Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Betty Marie Holmes Smith
Mrs. Betty Marie Holmes Smith, 73, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mrs. Smith, a native of Bibb County, Ga., was born June 18, 1930, the daughter of the late Arlie Odum and Fannie Estelle Christmas Holmes. She was the widow of the late Foye Omas Smith, a retired nurse, and a member of Faith Chapel Baptist Church.
Survivors include: three daughters, Diane Nipper and husband, Charlie, Cheryl Valenzuela and husband, John, and Betty Ann Jones, all of Douglas, Ga.; three sons, Kenneth Smith and wife, Carole, Jim Smith and wife, Dell, and Randy Smith and wife, Sue, all of Douglas, Ga.; one sister, Peggy Harper of Ocilla, Ga.; one brother, Melvin Holmes and wife, Betty Jean, of Virginia; 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 3, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Faith Chapel Baptist Church, with Rev. Toby Gale and Rev. Sam DeCasper officiating. The congregation sang "Amazing Grace"; also, soloist Larry Richardson sang "Go Rest High On That Mountain" and soloist Sheila Butler sang "Serenaded By Angels," with Connie Burkett, providing soft piano music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Satilla Baptist Church Cemetery near Ocilla, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Keith Smith, Keith Coker, Joey Smith, Mark Bowen, Dennis Giddens, and Johnnie Ellis.
Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Sarma and the staff of Gambro Health Care.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Gene Randolph Green
Mr. Gene Randolph Green, 38, of Ambrose, Ga., passed away Monday, May 3, 2004.
Mr. Green, a native of Irwin County, Ga., was born August 22, 1965, the son of Ella Mae and Homer Henderson and the late James Henry Reives. He was a 1984 graduate of Coffee High School, a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, and a former employee of Douglas Asphalt Company.
Survivors include: his wife, Lisa R. Green; Dorothy Cherry; his mother, Ella Mae Henderson and husband, Homer; 12 sisters, Unia P. Wilcox and husband, Jerome, Brenda G. Webb and husband, Willie B., Judy Reives, Luella Pickett and husband, Randy, Linda Laurence and husband, Harold, Elouise Doberson and husband, Otha Lee, Geraldine Coffee and husband, Walter, Mary Robinson, Gloria Odum, Ernestine Harden and husband, Eugene, Lahoma Brockington and husband, Spencer, and Constance Henderson; one adopted sister, Evangelist Geraldine Manning and husband, Jewish; nine brothers, Eddie Ray Reives, Raymond Reives, James Reives, Clyde Green and wife, Eva Jean, Tony Green and wife, Zinett, Johnny Green and wife, Faye, John Reives and wife, Melaine, Dwight Henderson and wife, Bernice, and Kenneth Henderson and wife, Arienne; one adopted brother, John Newkirk; grandmother, Cora McArthur; 60 nieces, 52 nephews, and several other relatives. Mr. Green was preceded in death by two sisters, Josephine Pope and Maxine Reives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 8, 2004, at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Douglas, Ga., with Pastor Steve King officiating. Special music was provided by the Shiloh Choir and soloist Trollie Mizell. Interment followed in Paulk Cemetery in Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Stanford Hicks, Riley Newkirk, Sr., Cornet Ellison, Earl Garett, Dexter Brockington, and Riley Newkirk, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were nephews.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence R. Thigpen
Mr. Lawrence R. Thigpen, 83, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Tuesday evening, May 4, 2004, at Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Thigpen, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born May 3, 1921, the son of James and Sarah Rebecca Burch Thigpen. He was a retired salesman and a member of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Evelyn Rowell Thigpen of Pearson, Ga.; one daughter, JoAnne Carter and husband, Grady, of Pearson, Ga.; two sons, Jerry Thigpen and wife, Brenda, and Jimmy Thigpen, all of Pearson, Ga.; one sister, Emma Gilliard of Douglas, Ga.; two brothers, Leon Thigpen and James Thigpen, both of Waycross, Ga.; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 7, 2004, at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Edwin Gilliard and Rev. Clayton Davis officiating. Special musical selections included "Amazing Grace" and "When We All Get to Heaven" presented by the attending congregation and "I'm Too Near My Heavenly Home to Turn Back Now" rendered by the Mt. Pleasant Church Choir, with Betty Smith accompanying at the piano. Pianist Betty Smith played soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ron Lee, "Boo" Lee Royals, Kevin Harper, Jess Thigpen, Phillip Mullis, and Richard Wilson.
