Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Ernest Lemueal Freeman
Ernest Lemueal Freeman, 40, died Saturday, September 9, 2006.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 16 at 12 p.m. at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church in Ocilla with the Rev. George Vereen officiating. Providing the music were soloists Tony White and Corey Wynn and the Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church Choir. Interment followed in the Ocilla City Cemetery.
Reginald O’Neal, Harvey O’Neal, Bobo Robinson, Patrick Florence, Roland Lott and Carl Lott served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Tracy Freeman, Ronald Wynn, Jr., Curtis Freeman, Michael Wilcox, Terrance Mack, Earl Anterrio Wilcox, Jr., Carlos Glover, Eric Edwards, Kelvin Freeman and Ramon Bryant.
Mr. Freeman was born December 5, 1965 to Ms. Edna Robinson Freeman and Mr. Cornelius (Bo) Anderson of Ocilla. A 1985 graduate of Irwin County High School, he was employed with Crenshaw Lawn Service. He was baptized at an early age at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church. Known as “Mane” by all who knew him, Mr. Freeman always had a smile on his face no matter where he was or how he felt. He was loved and cherished by all.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Freeman is survived by his children: Shanequa Freeman, Marcale Freeman and Key Alexandria Carver; brothers: David (Leslie) Freeman of Savannah and Robert Anderson of Ocilla; sisters: Rosa Lee (Eddie Lee) Glover, Barbara (Earl) Wiilcox, Pam Freeman and Sally Mae Freeman, all of Ocilla, Ann Mike of Fitzgerald, Darlene Anderson of Ocilla, Connie (Kenneth) Boone of Savannah, Pearle Mae Jordan of Douglas and Gloria (Danny) Ezell of Fitzgerald and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Johnny Anderson.
Henderson Memorial Chapel, Fitzgerald, was in charge of arrangements.
W.D. Young
W.D. Young, 84, of Osierfield, died Sunday, September 17, 2006 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 20 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with Dan Glenn and the Rev. Jerry Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in the Osierfield Cemetery.
Mr. Young was born November 27, 1921 in Irwin County to the late William and Louise Troup Young. He lived in the community all of his life. Mr. Young served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a farmer and former owner/operator of Young Tractor Company for 40 years.
Mr. Young is survived by his wife of 60 years: Mary Lott Young of Osierfield; daughter: Jo Glenn of Osierfield; grandson: Dan Glenn of St. Croix of the Virgin Islands; brothers: J.C. Young of Daytona Beach, FL and Tommy Young of Osierfield; sisters: Annie Y. Carver of Albany, Polly Y. McSwain and Rose Y. Ellis, both of Fitzgerald. He was preceded in death by a son: Donny Young.
The Wednesday, September 20 funeral services for Mr. W.D. Young were officiated by the Rev. Jerry Wilson. Speakers were Jo Glenn and Dan Glenn. Music was provided by pianist Marty Smith.
Wayne Richardson, Al Glenn, Dennis Paulk, Jeff Lott, Jerry Roberts, Bubba Hopkins and Ricky Gunby served as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers were A.J. Robinson, Ezra Young, L.L. Denton, J.R. Ellis, Jerry Harper, Tony Grissom, Donnie Hopkins, Prudy Espinosa, Jimmie Lee Moss, Sechol Davis, Hugh Roberts and Cleon Lott.
Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Minor A. Kent, Jr.
Minor A. Kent, Jr., 66 of Cuthbert, died Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Camilla.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 9 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald, with the Rev. J.W. Taylor officiating. Music was provided by pianist Tim Young and soloist Flap Hutchinson. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery with full military honors.
Danny Mitchell, David Mitchell, Eric Cowart, Michael Rowe, Lee Reynolds and Kenny Hendley served as pallbearers.
Mr. Kent was born September 6, 1940 in Cary, NC to the late Minor A. Kent and the late Jane Martin Kent Farmer. He lived in Cuthbert for the past five years and attended Damascus Baptist Church.
A veteran, Mr. Kent served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a truck driver and former owner/operator of the I-75 & US 82 Tifton Truck Stop.
Survivors include his children: Regina Dickens and David Kent, both of Ocilla, and Jimmy Kent of Fitzgerald; three grandchildren; brothers: John Wayne Kent of Elba, AL, Jerry Eugene Kent of Tifton and Stanley Curtis Kent of Ty Ty; sister: Martha J. Gibbs of Thomasville.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
LaVerne Sutton
LaVerne Sutton, 69, of Kingsland died Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at The Morris Center Community Hospice in Jacksonville, FL after a brief illness. She has been a resident of Kingsland for the past 51 years coming from Ocilla.
