Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Mary Ellen Coley Rea
Mrs. Mary Ellen Coley Rea, 81, of Fayetteville, died January 1, 2006 at Dogwood Forest Hospital in Fayetteville.
A native of Irwin County, Mrs. Rea retired after 30 years at the Peoples Bank in Paducah. She was a long-time member of the St. Luke Altersgate UMC where she served as the church treasurer.
She is survived by her sister Louetta Gordon of Lansing, MI; her brothers James (Daphne) Coley of Fayetteville, Edsel (Sue) Coley of Ocilla and Jerry (Jane) Coley of Tifton; grandchildren Calvin Pittman of Paducah, KY and Lisa Parker of Nashville, TN, also several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Albert Rea and Henry Pittman, as well as her parents and brother, Arthur Coley and Maggie Lee Griffin and Robert M. Coley.
Funeral services were held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Altersgate United Methodist Church in Paducah, KY with Rev. Greg Waldrop officiating. Interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery, Paducah.
Roth Funeral Home in Paducah was in charge of arrangements.
Roy David McCoy
Mr. Roy David McCoy, 54, of Plymouth, CT, died Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at his home.
Funeral services were held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 7, at Scott Funeral Home of Terryville, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St.Thomas Church in Thomaston, followed by burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery in Bristol.
Born September 23, 1951, in Buzzards Bay, MA, to the late Roy E. and Bobby Joyce Parrish McCoy, he was a resident of Plymouth for the past 13 years. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Mr. McCoy was manager of the Catholic Cemeteries of Waterbury, a communicant of St. Thomas Church. He loved to fish and hunt.
Mr. McCoy is survived by his wife: Carmen O. McCoy of Plymouth; sons: Patrick David McCoy of Arkansas and Eric David McCoy of Plymouth, CT; daughter: Iris Sandra McCoy of Plymouth, CT; step-mother: Romell H. McCoy of Ocilla; sisters: Beverly Smith of Jacksonville, FL, Nancy Young of Fitzgerald, Sandy Ammons and Denise Carver, both of Ocilla; grandchildren: Noah Morton McCoy and Isabel Angeles McCoy, plus several nieces and nephews.
Carl E. Findley, Sr.
Mr. Carl E. Findley, Sr., 88, of Fitzgerald died Monday, January 9, 2006 at Dorminy Medical Center, Fitzgerald.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 11 at Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald.
The family requests that memorials be made to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 428, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.
Paulk Funderal Home, Fitzgerald is in charge of arrangements.
Mike Owens
Mr. Mike “Mr. O” Owens, 45, of Fitzgerald, died Monday, December 26, 2005, at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon.
Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Thursday, December 29, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with Bobby Atkinson and Eddie Smith speaking. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ricky Holt, Gray Hutchinson, Stanley Hutchinson, Dave Story, Scott Shealey and Terry Hutchinson. Honorary pallbearers were all MDI employees, Walter Hunter, Tom Stapleton, Jimmy Moore, Robert Anglin, David Smith, Stewart Carswell, Norman White and Al Shealey.
Mr. Owens was born May 8, 1960 in Irwin County to Willie Luke Owens Holt and the late J.S. “Buddy” Owens, Jr. He lived in the community most of his life. Mr. Owens was formerly associated with Owens Paving Company, Hunters Motors. He was a member of Moose International and of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife: Amy Hunter Owens of Fitzgerald; son: Michael Walter ‘Lil O’ Owens of Fitzgerald; mother: Willie Luke Owens Holt of Fitzgerald; sister: Debbie ‘D.R.” Roberts of Fitzgerald; nieces and nephews: Carla Michelle Roberts, Tim Burch and Brian Jason Owens and four great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son and a sister.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.
Montyne W. Roberson
Mrs. Montyne W. Roberson, 76, of the Irwinville Community, died Sunday, December 25, 2005, at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 31 at Irwinville Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Bowen officiating. Music was provided by organist Sandy Taylor and soloist Randy Reeves. Interment followed in Irwinville Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were Eddie Benford, James Wiley, Andy Pridgen, Edgar Bellamy and Ronny Aycock.
