Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Mary Frances McNeil
AMERICUS— Dr. Mary Frances McNeil departed July 1, 2007 at the age of 87. She died peacefully in her home after a long struggle with heart disease.
Mary Frances had been a resident of Americus for the last 20 years. She was born in Terrell County, Oct. 27, 1919 to Clifford and Susie Byrd McNeil.
She was a teacher and educator all her professional life. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Georgia State College for Women, her Masters of Education from Auburn University, and her Doctorate from Nova University. She also attended the University of Georgia.
She taught in Dougherty and Muscogee Counties before coming to Leesburg in 1960. She retired there in 1985 as Curriculum Director of Lee County Schools.
She enjoyed traveling, reading, and shopping with her friends. She loved to cook and was an avid collector of cookbooks.
In addition to her late parents she is preceded in death by her sister, Margie Coarsey, and her lifelong companion Charles Wheatley.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, L.H. Coarsey of Cordele. She is also survived by nephews Charles (Mary Ann) Coarsey of North Dallas, TX and Dr. Stephen (Sheri) Coarsey of Statesville, N.C. In addition she is survived by two great-nephews, Eben and Chad Coarsey and a great niece, Lucy Byrd Coarsey, all of Statesville, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, friends desiring may make a memorial contribution to the American Heart Association.
Evelyn Fiveash
AMERICUS — Evelyn Fiveash, 91, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Thursday, June 1, 2006 at the Sumter Regional Hospital, after a brief illness. She was born in Dupont on Aug. 18, 1914 to the late George Alexander Sr. and Leila Hughes Fiveash and lived in Clinch and Lowndes counties until moving to Jacksonville, Fla. in 1940. Fiveash was a retired bank bookkeeper and a member of the West Jacksonville Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James M. and Kathy Fiveash of Jacksonville, Fla., daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Thad Wilkinson of Desoto, four grandchildren, Tommy Wilkinson, Thad Wilkinson III, Molly Sellars and Alise Reynolds and five great-grandchildren; one sister, Vera Tippins of Valdosta.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Cat Creek Cemetery, with the Elder Gordon Smith.
Carson McLane Funeral Home of Valdosta is in charge of arrangements.
Slaton Holley
PLAINS — Funeral services for Mr. Slaton Holley, 78, of Plains will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2006 at St. Mark AME Church with Rev. George F. Monts officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Mr. Holley died on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at the Lillian Carter Nursing Center.
Mr. Holley was born in Webster County to the late Rev. John Henry Holley and the late Mary Lee Kleckley Holley. At an early age he joined the Saint Mark A.M.E. Church in Plains. He received his education in the public schools of Webster County. He was a self-employed auto mechanic. In May of 1954, he was united in holy matrimony to Ms. Elsie Lee Stewart and to this union was born three daughters and one son. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Elsie Lee Stewart Holley, one daughter, Ms. Jeanette Holley, and two brothers, Mr. John Henry Holley, Jr. and Mr. Marvin C. Holley.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Mrs. Linda (Joseph) Mitchell of Albany; Mrs. Mary (Jerome) Lewis and Starling Holley, both of Smithville; one step-daughter, Ms. Clara Reed of Rochester, N.Y.; two brothers, Mr. John Amos Holley and Mr. Adam Holley both of Plains; one brother-in-law, Mr. Joseph Stewart of Americus; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Queen Holley of Columbus and one son-in-law, Mr. Howard Terry of Americus; seven grandchildren, Pamela Lockett, Tonya Mitchell, Diandra Mitchell and Cassandra Mitchell all of Albany, Latoya Terry, Concetta Terry, Linda Baker all of Americus, and Micheal Terry of Norfork, Va.; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and devoted friends, Mr. Rudie Banks, Mrs. Drucilla Owens and Ms. Faye Bivins. A host of other relatives and friends also survive.
Billy Ray Smith
DOERUN — Billy Ray Smith, 63, of 130 Ed Lee Road, Doerun, died Thursday, June 1, 2006, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 5, 2006 at Cobb Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Ronald Barrett officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Casketbearers will be Billy Twyman, Johnny Hudson, John Hudson, Pat Twyman, Rick Melton and Patrick Melton.
Born April 22, 1943 in Faukville, Ala., Smith was the son of the late Ollie Mae McDonald Smith and the late Herman Smith.
He was a tractor driver for the Martin County, Fla. Road Department. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors are his spouse Sharon Hudson Smith of Doerun; a son, James Ray Smith of Leslie and wife Jeanie; a daughter, Tonya Twyman of Thomasville; a brother, Eulle Smith of Artemasky, Ky.; three sisters, Wilma Talman of Addison, Ala., Helen Roberts of Summerville, Ala., and Joyce Beasley of Addison, Ala.; and four grandchildren, Billy Twyman, Jesse Twyman, Anne Elizabeth Smith and Shelby Smith.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cobb Funeral Chapel.
Tony M. Farr
AMERICUS — Mr. Tony M. Farr, 50, 907 Elmo St., died unexpectedly on Monday afternoon, July 9 2007. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12, in the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home with interment to follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Matt Stewart and the Rev. Brooks Partain will be requested to officiate.
