Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Jessie Ruth Hester McKinnon
Ms. Jessie Ruth Hester McKinnon, 75, of North Coffee Avenue, Douglas Ga., passed away Sunday, May 11, 2003, at home following an extended illness.
Ms. McKinnon, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born November 8, 1927, the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Evans Hester. She was a homemaker and a poultry grader.
Survivors include: one son, Randy McKinnon of West Green, Ga.; two grandsons, John McKinnon of Douglas, Ga., and Britt McKinnon of West Green, Ga.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at College Avenue Baptist Church, with Dr. Stephen Hart officiating. Soloist John L. Deems sang "What A Day That Will Be" and the congregation sang, "Amazing Grace," with Diane Griffin accompanying at the piano. Burial followed at the Salem Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ronnie Carver, Keith Carver, James Donald Hester, Jerry Holland, Carroll Thomas, and Robert Preston.
Honorary pallbearers were Lydia Sunday School class members.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Homer Worth
Mr. Homer Worth, 88, of Hazlehurst, Ga., passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2003.
Mr. Worth, a native of Coffee County, Ga., had lived in Bacon County and Jeff County, Ga., most of his life. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Hazlehurst Pentecostal Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Mildred Worth of Hazlehurst, Ga.; three daughters, Judy Lee of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Janice Davis of Americus, Ga., and Joyce Deen of Brunswick, Ga.; two sons, Leon Worth of Statenville, Ga., and Jimmy Worth of Live Oak, Fla.; one step-daughter, Linda Samora of Hazlehurst, Ga.; two step-sons, Greg Yawn of Hazlehurst, Ga., and Gary Yawn of Baxley, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 2 p.m., at the Chapel of Miles Funeral Home. Rev. Thomas Colter, Rev. Wayne Bennett, Rev. Junior Hayes and sister Tammy Davis officiated with burial in the Wesley Chapel-Wolf P.T. Cemetery in Bacon County. Music was rendered by Tammy Davis, Heather Davis, and Wendy Colter.
Active pallbearers were Ken Worth, Jason Worth, J.D. Worth, Lee Worth, Robert Knight, and Chris Davis.
Honorary pallbearers were Hazlehurst Pentecostal adult Sunday school class, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Castro, Dr. and Mrs. David Turfler and all who attended.
Miles Funeral Home of Hazlehurst, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Alice Willis Kelley
Mrs. Alice Willis Kelley, 79, of Woodbury, Ga., passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at the Riverside Nursing Home in Thomaston, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Kelly, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was the daughter of the late W. H. Willis and the late Hattie Arnold Willis. She was the widow of the late Lester Kelley and a member of the Salem Baptist Church, where she was active in the W.M.U. and the Lula Carlisle Sunday School class.
Survivors include: one son, Dan W. Kelley of Woodbury, Ga.; one daughter, Lois Huddleston, and husband, Tommy, of Woodbury, Ga.; one brother, Billy Willis of Waycross, Ga.; two sisters, Arlene Kirkland of Douglas, Ga., and Maxie Brown of Homerville, Ga.; four grandchildren, Bill Kelley and Kayanne Bostwick, both of Thomaston, Ga., Matt Huddleston of Columbus, Ga., and David Kelley, Jr., of Homerville, Ga.; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mrs. Kelley was preceded in death by one son, David H. Kelley; four brothers, Dave Willis, Jack Willis, Jim Willis, and Eugene Willis; and one granddaughter, Tracy Huddleston.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 10 a.m., at the Smith-Steel-Meadows Funeral Home Chapel in Woodbury, Ga. Graveside services and interment followed Thursday afternoon, at 4 p.m., at the Harrell Grove Cemetery, with Rev. John Thomas officiating.
Smith-Steel-Meadows Funeral Home of Woodbury, Ga., and Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., were in charge of the local arrangements.
