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George Walter Harris Jr.
BARTOW, Fla. — Mr. George Walter Harris Jr., age 71, of Bartow, Fla., died Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida.
Born in Tampa, Fla., Mr. Harris grew up in Americus, Georgia and was CEO & Chairman of the Board of Citrus & Chemical Bank of Polk County. A graduate of Georgia Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1956, Mr. Harris was Student Council President and a member of the SAE Fraternity. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Banking. Mr. Harris served as a U.S. Naval Officer in Key West from 1956 to 1958.
George W. Harris Jr. was devoted to his wife, Harriett, and dedicated to his children, Katherine, Walt and Fran. To his brother, he was a best friend. To his bank, he was an inspirational leader. To his friends, he was always loyal and encouraging. To his community, he was a servant.
He was known for his kindness and generosity. His joy was contagious and his humility was authentic. His energy was unending, as was his love for all athletics, especially tennis. From his corporate charitable giving to the scores of anonymous individuals in need, George W. Harris Jr. gave from his heart.
George W. Harris Jr. was recipient of the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame Award, the First state-wide recipient of the Community Bankers of Florida 'Emblem' Award, the Polk County Opportunity Council “Humanitarian of the Year Award, ” the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce ‘2003 George Jenkins Award, ” the Bartow Lions Club “Outstanding Citizen of the Year, ” the Bartow Rotary Club “Outstanding Citizen Medal of Merit, ” the Polk County Public Schools “Lifetime Achievement Award, ” the Women's Resource Center “Corporate Leadership for Women Award.” He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bartow.
Mr. Harris served on the Board of Trustees for the Florida Chamber Foundation and the University of Tampa. He was the past President & Director of the Florida Bankers Association; the past Florida State Chairman of the Conference of State Banks Supervisors. Mr. Harris was Chairman of the Polk County Industrial Development Authority; the Board of Governors of the Polk Museum of Art; the past Chairmen of the Central Florida Development Council; the Chairman & Board of Trustees of the Polk Community College; the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Lakeland Economic Development Council; Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland and the Community Foundation of Greater Winter Haven. He was a member of the past Board of Trustees and the past Board of Directors for the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce; past Member of the American Bankers Association Council; and a member of the Society of International Business Fellows.
He is survived by his wife, Harriett G. Harris of Bartow; son, George W. "Walt" Harris III of Aspen, Colo.; daughters, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris & husband Anders Ebbeson of Sarasota, Fla.; Fran Harris King and husband Wes of Franklin, Tenn.; Brother, William S. "Bill" Harris and wife Ann of Americus; grandchildren - Harrison, Mitch and Walt King of Franklin, Tenn.; McCall Kauss of Aspen and Louise Ebbeson of Miami. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at the church. Private family interment will be held. Memorials may be made to the George W. Harris Jr. Foundation, 114 N. Tennessee Avenue, Lakeland, Fla., 33801. Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow is in charge of arrangements.
John H. Harvey
TEMPLE, Penn. — John H. Harvey, 48, Temple, died of natural causes Jan. 13 at 12:44 a.m., in the emergency room of Reading Hospital.
Born in Americus, he was a son of Fannie L. Harvey, Americus, and the late John H. Moore.
He had been employed for 30 years by Zip-net, Inc., Reading, where he was plant manager.
Harvey, who resided with Tina (Sheetz) Nye, is also survived by two daughters, Kieshia C. Martin and Dyneisha D. Harvey, both of Reading.
Other survivors include three brothers: Clarence, Killeen, Texas; LeRoy, Zebulon; and John E., Americus; and five sisters, Denise (Harvey) Danner and Glory Harvey, both of Killeen; Carolyn Harvey and Elizabeth Melton, both of Americus; and Allie Harvey, Reading.
Services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, at Henninger Funeral Home Inc. Burial will be in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Maidencreek Township.
Henninger Funeral Home Inc. of Reading, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.
Gary Milton West
PARROTT — Gary Milton West, 62, of Parrott, died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2005, at his home.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., today, at L.B. Smith Funeral Chapel in Richland. The Rev. Wallace Willis and the Rev. Kenneth Lee West will officiate.
Born Dec. 2, 1943 in Sumter County, he was the son of the late Lettie Downer West and the late Wesley Milton West.
West was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. He attended Terrell County schools and was a graduate of Florida State University, where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. At Florida State University, he received his B.S. in finance. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a brother, Heyward West.
He is survived by his wife, Delia Almon West of Parrott; his children, Miriam Blake West of Parrott, Mary Bonnie West of Parrott, Daniel Grady Almon of Preston, Dave Vincent Almon of Dawson, Joseph Milton West of Dawson and Brooks West Hart of Americus; three grandchildren; one brother, the Rev. Kenneth Lee West of Pelham.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Macedonia Baptist Church cemetery Fund.
