Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Rita Mae Graham
Rita Mae Graham, 64, died Friday, May 6, 2005 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah after a short illness. She was a native of Missouri and had lived in Appling County for the past 32 years. Mrs. Graham is a member of Red Oak Baptist Church. She had worked in the health care profession for many years. She was born Sept. 28, 1940 to the late George Raymond Johnson and the late Mussette Caywood Johnson. Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Wesley Graham.
She is survived by two daughters, Anita Edwards and Lori Graham, both of Baxley; two sons, Gary Ray Graham of Gracewood and Paul Graham of Hazlehurst; two sisters, Jean Dear of San Antonio, TX and Helen Sue Carpenter of Wichita, KS; four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 9 at 2:00 p.m. from the Red Oak Baptist Church with the Reverends, Royce Hulett and Ron Ross officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Red Oak Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jerry Johnson, Joey Andrews, Sammy Andrews, Ethel McFarland, Jimmy Wayne Branch and Jeffery Carter.
Honorary pallbearers were the Employees of Appling HealthCare System, H.I.M. of Bacon County Hospital, Dr. Charles Bagley and Dr. Teresa Cezar.
Musical selections were rendered by Elaine Black and Pam Williams.
Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Sara Catherne Ware Mills
Sara Catherne Ware Mills, 86, of Surrency, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005 in the Appling HealthCare System. Mrs. Mills was born in Appling County near Surrency. She was the daughter of Peter Guy Ware and Nettie Kennedy Ware. Mrs. Mills was an active member of Friendship Baptist Church in Wayne County for many years before her health began to decline. She was a charter member of the Colonel Daniel Appling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as past Chapter Registrar. Mrs. Mills was a homemaker and loved to quilt for family and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Jesse Lee Mills; five brothers, two sisters-in-law.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Kendall and Claudine Mills and Warren and Deborah Mills, all of Baxley; four grandchildren, Brian Mills of Brunswick, Kimberly Mills of Atlanta, Marla Mills Atkins (Mark) of Baxley and Shanna Mills of Atlanta; one great-grandson, Logan Price Atkins; one brother, Homer and wife, Annette Ware of Baxley; two sisters-in-law, JoAnne Ware of Milan and Loretta Ware of Savannah; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. from the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Phillip O'Steen, Glynn Stone and the Rev. Frank Sikes officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Friendship Baptist Church cemetery in Wayne County.
Active pallbearers were Brian Mills, Rick Ware, Paul Ware, Charlie Ware, Kevin Ware, Terry Howard, Allen Brown and Jerry Morris.
Honorary pallbearers were All friends in attendance.
Musical selections were rendered by David Williams and Trish White.
Arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Melva Jackson Farrington
Melva Jackson Farrington, 49, died Feb. 18, 2005 at Appling County HealthCare System. She was the sixth child born to the late Calvin Jackson, Jr. and Lillie Jackson on Nov. 17, 1956 in Baxley. She received Christ at an early age and attended several churches in Appling and Jeff Davis County.
Melva was educated in the public schools of Appling County and received training in Comprehensive Technology.
She was employed at Appling HealthCare System in custodial and dietary positions, where she worked until her health began to decline resulting in retirement. She was a singer and seamstress as well.
She is survived by three devoted sons, Preston Matthew (Sheena) of Jacksonville, Fla. Naval Air Station, Prentice Michael stationed on the USS Blue Ridge in Japan, both fathered by Michael Farrington of Hazlehurst and Christopher Lawrence Fedrick of Baxley, son of the late Larry Bell; her loving mother, LiIlie W. Jackson of Baxley; two sisters, Lugenia Pierce (Eugene) of Waycross and Malana Solomon (Arthur Leon) of Middleburg, Fla.; five brothers, Calvin Jackson III, Ronald Jackson, Kelton Jackson and Scottie Jackson of Baxley and Timothy W. Jackson of Reidsville; two grandchildren, Niteria Farrington and Preston Farrington, Jr.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends; also a special friend, Ernest Lee Clemons.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 23 from First Pleasant Church in Baxley with with Elder Norris officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Miles Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Quincy Bennett, Reginald Jones, Kenneth Jones, Lenny Harrel Carter, Larry Carter, Baine Carter, C.W. Clemons, Horace Sellers, Willie Norris Harris and Carroll M. Drake.
