Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
EVELYN JONES
Evelyn Jones, 64, of Bainbridge passed from this world on July 22, 2003 at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge.
Services will be held Thursday July 24, 2003 at 2 p.m. at Grace Covenant Church in Bainbridge with the Rev. Roy Connell and Rev. Russell Hardesty officiating. Interment is to follow at Oak City Cemetery in Bainbridge. Pallbeareres are Charles King Jr., Rusty King, Tom Jones Jr., Brian Jones, Ben Nix and Chip Nix King, Liz Fudge, Troy King, Charles King III, Chaz King, Brandon Powell and Masen Jones.
Ms. Jones was born April 13, 1939 to Lee Roy Nix and Rossie Jeannette Powell Nix, both deceased. She was a nursing assistant and lifelong resident of Decatur County. She was a member of Grace Covenant Church in Bainbridge. She was the wife of the late A.B. Jones.
Ms. Jones leaves behind 2 sons, Tom Jones and Andy Jones, both of Climax; 2 daughters, Patsy Finley and Ellen King, both of Bainbridge; brothers, James Nix, Billy Nix and Jarratt Nix, all of Bainbridge; sisters Frances White of Thomasville, Jo Ann Glisson of Columbus, Pat Finley and Barbara Ann Kelly, both of Bainbridge.
Cox Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
THELMA FIELDER DOZIER
Services for Thelma Fielder Dozier, 92, are at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2003, at Colquitt First Baptist Church, with interment in Colquitt City Cemetery. The Rev. Harold Burrell, pastor of Whigham First Baptist Church and former pastor of Colquitt First Baptist Church, will officiate.
Mrs. Dozier died Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at Camellia Gardens of Life Care nursing home in Thomasville after an illness of several months. Mrs. Dozier was born May 4, 1911, in Lexington, Ky., a daughter of the late Bessie Doyle Brookshire Fielder and Algin Fielder of St. Louis, Mo., and Colquitt. Mrs. Dozier grew up in St. Louis and attended Berea College in Berea, Ky. In 1930, with her parents, she moved to Colquitt, where her father owned a lumber business. On May 17, 1936, in Brinson, she married Robert Peyton "Pat" Dozier of Colquitt and Damascus. Mr. Dozier died Aug. 16, 1993, in Colquitt. Mrs. Dozier and her husband owned and operated Dozier Lumber Co. in Colquitt. After a lengthy sabbatical to raise her two children, Mrs. Dozier was secretary/treasurer at Colquitt First Baptist Church for 27 years. She was a former member of the St. Louis Junior Service League and a former Grand Esther in The Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star of the State of Georgia. Mrs. Dozier was active in many areas of the Colquitt community, an avid gardener, a longtime member of Colquitt Baptist Church, where she held a number of offices and positions, and was a member of the TEL Sunday School Class. A Colquitt resident for 71 years, Mrs. Dozier moved to Thomasville in November 2001, then to Baptist Village at Lake Park in March 2003.
Mrs. Dozier is survived by a daughter, Patricia "Patti" Dozier, Thomasville; two granddaughters, Rhonda Maria Johnson Knoch, Lexington, Jan Tara Johnson, Bogart; a great-grandson, Wayne Carson Knoch, Lexington; a grandson-in-law, Charles Theodore Knoch, Lexington; a brother-in-law, Frederick Homer Eldredge, Charlotte, N.C.; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Mrs. Dozier was preceded in death on July 7, 1972, by a son, Robert Fielder "Bob" Dozier, of Colquitt, and on July 16, 1995, by a sister, Delna Clay Fielder Eldredge, of Charlotte. After the Saturday interment, a meal and a celebration of Mrs. Dozier's life, an event for family members and friends of the family, will be conducted at Colquitt First Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Baptist Village, 736 Johnston Way, Lake Park, GA 31636, to Colquitt First Baptist Church, 351 E. Pine St., Colquitt, Ga. 39837, or to Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, 180 Big Star Drive, Thomasville, Ga. 31792.
Colquitt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
DONNA BRADSHAW
We regret to announce the passing of Donna Bradshaw, 56, of Donalsonville, who passed away Wednesday July 23, 2003 at Bainbridge Health Care in Bainbridge.
Services will be held Friday morning, July 25, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home with burial to follow at Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery on Hebrew Road in Donalsonville with the Dr. Ron McCaskill officiating.
Born July 27, 1946 in Houston County, AL to the late Donnell and Ruby Perryman Bradshaw, Donna attended the Decatur-Seminole Training Center, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Donalsonville.
Ms. Bradshaw leaves to cherish her memory two sisters, Debbie Miller, of Princeton, IN, and Tammy Dupree of Bainbridge; and one aunt, Bea Johnson, of Princeton, IN.
