Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Lawton Daniel
Lawton Daniel, 87, of Ocilla died Monday, November 10, 2003 at Irwin County Hospital.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 12 at Union Primitive Baptist Church in Coffee County, near Lax with Elder Philip Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. Daniel was born February 4, 1916 in Coffee County, son of the late Gehu and Minnie Benton Daniel. He lived in Irwin County since 1951 from Coffee County. Mr. Daniel farmed until 1951. He was a retired automobile salesman with Troy Tankersley at Irwin County Motors and a former employee of Paulk Funeral Home. He was a dedicated member and deacon of Union Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Myrtice T. Daniel of Ocilla; one son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie C. and Susan Daniel of Ocilla; two daughters and sons-in-law, Alicia and Ed Cockman of Valdosta and Helen and Buddy Wynn of Fitzgerald; three granddaughters, Paige and John Crawford of Moultrie, Kristin Daniel of Valdosta and Allison Cockman of Valdosta and several nieces and nephews.
Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Chandler Andrew “Lil Drew” Alexander
Chandler Andrew “Lil Drew” Alexander, 8, of Helena died Tuesday, March 23, 2004.
Services were held at Alamo Baptist Church in Alamo on Friday, March 26 at 2 p.m. Interment was held at 4:30 p.m. in the Brushy Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Irwin County. He is buried beside his “Little Nanny” Lillian Whitley Alexander.
Chandler was born August 25, 1995 in Volusia County, FL. He was a third grade student at Wheeler County Elementary School and a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Ben Hill County. Chandler was a member of the Harris Hornets and the Rangers (#11) t-ball team. He was a member of the Speed Way Slot Car Racing Association in Fayetteville and a dedicated Nascar fan.
Survivors include his parents, Andrew and Jodi Alexander of Fitzgerald; Chad and Kristi Miller of Helena; two brothers, Whitley Alexander of Fitzgerald, Georgia and Dakota Miller of Helena; paternal grandparents are Jimmy and Judi Alexander of Newnan and Barry and Beth Yarbrough; maternal grandparents, Janice Walsh, Randy and Gail Purvis, Danny and Nita Walsh; great-grandparents, Dorothy Smith, Ruby Manning, Betty Jo Soles and Billy and Mabel Purvis.
Pallbearers were John Gaines, Eric Boggus, Jeffery Deberry, Billy Gene Purvis, Paul Hale, Ches Spell.
Honorary pallbearers were Whitley Alexander, Dakota Miller, Wheeler County third grade classmates, teachers and school staff.
Memorials may be sent to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, 1687 Tullie Circle, Atlanta, GA 30329.
Towns Funeral Home of Alamo was in charge of arrangements.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements.
Tamara Thompson
Tamara Thompson, 35, of Fitzgerald died Friday, March 26, 2004 at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.
Services were held at Crossview Baptist Church on Monday, March 29 at 11 a.m., with Rev. David Fisher and Rev. Greg Carroll officiating. Interment was held in Eureka Cemetery, Irwin County.
Pallbearers were Bubba Deverger, Bruce Deverger, Joe Fletcher, Hugh Fletcher, Darien Purvis and Jason Heard.
Music was provided by pianist, Patsy Spradlin.
Miss Thompson was born May 7, 1968 in Brunswick to Jimmy G. Thompson and Linda Fletcher. She was a former resident of Moultrie. Miss Thompson was a police officer with the Tifton Police Department. She was a 1986 graduate of Irwin County High School, attended North Georgia College and was a graduate of the Police Academy at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Miss Thompson was a member of Crossview Baptist Church in Fitzgerald.
Survivors include her mother, Linda Fletcher of Fitzgerald; father and mother, Jimmy G. and Rosemary Thompson of Irwin County; three sisters, Tisha (Russell) Hullett of Irwin County, Tammie Harper of Irwin County and Melissa Givens of Denton; niece, Mammie’s Precious Angel, Hunter Brooke Hullett of Irwin County; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Thompson of Darien.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lawrence and Ometta Fletcher and great-grandparents, Hughie D. and Pearlie Mae Fletcher.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James D. Smith
James D. Smith, 53, of Irwin County died Thursday, March 25, 2004 at his home.