Born October 8, 1929, in Irwin County to the late James Joseph Wiley, Sr., and the late Glennie Taylor Wiley, she was the widow of Woodrow Roberson. Mrs. Roberson was a homemaker, who lived in the Irwinville community all of her life and was a member of Irwinville Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law: Bonnie Jo Roberson of Sycamore and Connie & Russell Slade of Cordele; Grandson: Chad Roberson McMurrian of Ashburn; sister and brother-in-law: Edwina & Alvin Wynn of Fitzgerald; brothers and sisters-in-law: Jimmy & Christine Wiley of Fitzgerald and Bobby & Mary Lou Wiley of Chesterfield, VA; several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Of Tift Area, P.O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 9, Fitzgerald, GA or donor’s favorite charity.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, was in charge of arrangements.
William Walter ‘Bill’ Dent, Jr.
Mr. William Walter (Bill) Dent, Jr., 72, of Ocilla died Sunday, January 1, 2006 at Palemon Gaskin Nursing Home in Ocilla.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 4 at 11 a.m. at Ocilla United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Osborn and Franklin Broadhurst officiating. Interment will follow in Ocilla Cemetery.
Mr. Dent was born May 15, 1933 in Ocilla to the late William Walter and Zoe Betts Dent. He lived in Griffin for eight years before returning permanently to Ocilla.
He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during the Korean War era. He was a retired egg farmer and former public relations and customer service representative for Osmos Wood Preservatives.
Mr. Dent was a member of Ocilla United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and provided leadership for the purchase of a new organ. He was a former member of the Irwin County Library Board of Directors and was instrumental in the building of the new Irwin County Library.
Mr. Dent is survived by his wife, Jean Dent of Ocilla; son, Greg Dent, R.Ph. of Ocilla; daughter, Paige Dawson, R.Ph. of Hawkinsville and three grandchildren: Laura, Kevin and David Dawson, all of Hawkinsville.
Memorial may be sent to the Irwin County Library or the Ocilla United Methodist Church.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn Rogers Cox
Mrs. Carolyn Rogers Cox, 68, of Ocilla died Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at her residence.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 22 at Riverbend Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Clements officiating. Music was provided by pianist Dale Purvis and trio Herman Purvis, Sylvia Hogan and Alice Green. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Johnny Broome, Dwayne Pate, Bobby Stone, Mike Rogers, Donald Cleghorn and Lamar Purvis.
Mrs. Cox was born September 25, 1937 in Irwin County to the late Arthur R. and Johnnie Green Rogers. She lived in the community since 1984 after coming from Clayton. She was a homemaker and a former field representative for the Green Thumb program.
She was a former resident of Conyers, Covington and Claxton. While in Claxton, she worked as a poultry inspector for the United States Department of Agriculture. She was a member of Riverbend Baptist Church, and had served as pianist for her church and the Riverbenders.
Mrs Cox is survived by one daughter: Lorraine C. Smith of Fayetteville; two sons: Jesse H. Cox of Fitzgerald and A.J. Cox of Ocilla; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one brother: A.V. Rogers of Sycamore and one sister, Ruby Tyson of Fitzgerald. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Joseph Cox, three brothers and one sister.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Leslie Jenkins, Jr.
Mr. Leslie Jenkins, Jr., 82, of Ocilla, died December 13, 2005.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 22, 1 p.m., at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ocilla, with the Rev. Willie C. Mobley officiating. Interment followed at the Ocilla Cemetery.
Mr. Jenkins was born to the late Leslie and Rosetta Jenkins November 28, 1923, in Steward County. He was married to the late Elaine Thomas Jenkins in 1947 and moved to Ocilla in 1950. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Mr. Anthony J. Jenkins and Patricia of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; four daughters, Mrs. Catherine Marshall and William of Rocky Point, NC, Miss Sarah A. Jenkins of Brooklyn, NY, Mrs. Eva Louise Buford and Willie, and Mrs. Winfred Dorsey and Fred, all of Kileen,TX; one sister, Mrs. Mamie R. Johnson of Columbus; two brothers, Mr. Murray Jenkins and Juanita of Cussetta and Mr. John A. Jenkins and Mary of Columbus; two adopted daughters, Barbara J. Grady and Vanessa Rosebur; sisters-in-law, Mrs. Jamie Murphy of Slidell, LA and Rosie Daughtry of Kokomo, IN; God-daughters, Carolyn Dent of Ocilla, Mrs. Terresa Battle and Miss Ruby Pearl Mathis; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and one special grandson, Mr. Fredricks Jenkins.
Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Wyatt Horace Finley
Mr. Wyatt Horace Finley, 95, of Fitzgerald, died Friday, December, 23, 2005 at the Life Care Center, Fitzgerald.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, December 26 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Jim Faircloth and Rev. Terry Cole officiating. The eulogy was shared by Charlie Solomon. Music was provided by pianist Susan Spivey and soloist Scott Spivey. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Bill Herlovich, John Hageman, Charlie Solomon, Dick Freel, Will Dean, Kevin Stone, Dan Alexander, Jeremy Stone, Frank Lowe and Richard Coxen. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Baracca Sunday School Class and the American Legion.
Mr. Finley was born July 12, 1910 in Ashland, AL to the late Augustus H. and Elah Roberts Finley. He attended Auburn University, Georgia State College, the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia and Valdosta State College. Mr. Finley was a Quartermaster in the United States Army during World War ll.
He moved to Fitzgerald in 1995 from Marietta, where he lived for 52 years. He was a former Metropolitan Life insurance salesman, was co-owner of Lander’s Mattress Company and a junior high school teacher. He was a former employee of Lockheed Corporation in Marietta and a former employee of West Point Pepperell Mill in LaGrange.
Mr. Finley was a member and former clerk for many years at Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church in Lafayette, AL and a member of the First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald and the Baracca Sunday School Class. He was a former member of the Civitan Club, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Georgia Association of Educators and the Ben Hill-Irwin Retired Teachers Association.
Mr. Finley is survived by a daughter and son-in-law: Kathy and Lamar Stone of Fitzgerald and two grandsons: Jamie and Jeremy Stone of Fitzgerald; niece and nephews: Dixie Roberts, Dr. Wayne Finley and Robert Finley and many others. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Kathryn Lowe Finley.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alta Freeman Howell
Mrs. Alta Freeman Howell, 85, of Irwinville, died Friday, December 23, 2005 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald. Music was provided by pianist Lynn Gay, violinist Will Howell Gay and singers Dennis Gay and Amanda Lynn Gay. Song leaders at the graveside service were Royce and Marcene Freeman.
Interment followed in Irwinville Cemetery.
Mrs. Howell was born February 2, 1920 in Hiram to the late Virgil and Gennie Frazier Freeman. She lived in the Irwinville community for the past 65 years from Turner County. Mrs. Howell was a homemaker and a former employee of the Irwin County High School lunchroom, Weaver Peanut Company, Irwin Manufacturing Company and McClelland’s 5 & 10. She was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law: L. Wayne and Ella Howell of Athens; grandchildren: Cynthia (Dennis) Gay and Angelia R. (Jeff) Pass, all of Athens; great-grandchildren: Mary Kate Pass, Bradley Scott Pass, Amanda Lynn Gay and William Howell Gay; sister: Sybil Conner of Gainesville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Woodrow Howell, three sisters and five brothers.
Mary Lavina ‘Mary Lou’ Haman Dukes
Mrs. Mary Lavina Haman Dukes, 95, of Tifton, formerly of Milton and Jacksonville, FL died Thursday, December 22, 2005 at her residence.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 26 in the chapel of Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors with the Rev. Jason Millsaps officiating. Burial followed in Oakridge Cemetery. Grandsons and nephews served as pallbearers.
Mrs. Dukes was born August 25, 1910 in Colquitt County to James Williamson Haman and Martha Jane Sutton Haman, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Walter Perry Dukes, and five sisters.
Mrs. Dukes had lived in Tifton four years and attended Northside Baptist Church. She had taught in the Irwinville, Brookfield and Manchester schools and retired from the Duval County, FL public schools with 35 years total service. She was one of the seven surviving Haman sisters who grew up around Worth and Irwin counties, four of whom became teachers and three of whom were involved in businesses. Mrs. Dukes was a great-grandmother who enjoyed sewing and gardening.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Dukes Gilbert of Tifton; two sisters, Willie Kate Haman Evans of Clermont, FL and Martha Jacque Haman Wynn of Tifton; grandchildren, Will and Kelly Gilbert of Birmingham, AL; great-grandchildren, Jennifer Jo and Steve Dodson of Ft. Meyers, FL; great-great-grandchildren, Ryan and Hadon Gilbert of Birmingham, AL.