Mrs. Sutton was a member of The Kingsland First Baptist Church, Sonshine Sunday School Class, Kingsland Betterment Community, Camden County Library Committee and the First Baptist Church Bereavement Committee. She was a past member of the Kingsland Woman Club.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Fred Sutton, Jr. of Kingsland; a daughter, Donna LaVerne Sutton Couch (David) of Green Cove Springs, FL; two sons, Don Sutton (Anne) and Roger Sutton (Laurie) all of Kingsland; a sister, Elizabeth Smith of Tifton; a brother, Dr. K. C. Stevens, Jr. of Augusta; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Friday, September 8 at 1 p.m. at Kingsland First Baptist Church with the Rev. Vernon Dillingham, Terry Brown and Dr. K.C. Stevens, Jr. officiating. Interment followed at Lawnwood Cemetery in Kingsland.
Edo Miller Camden Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Harper Paul
Helen Harper Paul, 72, of Macon, (formerly of Ocilla) died Thursday, September 7, 2006 at the Medical Center Of Central Georgia in Macon.
Funeral Services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10 at Ocilla Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Couey and the Rev. Wayne McCrimmon officiating. Music was provided by organist Sujette Giddens and singers Mark and Sherry Massee. Entombment followed in Pinetta Cemetery.
Eric Evans, Lee Harper, Kyle Kennedy, Chris Paul, Harry Mixon and Kermit Elliott served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were employees of Hybernia’s.
Mrs. Paul was born August 27, 1934 in Tifton to the late Thomas Edward and Evie Lee Simpson Hayes. She lived in Macon for the past five years from Ocilla.
A member of Ocilla Baptist Church, Mrs. Paul was former bookkeeper and saleslady for Hybernia’s and the Ocilla Pharmacy.
Mrs. Paul is survived by her husband: Franklin A. Paul of Macon; sons: Rickey Lee Harper of Fitzgerald and Glenn Harper of Dawsonville; daughters and sons-in-law: Deena and Larry Harper of Ocilla and Marla and Stanley Evans of Irwinville; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; step-children: Brenda Ann and Sonny Ard of Macon, Nelda Lynn Kennedy of Macon and Randy Joe and Connie Paul of Roberta; brother: Robert Hayes of Alma.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Dorman L. Harper and a brother, Wayne Hayes.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James David (J.D.) Hunter
James David (J.D.) Hunter, 74, died Thursday, September 7, 2006 after an extended illness.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 10 at Pinetta Baptist Church in Irwin County. Memorial contributions can be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308.
Mr. Hunter was born in Ocilla but had been a resident of Florida for the last 32 years. He was a retired diesel mechanic.
He is survived by four daughters: Diane Godwin (Bo) of Pelham, Wanda Benton and Sherry Griner, both of Tallahassee, FL and Tracy West (Stevie) of Hazelhurst; two sons: Tony Hunter (Marie) of Thomasville, James (Buddy) Hunter (Candace) of Tallahassee, FL; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; brothers: Gene Hunter (Rachel), curtis Hunter (Nellie) and Gary Hunter (Darnell), all of Ocilla; sisters: Maggie Cleghorn (Roger) of Albany, Sandra Bryson (Bennie) of Warner Robbins, Linda Gray (Kent) of Brunswick and Karen Fennell (John) of Kennesaw.
Mr. Hunter was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Eloise Hunter.
Allen & Allen Funeral Home, Thomasville, was in charge of arrangements.
Frank W. Hood
Frank W. Hood, 81, of Abbeville died Saturday, September 9, 2006 at River Willows Nursing Home in Abbeville.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 12 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery with full military honors.
Mr. Hood was born June 7, 1925 in Dublin to the late Daniel Webster and Ethel Foster Hood. He lived most of his life in Ben Hill and Wilcox counties.
Mr. Hood was a retired Staff Sergeant and a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He had worked as a mechanic at Fitzgerald Ford and was a member of American Legion Post 99. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ben Hill County.
Survivors include his wife: Iona J. Hood of Abbeville; daughter and son-in-law: Denise and Mike Silcox of Cordele; three sons and a daughter-in-law: David and Terrie Hood, Frank Daniel Hood and Eddie Hood, all of Canton; step-children: Melvin Keith Rogers of Abbeville, Patricia Ann Cox of Fitzgerald and Annette Smith of Douglas; step-son-in-law: Henry Mitchell Mattair of Abbeville; four sisters: Lucy Spicer of Jacksonville, FL, Ruth McLeod of Osierfield, Wylene Bryant of Byron and Jeanelle Funck of Tacoma, WA; 16 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Florice Evelyn Hood; a step-daughter: Mary A. Mattair; two brothers: Jim and William and one sister, Mildred Mann.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Martha Davis Stripling
Martha Davis Stripling, 75, of Waycross died Sunday, September 10, 2006 at Satilla Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Stripling was born in Worth County to the late William Davis and Lilly McDonald Davis. She has made Waycross her home for the past 51 years.
