Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
John William "J.W." Ellis
Mr. John William "J.W." Ellis, 68 of Savannah, passed away at his residence on Friday afternoon, Nov. 11, following an extended illness.
Mr. Ellis, a native of Jeff Davis County, had lived in the Savannah area for several years. He was the son of the late Joe Lee Ellis and the late Pearl Eva Burkett Ellis. Mr. Ellis was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran of the Korean Conflict and was a retired master carpenter.
Survivors include: his wife, Annis Pinkston Ellis of Savannah; two daughters, Cynthia Diggs of Savannah, and Elizabeth Parks of Clarksburg, W.V.; three sons, John William Ellis, Jr., of Jacksonville, N.C., Daniel Lee Ellis of Glen Saint Mary, Fla., and Thomas Henry Ellis of Mayport, Fla.; two sisters, Nina Spivey of Douglas, and Doris Tanner of Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother, Donnie Paul Ellis of Broxton; 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 14, at the West Ward Street Church of God in Douglas, with Rev. Raymond Hand and Rev. Jesse Ogden officiating. Special musical selections included "When I Make My Last Move," rendered by soloist Jeanette Johns, with Kathryn Threatt accompanying at the piano, and "Where We'll Never Die," rendered by soloist Derrick Soles, with taped accompaniment. Pianist Robin Vickers provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Reedy Branch Cemetery near Broxton.
Active pallbearers were: Michael Diggs, Christopher Diggs, Paul Diggs, Darrell Bookout, John Rowell, and Carlton Hughes.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
Hubert Lee Hall, Jr.
Mr. Hubert Lee Hall, Jr., 49 of Douglas, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5.
Mr. Hall was born July 3, 1956, the son of Addie B. Hall and the late Hubert Lee Hall, Sr. He was employed at GoldKist.
Survivors include: his mother, Addie B. Hall (Charlie Williams); two daughters, Kimberly Y. Hall (Derrick Colson) and Zarmeica Gifford; two grandchildren, Deikeyveonta Q. Hall and Derrick C. Hall; four brothers, Curtis E. Hall, Michael S. Hall, Fredrick Perkins, and Alaric R. Hall; three sisters, Sandra E. Hall, Espronza Perkins, and Willene (Gerald) Preston; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11, at Young's Chapel Baptist Church in Douglas with Rev. Virgil Scott officiating. Special musical selections were provided by soloists Barbara Anderson, Everlina Jackson, and Tonia De’Kshazor. Interment followed in Oak Grove Cemetery in Pearson.
Active pallbearers were: George Curry, Dwight Dennis, Mike Swanson, Howard Homes, Alan Lott, and Thomas Poole.
Honorary pallbearers were: Michael Paulk, Keith Davis, Gary Davis, O.C. Clemons, Jr., Carnell Douglas, and Gerald A. Preston.
Harrell’s Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
Bobby Stevens
Mr. Bobby Gene Stevens, age 67 of Douglas, passed away at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta after an extended illness.
Mr. Stevens, a native of Coffee County, was born Dec. 17, 1937, son of the late Johnnie and Vera Brigmond Stevens. He was a retired electrician and his church membership was at the Douglas Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include: daughters, Gina Stevens Foskey of Douglas and Angela Stevens Merritt of Lakeview, Fla.; grandchildren Anthony Foskey, Levi Merritt, Katie Foskey, Jessie Merritt and Trista Merritt; one great-grandchild; brothers, Johnnie Carroll Stevens and Junior Stevens, both of Douglas; sisters, Jeanette Underwood of Cordele and Sandra Swank ofLake Park.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel in Douglas with Rev. Larry Stone officiating. Chris Purvis, Carolyn Wright and Faye Adams sang, “Amazing Grace” and “I Firmly Promise You” with Bonnie Musgrove, pianist. Burial followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were: Anthony Foskey, Franklin Burkett, Gerald Harrell, Paul Jiminez, Leroy Wright, Brandon Courson, Thurman Hathaway and Etheridge Wright.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Daisy Baldwin Tucker
Mrs. Daisy Baldwin Tucker, 68 of Douglas, passed away Monday, Nov. 7.
Mrs. Tucker, a native of Tifton, was born Feb. 7, 1937, the daughter of the late Lizzie and Garfield Baldwin.
Survivors include: her husband, Henry Tucker, Sr., of Douglas; seven children, Melvin Baldwin of Folkston, Bennie Lee (Marilyn) Hodge of Broxton, Anthony Baldwin of Gulfport, Miss., Calvin (Peggy) Hodge of Leesburg, Timothy (Tina) Hodge of Wheeler, Ky., Lorenzo Hodge of California, and Angel (Sam) Sanders of Atlanta; 10 stepchildren, Rudean Gilliard of Miami, Fla., Callie (Alvin) Williams and Henry (Della) Tucker, Jr., both of Douglas, Tommy Tucker of Albany, James (Shirlena) Tucker of Power Springs, Carol Dover of New Bern, N.C., Timothy (Barbara) Tucker of Pearson, and Cynthia (Ernest) Williams, Cheryl Tucker, and Vincent (Glenda) Tucker, all of Augusta; one daughter-in-law, Nadine Baldwin of Gantier, Miss.; one son-in-law, Leon Dover, Jr., of Lawrenceville; one brother, James A. (Doris) Jones of Meridian, Miss.; two sisters, Eloise Richardson of Douglas and Calvina Hill of Cordele; one special god-daughter, Catherine Townsend of Douglas; 40 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mrs. Tucker was preceded in death by one sister, Eva Johnson.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Wray, with Rev. Herbert Coney officiating. Special musical selections were provided by the St. John Church choir, Rev. John Moffett, and Rev. William Jackson. Interment followed at Little Lake Geneva in Douglas.
