Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Chester E. Emlet Jr.
Chester E. Emlet Jr., 71, of West River Bend Way in Eatonton, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 at his residence. Funeral services will be private. He was born May 30, 1936, in Muscatine, Iowa, and had lived in Eatonton for the past 19 years. He was the son of the late Chester E. Emlet Sr. and Myrtle Eloise Longsgreth Emlet. He honorably served his country with the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of master sergeant. He was a member of the United States Bowling Congress and was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Mary Bridges Emlet. Survivors include his sons and daughter-in-law, Brad L. Emlet of Conyers, Rodney L. Emlet of Stockbridge and Terry L. and Jennifer Emlet of Eatonton; sister, Janet Patterson of Iowa; and seven grandchildren. Bridges Funeral Home in Gray had charge of arrangements.
Martha E. Herringdine
Martha Everett Herringdine, 76, died Monday, Sept. 14, 2007. A native of Greenville, S.C., she had made her home in Eatonton. Retired from Dupont in Greenville, she also worked for Putnam County Schools. Survivors include her husband, Oscar C. Herringdine of Eatonton; special niece, Faye Pass and husband Ted of Greenville, S.C.; three sons, Oscar C. Herringdine Jr. and wife Susan of Soperton, Larry F. Herringdine and wife Judy of Jacksonville, N.C., and Jerry T. Herringdine and wife Ann of Milledgeville; special aunt, Sally Jones of Greenville, S.C.; brother, Joseph R. “Dick” Everett and wife Eva of Greenville, S.C.; sisters, Verner Caraway of Greenville, S.C., and Elizabeth “Libby” Lynch of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral service was Thursday at the chapel of Moores Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Bradley officiating. Interment followed in West View Cemetery.
Barbara B. Lovejoy
Barbara Bowdoin Braxley Lovejoy, 76, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2007. She was a native of Lincoln County and had made Baldwin County her home for the past 37 years. She was retired from Northrop Grumman Corporation and was a member of the Ladies Auxillary of the VFW in Eatonton. She was also a member of Coopers Baptist Church. She was the daughter of the late Emmett M. and Irma Lucille Dallas Bowdoin and widow of the late William H. “Frank” Lovejoy. She was also preceded in death by a sister. Survivors include sons, Troy Braxley and wife Amanda and Mark Braxley, all of Milledgeville; sister, Peggy Griffin of Milledgeville; cousins, Stanley Dallas of Warrenton, Joe and Phyllis McMillan, Linda Lester, Deborah Giles and Diane Cox, all of Milledgeville; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Graveside service was Oct. 3 in Baldwin Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Glen Kohlhagen officiating. Williams Funeral Home of Milledgeville was in charge of arrangements.
Blewster K. Wallace
Blewster Knight Wallace, 74, of Bear Creek Road in Eatonton, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007 at his residence. A native of Putnam County, he was born Feb. 7, 1933 to Thomas Hilton Wallace and Mamie Virginia Byars. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Before retiring, he was a driver for the Hess Company. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother. Survivors include his wife, Pauline Wallace; children, Randy Wallace and Terry Wallace, both of Plant City, Fla.; brother, Marvin Wallace of Eatonton; sister, Lillie Ruth Goss of Buckhead; nine grandchildren, Teresa Marie Levett, Randell D. Wallave, Brandon Levett, Brittany Levett, Shawn Michael Wallace, Jeremy Lamar Wallace, Elaine Wallace, Mariah Wallace and Melandy Wallace; and nieces and nephews. Graveside service was Sept. 29 in Eatonton Memorial Park with the Rev. Terry Richardson officiating. Serving as pallbearers were David Wallace, Lawson Wallace, David McDade, Alan McDade, Danny Wallace and Tommy Cochran. Vining Ivy Hill Chapel in Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth H. Marshall
Dr. Elizabeth Hulsey Marshall of Jonesboro, Professor Emerita of History, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. She was the daughter of Andrew Jefferson Hulsey and Nell Cavender Hulsey of Gainesville, where she was reared. She received her undergraduate education at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville. Later, after marriage and motherhood, she earned master and doctorate degrees in history from the University of Georgia. As a high school English teach in Eatonton, she married the late Thomas Allan Marshall, who served as the city’s mayor for 17 years. During her 25 years in Eatonton, three sons were born. Marshall later taught at Georgia Military College and at Georgia College. After the Marshalls moved to Jonesboro, she taught for 13 years Clayton State College. She received grants to travel and study in India and the University of California at Berkeley. Upon retirement, she was appointed a trustee of the Clayton State College Foundation, where she served for the remainder of her life. She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Georgia Association of Historians. Survivors include three sons, Thomas Allan Marshall Jr. of Chicago, Ill., Andrew Hulsey Marshall of Athens and David Cavender Marshall of Atlanta; daughters-in-law, Betsy Coblentz Marshall, Sheila Addy Marshall and Gina Shuman Marshall; grandchildren, Thomas Allan Marshall III, David MacQueen Marshall, Alice Elizabeth Marshall, Evan Andrew Marshall, Alexander James Marshall and Nicholas Taylor Marshall; and sister-in-law, Jane Neff Hulsey of Gainesville. Interment took place Sept. 29 at Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville. A memorial service was held at Central Presbyterian Church at Atlanta later that day. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Central Presbyterian Church or the Allan and Elizabeth Marshall Scholarship at Clayton State College. H.M. Patterson and Son-Spring Hill Chapel in Atlanta was in charge of arrangements.