Pallbearers are Terry Batchelor, Earl Mims, Joe Burke, Raymond Thompson, William Bramlett, and Willard Mims. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
CARL J. SHIRAH JR.
Mr. Carl J. Shirah Jr., age 73, of Bainbridge, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday July 24 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bainbridge with the Rev. Luther Hastey and Rev. Danny Shepard officiating. Pallbearers are Conrad Harris, John Benton, Ken Choates, Mack Brock, Turner Brock, Steve O'Neal. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mr. Shirah, the son of Carl Jefferson Shirah and Ruth Naomi Yates, was born in Decatur County on November 12, 1929. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1952. He married Zelda Suggs on April 25, 1959 and was employed as a Wildlife Manager with Cyrene Turpentine Company. He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
He leaves behind his wife, Zelda Suggs Shirah, of Bainbridge; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Michelle Shirah of Bainbridge; two sisters, Louise Marshall of Roswell and Grace Holt of Tampa, FL; and two grandsons, Jay Shirah and Scott Shirah, both of Bainbridge.
Ivey Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
JOHN THOMAS "JOHNNY" TYLER II
We regret to announce the passing of John Thomas "Johnny" Tyler, II, age 41, of Jakin who passed away Friday, July 18, 2003.
Graveside services will be held Sunday afternoon, July 20, 2003 at 2 p.m. at Jakin City Cemetery with the Rev. James Scarborough officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday, July 19, from 6-8 p.m at Evans Skipper funeral Home.
Johnny was born in Houston County, AL Feb 3, 1962 to Thomas and Marsha Barber Tyler. He lived in the Jakin area all his life, was a member of Jakin Baptist Church. He was a construction worker with a Millwright Union in Pensacola, FL.
Johnny leaves to cherish his memory, his parent, one daughter Lisa Denise Tyler of Jacksonville, FL; one sister Gina Melissa Hartbarger of Pensacola, FL; one grandson Chason Thomas Tyler and his grandmother Altha Barber of Jakin. He was preceded in death by one brother Richie Tyler in 1998.
Evans Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
GRACE KING SANTI
We regret to announce the passing of Grace King Santi, 80, of Pineview Community who passed away Saturday, July 19, 2003 at Great Gran's in her hometown of Donalsonville. Grace was born on November 27, 1922 in Donalsonville and was the daughter of the late Joseph Virgil and Nancy Lane King. Wife of the late Francis Santi.
Grace served as a Jury Bailiff of the Superior Court of Seminole County for 28 years and retired in 2001. She also served as a Seminole County Voting election Official for many years. She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church of Donalsonville and was a member of the Jo Webb Circle of that church. She served as President of the Pineview Community Club for several years. For over 20 years she along with Francis entertained children of their community as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, visiting the local hospital, nursing home and church parties. Grace leaves two sister: Thelma Singletary and Theresa King, both of Donalsonville; a daughter, Francesca Melichar and husband Frank of Tallahassee, FL; a son Federico Santi of Newport, RI; two grandsons, Josef and Stefan and several nieces and nephews. Grace was the sister of the late Dewey King and Rayo King.
The Celebration of Life service will be held at the Friendship United Methodist Church in Donalsonville on Monday, July 21st at 2 p.m. with burial to follow in Friendship Cemetery in Donalsonville. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 20 from 5-7 p.m. at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
ALLENE CHESHIRE B. SHEFFIELD
Allene Cheshire Bessent Sheffield, 90, of Decatur died Tuesday of a stroke at Emory University Hospital. The body was cremated. The memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. A.S. Turner & Sons is in charge of arrangements.
Allene Sheffield played piano for silent movies in South Georgia, then toured with a vocal group.
Allene Sheffield could handle any social situation -- from being a judge's wife to managing a room of rowdy kindergarten children to knowing what to do with a live chicken.
When the Colquitt native was living in an Atlanta boardinghouse around 1940, times were hard, and one of the boarders paid rent with a live chicken instead of cash.
The owner had no idea of what to do with the chicken, said Mrs. Sheffield's son, Gene Bessent of Decatur. "So Mom said, 'Give it to me,' and the women had chicken for dinner that night. She was a farm girl and a faculty wife and a judge's wife. She could do anything."
One of her talents was playing piano. As a teenager, she worked for a South Georgia movie house, providing live accompaniment to silent films. "It was hard, because she hadn't seen the movies beforehand, so she didn't know if she'd need to play a chase piece or romantic music or something suspenseful," said her son.
Before moving to Atlanta in the late 1930s, Mrs. Sheffield toured the South as pianist for the Southwest Georgia Cotton Choppers, a vocal group that sang gospel and popular songs.
At family gatherings, Mrs. Sheffield played piano with her first husband, amateur violinist Ewell Bessent, whom she married in the early 1940s. While Mr. Bessent worked at Emory University, becoming vice president for finance, Mrs. Sheffield taught kindergarten at Ar'Lyn Worth, a private elementary school in Emory Village.