L.B. Smith Funeral Home, Inc. of Richland is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Chambers
ELLAVILLE -- Charles Chambers, a gentle and good-natured traveling salesman, who for three decades after World War II, criss-crossed the two-lane blacktops of the Deep South, while making life-long friends and almost coincidentally selling fertilizer along the way, died Monday at his home in Ellaville. He was 83.
Mr. Chambers died peacefully from complications due to prostate cancer. His son, Gus, said his father left this world "with the same smile he gave everyone his entire life."
Mr. Chamber's twinkly smile was as much his trademark as his floppy, white tennis hat. An especially kind and soft-spoken man with a gift for celebrating the best in everyone -- and the patience to look for it no matter how long it make take him to find it -- Mr. Chambers rubbed elbows with rich, poor, black and white during a time in the changing South when that was not easy. But that openness and generosity was in his nature and his legacy.
The son of Charlie Chambers and Eunice Wynn of Homer, Mr. Chambers was the oldest of four children. His brothers, Bob and Inman, were well-known and respected business men of Cornelia and his sister, Sara Brantley, still lives in Griffin.
Mr. Chambers attended the University of Georgia where he graduated with a degree in agronomy. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. As a Second-Lieutenant gunnery officer he fought in 13 battles in the Pacific theater.
After the war, he returned to Georgia, married
his childhood friend, Jeannette Chase, and raised a family. It was about this time that he got a job with Mississippi Chemical Company and worked for Jerry Clower, the Southern comedian noteworthy for his appearances on such shows as "Hee Haw."
For many years, Mr. Chambers lived throughout the South but he moved his family to Ellaville in 1969 where he eventually retired. Throughout all his travels it was often said that he never forgot his friends in Northeast Georgia.
In the land of cotton, soybeans, peanuts and lots of other things, Mr. Chambers sold fertilizer with a contagious confidence in his product that made him a success. He had the generosity, charm and knack for getting people to like him, along with the ability to get people to trust him, talk to him and want to do business with him. And in the process, they became friends.
At home, Mr. Chambers was a devoted family man. He attended to his wife's needs through a decade-long illness that eventually would lead to her death, and outside of his family he gave unselfishly to the community. He was active with the local library and taught Sunday School for many years at Ellaville United Methodist Church.
He was almost as religious in his belief in the Democratic Party. It was Mr. Chambers' conviction that "the only excuse anyone would ever have for being a Republican was if they were born a millionaire." It probably was fortunate for his wife that she was related to the Carters of Plains, and that a member of their Democratic family eventually would become president of the United States.
Throughout his professional life, if Mr. Chambers was not driving over pavement or dirt roads, chance were he was pounding it. An avid runner, he started running cross-country races in college and continued throughout his life, even placing third nationally in a 6K run in his age group in 1981. He was just as passionate about tennis, which he taught himself in the early 1960s and over the years taught, with patience and humor, many, many others, especially the young.
Mr. Chambers is survived by a son, Gus, 52, of Missoula, Mont. and a daughter, Dolly Bennett, 61, of Corinth, Miss.; two granddaughters, and four great-grandchildren.
There was a visitation Wednesday, March 17, from 5-8 p.m., and the funeral will be at 11 a.m. today, Thursday, March 18, with a graveside service to follow at Camp Creek cemetery in Cornelia.
A second memorial service will be held for his friends in Ellaville, at the Ellaville United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 21.
Mr. Chambers will be buried next to his wife, Jeannette. On Mrs. Chambers' gravestone are the opening lines of Sydney Lanier's poem, "Song of the Chattahoochee." The lines, referring to the source and flow of the river, begin, "Out of the hills of Habersham."
The closing words in the poem will be engraved on Mr. Chambers' gravestone, "Abide, abide, here in the hills of Habersham."
Whitfield Funeral Home of Cornelia is in charge of arrangements.
Samuel Stephen Bowen
AMERICUS -- Mr. Samuel Stephen "Steve" Bowen, age 46, of 1412 U.S. Highway 280 West, Americus, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 19, from the graveside at Rehoboth Baptist Church cemetery with the Rev. Tommy McConnell officiating. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. today, Thursday, March 18, at Aldridge Funeral Services, 612 Reese Park, and other times at the residence of Monica and J.R. Andrews, 135 Dogwood Drive, Americus.