Claudie McKinnon
Mr. Claudie McKinnon, 86, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Tuesday morning, May 6, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mr. McKinnon, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was the son of the late James Henry McKinnon and the late Janie Sizemore McKinnon. He was a retired carpenter.
Survivors include: his wife, Pearlie Ricketson McKinnon of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Charldine Hightower of Raleigh, N.C.; one son, Hollis McKinnon, Sr., of Douglas, Ga.; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. McKinnon was proceeded in death by one son, Claudie McKinnon, Jr.
Funeral services were held Friday morning, May 9, 2003, at 11 a.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. George C. Paulk officiating. Special musical selections, "Amazing Grace" and "Old Rugged Cross," were rendered by Faye Adams, Chris Purvis, Carolyn Wright, with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Salem Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were J. L. Paulk, Jake Paulk, Lonnie Smith, Eddie Ricketson, Rony Aycock, and Gene Ricketson.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Johnny William Lane, Sr.
Mr. Johnny William Lane, Sr., 62, of Nicholls, Ga., passed away Monday, May 5, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. Lane, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born August 26, 1940, the son of the late Allen Luther, Sr., and Lelia Mae Guthrie Lane. He was a retired carpenter.
Survivors include: his wife, Rhoda Whitley Lane of Nicholls, Ga.; three sons, Johnny William (Lee Ann) Lane, Jr., and wife, Lee Ann, of Alma, Ga., Derone Hutcheson and Demone Hutcheson and wife, Peggy, all of Nicholls, Ga.; four daughters, Kathy Holton and husband, Roy, of Perry, Ga., Sheila Fussell and husband, James, Rebecca Harper and husband, Tim, all of Douglas Ga., and Deitra Anderson and husband, J.D., of Nicholls, Ga.; one daughter-In-law, Sue Hutcheson of Nicholls, Ga.; two brothers, Allen Lane and W. C. "Dub" Lane, both of Hazlehurst, Ga.; one sister, Edith Bowen of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; 20 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Mr. Lane was preceded in death by one son, Quincey DeWayne Hutcheson; one brother, Perry Hutcheson; and one sister, Pauline Bowen.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003, at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home, with Rev. Robert Tanner and Rev. Bo Turner officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Wayne Holt as he sang "First Day In Heaven" and "Go Rest High On That Mountain," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Also soloist Rev. Robert Tanner sang "Always Look Up" accompanying himself with his guitar. Burial followed at the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jerome Burch, Demone Hutcheson, Steven Croker, Little Bill Reliford, and Eric Dibble.
Honorary pallbearers were Melvin Stone, Henry Stone, Jeffrey Greer, and David Vanwaldner.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
George "Buck" Kight
Mr. George "Buck" Kight, 84, of Broxton, Ga., passed away Friday morning, May 2, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mr. Kight, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was a prominent farmer of the Broxton area and was the son of the late John Edward Kight and the late Minnie Harper Kight. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and a member of the Calvary Mission Holiness Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Louise Ruis Kight of Broxton, Ga.; one daughter, Lanell Kight Clark of Ocalla, Fla.; one son, Rev. George Russell Kight of Ambrose, Ga.; six sisters, Cora Bell Wooten of Snipesville, Ga., Jesse Mae Sweat of Broxton, Ga., Marie McKinley of Lake Sinclair, Ga., Betty Starling of Eatonton, Ga., Elva Spivey of Douglas, Ga., and Lurlene Young of Fitzgerald, Ga.; three grandchildren, Sharon Brown of Broxton, Ga., Abbey Kight of Dogulas, Ga., and Rusty Kight of Ambrose, Ga.; three great-grandchildren, Amber Palmer and Matthew Palmer, both of Douglas, Ga., and Kenneth "Buck" Brown of Broxton, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Sunday, May 4, 2003, at 3 p.