John F. Griffith
John Franklin “Sonny” Griffith, 64, of Union Point, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 at Minnie G. Boswell Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. A native of Newton County, he was born March 2, 1943 to the late John Edgar Griffith and Lorene Kenny Griffith. He attended Shady Dale School and at the age of 17 joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Texas and drove a gas transport truck. On March 4, 1966, he married Betty Worthen of Union Point. In 1968, he returned to the Army during the Vietnam War. He helped Sweetapple Plastics open in Greensboro and in 1974 started working for NIBCO as a maintenance mechanic, retiring after 34 years of service. Along with his family, he operated B&B Quick Stop and was a member and ordained deacon of Bethesda Baptist Church in Union Point. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend who loved fishing, his family and going to the kids and grandkids ballgames. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Frances Griffith, Bobby Griffith and Minnie Pearl Griffith; and nephews, Shane Mote and Chad Clark. In addition to his wife of 41 years, Betty Worthen Griffith of Union Point, he is survived by two sons, Mike Griffith and Joey Griffith both of Union Point; two sisters, Jerry G. Mote and husband Raymond of Cleveland, and Linda G. Batchelor and husband Johnny of Eatonton; a brother, Tim Holt Griffith of Bethlehem; two granddaughters, Brittany Griffith and Rebecca Griffith; and a number of other relatives and friends. Funeral service was Saturday, Sept. 22 at Bethesda Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Duvall and the Rev. Jim Olds officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Andrew Brian Speed, Victor Garcia, John Rowe, Officer Eddie Sanders, Sgt. Greg Perkins, Deputy Don Smith, Jimmy Thornton and Ruben Worthen. Honorary pallbearers were Kevin Nichols, Ray Price, Al Chester, Gregory Bell, Cadet William Smith, Chief Richard Campbell, Deputy Thomas Moore, Sgt. Lee Stancil and Deputy Travis Goss. McCommons Funeral Home in Greensboro was in charge of arrangements.
Herbert Farrow
Herbert “Buddy” Farrow, 82, of Fuller Union Chapel Road in Eatonton, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Macon. He was born Aug. 12, 1925 in Baltimore, Md. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Barthalow Farrow; and sisters, Josephine Vining of Eatonton, Jackie Elliott of Villa Rica and Robecca Linch of Eatonton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the charity of the donor’s choice. Vining Ivy Hill Chapel in Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Milton N. Carswell
Milton Neville Carswell, 95, of Eatonton, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 at his residence. Born in Augusta on May 17, 1912, he was the son of Milton Milford Carswell and Mabel Gertrude Neville Carswell. He was retired from Case Tractor Company. He was a member of Manley Memorial Baptist Church. He is survived by his spouse of 65 years, Betty G. Carswell of Eatonton; a son, Robert G. Carswell (Judy) of Conyers; two daughters, Judith Reese (Terry) of Indiana and Becky Meyer (Mike) of Eatonton; granddaughters, Mary Byrd (Anthony), Nancy Pietroisewicz (Joey), Rebekah Reese; grandson Keith Carswell (Geni); and three great-grandchildren, Briannah and Michael Byrd and Elise Carswell. No funeral arrangement have been made at this time. Moores Funeral Home in Milledgeville will be in charge of final arrangements.