Graveside services were held Sunday, March 28 at Arp Cemetery, Irwin County, with Rev. J. W. Taylor officiating.
Mr. Smith was born November 20, 1950 in Miami, FL, son of the late Joseph Daniel “Dude” Smith and Germaine Smith. He lived in the community since 1991 from Miami, FL. He attended Arp Baptist Church in Irwin County. He was preceded in death by a sister, Vera Canary.
Survivors include two sisters, Betty J. Ransom of O’Brien, FL and Ruth Williams of Royal Palm Beach, FL; aunt, Jane Minshew of Rebecca; three nieces and five nephews.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Phyllis Jackson
Ms. Phyllis Jackson, 57, of Irwin County died Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at her home.
Services were held at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Ocilla on Saturday, March 27 at 11 a.m., with Rev. Robert Merritt officiating. Interment followed in Brushy Creek Cemetery.
Ms. Jackson was born August 18, 1946 in Coffee County, daughter of the late Emory Jackson and Lucille Harper Griffin. Also preceding her in death was her step-father, J. C. Griffin. She lived in Irwin County most of her life. Ms. Jackson was a former employee of South Georgia Medical Center, Irwin Manufacturing and Leveretts Apparel. She attended New Hope Baptist Church in Ambrose.
Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Dale Merritt, Jr., (Fran) of Douglas and Johnny Merritt of Ocilla; one daughter and son-in-law, Ka M. (Joe) Burch of Wray; four grandchildren, Candis Polk, Jered Merritt, Emory Burch and Katie Burch; three great-grandchildren, Sara, Abbiegale and Brooklynn Polk; one sister and brother-in-law, Theresa (Randy) White of Blackshear; one brother, Benji Jackson of Ocala, FL and several nieces and nephews.
Charles H. Stone
Mr. Charles H. Stone, 75, of Irwin County died Sunday, March 28, 2004 at the Life Care Center in Fitzgerald.
Services will be held at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald on Wednesday, March 31 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Robert McDearmid officiating. Interment was held in Salem Cemetery, Ben Hill County.
Mr. Stone was born September 20, 1928 in Ben Hill County, son of the late Charlie F. and Beulah Livingston Stone. He lived in the community all of his life, was a former employee of Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Fitzgerald and retired with 35 years from Fitzgerald Ice Company. Mr. Stone served in the Georgia Army National Guard. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Fitzgerald and he loved gospel singing and music.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Stone of Irwin County; daughter, Brenda Ottoson of Ben Hill County; step-children, Lynn Mitchell and Susan Clark, both of Ben Hill County; Jackie Gordon of Wilcox County, Debbie Howell and Allen Walker, both of Irwin County; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters, Inez Gibbs and Jeanette Davis, both of Fitzgerald. He was preceded in death by one sister, Beatrice Evans.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Doris Griffin
Doris Griffin, 76, of Ocilla died Monday, March 29, 2004 at the Irwin County Hospital.
Services will be held at Spring Hill Primitive Baptist Church, Irwin County, Thursday, April 1 at 11 a.m., with Elder Maurice Riner and Elder Elliotte Tucker officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Ocilla from 7-9 p.m., Wednesday.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Kell Whitley, Geoff Griffin, Tim Griffin, Michael Griffin and Matt Griffin and grandson-in-law, Michael Jankiewicz.
Mrs. Griffin was born September 27, 1927 in Irwin County, daughter of the late Alford and Alice McMillan Griffin. She lived in Irwin County and Berrien County all of her life. Mrs. Griffin was a retired nurse’s aide from Irwin County Hospital, a former employee of H&M Grocery in Ocilla and a former waitress at Willet’s Truck Stop and Restaurant. She was a member of Spring Hill Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Virgil C. Griffin of Ocilla; two sons, Roy Griffin of Ocilla and Jerry Griffin of Dublin; one daughter, Blondean G. Whitley of Ocilla; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Highsmith of Douglas. She was preceded in death by five brothers, four sisters and one great-grandchild.
Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Minnie E. Lawton
Mrs. Minnie Eva Range Lawton of Ocilla died Saturday, March 20, 2004 at Osceola Nursing Home. She was 80.
Mrs. Lawton was born October 21, 1913 in Warwick, daughter of the late Jim Henry and Ethel Range.