Born June 22, 1957 in Sumter County, Mr. Farr was a son of the late Jessie Edward Farr and Mrs. Evelyn Moore Farr Holloway, who survives. He was a member of the Lee Street United Methodist Church.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at Hancock Funeral Home. At other times, friends may call at the residence of Doug and Candy Dinsmore, 817 Douglas Drive, Americus. Memorial contributions may be made to Breezeway, P.O. Box 1348, Americus, GA. 31709.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Evelyn M. and Ernest L. Holloway of Americus; brother and sister-in-law, Edward E. “Buck” and Ruth Farr of Albany; stepbrothers and stepsisters, Randy and Judy Holloway of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Connie and Tommy Nance of Leesburg, “Chuck” Holloway of Albany and Patsy and R.W. Price of Sylvester; nieces and nephews, Karen and Ken Thompson of Augusta, Angela and Dan Grube of Sylva, NC, Edward E. Farr Jr. and VeAnn of Dawson, Bob Farr of Albany and Scott and Stephanie Johnson of Warrenton and several aunts, uncles and cousins. A sister, Mary Evelyn Johnson, preceded him in death.
Hancock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Everett L. Middleton
AMERICUS — Mr. Everett L. Middleton, age 97, died Sunday afternoon, July 8, 2007 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center. Funeral services will be held from the graveside at 1 p.m. Friday, July 13, 2007 at Lebanon cemetery in Plains, with Father Laurence Lucree officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friday morning, July 13, 2007 at the funeral home.
Mr. Middleton, a native of Lee County, Smithville, was born April 20, 1910, the son of the late Edmund Lee Middleton and Mary Elizabeth Woods Middleton. He was a row crop farmer and also worked for the city of Fort Pierce, Fla. light department until his retirement. He was of the Baptist faith and also served in the U.S. Coast Guard in WWII.
Mr. Middleton is survived by a daughter and son-in-law: Dareth Sockbeson and Ronald of Marathon, N.Y.; four sons and daughters-in-law: Robert Middleton of Key West, Fla., Steve Middleton and Patty of Gainesville, Fla., Roger Middleton and Vicki Lindsey of Vero Beach, Fla. and Lamar Middleton of Fort Pierce, Fla. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Aldridge Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.
Philip Moye
Americus — Philip Moye, age 71, passed Sunday, July 8, 2007 at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Center. Funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 13 from the Campbell Chapel AME Church, 503 North Jackson Street, Americus. The Rev. Lodenia Coleman will officiate. iIntermentwill follow in the Eastview Cemetery.
Sandford Willis
WAYNESVILLE — Sandford "Sandy" Willis, 68, of Waynesville, died Monday, July 16, 2007, at Southeast Georgia Medical Center, Brunswick Campus.
A native of Franklin, he had previously lived at Lake Blackshear for 22 years, and Glynn County for the past 15 years. He was retired from Georgia Power Company with 36 years of service, and was the former Mayor of Unadilla.
He was a member of the Horse Fly Hunting Club, member and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Horsestamp Methodist Church, and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 18 from the King Memorial Baptist Church in Waynesville. Burial to follow at Homeward cemetery in Waverly.
Visitation was held Tuesday, July 17, at Chapman Funeral Chapel in Brunswick from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Tommie Willis.
Survivors include his wife, Cathy Willis of Waynesville; four children, Bennie Willis of Lake Blackshear, Blake Willis of Waynesville, Tony Ray Edmondson of Hampton and Sandra Brinson of Perry; a sister, Mary Jane Filoso of St. Marys; eight grandchildren.
The family requests that Memorial Contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.
Chapman Funeral Chapel and Crematory of Brunswick is in charge of arrangements.
Harrold P. Bowen
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Harrold P. Bowen, 73, died July 1, 2007, in Winston-Salem, N.C., as the result of a stroke. Mr. Bowen was born Jan. 7, 1934, in Americus, Ga., the son of the late Fred and Willie Bowen. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1956, with a degree in industrial management. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Mr. Bowen founded Bowen Supply Inc. in Americus in 1964, and it grew to become a national distributor of building components for the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing industries. Mr. Bowen served on the Board and as president of the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association and earned the GMHA Hall of Fame award in 1978. Mr. Bowen also served on the Board of the national Manufactured Housing Institute, and received the MHI Chairman’s award in 1994. He retired from the industry in 1997, and was inducted into the Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame in 2002, recognized as an industry pioneer.
Mr. Bowen was a member of the World Presidents Organization and the Young Presidents Organization, along with a YPO Forum with 13 associates that met monthly for 13 years. He was also passionate about his investments in the stock market and real estate. He traveled the world and was an avid and skilled yachtsman, extensively cruising the Bahamas and the eastern seaboard from the Florida Keys to the Chesapeake Bay. He was a member of many clubs including Cherokee Town and Country Club, Sea Island Club, Spring Island Club, Key Largo Anglers Club, and Ocean Reef Club. His major philanthropic efforts include Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southwestern, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Ocean Reef Medical Center, and the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation.