Dr. Grady T. Fuller
Dr. Grady Talmadge Fuller, 73, died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007 at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle. He was born in Jones County to the late Marlin Raleigh Fuller and Callie D. Whitman Fuller. His wife, Joan Cook Fuller, brothers, Terry Fuller, Theodore Fuller and Charles Raleigh Fuller and brother-in-law, Bob Trent, all preceded him in death. Fuller began his first pastorate in 1967 at Union Hill Baptist Church while attending Mercer University. In 1968, he began a new mission of Union Hill, which was constituted as Roundway Baptist Church. In 1973, Dr. Fuller was called to pastor Enon Baptist Church. In 1981, he resigned from Enon to attend Covington Theological Seminary and graduated in 1982 with honors with a doctorate of divinity. During this time, Fuller – along with a group of people – began Callie Fuller Baptist Tabernacle, where he faithfully remained for the past 26 years. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and longtime member of the American Legion, Fuller retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 21 years. In 2004, he wrote and published his first book “The Winds of Change Are Blowing.” He is survived by his wife, Shirley Arnold Fuller of Monticello; children and spouses, Keith and Mary Fuller of Fair Bluff, N.C., Sheila and Keith McBroom of Rutledge, Marty and Lisa Fuller of Monticello and Cindy Jo Fuller of Griffin; stepchildren and spouses, Jim and Debbie Arnold of Waycross, Pam Arnold of Columbus, and Nancy A. and Woody Wood of Monticello; grandchildren, Clint Fuller, Callie Davis, Kathryn McBroom, Nathan Fuller, Natalie Fuller, and Casey Humphrey; stepgrandchildren, Delaney Wood, John Wood, Christillie Wood, and Caitlyn Arnold; great-granddaughter, Lola Grace Davis; and brother and sisters, Franklin Dee Fuller of Westmoreland, Tenn., Jean Yawn of Warner Robins, Becky Barge of Lizella, Millie Fowler of Monroe, Fran Trent of Fairburn, and Nina Edwards of McDonough. Funeral services were Aug. 10 at Callie Fuller Baptist Tabernacle in Monticello. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Dr. Henry Roberts, the Rev. Tim Parker, and the Rev. Charles Roper officiated. Serving as pallbearers were Sammy Gardner, Jim Raspberry, Tim Fuller, Kenny Fuller, Eric Edwards, and Steve Gardner. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Dominey, Sidney Womack, John Whitman, Fred Key, Don Kelly, Tony Allen, Howard Harrison, Heck Davis, Paul Kelly, Roy Kelly Jr., Sam Goolsby, Steve Cook, and the Trustees of Callie Fuller Baptist Tabernacle. The family suggests donations to Callie Fuller Baptist Tabernacle, 2690 Hwy 212 West, Monticello, GA, 31064. Jordan Funeral Home of Monticello was in charge of arrangements.
Lena D. Gilmore
Lena Diana Botelho Gilmore, 86, of Hillsboro, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 at Coliseum Medical Centers in Macon. She was born in Fall River, Mass. to the late John Botelho and Maria Lima Botelho. While working as a part-time nurse, she met and married the late Charles “Jack” Marion Gilmore Sr. Before retiring from the U.S. Navy, the couple lived in many cities including New Port, R.I., before moving to Jasper County in 1959. She was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Port. She was an active member of the VFW in Eatonton. Before retirement, she was a seamstress for the Monticello Manufacturing. After retirement, she worked part-time for the Monticello Red and White. Along with her late husband, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Jan Oxford, and stepgrandson, Tim Cobb. She is survived by her children, Barbara Marsh of Monticello, Charles “Chuckie” M. Gilmore Jr. of Barnesville, Robert W. Johnson of New Port, R.I. and Nancy Lee Whitley of Macon; grandchildren, Blake Johnson, Greg Johnson, Rob Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Tony Gilmore, Dawn Gilmore, Steve Oxford, David Oxford, Remington Marsh and Mitchell Brantley Marsh; stepgrandchildren, Misty Cobb and Christy Cobb; and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral service was Sunday, Sept. 2 at the chapel of Jordan Funeral Home in Monticello. Burial followed in West View Cemetery in Monticello. Father Young officiated. Jordan Funeral Home of Monticello was in charge of arrangements.
Earl McMillen Jr.