Musical selections were rendered by Peggy Fletcher.
Arrangements were under the direction of C.M. Brown Funeral Home.
Gwen Tillman
Gwen Tillman, of Forest Park, died April 11, 2005.
She is survived by daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck (Frances) Boswell of Forest Park and Mr. and Mrs. Barry (Connie) Halligan of Lawrenceville; son, Robert Kontz Tillman of Forest Park; sisters, Dean Mowery, Jo Moreland, Mary McKenzie and Boots Strange; brothers, Bill Wolfe, Jap Wolfe, Charles Wolfe and Warren Wolfe; grandchildren, Jason Glover, Todd Halligan and Taylor Halligan and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Ward's Parkway Chapel with the Rev. Hinton Harris officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to The Lupus Foundation of America Greater Atlanta Chapter, 6425 Powers Ferry Road, Suite 275, Atlanta, Ga. 30339.
Horis A. Ward Parkway Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Clara Mercer
Clara Mercer, 89, formerly of Anderson, SC, died Sunday, April 10, 2005 at Presbyterian Village Nursing Home in Austell, SC. Mrs. Mercer was a native of Baxley. She was a long time resident of Anderson, SC and a charter member of Boulevard Baptist Church, where she was also a former Sunday School Teacher for many years. She was the wife of the late Dr. J. Frank Mercer.
Mrs. Mercer was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. J. Frank Mercer and parents, John Reeves and Zelda Bethune Reeves.
She is survived by sons, Joe Mercer of Raleigh, NC and Al Mercer of Marietta; one brother, E.C. "Short" Reeves of Baxley; grandchildren, John and Katie Mercer, Chris and Laura Mercer and Cory and Robbie Wiggins.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. from the chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home by the Rev. Redden Thames. iIntermentfollowed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Anderson, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Boulevard Baptist Church, 700 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621.
The McDougald Funeral Home of Anderson, SC was in charge of the arrangements.
Milton H. Griffin
Milton H. Griffin, 73, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 in the Bryan Center in Lumber City. He was born May 24, 1931 in Appling County and had resided here all his life. Griffin was a retired farmer and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Imogene Turner Griffin. He was the son of the late Homer Milton Griffin and the late Allie Nail Griffin.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Gary Deal of Bristol; two sons and daughters-in-law, William and Brenda Griffin of Baxley and Richard and Helen Griffin of Hazlehurst; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 8 from the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Rev. David Griffin and the Rev. Charles Carter officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Dan DeVereaux, G.W. "Buddy" Roberson, J.L. Carter, Richard Leigh, James Norwood and Jimmy Music.
Honorary pallbearers were Members and Staff of Brian Center Nursing Home, Past and Present Employees of Public Works Department of the City of Baxley, Franklin Carter, Grady William Griffin, James Carter, Lavenia Doke, Carlton Griffin, P. C. and Evelyn Carter, Dennis Lange, Junior Peacock, R.D. and Dedi Thomas, Mary Louise Thomas, Christy Howell, Staff of Patterson Bank, Bernice Miller, Clifton Griffin, Billy Joe Carter, Billy Medders, Jimmy Carter and James Godfrey.
Musical selections were rendered by David Williams.
Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
John Juliano
John Juliano, 56, passed away Monday, April 4, 2005 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah after an extended illness. He was born in Schweinfurt, Germany, but became a naturalized citizen of the united States in 1963. Juliano had lived in Baxley for the past 13 years. He was a member of Midway Baptist Church. Juliano was a United States Marine Veteran having served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive.
Juliano was preceded in death by his son, Stephen H. Benton.
He is survived by his wife, Lili H. Juliano of Baxley; one daughter, Kim Benton Stocker of Northampton, PA; one son, Michael H. Benton of Atlanta; his father, Joseph R. Juliano of Germany; one brother, Raymond Juliano of Brunswick; four grandchildren, Dallas Chanclor, Amy Benton, Roman Chanclor and Mitchell Benton also survive.