Mrs. Stripling was a housewife, a member of Central Baptist Church, a very faithful member of the Faith Sunday School Class and a charter member of the Ware County Exchangettes. Along with her parents she was preceded in death by six brothers and a sister.
Survivors include her husband Billy Stripling of Waycross; daughters, Suzanne Dalton and her husband Lewayne of Waycross, Sheila Pope and her husband Steve of Waycross; grandchildren, Betsy Dalton of Savannah, Brad Dalton of Tallahassee, FL, Preston Pope of Statesboro, Haley Pope of Statesboro; a sister, Ruth Ringstaff and her husband Fred of Albany; two brothers, Maxwell Davis and his wife Elizabeth and Donald Davis and his wife Ivelyn, all of Albany.
Funeral services were held at 2 pm. Tuesday, September 12 in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Oakland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60611.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross, was in charge of arrangements.
Eunice Eberhardt
Eunice “Pat” Eberhardt, 82, of Centerville, formerly of Fitzgerald, died Sunday, September 10, 2006 at Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 13 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald with the Rev. Derrell Hampton and the Rev. Clayton Dowd officiating. Interment will follow in Blockhouse Church Cemetery in Telfair County.
Mrs. Eberhardt was born July 2, 1924 in Crystal River, FL to the late Walter and Lucy Smith Kinnett. She was a former resident of Miami, FL, Atlanta and Warner Robins. She had lived in Centerville since 1996.
Mrs. Eberhardt was a caregiver for elderly people and a former employee of Fitzgerald Underwear, General Shoe Co., Atlanta, and Southern Dairies, Miami, FL.
Survivors include two daughters: Eunice Britt of Fitzgerald and Brenda Thompson of Macon; three sons: Danny E. Eberhardt of Centerville, Ronald A. Eberhardt of Fitzgerald and Walter Allen Eberhardt of Warner Robins; one sister: Dorothy K. Wise of Lake City, FL; fifteen grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two daughters, five brothers, three sisters and a great-great-granddaughter.
Paulk Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Dill Allison
Mary Dill Allison, 74, of Ocilla died Thursday, December 7, 2006 at Tift Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9 at the Ocilla Baptist Church with the Rev. Gerald Thomas, the Rev. Jesse Alligood and Dr. Jim Britt officiating. Interment followed in Ocilla Cemetery.
Music was provided by soloists Randy Reeves and Lynn Jones, pianist Sujette Giddens and congregational song lef by Randy Reeves.
Corey Jackson, Michael Young, Mark Young, Matt Young, Harrison Dill, Levy Dill, L.H. Dill, Dr. David Lee Dill, Zane Dill and Derrell Young served as pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers were the Hannah Sunday School Class, Bridge Club, Andrew Sunday School Class and Ben Hill-Irwin Gideons.
Mrs. Allison was born May 31, 1932 in Irwin County to the late Harris and Millie Hancock Dill. She attended public schools in Ocilla and graduated from Auburn University in 1953. Mrs. Allison taught junior high school at 40th Street School in Columbus.
She and 2nd Lt. Jim Allison met on October 14, 1954, were engaged by Thanksgiving and married in the Ocilla Baptist Church on April 3, 1955. They celebrated their 50th anniversary April 3, 2005.
Mrs. Allison was a true patriot as an Army wife. They were assigned to 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY in April 1955. At the completion of his first duty day at Fort Campbell, Lt. Allison went home and told her, “I am going to Panama for two months in May, I got six shots today, I am going to jump out of an airplane tomorrow and we are scheduled to go to Germany in January.” Quite a shock for a new bride! This all happened in rapid fire order except for the part about going to Germany.
Due to unexpected health problems, Mrs. Allison was not able to go to Europe so they remained at Fort Campbell where he was assigned to the newly activated 101st Airborne Division. Their only child, Amelia Dill was born December 6, 1956. Her husband resigned his commission in 1957 and they lived in Birmingham, AL, Lakeland, FL and Ocilla until he returned to active duty at Fort Polk, LA.
The moves were fast and furious for the next few years as her husband was stationed at Fort Polk, Vietnam (twice), Fort Benning (twice), Fort Meade, MD and The Presidio of Monterey, CA. During this time Mrs. Allison was very active in Officers’ Wives activities, sang in church choir, and was a member of choral groups at Fort Meade and Fort Benning. Upon Jim’s retirement from the Army they returned home to Ocilla where Mrs. Allison worked at her brother’s hardware store and became Irwin County’s first full time Voter Registrar. She retired in 1998.