Honorary pallbearers were the men of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
William Curtis Vickers
Mr. William Curtis Vickers, 95, of Ambrose, Ga., passed away Friday, April 30, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. Vickers, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born March 28, 1909, the son of the late Clayton Arthur and Lillie Paulk Vickers. He was the widower of the late Mollye Swilley Vickers and a retired farmer.
Survivors include: one son, Swilley Vickers of Ambrose, Ga.; three daughters, Simone Cross of Douglas, Ga., Pat Rickert of Conyers, Ga., and Brenda Darwin of Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother, C.A. Vickers of Wray, Ga.; five grandchildren, Curt Vickers, Randy Vickers, Tony Cross, Eric Rickert, and Brandi Darwin; and one great-grandson, Micajah Curtis Vickers.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday,May 2, 2004, at New Hope Baptist Church, with Rev. Robert Merritt and Rev. George Carroll Paulk officiating. June Merritt, soloist, sang "Far Away Is A Land" and "Where We'll Never Grown Old" with Hope Hall accompanying at the piano. Graveside services, with Rev. Dale Smith officiating, and interment followed at the New Hope Church Cemetery near Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Randy Vickers, Curt Vickers, Eric Rickert, Tony Cross, Dudley Vickers, Jimmy Ray Vickers, Vicky Vickers, and Kirby Vickers.
Honorary pallbearers were Aldine Merritt, Al Merritt, Tommy Sheppard, John Guilford, Dennis Paulk, Warn Fowler, Wesley Vickers, Dr. Krishnan Chalam, George Arthur McKinnon, Larry McKinnon, Kenneth Burnam, and Rufus Paulk.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Robert A. 'Bobby' Ladson
Mr. Robert A. "Bobby" Ladson, 55, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at his home following a brief illness.
Mr. Ladson, a native of Coffee County, was born January 9, 1949, the son of the late Barbara Ann Moore Bell and the late Charles Ladson. He had made his home in Jonesboro, Ga., for many years before moving back to Willacoochee, Ga., two years ago. He was currently employed by Georgia Power Company as a transmission support technician. He was of the Methodist faith.
Survivors include: two daughters,
Angela Ladson Bourgeois of Winter Park, Fla., and Barbara Elaine Ladson of Alexander City, Ala.; one son, William Bryant Ladson of Alexander City, Ala.; three sisters,
Daphne Purvis of Fayetteville, N.C., Crystal Vining of Willacoochee, Ga., and Sandra Ladson of Macon, Ga.; six brothers, Carl Ladson of Ormond Beach, Fla., Tony Bell of Willacoochee, Ga., Kerry Bell of Monticello, Ga., Charles Ladson, Jr., and Rusty Wright, both of Douglas, Ga., and Mark Ladson of Nashville, Ga.; one granddaughter, Joy Bourgeois; several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 12, 2004, at Springhead Methodist Church, with Rev. John Jacobs officiating. Special music included "Sweet Hour of Prayer," "How Great Thou Art," and "He Is Lord" presented by the attending congregation, with Bonnie Kunberger accompanying at the piano. Ms. Kunberger, pianist, played soft music for the prelude and the postlude.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Louise Justice Murray
Mrs. Louise Justice Murray, 79, of Nicholls, Ga., passed away Friday evening, March 12, 2004, at Twin Oaks Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Murray, a native of Texas, was the daughter of the late James D. Burton and Inez Darnell Burton. She was the widow of the late J.W. Justice and the late Walter "Buck" Murray.
Survivors include: three sons, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Justice of Ambrose, Ga., Mr. and Mrs. Larry Justice of Abbeville, Ga., and Rickey Justice of Nicholls, Ga.; one brother and three sisters, all of Mississippi; 12 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Murray was preceded in death by one brother.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 15, 2004, at the chapel of Crosby Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerry Campbell and Rev. Sidney Thomas officiating. Interment followed in the Meeks Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Bradley Streat, Chad Streat, Johnny Ray Revels, Greg Revels, Jeffery Justice, and Dustin Justice.
All those in attendance were considered honorary escorts.
Crosby Funeral Home of Alma, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ila Van Davis O'Steen
Mrs. Ila Van Davis O'Steen, 79, of Nicholls, Ga., passed away Tuesday evening, March 9, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., following an extended illness.
Mrs. O'Steen, a native and lifelong resident of Coffee County, Ga., was the daughter of the late Malcolm Davis and the late Lillie Kate Gainey Davis. She was the widow of the late Colonel Wallace O'Steen, a member of the AARP organization, and attended Saginaw Baptist Church.
