Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Cecil E. Adams, Sr.
Cecil E. Adams, Sr. of Rebecca died Monday, March 31, 2003 at Tift Regional Medical Center.. He was 83.
Mr. Adams was born November 8, 1919 in Wilcox County, son of the late Mary Jane (Whittle) Adams and Walter James Adams.
Mr. Adams lived in the community all of his life. He was a farmer and grew Christmas trees. He enjoyed growing vegetables for his family and friends. Mr. Adams was a member of Rebecca Baptist Church. He was an avid fisherman and a member of Woodmen of the World.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Louise Adams; brother, Hewlette Adams and two sisters, Ernestine Bowen and Lourie McDuffie.
Survivors include his son, Cecil E. Adams, Jr. of Fitzgerald; daughters, Ann Adams Rodriguez and Mary Lois Adams, both of Rebecca; brothers, Nathaniel Adams of Wilcox County and Harmon Adams of Rebecca; sisters, Geraldine Evans of Lands Crossing community, Irwin County and Annette Mashburn of Rebecca; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald on Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m., with Rev. Kenneth Kicklighter, Rev. Ray Johnson and Rev. Jerry Wilson officiating.
Music was provided by organist, Marty Smith; soloist, Cynthia Johnson and the congregation.
Pallbearers were Elvin Hall, William Holiday, Curtis McDuffie, Buddy Gentry, Jay Johnson, Ken Johnson, Randy Stubbs and Michael Hall.
Interment was held at Luke Cemetery in Ben Hill County.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Janice Tabor Day
Mrs. Janice Tabor Day of Fitzgerald died Monday, March 31, 2003 at Dorminy Medical Center. She was 62.
Mrs. Day was born June 8, 1940 in Gastonia, NC, daughter of Kay M. Moya of Fitzgerald and the late John E. Tabor.
Mrs. Day lived in the community since 1966 and was a former resident of Baldwin Park, CA. She was a homemaker, hairdresser and former owner/operator of the Village Boutique in Fitzgerald. Mrs. Day was a member of the Ocilla Primitive Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by sister, Martha Ann Turner.
Survivors include her husband, Ned J. Day of Fitzgerald; sons, Keith E. Day and Kevin W. Day, both of Fitzgerald; brothers, John Tabor of Fitzgerald and Jimmy Tabor of California; sister, Maran Long of Fitzgerald and five grandchidlren.
Services were held at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, April 3 at 11 a.m., with Rev. Clayton Dowd and Elder Otis McGee officiating.
Music was provided by soloists, Lea Parrish and Lara Leverett.
Pallbearers were Barrett Parr, Chad Bishop, Terry Day, Wayne Weaver, Dwain Parrish and Gene Daniels.
Interment was held at Evergreen Cemetery.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Charlie Towns, Jr.
Mr. Charlie Towns, Jr. of Rochelle died Friday, March 21, 2003 at Taylor Regional Memorial Hospital in Hawkinsville. He was 54.
Mr. Towns was born January 7, 1949 in Ocilla, son of the late Mrs. Odessa Towns and Mr. Charlie Towns.
Survivors include his wife, Viola Woods Towns of Rochelle; one step-daughter, Beatrice Daniels of Atlanta; one stepson, Horace Daniels of Rochelle; two sisters, Ella Anderson of Ocilla and Rosa Lee (Robert) Taylor of Fitzgerald; six grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Services were held at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Rochelle on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m., with Pastor Dorothy Lewis of Pineview Church of God officiating. Eulogy was given by Pastor Bobby Jones.
Music was provided by the congregation and soloists, Corey Towns, Lanier Ferguson and Deacon Richard James.
Pallbearers were nephews Tommy Marshall, Willie M. Marshall, Lafonzo Marshall, Ricky Telfair, Stanley Telfair and Charles Davis.
Interment was held at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ferguson Funeral Home of Rochelle was in charge of arrangements.
Ronnie Barrs
Mr. Ronnie Barrs died Sunday, April 6, 2003 at Crisp Regional Hospital. He was 52. Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Full obituary will appear in next week’s issue of The Ocilla Star
Buddy Barrentine
Mr. Buddy Barrentine, 59, of the Osierfield community, Irwin County, died Saturday, March 29, 2003 at his residence.
Services were held Monday, March 31 at 2 p.m. at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with Rev. James Hubbard officiating. Private interment was held.
Mr. Barrentine was born November 20, 1943 in Irwin County, son of the late Willie Curtis Barrentine and Nellie Mae Grantham Barrentine. A life-long resident of Irwin County, he was a farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Barrentine of Osierfield; son, Mark Barrentine of Osierfield; daughter, Paula Comer of Clearwater, FL; sister, Betty Buchan of Nicholls; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Barrentine, Kori Comer and Casey Comer, all of Clearwater, FL; three stepdaughters, Heather Stephens, Ashley Stephens and Kaylie Stephens, all of Osierfield.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 323 Pine Ave, Albany, GA 31701 or The Church of Unity Building Fund, 112 Turner Ave., Fitzgerald, GA 31750.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Carl W. Baldwin
Mr. Carl W. Baldwin of Fitzgerald died Thursday, March 27, 2003 at his residence. He was 45.
