and family, Waycross, Karen Crews and family, Waycross, Bonnie Beverly and her husband Glenn and families, Waycross and several other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 17, from Emmanuel Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Bill Young, the Rev. Mike Stone and the Rev. Jeff Martin officiating.
iIntermentfollowed in the Waters cemetery in Pierce County.
Active pallbearers were Dereck Proulx, Randy Smart, Danny Selph, Dustin Crews, Brandon Crawford, Brad Striciland, Chase King, Shawn Dixon, Michael Goldman, Josh Gill and George Farr III.
The youth groups of First Baptist Church of Blackshear and Emmanuel Baptist Church served as honorary pallbearers.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross was in charge of arrangements.
Michael Brenton ‘Brent’ Rudisail
Michael Brenton “Brent” Rudisail, 13, of Blackshear, died Thursday, October 14, 2004, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
He was born in Waycross and had lived in Pierce County most of his life. He was in the eighth grade at Pierce County Middle School and played football on the seventh and eighth grade football team and had previously played baseball. He attended First Baptist Church of Blackshear and Emmanuel Baptist Church and was involved in the youth groups at both churches.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Shirley Raulerson, maternal grandfather, J.L. Stone and paternal grandfather, Bernard Richter Rudisail.
Survivors include his mother and step-father, David and Shannon Raulerson Thornton, Blackshear; father, Michael Rudisail, Blackshear; one sister, Maria Jade (Jadee) Rudisail, Waycross; one step-sister, Kayla Thornton, Blackshear; maternal grandparents, Bobby and Helen Raulerson, Waycross; maternal great-grandmother, Helen Stone, Blackshear; paternal grandmother, Francis Rudisail, Waycross; five uncles, Matthew Rudisail (wife Carla), Valdosta, Richter Rudisail (wife Denise), Blackshear, Patrick Rudisail (wife Ruth) Pennsylvania, Tommy Raulerson, Waycross, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 17, from the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear with the Rev. Dr. Bill Young, the Rev. Mike Stone and the Rev. Jeff Martin officiating.
Burial followed in the Oakland cemetery in Waycross.
Active pallbearers were Jake Sauls, Raymond Roberts, Trey Dixon, Mark Coker and Cecil Thomas.
The youth groups of First Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church served as honorary pallbearers.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross was in charge of the arrangements.
Elizabeth Dennison
Elizabeth Jane Collins Dennison, 89, of Blackshear died Friday night, October 15, 2004, at Baptist Village after an extended illness.
A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, she had lived there most of her life, before moving to Blackshear in 1979.
She was preceded in death by her husband Woodrow W. Dennison; her parents, Walter Collins and Ida Agnes Phillips Collins; two brothers James and Frank Collins and a sister Lillie Dalton.
She owned and operated a bakery in Morgantown, WV, she was a home health aide, and retired from West Virginia University as supervisor of housekeeping.
She attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear and was a member of the Pierce County Senior Citizens Club.
Survivors include her three sons, David L. Dennison (wife Janet) of San Diego, CA, Gary M. Dennison, Pittsburgh, PA, and James W. Dennison (wife Linda), Blackshear; six grandchildren, Bethany Hinkley (husband Tim), Bingamton, NY, Shelly Sisler (husband Don), Pittsburgh, PA, Ian Dennison (wife Marie), Patterson, Karla Harris (husband Richard), Blackshear, Jeff Dennison (wife Dawn) San Diego, CA, and Lara Salerno (husband Shawn), San Diego, CA; nine great-grandchildren Alexa Hinkley, Bingamton, NY, Mitchell, David, Kailee, and Austin Dennison and Tianna Salerno, all of San Diego, CA, Cade and Chole Dennison, Patterson and Jarrett Harris, Blackshear and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, from the chapel of Smith Funeral Home.
Burial followed in the Blackshear City Cemetery.
Cindy Cleghorn’s Sunday School class served as honorary pallbearers.
The family request memorials be made to the Greater Vision Fund at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
An online registry is available at www.smithfuneralhome.us
Smith Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
William Harper ‘Bill’ Cochran
William Harper “Bill” Cochran, 63, of Blackshear, passed away Monday afternoon, October 4, 2004, at the Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross.
A native of Blackshear, he had lived in Charles County, Maryland then Palm Beach County, Florida for many years before moving back to Pierce County in the early ‘90s. He was self-employed in the glass repair business he and his late brother, J. R., were the owners of C & C Produce.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and was of the Baptist faith. During the late ‘60s and early 70s he raced speed boats and was the world speed record holder in his class. He was also a member of the American Power Boat Association. He was a son of the late William Foy and Mattie Lou Harper Cochran.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Karla and Tommy Briscoe, Nanjemoy, MD and Melody Bohanan and Larry Kessler, LaPlata, MD; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Jeff and Cindy Cochran, Lake Worth, FL, Grant Cochran, LaPlata and Scott Cochran, Waldorf, MD; three sisters, Helen Fitzgerald, Orange Park, FL, Carolyn Bradley, Blue Ridge, and the Rev. Norma Jean Thomas, Waycross; eight grandchildren, Becky Taylor, Emily Cochran, Tori Cochran, Jason Taylor, Morgan Kessler, Helena Briscoe, Derek Briscoe and Brent Briscoe; his caregiver, Martha Crosby Berrie, Blackshear and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Cochran Peacock and two brothers, Buford Cochran and J. R. Cochran.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, October 7, from the Pine Grove Baptist Church.
iIntermentfollowed in the Blackshear Cemetery.
Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
Berniece ‘Pete’ Chapman
Berniece “Pete” Chapman, 84, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2004 at the Harts Harbor Health Care Center after a long illness.
She was the wife of the Rev. Horace F. Chapman Jr., a Southern Baptist Pastor for 62 years. They were married
June 14, 1942 and began serving churches in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida where they served as Pastor and in Associational Missions. She was a native of Blackshear, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Geiger. She was educated in the public schools in Pierce County, the Southwestern Baptist Seminary School of Religious Education and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Anna Marie Segal and Mary Lynn (Richard) Sankey; a sister, Marguarite Kemp, Blackshear; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the North Jacksonville Chapel of Peeples Family Funeral Homes, with the Rev. Walter F. Chapman and the Rev. Ron Geiger officiating.
Graveside services followed at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon in the Alabaha Free Will Baptist Church cemetery in Pierce County where Mrs. Chapman accepted Jesus as her savior at the age of 10 and began her ministry.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Church Memorial Building fund of Alabaha Free Will Baptist Church, Hwy. 203, P.O. Box 4400, Blackshear, GA 31516.
Peeples Family Funeral Homes, 2220 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville, FL was in charge of arrangements.
George S. Robison
George S. Robison, 83, of Patterson died Saturday afternoon, October 2, 2004, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville from injuries sustained in an auto accident on Sept. 8.
A native of Huntsville, AL, he had lived most of his life in Patterson. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph M. Robison and Ellet Lillian Chastain Robison.
He was a retired school teacher from Patterson High School where he taught Math and Algebra and coached basketball and tennis. He was a longtime active member of Patterson Baptist Church where he also was a former Sunday School Superintendent.
He was a longtime member of the Patterson Lion’s Club.
A graduate of Auburn University, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II with the 586 Squadron of the 394th Bombardment Group Army Air Forces. He served as a Tech. Sgt., Radio Operator and Gunner on a B-26 in the European Theatre. He also had many combat missions over Nazi occupied Europe including Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He received several medals including the American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Stars.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Charlotte Davis Robison, Patterson; a son, David Robison, Atlanta; a daughter, Anne Williams (husband Jack Williams III), Patterson; seven grandchildren, Cleve Tyre Jr. (wife Kristel), St. Simons, Island, Brandon Tyre, Patterson, Cherie Riemersma, Covington, Caroline Williams, Jacksonville, FL, Emily Pilato (husband Luke) Atlanta, Jack Williams IV, Macon and James J. Williams, Patterson; four great-grandchildren, Morgan Riemersma, Covington, Roman and Isabella Tyre and Alex Riner, all of St. Simons Island; a sister Lillian R. Hughes, Huntsville, AL and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, from the Patterson Baptist Church.
iIntermentfollowed in the Patterson Cemetery.
Mr. Robison’s former basketball players served as honorary pallbearers.
Memorials may be given to Patterson Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Blackshear or the Pierce County High School Athletic Association.
Smith Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of the arrangements.
Ruby Inez Lucas Dixon
Ruby Inez Lucas Dixon, passed away Saturday, October 2, 2004, in an Eatonton Health Care Facility.
She was the daughter of the late Horace Kerr and Minnie Inez Lucas. She was a native of Sanford, FL, but had lived in the Atlanta area for 44 years. She was retired from the IRS and was a member of Square Dancing clubs, senior citizens and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include her children, Sue Stott, Jonesboro, Ernie Dixon, Lawrenceville, Eddie Dixon, Acworth, Karen Minchey and Lynn Dixon, both of Eatonton and Ephraim Dixon, League City, TX; a sister, Amelia Whitsett, Jacksonville, FL; two brothers, Kenneth Lucas, Danville, IL and Lewis Lucas, Valdosta; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, October 4, at Lakeside Baptist Church in Greensboro.
Burial followed at 4 p.m. that afternoon at the Shiloh cemetery near Blackshear.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
Vining Ivy Hill Chapel in Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Dolphus Welch
Dolphus Welch, 84, of 235 Eva Street in Blackshear, died unexpectedly Monday morning, September 20, 2004.
Dolphus (Chick) Welch was born on March 28, 1920 in Ben Hill County (Fitzgerald), Georgia to the union of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Welch and was the longest lived sibling of that union. A retired farmer and heavy equipment operator, he made many friends in and around Pierce County. Up until his health failed, he could be found plowing someone a garden space, pulling someone who got stuck out with his tractor, or pick-up truck, or just planting some flowers in the yard. He loved people and was loved by so many.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a loving wife, Deloris Welch, Blackshear; six sons, Dolphus (Jackie) Welch Jr., Alma Vinson (Hope) Welch, Percy Welch, Mike (Cynthia) Welch, all of Blackshear, Wallace Welch, Detroit, MI, Dale (Mattie) Jacobs, Ellis (Debra) Jacobs, both of Blackshear; three daughters, Myra Miller, Alexis Moore and Margie Taylor, all of Blackshear; his mother-in-law, Dora K. Jacobs, Blackshear; three brothers-in-law, James (Marie) Jacobs, William C. (Faye) Jacobs and Curtis Jacobs, all of Blackshear; two sisters-in-law, Kathryn Rogers and Emma Burden and one aunt, Sis. Isabell Reid, also of Blackshear; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 from the Mount Zion Baptist Church on Lee Street.
iIntermentfollowed in the Shiloh Cemetery.
Jacobs Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