Mr. Bowen is survived by his wife, Linda, of Sea Island, Ga.; his sons, Fred Bowen (Kristin) of Atlanta and H. Lee Bowen (Jodi) of Alpharetta, Ga.; his stepsons, David Friedline (Catherine) of Fairfield, Conn., and Jon Friedline (Sonia) of Atlanta; granddaughter, Kelley Bowen of Athens, Ga., and grandsons, George and Gaston Friedline of Fairfield, Conn.
A memorial will be held on at 1:30 p.m. July 9 at the Calvary Episcopal Church, 408 S. Lee St., Americus GA 31709. Because it is a celebration of Harrold’s life, the family requests everyone dress casually and in light colors. In lieu of flowers, and because of Harrold’s love of dogs, the family has requested memorials be sent to the Sumter Humane Society, 702 Magnolia St., Americus GA 31709 or the Millan Foundation. Friends and family are invited to post memories and thoughts about Harrold at www.caringbridge.org/visit/harroldbowen. Links for directions to the church and donations to the Humane Society and Millan Foundation may also be found there.
Larry James Cavender
COBB — Mr. Larry J. Cavender, age 64, of 384 N. Spring Creek Circle, Cobb, died Tuesday morning, July 3, 2007 at his residence following a long illness.
A native of Sumter County, Mr. Cavender was born Feb. 4, 1943, a son of the late Robert L. Cavender and Ruby Forsyth Cavender. He was a veteran, having served in the Navy and was a retired barber from his own business in Savannah. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and AlphaNet.
Funeral services and interment will be held at l p.m., Thursday, July 5, 2007 at Andersonville National Historic Site with Ray Smith delivering the eulogy. Per Larry, in lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to AlphaNet, Inc., 2937 SW 27th Avenue, Suite 305, Coconut Grove, FL 33133.
Survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Cavender of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Beatrice Lawing and Faith Houston both of Cobb; four brothers, Robert Lee Cavender Jr. of Americus, Steve Cavender of Ocala, Fla., Bruce Cavender of Yorkville and Christopher Cavender of Americus. Two grandchildren, Simone McAfee of Savannah and Alex Shurling of Daytona Beach, Fla. also survive. He was expecting a great-grandson in November.
Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Warren Russell Hall
ELLAVILLE — Mr. Warren Russell Hall, 82, of Ellaville died early Friday morning, July 13, 2007 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., today at Ellaville Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ben Foxworth and the Rev. Brooks Partain officiating. Burial will follow in the Ellaville Cemetery.
Mr. Hall was born in Dooly County on Sept. 15, 1924. He was the son of Robert Ervin Hall and Hessie Goodrum Hall. Mr. Hall was a retired furniture salesman. He was an active member of the Ellaville Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and a member of the Willing Workers Sunday School class. He also served on the Ellaville City Council, a member of the Lions Club and a Mason.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Hall; one daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and George Jones of Scottsboro, Ala.; one son-in-law, Calvin Anderson Gray Jr. of Cleveland, Tenn. Also surviving are two grandchildren and there spouses, Lisa and Donald Johnson of Warner Robins and Trey and Chrissy Gray of Cleveland, Tenn.; and six great-grandchildren, Dylan Johnson, Warren Johnson, Alex Johnson, Cooper Gray, Avery Gray and Ben Gray.
Mr. Hall is preceded in death by a daughter, Onita Gray and a grandson, Michael Fox.
Pallbearers will include Ernest Hall, David Hall, Paul Benford, Kenneth Peek, Pat Biddy and David Manning.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ellaville Baptist Church Future Building Fund, P.O. Box 325, Ellaville, GA 31806. Visitation was held from 7-9 p.m on Saturday, July 14. at Watson-Giddens Funeral Home in Ellaville.
Watson-Giddens Funeral Home of Ellaville is in charge of arrangements.
Rachel Carolyn Thompson Daniel
AMERICUS — Mrs. Carolyn Daniel, 68, of 122 Southland Road, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at her residence. A native of Pulaski County, Mrs. Daniel was born March 9, 1939, a daughter of the late Roy Thompson and Jewell Lee Denton who survives her. She was employed by Sumter Regional Hospital as an LPN and was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 13, 2007, in the chapel of Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel. Rodney Hollon will deliver the eulogy, with Walter Compton assisting. A visitation was held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home. At other times, family and friends may call at the residence of Linda and Mike Mock, 256 Ga. Hwy. 49 North.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Ann Harris, 1801 Rose Ave., Americus, Ga. 31709.
Survivors other than her mother, Jewell Lee Denton of Americus, are three daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Mike Stephens of Cobb, Lynn and Ed Garro of Albany, La., and Darlene and Shaffee Deen of Rockville, Md.; one son, Bobby Vanzant of Lizella; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Brinda and Paul Blackston of Ellaville and Linda and Mike Mock of Americus; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Danny and Madeline Hollon of Tallahassee, Fla. and Johnny and Vickie Hollon of Powder Springs. Five grandchildren, Joshua Sibley, Christopher Blair Sibley, E. J. Garro, Katie Garro and Sara Stephens, also survive.
Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