Earl McMillen Jr., 68, of Eatonton, died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Atlanta on Nov. 8, 1938, he was graduated from Northside High School and attended Georgia State University before a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy from 1959-61. He returned to Atlanta and formed his own residential design and development firm in his father’s footsteps. An avid preservationist and land conservationist, he purchased an antebellum house and several hundred acres in Putnam County in 1968. He was an active member of Ducks Unlimited, Buckhead Boy’s Club and Eatonton-Putnam County Historical Society. A member of Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church while in Atlanta, he later joined First Baptist Church in Eatonton. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Tidwell McMillen; son, Jesse David McMillen; daughter Maria Carter McMillen; son by a previous marriage, Earl McMillen III and wife Elizabeth of Beaufort, S.C.; grandson, Nelson Labouisse Wright McMillen; sister, Hayes McMillen Philips of St. Simons Island; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service was Wednesday, Sept. 5 at First Baptist Church in Eatonton with a graveside service to follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or First Baptist Stepping Stones in Eatonton. Vining Ivy Hill Chapel of Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Proffit
Sarah Proffit, 93, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. A native of Putnam County, she was born in Eatonton on April 15, 1914 and educated in the county church school system. She was a member of Flat Rock Primitive Baptist Church. She was married to Willie Proffit, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by three brothers and a sister. Survivors include nephew, Willis James Weeks of Atlanta; niece, Delores W. Harris of Atlanta; brother-in-law, James (Frances) Waller; first cousin, Mary Alice Horne; Goddaughter, Renita Dennis; stepdaughter-in-law, Eva Mae Farley; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral service was Thursday, Aug. 30 at Flat Rock Primitive Baptist Church with the Rev. Ulysses Williams officiating. Interment followed in East Eatonton City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Austin L. Dennis III, Forrest Nance, Jake Simmons, Ned Waller, Charles Waller and James Weeks. Flower bearers were family and friends. Putnam Memorial Funeral Home of Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Alton R. Jones
Alton Ray Jones, 54, died recently. A native of Putnam County, he was born March 10, 1953 to Sarah Mae Jones and the late Lonnie Jones. The youngest of six children, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. Survivors include his daughter, Melissa R. Jones of Chattanooga, Tenn.; mother, Sarah Mae Jones of Eatonton; four siblings, Lonnie (Nancy) Jones of Eatonton, Louise (Samuel) Baity of Atlanta, Freddie L. (Janice) Jones of Eatonton and Willie John Jones of Eatonton; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Funeral service was Wednesday, Aug. 29 at Brown Chapel AME Church with the Rev. Matthew Dennis officiating. Pallbearers were Lonnie Jones Jr., Freddie Jones, Willie John Jones, nephews and great-nephews. Putnam Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gordon E. Rivers Jr.
Gordon E. Rivers Jr., 70, of Lake Sinclair, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007. A native of Michigan, he lived in Lilburn from 1985-2001 when he moved to Lake Sinclair. A ham radio operator, he was also a member of Danc’n Single Square Dance Club in Marietta. He was preceded in death by his mother, Vera Albert Phillpotts Rivers, and a wife, Marilyn Louise Carle Rivers. Survivors include his wife, Debra McGuire Rivers of Lake Sinclair; daughter, Pamela Dawn Thomas and husband David of Eatonton; son Gordon Edward Rivers III and wife Jan of Decatur; father, Gordon E. Rivers Sr. of Canton, Mich.; brother, Robert V. Rivers and wife Lynn of Canton, Mich.; grandson, Benjamin A. Thomas of Eatonton; niece, Brittany Lynn Rivers of Canton, Mich.; and nephew, Brandon Robert Rivers and wife Jeni) of Northville, Mich. Funeral service will be Sunday, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. in Williams Funeral Home chapel in Milledgeville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the American Cancer Society. Williams Funeral Home of Milledgeville is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Karl W. Sanders
Dr. Karl Walton Sanders, 58, of St. Simons Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 at South East Georgia Hospital in Brunswick. Born Dec. 14, 1948, he was the second son of Mildred Brannen Sanders and Karl Denham Sanders Jr. of Eatonton. He spent his early years in Eatonton before moving to Pulaski. He was a high school honor graduate from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville in 1966, and received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Georgia in 1970, a masters in nuclear engineering from Georgia Tech in 1974 and a BS in biochemistry in UGA in 1978. He received his medical degree in 1983 from Emory University and completed his residency in Boston. A practicing anesthesiologist in Boston, he moved to Brunswick in 1987, where he worked until 1993. Since then, he has been involved in investing and has managed a family tree farm in Eatonton. Survivors include his wife, Juanita Saladino Sanders of St. Simons Island; daughters, Jenna and Kayla Sanders of St. Simons Island; son, Jeremy McKibben Sanders of Oxford; daughter, Kalysta McKibben-Sanders of Sarasota, Fla.; brother, Brannen Sanders of Eatonton; and a niece and two nephews. Memorial service was Sunday, Sept. 2 in the chapel of St. Simons United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Interment was Tuesday, Sept. 4 at Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Karl W. Sanders to the American Heart Association. Chapman Funeral Chapel and Crematory of Brunswick was in charge of arrangements.