Survivors include: two sons, Wallace Lavan O'Steen and wife, Pat, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Michael Henry O'Steen of Nicholls, Ga.; two brothers, Malcolm Davis and Buck Davis, both of Nicholls, Ga.; one sister, Jessie Hernandez of Jacksonville, Fla.; one grandson, Christopher Neil O'Steen of Nicholls, Ga.; one granddaughter, Katie Adams and husband, Kevin, of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 13, 2004, at Saginaw Baptist Church, with Rev. Donnie Kirkland officiating. Special musical selections, "Go Rest High On That Mountain" and "Holes in the Floor of Heaven," were rendered by soloist Jennifer Davis, with taped music. Soft piano music for the prelude and postlude was provided by Lisa Veal. Interment followed at the Roxie Mae Cemetery in the Wilsonville Community.
Active pallbearers were Ernest Drew Davis, Ashely Davis, Ricky Davis, Roger O'Steen, Michael O'Steen, Neil O'Steen, and Kevin Adams.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Elijah Rudolph Brown
Mr. Elijah Rudolph "Ruddy" Brown, 61, of Gainesville, Fla., formerly of Coffee County, Ga., passed away Sunday, March 7, 2004.
Mr. Brown, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born December 5, 1942, the son of the late Elijah and Ida Brown. He attended Paulk School and was employed by Hill's Van Service of Marion County for over 35 years.
Survivors include: two daughters, Eliza Boykin and husband, James, of Douglas, Ga., and Jamie Brown of Gainesville, Fla.; three sisters, Alice McCray and Della Tucker and husband, Henry, all of Douglas, Ga., and Susie Andryque of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; two brothers, Emory Chestnut, Sr. and wife, Iona, of Ambrose, Ga., and Troy Brown and wife, Mary, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; three grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Brown was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 13, 2004, at House of God Church in Willacoochee, Ga., with Rev. Theodore Braswell officiating. Special musical selections were provided by the church choir and soloist Debra Hall. Interment followed in the Death Aide Cemetery in Willacoochee, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Hills Van Service Mayflower, United Van Lines and Unigroup Family employees, and nephews.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Harvey L. Griffin
Harvey L. Griffin, 60, of Snellville, Ga., passed away February 7, 2004, at his residence, the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Judy Griffin of Snellville.
Mr. Griffin, a native of Pearson, Ga., was born May 21, 1943, the son of Mary Lou Griffin and the late Leroy Griffin and. He was a retired truck driver and U.S. Navy veteran. Mr. Griffin was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: two sons, John Griffin and wife, Jeen, of Philadelphia, Penn., and Robert Griffin and wife, Judy, of Snellville, Ga.; three daughters, Carol Lee Paris, Deanna Griffin, and Dawn Griffin, all of Philadelphia, Penn.; two brothers, Herman Griffin and Billy Griffin, both of Pearson, Ga.; three sisters, Mary Lois Troup and Patsy Spivey, both of Pearson,Ga., and Shirley Tanzer and husband, Cary, of Douglas, Ga.; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Tom W. Wages Funeral Service, Inc., of Snellville, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Calla Mae Lewis
Mrs. Calla Mae Lewis, 91, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mrs. Lewis, a native of Clinch County, Ga., was born June 12, 1912, the daughter of Taylor and Berta Belote Horne. She was a homemaker and had worked for many years as a clerk at Gaskins Grocery Store. She was a member of the Willacoochee United Methodist Church, and the widow of the late June Daugherty and the late Barney Lewis.
Survivors include: one granddaughter, Lynn Howell and husband, Tommy, of Fitzgerald, Ga.; two great-granddaughters, Kimberly Howell and Katie Howell, both of Fitzgerald, Ga.; and one daughter-in-law, Minnie Ruth Daugherty of Nashville, Ga. Mrs. Lewis was preceded in death by one son, Gene Daugherty.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 13, 2004, at Willacoochee United Methodist Church, with Rev. Eddie Morrison and Rev. Kelly Brown officiating. Special music included "Amazing Grace" and "Beulah Land," rendered by soloist Johana King, with Braxton Driskell accompanying at the piano and also providing soft piano music for the prelude and the postlude. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ed Tillman, Bill McCranie, Jerry McKinnon, Charlie Bray, Junior Cooper, and Edward White.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Faithful Sunday School class of Willacoochee United Methodist Church.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Evie McNeal Nolan
Mrs. Evie McNeal Nolan, 83, of James Island, S.C., passed away Sunday, March 14, 2004.
Mrs. Nolan, a native of Pearson, Ga., was born October 18, 1920, the daughter of John Riley and Corinne Mattie King McNeal. She was a waitress for over 30 years at La Brasca's and Pogan's Porch.