She was a member of the Ocilla Baptist Church, the Hannah Sunday School Class, WMU Director and sang in the choir. She served as an Area Coordinator of Gideons International and she was a member of the Irwin-Ocilla Pilot Club. She was an avid Bridge player where she was regularly teased for being so slow.
Mr. Allison often said, “Mary and the other Army wives are our true patriots. They kept the homes, trained and looked after the children, kept up the finances and paid the bills while we men were off in exotic places playing soldier.”
She was a person with many friends and had unconditional love for her husband, daughter and grandchildren.
Mrs. Allison is survived by her husband: Jim Allison of Ocilla; daughter: Amelia Allison McCoy (Alton) of Chapin, SC; grandchildren: Allison Gillespie of Georgetown, SC, Joe Gillespie, student at the University of Florida, Clay McCoy of Surfside Beach, SC, Angela Tudor of Sumter, SC, Rachael McCoy of Myrtle Beach, SC and great-grandchildren: Natalie and Brooklyn.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers, Harris, Jr. and Raymond Dill.
Memorials may be given to the Ocilla Baptist Church, P.O. Box 101, Ocilla, GA 31774 or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 752, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vearlie Payne Wiggins
Vearlie Payne Wiggins, 82, of Ocilla died Saturday, December 2, 2006 at Tift Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 7 at 11 a.m. at Midway Baptist Church, Irwin County, with the Rev. Raymond King officiating. Music was provided by soloist Andrew Sneed and the church choir. Interment followed in Ocilla City Cemetery.
Randy Wynn, Willie Tyson, Reginald Miller, Terry Ashley, Theroyal Sneed and Nathan Byrd served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Laris Ransey, Jerry Moss, J. Thomas, Elijah Wiggins, Randy Sneed, Walter T. Wiggins, III, Isaiah J. Wiggins and Thomas Faucette, III.
Mrs. Wiggins was born July 6, 1924 in Irwin County to the late Willie and Mamie Payne. She was educated at Irwin County Industrial High School where she graduated in March of 1946. She married Walter T. Wiggins, Sr. and to this union four children were born.
After relocating to the Bronx, New York, Mrs. Wiggins continued her education in the medical field and was a dedicated employee at Mt. Calvary Memorial Hospital for 25 years.
After her retirement from Mt. Calvary, she left New York and returned to the Irwin County area where she joined Midway Baptist Church. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board, Sunday School educator and a member of the kitchen staff until her health began to decline.
Mrs. Wiggins was preceded in death by her husband, Walter T. Wiggins, Sr. She was the second of seven children; four brothers also preceded her in death.
Survivors include four sons: Walter T. Wiggins Jr. (Cheryl) of Fayetteville, Marvin Wiggins of Ocilla, Leonard Wiggins of Allen Park, MI and Steven (Nancy) of Bronx, NY; six grandchildren: three great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mildred Moss of Ocilla and Enola Jacobs of Jacksonville, FL; five sisters-in-law: Marie Payne of Las Vegas, NV, Ivory Sneed of Ocilla, Lucille Wiggins of Ocilla, Odessa Wiggins of Cherry Hill, NJ and Freddie Wiggins of Fitzgerald and one brother-in-law: Theodore “Uncle Blue” Wiggins of Tennessee.
Henderson Memorial Chapel, Fitzgerald was in charge of arrangements.
John Bishop
John Bishop, 59, of Irwin County died Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Graveside services were held at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 8 at Big Creek Cemetery, Irwin County, with the Rev. Rex Johnson officiating.
Mr. Bishop was born May 7, 1947 in Ben Hill County to the late William B. and Minnie Fussell Bishop. He lived in Ben Hill and Irwin counties all of his life, retiring from GTE after 20 years as a cable repairman. Mr. Bishop served in the United States Army National Guard during the Vietnam War era.
Survivors include his wife: Janice Bishop of Irwin County; sons and daughter-in-law: Allen and Belinda Bishop and W.L. Bishop, all of Irwin County; daughter and son-in-law: Kristie and Dennis Fisher of Pearson; grandchildren: Allen and Joshua Fisher of Pearson, Zoie and Zach Bishop of Irwin County; step-granddaughter: Emily Fisher of Douglas; brothers and sisters-in-law: Zeke and Rachel Bishop of Fitzgerald and William and Cathy Bishop of Irwin County; sister and brother-in-law: Ginger and Orvis Jarchow of Fitzgerald.
Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