Mary W. Reid
Mary Will Reid, 94, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 at her resident. A lifelong resident of Putnam County, she was educated at St. Luke Public School in Eatonton. She enjoyed cooking and knitting and did public and private domestic work most of her life. She was married to Freddie Reid Sr. in 1936. She was a member of Browns Chapel Church and served on the Mother Board, Missionary Board and was a church stewardess until her health failed. Survivors include two daughters, Leola Reid and Allene Griffin, both of Eatonton; son, Samuel Reid of Eatonton; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends; and devoted friend Mrs. Walter Mae Pounds of Eatonton. Funeral service was Monday, Sept. 3 at Browns Chapel church with the Rev. Rufus Whitlock and Pastor Charles Dunn officiating. Interment followed in Howard-Reid Cemetery. Pallbearers were Mark Arthur Reid, William Hudson, Charleston Hudson, Tim Griffin, Douglas Griffin and Richard Griffin. Friends and family served as flower bearers. Hurt and Redd Funeral Home of Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Daniel J. Corley
Daniel Jefferson “Jeff” Corley, 83, of Magnolia Street in Eatonton, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007 at Eatonton Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. A native of Monroe County, he was born Aug. 10, 1923 to the late Jesse Anderson Corley and Mattie Bell Little Corley. The oldest of seven children, he grew up in Forsyth and graduated from Mary Persons High School. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, Corley moved to Eatonton following the war. He was employed by Georgia Power Company for 41 years and a 25-year volunteer fireman. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Eatonton and Friendship Sunday school class for more than 50 years and also served as a deacon. He was instrumental in the foundation and construction of Gatewood School. Known for his sense of humor and practical jokes, Corley loved fishing. He also built water skis and was one of the first people to ski Lake Sinclair. The epitome of a family man, he instilled moral strength and work ethic in his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Georgia Maude Davis Corley; children, Jesse Anderson Corley of Laguna Hills, Cal., and Georgia Alisa Corley Hopkins of Griffin; daughter- in-law, Debra Carlson Corley; son-in-law, Phillip Winfield Hopkins; grandchildren, Erica, Davis and Drew Corley of Laguna Hills, Cal., and Corley and Jeff Hopkins of Griffin; brothers Sidney Corley and wife Gloria and Wilson Corley; sisters, Anna Bell Stallings and Janie Brown Seymour and husband Aldred; friend Victor Rowland; caregiver, Louise Nash; and numerous close relatives and dear friends. Memorial service was Saturday, Aug. 11 at First Baptist Church in Eatonton. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Weeks, Guerry Key, Ronnie Thomas, Frank Duke, Tom Moore, Willard Moore, Love Walton, Jim Stewart and Grady Strube. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to National Parkinson’s Foundation, 1501 NW Ninth Ave./Bob Hope Road, Miami, Fla., 33136-1494, Attn: Jeff Corley memorial. Vining Ivy Hill Chapel of Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
Rawls L. Vining
Rawls Leroy “Lee” Vining, 71, of Athens Highway in Greensboro, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 at his residence. A native of Spalding County, he was born Aug. 18, 1935 and was a sales director for the telephone company. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, June Evans Vining; children, Rhonda and Clifford Buffington, Rodney and Bo Vining, Renita and Mike Anthony, and Rusty and Janis Vining; 13 grandchildren’ one great-grandson; brother, Linwood Vining; and two sisters, Shirley Barwick and Marcia Hall. Funeral service was Aug. 7 at First Independent Methodist Church in Eatonton with the Rev. Ron Smith officiating. Interment followed in Griffin Memorial Gardens in Griffin. Pallbearers were Jason, Josh and Randy Vining; Jonathan and Jerome Buffington; and Keith Smith. Vining Ivy Hill Chapel of Eatonton was in charge of arrangements.