Mack Griffin
Mr. Mack Griffin, 90, of Alapaha, died Saturday, December 24, 2005 at his residence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 27 at 2 p.m. at the New Griffin Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Wayne McCrimmon and Rev. Simm Youngblood officiating. Music was performed by Wade and Daniel Griffin, and Amanda Roberts accompanied by pianist Latrelle Heath. Interment followed in Mt. Paron Cemetery.
Mr. Griffin was born October 5, 1915 to Henry D. Griffin and Della Webb Griffin of Berrien County. He was a retired farmer and a Deacon Emeritus at the New Griffin Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Griffin was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Alapaha. He was preceded in death by a son, Vernon Lamar Griffin.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Zelda “Jack” Whitley Griffin of Alapaha: two daughters and son-in-law; Mary Frances (Bobby) Barfield of Enigma and Sara Nell Nolan of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law: James Jason (Linda) Griffin of Enigma, Carroll Howard (Mary Alice) Griffin of Valdosta and Barbara Griffin of Brookfield; one sister, Bessie Harper of Nashville; one brother, John Griffin of Alapaha; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Active pallbearers were Mike Griffin, Lamar Griffin, Ward Griffin, Keith Barfield, Steve Nolan and David Nolan. Honorary pallbearers were Amanda Roberts, Joel Griffin, Daniel Griffin, Kevin Barfield, Kenney Barfield, Jill Brown and Tina Haughton.
Additional honorary escort included the Board of Directors for the Bank of Alapaha and all men of New Griffin Church.
Lovein Funeral Home of Nashville was in charge of the arrangements.
Shirley Dill Vollenweider
Mrs. Shirley Dill Vollenweider, 68 of Wray, died Monday, December 26, 2005 at the home of her daughter in Macon.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 28, at Oakland Cemetery in Waycross with the Rev. Don Vollenweider officiating.
Mrs. Vollenweider was born February 27, 1937 in Waycross to the late Charles Jenkins and Inez Harper Dill. She lived in Waycross before moving to Wray. Mrs. Vollenweider was a 1956 graduate of Waycross High School and graduated from an X-Ray Technician School in Asheville, N.C. She served as an x-ray technician in Waycross until after her children were born. Later, she enjoyed selling furniture for Singleton Furniture. Mrs. Vollenweider was a homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother.
As a member of Ocilla Baptist Church, she participated in the Gleaner Sunday School class. She loved gardening and sharing her seeds and plants with all who visited her beautiful flower and butterfly garden. Mrs. Vollenweider loved everything about nature and the outdoors, and she loved people everywhere. She was a devoted caregiver to her parents, her son Reid, and many of her friends across south Georgia.
Mrs. Vollenweider is survived by her husband: Walter R. Vollenweider, Wray; daughter and son-in-law: Leslie and Bill Hodges, Macon; grandchildren: Josh and Jack Hodges, Macon, and Haley Vollenweider of Manor. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Reid Vollenweider and a brother, Charles Dill.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Portsbridge Hospice Foundation, 115 Arkwright Landing, Macon, GA. 31211 or to the charity of donor’s choice.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Forrest Whitley
Mr. Forrest Whitley, 74, of Irwin County, died Sunday, January 29, 2006 at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, at the Ocilla Church Of God with the Rev. Clayton Dowd and the Rev. Bobby Stone officiating.
Interment will follow in Old Valley Grove Cemetery.
Mr. Whitley was born September 16, 1931 in Irwin County to the late Jimmie and Mollie Sirmans Whitley. He lived in Irwin County all of his life.
Mr. Whitley was a farmer, former manager of the Irwin County Canning Plant and a former paper carrier for the Tifton Gazette. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War Era. Mr. Whitley attended Old Valley Grove Primitive Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife: Betty Joyce Whitley of Ocilla; children: Pam Gordon of Fitzgerald, Myra Taylor of Loganville, Wayne Whitley of Ocilla, Eddie Whitley of Fitzgerald, Dennis Whitley, Tim Whitley and Tracey Leverett, all of Ocilla; 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; brothers: Dal-Jean Whitley of Lake Park and James Oswald Whitley of Tifton; sisters: Evelyn Sturgis and Mary Frances Minthorn, both of Tifton, Betty Pollard of Summerville, SC and Lyndia Pierce of Acworth.
He was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Audrey Ann White, and a sister, Audrey Sumner.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, is in charge of arrangements.