A memorial service was held Thursday, April 7 at 5:00 p.m. from the chapel of Swain Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Williamson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cancer Care, 275 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
Mack Phillips
Mack Phillips, 93, died Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Glenvue Nursing Home. The Tattnall County native had lived in Glennville most of his life, retiring from the Timber Industry. Phillips was a member of The Alee Shrine Temple, Philadelphia Lodge 73, where he was past Worshipful Master and was a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Bettye Phillips of Glennville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sue and Wayne Renew of Guyton and Linda DeLoach of Glennville; three sons and daughter-in-laws, Billy and Ginny Phillips of Thomaston, Dewey and Kathy Edwards of Gainesville, Monty and Debra Edwards and Greg Edwards, all of Baxley; thirteen grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 12 at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Glennville with the Rev. Steve Posey officiating. Burial followed in Glennville City cemetery with Masonic grave side services.
Pallbearers were Grandsons.
Carter Funeral Chapel of Glennville was in charge of the arrangements.
Alvada Collins
Alvada Collins, 54, died Thursday, Mar. 24, 2005 in the Appling HealthCare System. She was born Nov. 5, 1950 in Bacon County and had resided in Appling County for most of her life. Mrs. Collins was a housewife and a member of the Oak Grove Church of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Collins. She was the daughter of the late Carlos Leggett and the late Mattie Mathis Leggett.
She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, DeAnna and Jamie Sharpe of Baxley, Lora Lynn and Richard Hobby of Baxley, Jeri and Stormey Rice of Milton, Fla.; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Quincey S. and Tanya Allen of Baxley, Jerry Collins, Jr. of Milton, Fla. and Markus Collins of Milton, Fla.; four sisters, Wanda Gribble, Genell Hylton, Patsy Stone of Baxley and Velma "Smokey" Straley, all of Baxley; two brothers, Buddy Leggett of Alma and Mike Leggett of Baxley; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services were held Sat., Mar. 13 at 2:00 p.m. from the chapel of David E. Miles Funeral Home with the Rev. Dennis Bryant and the Rev. Charles Hutcheson officiating. iIntermentfollowed in Wesley Chapel cemetery in Bacon County.
Active pallbearers were Joe Leggett, Carl Leggett, Carl Stone, Cliff Branch, James Lamb and Jamie Leggett.
Honorary pallbearers were all friends and family attending the funeral service.
Musical selections were rendered by April Hesters, Ann Stone, Jamie Sharpe and Larry Varnadore.
Arrangements were under the direction of David E. Miles Funeral Home.
Villa Steen Williams
Villa Steen Williams, 86, died Sunday, Mar. 13, 2005. He was born Feb. 14, 1919 in Trebbett, MS to the late Henry Williams and Clara Chambers.
Villa joined Northside Church of Christ under the ministry of Brother Charlie McClendon.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Percy Williams, a son, Eddie Lee Williams, two brothers and a daughter-in-law.
He is survived by eight daughters, Cressie (James) Potee, Haley Wooten, Frances (Clanton, Sr.), Moree of Jacksonville, Fla., Emma Williams, Dorothy Herbert and Barbara Terrell of Atlanta, Pearlie (Carl) Byrd of Boston, Mass. and Annette Rogers of Japan.
Four sons, Henry Williams of Jacksonville, Fla., Earnest Williams of Lyons, Charles Williams of Charlotte, NC and Thomas (Patricia) Williams of Baxley; one sister, Francis Wigfall of Detroit, MI.
One brother, Pete (Mary) Williams of Gulfport, MS; 41 grandchildren, 117 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and sorrowing friends also survive.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Mar. 19 at 5:00 p.m. from Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Fla. with the Rev. Charlie McClendon and the Rev. Nathaniel Stewart officiating.
iIntermentfollowed in Old Field cemetery in Baxley.
Pallbearers were nephews and members of Northside Church of Christ.
Musical selections were led by Stanley Shootes, Regina Williams and Ms. Willie Mae Heller.
Arrangements were under the direction of Funerals by T.S. Warden of Jacksonville, Fla.