At an early age she joined the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Fitzgerald.
She met and married Joseph Sinclair Lawton, Sr. in 1938 and three children were born to this union. She was preceded in death by her husband and one son, Willie B. Lawton.
Mrs. Lawton raised three grandsons as her own children.
Survivors include one daughter, Ethel Hall (Gynell); one son, Joseph Sinclair Lawton, Jr., all of Ocilla; two sisters-in-law, Odessa Lawton and Leola Graham of Helena; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins and endearing friends.
Services were held at New Bethel Baptist Church, Ocilla on Saturday, March 27 at 11 a.m., with Rev. W. F. Mitchell officiating.
Music was provided by the choir and soloists, Bro. Junior Slacks, Sis. Hattie Deese and Deacon Aldene Tyson.
Active pallbearers were grandsons.
Interment was held at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Irwin County.
Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Michael F. “Mike” Maye
Michael F. “Mike” Maye, 53, of Ellabelle, formerly of Fitzgerald, died Saturday, March 20 in Effingham County.
Services were held at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald on Wednesday, March 24 at 11 a.m., with Elder Jimmy Chapman officiating. Interment was held in Evergreen Cemetery.
Music was provided by organist, Patsy Spradlin.
Active pallbearers were Steve Turley, Jamie Baggett, Ricky Adkins, Mike Sorrow, Lamar Bailey, Robert W. Chasteen, David L. Justice, David Register and Don Pate, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were Ft. Benning Honor Guard with full military honors and the State of Georgia Department of Transportation.
Mr. Maye was born August 14, 1950 in Irwin County, son of the late Joe and Lucille Carmichael Maye. Mr. Maye was a retired engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation. He was also a retired Staff Sergeant with Georgia Army National Guard. He had lived in the Savannah area for the past two years, moving from the Ocilla and Fitzgerald communities.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Maye of Ellabelle; son, Joe Maye of Fitzgerald; three daughters, Christy M. Bates of Biloxi, MS; Jessica Latham and Haley Latham, both of Fitzgerald; brother, Allen Maye of Ocilla and sister, Sandra Newman of Pooler; three grandchildren, Katy, Emily and Elizabeth Bates, all of Biloxi, MS.
John Louis Goolsby
Mr. John Louis Goolsby of Miami, FL died Sunday, March 21, 2004. He was 66.
Mr. Goolsby was born December 30, 1937 in Dodge County, son of the late Maggie Bell Goolsby and Deacon Johnny Goolsby.
He later moved to Miami, FL. In 1955 he joined the United States Army and served for three years.
Survivors include one son, Rodney Goolsby of Miami, FL; four sisters, Nancy Pearl Whitfield, Alice Udel Wilcox, Julie Mae Dean, all of Miami, FL and Esther L. Burgess of Fitzgerald; two brothers, Roy Dean (Ann) Goolsby of Quincy, FL and Jerome Goolsby of Fitzgerald; one grandchild, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services were held at Pleasant Grove First Baptist Church, Ocilla on Saturday, March 27 at 3 p.m., with Rev. James Curtis officiating.
Music was provided by the choir and soloist, Bro. Melvin McCutchen
Active pallbearers were friends of the family
Honorary pallbearers were Willie D. Burgess, Howard Jackson, Jr., Arthur Lee Goolsby, Kawaski Goolsby, Michael Burgess, Curtis Freeman, Antonio Goolsby and Wayne Watts
Interment was held in Ocilla Cemetery.
Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Annie Bell Moore
Mrs. Annie Bell Moore of Ocilla died Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at Irwin County Hospital. She was 88.
Mrs. Moore was born March 6, 1916 in Mora, daughter of the late Matt and Roxie Johnson Davis.
At an early age she joined St. Mary’s Mora Baptist Church until she married and relocated to Ocilla. She joined Broaches Chapel C.M.E. Church where she served as a missionary and stewardess until her health failed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sandy Moore and nine children.
Survivors include Bennie Mae Anderson, Betty and David Collins of Ocilla, Ruth Moore Hoy (John) of Brooklyn NY, Willie Gus Moore of New York, NY, Robert Moore, Bobby and Betty Moore, James and Maryann Moore, George and Annette Moore, all of Ocilla and Gary and Gwen Moore of Columbus.