Soon after Mr. Bessent died in 1983, Mrs. Sheffield learned that her childhood sweetheart, Philip Sheffield of Blakely, had been widowed. She sent him a note, the two began dating, and in 1984 she married Mr. Sheffield, a Superior Court judge. He died in 1993.
Survivors include her daughter, Anne Bessent of Woodstock; a stepson, Robert Sheffield of Blakely; a sister, Betty Freshwater of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; two granddaughters, and a great-granddaughter.
A.S. Turner & Sons was in charge of the arrangements.
BARBARA WILKIN
Mrs. Barbara Wilkin, 79, of Colquitt, Ga. passed away Friday, August 1, 2003 in Warner Robins, Ga. The family will receive friends Saturday, August 2, 2003 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Colquitt Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Sunday, August 3, 2003 at 2:00 PM in
the Colquitt United Methodist Church with Rev. Matt Stewart officiating and Russell Womble, Marty Kelley, W.C. Yates, Tony Santarsiero, Edwin Wilkin, and Harry Wells serving as active pallbearers. The members of The Retired Teachers Association of Georgia will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will follow at
Colquitt City Cemetery in Colquitt Ga. Memorials may be made to the Ris Bell Jr. Sunday School Class at Colquitt United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Wilkin was born May 27, 1924 in Miller County. She was a retired librarian from Miller County High School (35 years), member of the Retired Teachers Association of Georgia, member of the Colquitt United Methodist Church, and a member of the Kate Wilkin Sunday School Class.
Survivors include one son, Wayne Wilkin with daughter-in-law Sharon from Vienna, Ga.; one daughter, Rhonda Moulder with son-in-law Guy Moulder from Warner Robins, Ga.; and four grandchildren; Macy Moulder, Nicholas Moulder, Brad Wilkin, and Jessica Wilkin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon G. Wilkin, and her brother, Ris N. Bell Jr.
Colquitt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
HELEN M. WALLS
We regret to announce the passing of Helen M. Walls, age 88, formerly of Donalsonville who passed away, Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center in Americus.
Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2003, at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2003, at the Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel in Americus.
Mrs. Walls was born in San Fransciso, CA on April 6, 1915 to Otto and Genevive Meisner. She married Carl Harold Walls on August 6, 1941, and was a homemaker. Mr. and Mrs. Walls moved to Iron City in January of 1958, where they lived together until his passing in 1993. Mrs. Walls moved to Americus in 1998. Mrs. Walls was a member of the Iron City Baptist Church, and a member of the Masonic Lodge's Eastern Star division.
Mrs. Walls leaves to cherish her memory, one son, Carl Walls (Carol), of Lawrenceville; one daughter, Vicki King (Curtis) of Americus; two grandchildren, Shanning King (Deanna), and Troy Walls (Chasity); and five great-grandchildren, Gabrielle King, Christian King, Gavin King, Kaylee Walls, and Adam Jones.
Pallbearers will be: Joe Burke, Royce Cannington, Augie Clayton, Troy Walls, Shannon King, and Brett Guterman. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
RONALD WIGGINS
Ronald Isaac Wiggins, of Charleston, SC, 63, died July 23, 2003.
Mr. Wiggins was born in Jesup on November 10, 1939, to Lannie Wiggins and Clara Cross Wiggins. He was the retired Chief of Infrastructure at the Charleston Air Force Base and retired Master Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy. He was a member of R.S.E.S. and on the Board of Curriculum at Trident Technical College.
A memorial service was held Saturday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the West Ashley Chapel. A funeral service was held at the Big Oaks Church of God in Baxley Sunday, July 27 at 3:00 p.m. Interment followed in Appling Memorial Gardens in Baxley.
Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Irene Thompkins Wiggins, Charleston, SC; mother, Clara Wiggins, Baxley; two sons, Ronald I. Wiggins, Jr., Kenneth C. Wiggins, James Island, SC; two brothers, Doyle Wiggins, Dublin, Nathan Wiggins, Colquitt; two sisters, Nadre Thompkins, Delorise Deeb, Baxley; and five grandchidren.
A Local Baxley GA Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
NORA LOVETT
Resident of Bainbridge, Nora Lovett, 85, wife of Herbert Lovett, passed away July 24, 2003, at Bainbridge Health Care. Nora was born in Decatur County, June 25, 1918, the daughter of the late Johnnie Thomas Layton and Anna Estella Page Layton. She lived most of her life in Mineral Wells, TX, from 1968-1991 before moving back to Bainbridge. She was a retired bookkeeper, former teacher and choir member of the First Baptist Church.
The funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Bainbridge Sunday, July 27, at 3:00 p.m. The place of interment was Roselawn Memory Gardens in Bainbridge. The officiating minister was Dr. Leroy Spinks.