Mr. Baldwin was born February 19, 1958 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, son of Betty (Poindexter) Joyner of Fitzgerald and the late John F. Baldwin.
Mr. Baldwin lived in the community for the past several years. He grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and was a former resident of Turner County. Mr. Baldwin was a master carpenter with Cleghorn & Sons. He attended the Fitzgerald Church of God. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and enjoyed woodworking.
Survivors include daughter, Lauren Baldwin of Pembroke Pines, FL; mother, Betty Joyner of Fitzgerald; brothers, Mike Baldwin of Fitzgerald, John Baldwin of Okeechobee, FL and Scott Bresett of Vero Beach, FL; sisters, Cathy Satterfield of Ocilla, Melissa Ellis and Angel Lomack, both of Okeechobee, FL.
Services were held at Church of God in Fitzgerad on Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m., with Rev. David Price officiating.
Music was provided by pianist, Paula Jerkins and quartet, David Griffin, April McDuffie, Rufus Matthews and Stacey Matthews.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Aaron Scott Hahn
Mr. Aaron Scott Hahn of Tifton died Thursday, March 27, 2003 in St. Marys. He was 21.
Mr. Hahn was born November 14, 1981 in Portage Co., Ohio, son of Thomas Hahn of Ohio and Brenda Brady Guinn of Tifton. He was of the Baptist faith. He worked in maintenance.
Survivors include his grandmother, Wanda Stout; grandfather, Eddie Stout, stepfather, Larry Guinn, Jr. of St. Marys; daughter, Alexis Cline of Irwinville; brother, Shannon Brady of St. Marys and sister, Angelia Stout of Tifton.
Services were held at Chapel Bowen-Donaldson on Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m., with Rev. John S. Gibbs, Sr. officiating.
Bowen Donaldson of Tifton was in charge of arrangements.
Daisy Mae Curtis Gibbs Jay
Mrs. Daisy Mae Curtis Gibbs Jay died Monday, March 17, 2003. She was 72
Mrs. Jay was born February 8, 1931, daughter of the late Arthur Curtis and Julianne Scott Curtis in Upton. She was a member of Mt. Sinai Freewill Baptist Church where she served as an usher. She also worshiped at Macedonia Baptist Church where she also served as an usher.
She attended Douglas public schools and then Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL where she met and married Ira Gibbs.
She was united in holy matrimony to Clifton Jay in June 1965.
Survivors include her husband, Clifton; her children Barbara Jay Johnson (Hiram), Patricia Jay Martin, Larry Jay (Phyllis), Pamelia Gibbs Phillips, Saundrett Gibbs Arrindell (Everton) and Vera Jay; grandchildren, DeWayne Johnson, Demond Martin, Alisa Martin, Larry Anton Jay, Joseph Jay, Rori Gibbs and Courtney Arrindell and great-granddaughter, Kinshasa Martin; mother-in-law, Rhunette Jay; sister, Mary Newton (Joseph Sr.); brother-in-law, James Jay (Joyce); three sisters-in-law, Rosie Lee Curtis, Mildred Manley (Jesse) and Carolyn Guy (Jerome) and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Mrs. Jay was employed by the Irwin County School system as a teacher and librarian. She retired after 36 years of service in education.
Mrs. Jay was preceded in death by a sister, Estelle Armstrong and a brother, William Riley Curtis.
Services were held at Macedonia Baptist Church in Wray on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Charlie Sneed officiating.
Music was provided by The Thomas Ensemble.
Pallbearers were Nathaniel Carter, Rufus Curtis, Antonio Harrell, Robert Lee Johnson, Ray Louder, David Mobley, Melvin Paulk, Eddie Armour and Robert Anderson.
Interment was held at Macedonia Baptist Church cemetery.
Henderson Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Willette Barbara Nelson Allen-Eady
Mrs. Willette Barbara Nelson Allen-Eady of Atlanta, formerly of Ocilla, died Sunday, March 16, 2003. She was 49.
Willette’s formative years were spent in Ocilla with her grandparents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Collin Nelson. After completing elementary school in Ocilla, Willette moved to New Jersey. There she graduated from East Orange High School. She attended Antioch College in Yellow Spring, OH. She also attended and graduated from Marymount College in Tarrytown, NJ. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Otis Allen.
Willette worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 18 years. She was employed with Policy Studies for one year when she retired with health problems.
She was featured in numerous plays. One specific play was “All God’s Children Have Wings”, performed at the 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta.
Survivors include her husband, Artice Lee Eady, parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Brown (Mildred); children, Lance, Trevor, Ian, Ouida, Corey, Artice D. and Dexter; three grandchildren; sisters, LaJuano Parrish and Pat Bivens; brother, Danny Benyard; mother-in-law, Annie B. Brooklin; a special and devoted friend, Furnetta Phillips-Tucker and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at Sellers Brothers Chapel in Atlanta on Thursday, March 20 at 3 p.m., with Alfred Francois, Jr., pastor of The Church of God for all Nations, Inc. officiating.