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Gene Chaney and Rev. George Russell Kight officiating. A special eulogy was presented by a niece, Debby Seay. Special musical selections included "City Limits Of Heaven," rendered by Rev. George Russell Kight and Judy Spikes, with Sammy Snipes accompanying at the piano; "Someone Looking For Me," rendered by the Jimmy Carl Davis Family, with Don Harrell accompanying at the piano; "Holy Angels Cannot Sing,"by Rev. Gene Chaney, with Sammy Snipes accompanying at the piano; and "Papa, " rendered by the Jimmy Carl Davis Family, with Don Harrell accompanying at the piano. For the prelude and postlude Soft selections were presented by Sammy Snipes at the piano. Interment followed in the Reedy Branch Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Gerald Kight, Ronnie Kight, Bruce Seay, Harvey Spivey, Buddy Ruis, Kenneth "Buck" Brown, Rusty Kight, Curtis Ruis, Mike Simmons, and Ricky Evans.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Fred Johns
Mr. Fred Johns, 76, of West Green, Ga., passed away early Monday morning, May 5, 2003, at the Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Johns, a native of Manatee County, Fla., was the son of the late John Marshall Johns and the late Nellie Crews Johns. He had lived in the West Green area for several years, was a retired receiving clerk at the shipyard, was better known in this area as the "piano man," and was a member of West Ward Street Church of God.
Survivors include: his wife, Jeanette Moore Johns of West Green, Ga.; one son, James Hoyt Johns of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; two daughters, Brenda Gayle Johns of Orange Park, Fla., and Sibyl Kaye Johns Spivey of Rochester Hills, Mich.; two grandsons and two granddaughters; two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at West Ward Street Church of God, with Rev. Jesse Ogden officiating. A special poem, "The Piano Man," written by Rev. Jesse Ogden, was presented by the associate pastor, Danny Burns. Special musical selections were as follows: "Wish You Were Here" was presented by soloist Jamie Shrouder with taped music; "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Meet You in the Morning" were rendered by the trio of Paul Hutcheson, Derward Buchan, and pianist Scott Roberts. Interment followed in the Burkett Cemetery near West Green, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Stephen Johns, Michael Johns, Terry Moore, Kerry Van Moore, Johnny Moore, and Gary Morrison.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Sunday School class of West Ward Street Church of God and James Harrell, Lauren Shrouder, Jr., Willie Burch, and Johnny Burch.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Sgt. Lovett Vester 'L.V.' Grady
Sgt. Lovett Vester "L.V." Grady, 60, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2003.
Sgt. Grady was born November 1, 1942, the son of the late Deacon Cato Grady, Sr., and the late Geraldine Tucker Grady. He was a 1964 graduate of Carver High School. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army 1st Battalion 3rd Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division in Fort Hood, Tx., Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of the Firing Squad of military honors funerals. He also served in Grafenwoir, Germany, and retired on September 14, 1979 as a "High Honored Staff Sergeant" in Houston, Tx. In 1992 he returned to Coffee County, Ga., where he resided at Shady Acres Convalescent Center. He joined Hightower Memorial Temple under the late Elder Frank Bussey, Sr.
Survivors include: two children, Lavette Grady Flowers and husband, Michael, and Eric Morrell Grady and wife, Nikki, all of Douglas, Ga.; five grandchildren; nine siblings, Rosa Mae Mitchell and husband, Sam, Rev. Johnny Grady, Sr, and wife, Rhonda, Cato Grady, Jr., and wife, Patricia, and Mattie Grady all of Douglas, Ga., Angela Tucker and husband, Andrew, of Brunswick, Ga., Ruby Brown and husband, Henry, of Elizabeth, N.J., Edna M. Johnson and husband, Andre, Gladys Sevier, and Glady Wright, all of Jacksonville, Fla., Cleveland W. Grady and wife, Christine, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Annie Mae Tootle of Ocala, Fla.; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Mr. Grady was preceded in death by one sister, Geraldine Tucker Grady.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, May 5, 2003, at Hightower Memorial Temple in Douglas, Ga., with Elder Randolph Scott officiating. Special musical selections were rendered by soloist Debra Grady and the Hightower Choir. Interment followed in the Sunnyside Cemetery in Coffee County, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Ronnie Bussey, Donnie Bussey, Clifton Bussey, Stacey Grady, Allen DeWayne Evins, Christopher Grady, and Charles Watts.