Active pallbearers were Troy McCuller, Ryan McCuller, Davey Womack, Castle Lovett, Brandon Beckham and Justin Beckham.
Honorary pallbearers were April Chambers, Erin Betancourt, Steven Betancourt and The Fidelis Sunday School Class.
Surviving is her son, Butch Lovett, Bainbridge; three daughters, Linda Beevers, Big Sandy, TX, Brenda Womack, Bainbridge, Karen Beckham, Jacksboro, TX; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Cox Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
JOHN NOBLES
We regret to announce the passing of John Nobles, age 87, of Jakin who passed away, Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at the Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Al.
Services were held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Jakin Baptist Church in Jakin, Ga. with Rev. James Scarborough, Rev. Jack Cowart and Rev. Luther Hastey officiating. Interment will follow at Jakin City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7:00-9:00 PM Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home.
Mr. Nobles was born in Early County on July 12, 1916 to the late Walt and Mary White Nobles. He was a farmer and had lived all of his life in Early County. He was married to the late Ethel Brownlee and he was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Nobles leaves to cherish his memory, one son; Norman Nobles and his wife Janette; one daughter, Rossie Adams and her husband Bill, both of Jakin, Ga.; one brother, Joe Nobles of Tuscaloosa, Al.; four sisters, Ouida Blue, Nita Brooks and Vausine Smith all of Blakely and Emmagene Raper of Montezuma, Ga. Six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. He was preceded in death by one great-grandchild, Andrew Adams.
Pallbearers will be: Greg Nobles, Kent Adams, Mike Adams, Nick Adams, Harvey Culver, Victor Cannon and Casey Cannon.
Flowers accepted or donations may be made to Wiregrass Hospice, 432 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, Ga. 39817Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
LEILA MAE BUTLER
We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Leila Mae Butler, age 90, of Donalsonville, who passed away Monday afternoon, August 4, 2003, at her residence.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2003, at 3:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Donalsonville, with the Dr. Ton McCaskill and the Rev. James Scarborough officiating. Interment will follow in the Friendship Cemetery in Donalsonville. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, August 5, 2003 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home.
Mrs. Butler was born in Seminole County on August 11, 1912, to the late William A. and Ludy Harrell Johnson. She was a homemaker and worked with her husband on the farm. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Donalsonville, where she was active in the Dorcas Sunday School Class for as long as her health allowed. She loved gardening and being outdoors. Mrs. Butler was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Butler leaves to cherish her memory, two sons, Billy Ray Butler of Donalsonville and Dr. Don Butler and his wife Wanda of Columbus; one daughter, Brenda Wilson of Perry, FL; and one sister, Ida Chancey of Colquitt. Five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard. E. Butler in 1986 and a son-in-law, Jim Wilson, in 2003.
Pallbearers will be Stan Butler, Scott Butler, Jimmy Dukes, Don Butler, Jr., Billy Baker, and Curtis Butler, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Dorcas Sunday School Class of the First Baptist Church and Terry Batchelor.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Wiregrass Hospice 432 East Shotwell Street Bainbridge, Ga. 39817. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
MARY LEE DAY ROBERTS
We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Mary Lee Day Roberts, age 79, of Donalsonville, who passed away Thursday morning, July 31, 2003 at her residence.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, August 2, 2003, at Spring Creek Baptist Church at 2:00 PM with burial to follow in the Brinson Cemetery in Brinson, GA. The Revs. Gerald Hollis and Larry Lafferty will officiate. Visitation was Friday evening, August 1, 2003, from 7:00-9:00 PM at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville.
Born November 28, 1923 in Decatur County to the late Willie and Emma Lee Scarborough Day, Mrs. Mary Lee was a retired worker in housekeeping management. She worked with resorts in Florida, Colorado, and California.
Married in 1976 to the late William Roberts, Mrs. Roberts enjoyed gardening, fishing, and travel. She received much pleasure visiting with family and friends. As a lifetime member of the Spring Creek Baptist Church, Mrs. Roberts enjoyed taking part in activities with her Faith Sunday School Class.
Mrs. Roberts leaves to cherish her memory one daughter, Helen White Minnis (W.G. "Bo") of Lubbock, TX; two sons, Henry (Smokey) White (Sandra) of Savannah and Dewey White (Sue) of Donalsonville; two brothers, Russell Day of Brinson and Eldon Day of Perry; three sisters, Myrtice Simmons and Fannie Mae Godwin, both of Brinson and Dorothy Weeks of Perry. Mrs. Roberts also leaves eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Eddie Alday, Roger Day, Jerry Godby, Ellis Odom, Tom Stadsklev, Bobby Thursby, Jerry White, and Bunky Whittaker.
Honorary Pallbearers were the Faith Sunday School Class of the Spring Creek Baptist Church. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