Music was provided by soloist, Furnetta Phillips-Tucker and musician, Tillman Johnson.
Sellers Brothers Inc. of Atlanta was in charge of arrangements.
Maggie Whitten Rabon
Mrs. Maggie Whitten Rabon, 87, of Fitzgerald died Sunday morning March 23, 2003 at Dorminy Medical Center.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 25 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with Rev. Bobby Ritch officiating. Interment was held at Evergreen Cemetery.
Mrs. Rabon was born April 27, 1915 in Morgan County to the late Jesse Clarence Whitten and Pauline Sidwell Whitten. She was the widow of the late Gary Rabon. Mrs. Rabon was the owner and operator of Maggie’s Florist. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Bethany Sunday School class.
Survivors include six grandchildren, Barbara Ann Morgan of Mystic, PeeWee Freeman, Greg Freeman and Frank Freeman, Jr., all of Fitzgerald, Ginny Rabon and William Gary Rabon III, both of Columbia, SC; seven great-grandchildren, Allen Morgan, Sandy M. Pilcher, Eric Freeman, Josef Freeman, Will Freeman, Crystal Freeman and Marina Freeman; five great-great-grandchildren, Cam Morgan, Luke Morgan, Lizzie Morgan, Shaw Pilcher and Seth Pilcher; son-in-law, Frank Freeman of Fitzgerald and daughter-in-law, Dot Martin Rabon of Columbia, SC.
Mrs. Rabon was preceded in death by her son, William G. “Bill” Rabon, Jr. and her daughter, Barbara R. Freeman. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Jesse Whitten and Henry Whitten and one sister, Ginny Whitten.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Jason R. Tucker
Mr. Jason R. Tucker of Irwin County died Tuesday, May 27, 2003. Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Full obituary will appear in next week’s issue of The Ocilla Star.
Gene Reeves
Mr. Gene Reeves of the Arp Community, Irwin County, died Thursday, May 22, 2003 at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald. He was 76.
Mr. Reeves was born Octber 25, 1926 in Ben Hill County, the son of Wyatt S. Reeves, Sr. and Edith Fowler Reeves.
A farmer, Mr. Reeves had lived in Irwin County most of his life. He attended New Tapley School and Mystic schools and was a former employee of Ben Hill Truck and Tractor, Fitzgerald.
An avid gardener, Mr. Reeves enjoyed giving his vegetables to his friends. He was a member of Arp Baptist Church in Irwin County.
Mr. Reeves is survived by his wife, Inez Brock Reeves; two sons/daughters-in-law, Eugene and Mary Jo Reeves, Jr. and Wayne and Donna Jean Reeves, all of the Arp Community; three daughters/sons-in-law, Linda and Kyle Smith of Rebecca, Kay and Roger McIntyre of Irwinville and Donna and Billy Wilder of Ocilla.
Survivors also include two brothers, Ed Reeves of the Arp Community and Wyatt S. “Doc” Reeves, Jr. of Vidalia; a sister, Mildred R. Lockwood of Fitzgerald; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and devoted pet, Sissy.
Services were held Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m. at Arp Baptist Church with Rev. Tommy Land, Jr. and Rev. John Gibbs, Sr. officiating. Eulogies were shared by Mike Reeves, Andrew Wilder, Dana Wilder, Ben Reeves and Neal McIntyre. Providing the music was Mary Alice Land, pianist; the Pleasant Hill Quartet sang “Hallelujah Square”.
Serving as pallbearers were Ben Reeves, Wyatt Reeves, Tyler Reeves, Al Smith, Neal McIntyre and Andrew Wilder. Honorary pallbearers were Brandi Reeves, Amber Stephens, Hillery Reeves, Brooke McIntyre, Brittney Reeves, Dana Wilder and Selena McIntyre.
Interment was at Arp Cemetery.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alton Robertson
Mr. Alton Robertson of Irwin County died Saturday, May 17, 2003 at the age of 66.
Mr. Robertson was born May 15, 1937 in Irwin County, the son of John Henry and Mammie Robertson. He received his formal education in Irwin County public schools and worked at Weaver’s Milling Company for 20 years.
He was well liked by all who knew him.
Mr. Robertson is survived by four children by a previous marriage: three daughters, Miss Phyllis Robinson, Miss Gloria Jean Robinson and Miss Michell Robinson, all of Atlanta, and one son, Mr. Clifford D. Robinson of Tifton; one loving uncle, Mr. Charlie Robertson of Ocilla; Mrs. Sherry Waters of Tifton; eight grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held Saturday, May 24 at 2 p.m. at Davis Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla with Rev. Charlie Sneed officiating. Mr. Melvin McCutchen was solist and friends of the family served as pallbearers.
Interment was at Ocilla City Cemetery.
Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