Honorary pallbearers were Riley Newkirk, Adolph Paulk, Jimmy Lee Veal, Daniel Tucker, Keith Crowder, James Swinson, and Myral Hicks.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Bernice Sutton
Mr. Bernice Sutton, 90, of Rt. 1, Axson, Ga., passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at his home following a brief illness.
Mr. Sutton, a native of a part of Ware County that is now Atkinson County, Ga., was born September 26, 1912, son of Berrien Franklin Sutton and Commie Brooker Sutton Cowart. As a young man, Mr. Sutton worked for the WPA and later retired from farming. He served on the Atkinson County Board of Education, was an avid fisherman, and a member of Guest Mill Pond Club. Mr. Sutton was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he once served as chairman of the deacons, taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and was a former member of the Mt. Zion Quartet. He was the widow of the late Ona Mae Herrin Sutton and the late Cleo Corbitt Sutton.
Survivors include: two sons, Frank Sutton and wife, Peggy, of Pearson, Ga., and Berrien Sutton and wife, Lisa, of Homerville, Ga.; three daughters, Francine Fender and husband, Bo, of Pearson, Ga., Harriet Youngblood and husband, Darrel, of Millwood, Ga., and Karen Sutton of Deland, Fla.; three step-daughters, Billie White and husband, Lehi, of Pearson, Ga., Carol Gossage and husband, Frank, of Axson, Ga., and Ann Corbitt of Pearson, Ga.; one step-son, William F. (Mann) Corbitt, Jr., and wife, Debra, of Axson, Ga.; one sister, Lerah Maxell of Carrolton, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 23 step-great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and 10 step-great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, with Rev. William Pope officiating. Special music included "Beulah Land," rendered by the Hayes Sisters with taped accompaniment; "Sweet Bye and Bye" and "Amazing Grace," presented by the attending congregation, with Harold Vickers leading and Patricia Corbitt accompanying at the piano. Pianist Patricia Corbitt provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Foster Jason Fender, Frank Lee Sutton, Jr., Berrien William Sutton, Darrel Wayne Youngblood, Jr., Jimmy Johnson, and Edgar Musgrove.
Honorary pallbearers were Joe Mercer, Lester Cribbs, Owen Davis, Wallace Keefe, Jim Loop, Truman Wall, and deacons of Mt. Zion Baptist Church -- James T. Morris, Lloyd Deen, Darwin Corbitt, and Bill Huffstuttler.
Relihan Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Vernelle Ivey Baird
Mrs. Vernelle Ivey Baird, 94, of Hoschton, Ga., passed away Saturday, June 30, 2001.
Mrs. Baird, a native of Stewart County, Ga., was born March 1, 1907. She graduated from Braselton, Ga., High School in the first graduating class, 1924. Mrs. Baird taught elementary school in Braselton and high school in Jefferson, Ga., for 32 years. She took a leave of absence in 1962 to complete her degree at the University of Georgia where she served as Housemother and lived at the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. She retired from teaching in 1969 and continued to live in Hoschton, Ga. Vernelle was very active in Zion Baptist Church in Braselton where she was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Women's Missionary Union. After she retired she became active in Jackson County civic affairs including the Hoschton Civic Club and Jackson County Historical Society.