Mr. Bowen was born Sept. 15, 1957, son of James Edward Bowen and Marjorie Gloss Bowen. Mr. Bowen was an equipment operator for the Georgia Department of Transportation and a member of Rehoboth Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Youngblood Bowen of Americus; his parents James E. Bowen and Marjorie G. Bowen of Americus; a son, T.J. Bowen of Leslie; a step-son, Jimmy Underwood Jr. of Orlando, Fla.; a step-daughter and son-in-law, Monica and J.R. Andrews of Americus; one sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Ray Aaron of Cartersville; a brother and sister-in-law, Eric and April Bowen of Ellaville; and one step-grandchild, Christopher Underwood of Americus. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.
Memorial contributions may be made to Georgia Diabetes Research Foundation Inc., 1120 W. Broad Avenue, Suite A1, Albany, GA, 31707.
Aldridge Funeral Services, 612 Reese Park, is in charge of arrangements.
Lois Ruth Clayton
AMERICUS -- Mrs. Lois Ruth Clayton, age 76, of 1215 Oglethorpe Avenue, Americus, died Tuesday, March 16, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at the chapel of Aldridge Funeral Services with the Rev. Mike Jarvis officiating.
iIntermentwill follow in the Midway Church cemetery in Crisp County. A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. today, March 17, at Aldridge Funeral Services, 612 Reese Park.
Mrs. Clayton was born Feb. 16, 1928, the daughter of the late James Rhollie Timmons and the late Nannie Mae Thomason Timmons in Crisp County. She was a homemaker, a bookkeeper for her husband's business, Clayton Plumbing and Electric in Americus, for many years, and worked in the business office at Georgia Southwestern State University. She was a charter member of Morningside United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Parks Hollis "Bill" Clayton of Americus; a daughter, Janis Warren of Americus; a son and daughter-in-law, Hollis and Peggy Clayton of Americus; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ethel and Jackie Willard and Faustine and Grady Wiley, all of Cordele; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Jean Timmons and Marvin and Sharon Timmons, all of Cordele; three grandchildren, Daniel Warren and Wendy Clayton, both of Americus, and Kim Debose of Marion, Ill; and two great-grandchildren, Dillon Debose and Brooke Debose, both of Marion, Ill. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, John Dan "Danny" Warren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the League of the Good Samaritan c/o Magnolia Manor, 2001 S. Lee St., Americus, GA 31709; Morningside United Methodist Church, 1207 Crawford St., Americus GA 31709; or to a charity of one's choice.
Aldridge Funeral Services, 612 Reese Park, Americus, is in charge of these arrangements.
George Amos Clark
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- George Amos Clark Jr., 76, of Athens, Tenn., died Friday, May 7, 2004, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
A native of Smithville, he was born in nearby Americus to George A. Clark Sr. and Maida Hatcher Clark. He joined the Army after high school and trained in the Tank Corps. After his discharge, he completed a doctorate degree at the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine.
During his graduate study years, he met and married
Noble Dooly, from Cleveland, Tenn. He was called into active duty upon his graduation. He served in the Veterinary Corps of the Army and achieved the rank of first lieutenant. Afterwards, he practiced veterinary medicine at Chester, S.C., but left his practice to join his father-in-law, W.I. Dooly, in the lumber business at Conasauga Lumber Co., where he served as vice president of the company, assisting in management, when Mr. Dooly was away to another business in North Carolina.
In 1957, he moved with his wife and two children to Athens, Tenn., where he founded Hiwassee Builders Supply Co. and continued in that company until his death. He was owner and operator of the Savannah Farm (of Polk County, Tenn.) and also of Savannah Sand and Gravel Co.. He served as a director of both Conasauga Lumber Co. and Haywood Builders Supply Co. in North Carolina. He was a partner in CNC Solutions, Athens. He served on the original McMinn County Industrial 100 Committee, the Athens-McMinn County YMCA Board, and McMinn County Bond Board. He was a member of The Wildwood Company. A devoted family man and an active churchman, he was a communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry and as junior and senior warden. Known for his sound advice and guidance, George was beloved as husband, father, grandfather and caring friend by his family and his extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Carolyn Clark Jackson. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, George Charles Clark and Kathy Porter Clark of Athens, Tenn.; a daughter and son-in-law, Lucia Clark Case and James W. Case of Atlanta; a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Albert H. Clark and Edith Clark of Atlanta; five grandchildren, John Blanton Edgar IV of Portland, Ore., James Phillip Case and Elizabeth Noble Case of Atlanta, Charles Amos Clark and Richard Porter Clark, both of Athens, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. today, May 11, 2004, at Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home, Athens, Tenn. A memorial service celebrating the life of George A. Clark Jr. will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 12, in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Randall Morgan officiating. iIntermentwill follow in the church courtyard. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the Church Parish Hall. Those desire may make memorial contributions to their choice of the following: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 326, Athens TN 37371-0326; Good Faith Clinic, P.O. Box 70, Athens TN 37371-0070; Habitat for Humanity of McMinn County, P.O. Box 1556, Athens TN 37371-1556; Friends of the Polk County Library, P.O. Box 577, Benton TN 37307.
Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home of Athens, Tenn., is in charge of arrangements.
Martha Elizabeth Hamilton
AMERICUS -- Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Hamilton, 94, died at her residence May 10, 2004. A native of McCormick, S.C., Mrs. Hamilton was born Sept. 10, 1909, a daughter of the late John Z. Edmunds and Frances Elizabeth Dunaway Edmunds. She was the widow of James Robert Hamilton, Jr.
Mrs. Hamilton moved to Americus in 1926, and married
Robert Hamilton Jr. Aug. 30, 1926. She was a homemaker most of her adult life and was a member of Rehoboth Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel prior to the graveside service to be held at 11:30 a.m. at Rehoboth Baptist Church cemetery with the Rev. Greg Kirk officiating.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty H. Anderson of Americus; a granddaughter and her husband, Connie A. and Darrell Weldon of Ringgold; three grandsons and their wives, Randy and Debbie Anderson of Cordele, Bobby and Donna Anderson of Gainesville, Terry and Maria Anderson of Flowery Branch. Also surviving are 10 great-grandchildren that will serve as honorary pallbearers, Tom Weldon, Gage Weldon, Ryan Weldon, Daniel Weldon, Scott Anderson, Barry Anderson, Marilyn Anderson, Blake Anderson, Katlin Anderson and Jessica Anderson. Three great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.
A son, James Robert (Bobby) Hamilton III, brothers, Clyde, Roy, Jack, Ralph, Frank and a sister, Agnes preceded her in death.
Those desiring may make contributions to Rehoboth Baptist Church, Dawson Road, Americus GA 31719 or to The League of the Good Samaritan, 2001 S. Lee St., Americus GA 31709.
Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Fannie Mae Sims Bridges
AMERICUS — Funeral services for the Fannie Mae Sims Bridges of 240 Swisher Road, Americus, who passed on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, in the Sumter Regional Hospital will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, from the Bethlehem Baptist Church. The Rev. Leonard Boston will officiate and burial will follow in the Lebanon cemetery. There will be a viewing of the body one hour prior to services at the church.
Mrs. Fannie Mae Sims Bridges was born in Sumter County on Oct. 9, 1948 to the parentage of the late Mr. Pete Sims and the late Mrs. Memphis Burns Sims.
She leaves to mourn her passing: her husband of 15 years, Mr. Arthur Bridges Jr., daughters, Ms. Sheena (Anthony) Smith and Ms. Stefanie Ware, Ms. Michelle (James) Davis, Ms. Diane Bridges and Ms. Connie Faye Harper; her sons, Mr. Arthur Bridges Jr., Mr. Bernard (Sarah) Bridges, Mr. Bruce Bridges, Mr. Gregory K. Bridges and Mr. James Harper.
Survivors also include three brothers: Mr. John (Thomasena) Sims, Mr. Pete Sims Jr. and Mr. Leroy Sims; five sisters, Ms. Rosa Dodson, Ms. Mary Frances (Hence) King, Ms. Annie (Andre) Saintil, Ms. Annie R. Sims and Ms. Alice Sims; mother-in-law, Ms. Minnie Lee Bridges; a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends also survive.
Barnum Funeral Home will be in charge of these arrangements.
Bertha McMath Brim
DAWSON — Bertha McMath Brim, 99, of Sasser died on Jan. 9, 2006 at Palmyra Nursing Home in Albany. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, at Harvey Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Norman Brown and the Rev. Wallace Willis officiating. iIntermentwill follow in Crown Hill cemetery in Albany.
Mrs. Brim was a native of Sumter County, born April 21, 1906, daughter of the late John Franklin McMath and Ada Denson Arrington McMath. She had been a resident of Sasser since 1948 and was the widow of the late Willard Eugene Brim.
She was an elementary school teacher with the Dougherty and Terrell County School Systems, retiring in 1970. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, both Georgia, national and local, a member of the Sasser Baptist Church, the WMU. She taught Sunday School, was pianist and served as clerk of the church until she retired in 1990.
Survivors include seven nieces and nephews, including Edith W. Bobe of Pensacola, Fla. and Horace M. Walters of Colorado Springs, Colo.; several great-nieces and nephews and a number of great-great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday before the funeral service.
Memorials may be made to the Sasser Baptist Church, P.O. Box 97, Sasser, GA 39885.
Harvey Funeral Home in Dawson is in charge of arrangements.