Survivors include: her husband, David P. Nolan of James Island, S.C.; one daughter, Elaine N. Owens; one son, Col. David L. Nolan, USA (Ret.) and wife, Phyllis, of Woodbridge, Virg.; one sister, Lounez Gwinn of Douglas, Ga.; three grandchildren, Sherrie Shapiro and husband, Rickie, of Alpharetta, Ga., and D. Cullen Nolan and wife, Jaime, and John-Taylor P. Nolan, all of Woodbridge, Virg.; and two great-grandchildren, Tori Shapiro and Cameron Shapiro.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, 2004, in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel in Charleston, S.C. Interment followed in Live Oak Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.
J. Henry Stuhr, Downtown Chapel of Charleston, S.C., was in charge of the arrangements.
Nancy Harrell Floyd
Mrs. Nancy Harrell Floyd, 89, of Route 1, Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Friday, March 12, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mrs. Floyd was born November 19, 1914, in a part of Coffee County which is now Atkinson County, Ga., the daughter of Daniel and Dicy Jowers Harrell. She was a homemaker and worked for many years as a nurse's aide at the Berrien County Hospital. She was a member of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and the widow of the late Thomas E. Floyd.
Survivors include: three daughters, Evelyn Ray of Tifton, Ga., Margie Kay Cain and husband, Bill, of Willacoochee, Ga., and Peggy McClelland and husband, Leon, of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Harold Floyd and wife, Kathy, of Waycross, Ga.; one daughter-in-law, Louise Floyd of Willacoochee, Ga.; 13 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 11 step-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Floyd was preceded in death by one son, Alton Floyd.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 14, 2004, at St. Luke Baptist Church, with Rev. Jackie Connell, Rev. Bobby Fussell, and Rev. Kevin Stone officiating. Special musical selections included "This is the Day the Lord Has Made," rendered by Stephanie and Katie Wilson; "The Prettiest Flowers," presented by Wayne and Hayward Cribb; "Beulah Land," rendered by soloist Derrick Soles; and "Amazing Grace," sung by the attending congregation, with Nelda Flanders accompanying at the piano, as well as providing soft music for the prelude and the postlude. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were John Mosley, Brian Floyd, Glenn Floyd, Ralph Lott, Billy Steverson, Wendell Cribb, Michael Bennett, and Charles Jewell.
Honorary pallbearers were deacons and members of St. Luke Baptist Church.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Charles Kenneth Glenn
Mr. Charles Kenneth Glenn, 71, of Alma, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at the Bacon County Hospital in Alma, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Glenn, a native of Newton County, Miss., was born October 19, 1932, the son of the late Leroy and Minnie Lee Castillo Glenn. He was a retired lumber company night watchman.
Survivors include: one sister, Linda Glenn Reilly of Jacksonville, Ga.; one uncle, James Edwin Glenn of Columbus, Ms.; one aunt, Gertrude Gordon of Hickory, Ms.; and several cousins.
Funeral services were held Saturday, March 13, 2004, at 11 a.m., at the Nicholls Baptist Church, with Rev. Jerry Campbell officiating. The congregation sang "Amazing Grace" with Shirley Thomas accompanying at the piano and Wilbert Anderson accompanhing at the organ. Burial followed in the Meeks Cemetery near Nicholls, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Duane Page, Sammy Surrency, Paul Hersey, Larry Page, Mike Justice, P. A. Lee, and Robert Johnson.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
George R. Johnson
Mr. George R. Johnson, 87, of Douglas, Ga., passed away early Sunday morning, March 14, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Johnson, a native of Bartow, Fla., had lived in the Douglas area for many years. Prior to moving to Douglas, he had lived in the Tifton area where he retired as a barber. He had also lived in the Albany area and was employed as an apartment complex manager, and also resided in the Scottsboro, Ala., area for some time. Mr. Johnson was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: his wife, Sara Lila Kirkland Johnson of Douglas, Ga.; one step-daughter, Sherrill Holt of Chattanooga, Tenn.; one step-son, David Horton of Douglas, Ga.; seven step-grandchildren, a number of step-great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and other relatives, including a special niece, Judy Sayer of Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Melvin Holt officiating. Special musical selections included "If I Knew of a Land" and "Just Inside the Eastern Gates," presented by Paul Hutcheson, Derward Buchan, and pianist Scott Roberts. Soft piano music for the prelude and postlude were also provided by Mr. Roberts. Interment followed in the Chatterton Grove Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Mark Horton, John Horton, Matthew Horton, Jimmy Horton, Bill Mullins, Gary Southerland, Mike Sears, and Kevin Burrows.
Honorary pallbearers were Tim Anderson, Butch McDuffie, Lynwood Horton, James Vickers, Huey Sears, and Don Anderson.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