She also raised 12 grandchildren as her own after the death of her daughter: James Holden of West Palm Beach, FL, David Holden of Boston, MA, George Holden, Jr. of Rochester, NY, Carl Holden, Cleveland Holden, Troy Holden, Charles Holden, Melba Holden, Sandra Holden, all of Ocilla, Gloria Holden of Daytona Beach, FL and Jennifer Holden Walker of LaGrange; one brother, Troy (Lilly) Davis of St. Petersburg, FL; two sisters, Irell Long of Douglas and Carolyn Jay of Philadelphia, PA; one uncle, Tommy Johnson of Ocilla; sister-in-law, Vera Moore of Jacksonville, FL and brother-in-law, Ira Presley of Douglas.
Services were held Friday, March 19 at 1 p.m. at Holsey Chapel C.M.E. Church in Fitzgerald, with Rev. James Curtis officiating.
Music was provided by soloists, Gregory Moore and Rev. Tommy Washington.
Active pallbearers were Charles Holden, Clifford Curtis, Recardo Moore, Greg Moore, Gregory Gordon, Terry Moore, Sr., Kenya Moore and George Holden, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were Bobby Williams, Joe Ben Williams, Robert Lee Davis, Levi Long, Jeff Roberts, Ira Jr. Presley, Jerry Davis and James Allen Davis.
Interment was held at Ocilla Cemetery.
Willie Michael “Mike” Kemp
Mr. Willie Michael “Mike” Kemp, 52, of Alapaha died Monday, March 15, 2004 at home.
Memorial services were held Friday, March 19 at 1 p.m. at Alapaha Baptist Church with Mike Gibbs officiating. Eulogy was given by Gene Owen and closing prayer by Darien Lee.
Music was provided by pianist and soloist, Joel Dixon.
Mr. Kemp was born December 16, 1951 in Bradenton, FL, son of the late John “Jiggs” Kemp and Winnell Hugheas Kemp. He lived in Alapaha for the past five years from Bradenton, FL. Mr. Kemp was a certified welder. He served in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam era, serving in Germany.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia A. Kemp of Alapaha; three sons, Rory D. “Butch” Auchtung of Alapaha, Michael Auchtung of Bushnell, FL and Armond Auchtung of Alapaha; two grandchildren; two brothers, John David and John Allen Kemp, both of Enigma; two sisters, Carol Miley and Shirley Bryant, both of Adel. Mr. Kemp was preceded in death by one sister, Patricia Horton.
Justine M. Gibson
Mrs. Justine M. Gibson, 66, of Fitzgerald died Thursday, March 18, 2004 at Taylor Regional Hospital, Hawkinsville.
Services were held Sunday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald with Rev. Bobby Stone and Rev. J. W. Taylor officiating. Eulogy was given by Dr. Eugene Jackson. Interment was held in Evergreen Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Dale Fields, John Poole, Danny Spradlin, Billy Rutherford, Craig Bishop, Coleman Holton, Wendell Marchant.
Honorary pallbearers were Michael Poole, Bill Poole, Justin Poole, Tyler Poole, Marcus Collins, Nicki Leighpode, Heather Dozier, Brandi Chaney, Micha D. Sumner, Chrystal Spradlin, LaNae Spradlin, Joey Poole, Rex Allen Cromer.
Music was provided by pianist, Patsy Spradlin; soloist, Dr. Eugene Jackson and pianist, Mark Thomas.
Mrs. Gibson was born August 26, 1937 in Ben Hill County, daughter of the late George A. and Pearl Lord Morris. She lived in the community most of her life and became a Fitzgerald historian, listening to stories told by her grandparents, Mark and Emma Morris, who were some of the first settlers in Fitzgerald. Mrs. Gibson was a former employee of H. R. Kaminsky and Sons. She was a member of Englewood Baptist Church in Irwin County and a former member of the Church of the Nazarene in Fitzgerald.
Survivors include her children, Sharon Spradlin, Jackie Thomas, Susan Cromer, Mark Poole and Neal Poole, all of Fitzgerald; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara Haney of Lakeland, FL and Brenda Walsh of Irwinville.