Survivors include: one daughter, Frances Allen and husband, Myron, of Salem, S.C.; one son, Larry Baird and wife, Nan Cherry, formerly of Douglas, Ga., of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; one son-in-law, John McGarity of Dahlonega, Ga.; one brother, Robert Ivey of Indian Springs, Ga.; one "special" sister-in-law, Juanita Ivey of Cornelia, Ga.; six grandchildren, Myron Allen III of Laramie, Wyo., Virginia Allen King of Virginia Beach, Virg., Mary Allen Piekarski of South Plainfield Beach, Calif., Michael McGarity of Braselton, Ga., Scott McGarity of Gainesville, Ga., and Carrie McGarity Woodcock of Gainesville, Ga. Mrs. Baird was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Hilliard Baird; one daughter, Anne Baird McGarity; one sister; and five brothers.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at Zion Baptist Church in Braselton, Ga., with burial following in the church cemetery.
Little-Davenport Funeral Home of Gainesville, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Edith Joyce Gregory Harper
Mrs. Edith Joyce Gregory Harper, 87, of Bradenton, Fla., passed away Thursday, June 28, 2001, at Greenbriar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Bradenton, Fla.
Mrs. Harper, a native of Franklin County, Kent., was the last member of the Robert Lee Gregory family of Franklin County. She was the widow of the late Carlie Harper and was a retired teacher.
Survivors include: one niece, Ruth Qualls Edwards of Kailua Kona, Hawaii; three nephews, Milton Lee Gregory of Corvallis, Oreg., Chester True of Lakeland, Fla., and Gene Qualls of Birmingham, Ala.; and one stepdaughter, Eleanor Mearns of Taunton Gardens, Mass.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 2, 2001, in Elamb Harper Cemetery outside of Douglas, Ga.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Cindy Lou Miller Purvis
Mrs. Cindy Lou Miller Purvis, 35, of Clay Street, West Green, Ga., passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2001, at the Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Purvis, a native of Coffee County, was born on July 25, 1965, the daughter of Eugene Miller, Sr. and Dorothy Miller. Mrs. Purvis was a parts salesperson in an automotive company and was of Baptist faith.
Survivors include: her husband, Micajah Purvis of West Green, Ga.; three daughters, Lanee' Hope Purvis, Gidget Purvis, and Latasha Purvis, all of West Green, Ga.; her father, Eugene Miller, Sr., of West Green, Ga.; her mother, Dorothy Miller of Douglas, Ga.; two sisters, Debbie Ann Hollinger of Douglas, Ga., and Sheila Carver of Broxton, Ga.; two brothers, Ricky Taylor of Douglas, Ga., and Eugene Miller, Jr., of Douglas, Ga.; her grandfather, Bennie Lee Anderson of Douglas, Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 9, 2001, in the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Wigley officiating. Special music was provided by DeWayne Holt who sang "Go Rest High On That Mountain" and "Home Where I Belong," with tape backup, and Rachell Miller sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," accompanied by Lois Mills playing the organ. Mrs. Mills also played the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Purvis Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Lee Anderson, Horace Wilson, Tony Gaskin, Clyde Miller, E. J. Miller, Josh Carlton, and Paul Purvis.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Eugene J. White
Mr. Eugene J. (Gene) White, 69, of Center Road, Douglas, Ga., passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2001, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. White, a native of Ware County, Ga., was born on July 14, 1931, to the late Thomas Jacob and Mary Ethel Jordan White. Mr. White had retired from Southern Bell as an engineer after 29 years with the telephone company. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Opal Davis White of Douglas, Ga.; two sons, Thomas Gary White of Pampano Beach, Fla., and Andrew Joseph White of Douglas, Ga.; two grandchildren, Drew Joseph White and Kara Annette White, both of Douglas, Ga.; several nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2001, in the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home with Rev. C. T. Haynes officiating. Missy Howell provided special music by playing the organ and singing "Amazing Grace." "She Misses Him" was also played on CD. Interment followed in the Mt. Zion Church Cemetery in Atkinson County, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Clay Davis, Mike Allison, Michael Davis, Alton "Buddy" Bear, Ronnie Davis, and Ray Fussell.
Sims Funeral Home of Doulgas, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.