Active pallbearers were: Anthony Baldwin, Jr., Templeton Baldwin, Henry Sutton, Calvin Hodge, Jr., Dominique Williams, Latrakius Tucker, and Leon Dover, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were deacons of St. John and other churches.
Harrell’s Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
Willie T. Clements
Mr. Willie T. Clements, age 57 of Blackshear, died Monday afternoon at his residence following a extended illness. He was a native of Coffee County and lived most of his life their before moving to Pierce County in 1983. He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse Clements and Nevada Beasley Clements.
Mr. Clements was a veteran serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and then retiring from the Georgia Air National Guard.
He also retired from the Waycross Journal-Herald working in the camera room and also in delivery. He attended Youmans Chapel Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife Charlene Clements of Blackshear; three sons, Tommy Clements and wife Donna of Waycross, Jesse Clements and wife Theresa and Chester Clements and wife Theresa, all of Blackshear; a stepson, Allen Cohen and wife Linda of Waycross; two stepdaughters, Lori Taylor and Sherri Peacock and husband Clint, all of Blackshear; 15 grandchildren, former wife Nancy Clements of Blackshear; sister Vicey Rollins and husband Gerald of Waynesboro, and a special friend, Rachel Altman Strickland of Waycross, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 until 9 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home. Rev. Randall Gunter will officiate a brief memorial service on Wednesday evening during the visiation hours. Memorialization will be by cremation.
Charles Davis
Mr. Charles “Nub” Davis, 61 of Alma, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Mr. Davis, a native of Alma, was born Aug. 28, 1944, the son of the late Lenton P. Davis and the late Loucrettia Farmer Davis. He was employed at South Oxford, was a board member of the Bacon County Hospital, served as a District 2 County Commissioner for nine years, and was a member of Jehovah Lodge 340.
Survivors include: his wife, Annie Lee Davis of Alma; one son, Desi (Deborah) Davis of Savannah; three daughters, Debra (Michael) King of Alma, and Nefertori (David) Jefferson and Kasandri (Joey) Williams, both of Jacksonville; five sisters, Cleo Thomas and Doris (Robert) Davis, both of Miami, Fla., Nell Litman and Frances (James) Tobler, both of Alma, and Annie Faison of Augusta; one brother, James (Louise) Davis of Miami, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Christina, Jamal, Keene, Desi (D.J.), Desi, Jr., Precious, Malik, and De’Asia; one godson, Randy Vandore; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Mr. Davis was preceded in death by two sons, Wayne Davis and Charles Davis, Jr., two brothers, Linton Davis and Jake Davis, and one sister, Mary Alice Lee.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13, at First Community Church in Alma, with Rev. Stephon Deen and Rev. Lucious Rogers officiating. Special musical selections were presented by soloists Dorothy Johnson and Mary Moore. Interment followed in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Alma.
Active pallbearers were: Horace Kelly, Bernard Cooks, Timmy Wesley, Quasis Barnes, Frank Smith, and William Wesley.
Honorary pallbearers were: Darrell Boatright, Danny Standland, and Jeorge Sears.
Harrell’s Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Andrew Costew
Mr. Andrew Russell Costew, Jr., age 71 of Douglas, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 10, at home after an extended illness.
Mr. Costew, a native of Royal Oak, Mich., was born May 31, 1934, son of the late Andrew Russell, Sr. and Sylvia Phillips Costew. He was a retired building contractor and he was of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include: wife, Alicia Slaby Costew of Douglas; daughter, Kim Costew of Covington, Ken.; son, Andrew Russell Costew III of Jacksonville, Fla.; stepson, Eric J. Costew of Dearborn, Mich.; Grandchildren, Debbie Hardin of San Diego, Calif., and Joshua Patrick Newkirk of Covington, Ken.; sisters, Patricia Sullivan of Dayton, Ohio and Sue Perkins of Indianapolis, Ind.; brother, John Costew of Baltimore, Md.
Funeral services were held at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, in the chapel of Sims Funeral Home with Father Dan O’Connell officiating. St. Paul Church choir sang “You are Near” and "Be Not Afraid” with Ginger Burress, pianist.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Melvin Hursey
Mr. Marion Melvin Hursey, age 76 of Douglas, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas.
Mr. Hursey, a native of Coffee County, was born Aug. 22, 1929, son of the late Norman Harold and Carie Bell Kelly Hursey. He was a retired electrician and he attended Chatterton Holiness Baptist Church. A daughter, Shari Hursey; brothers, Neal Hursey, Henry Hursey, Cleon Hursey, Joseph Hursey, E. L. Hursey, Conway Hursey; sisters, Minnie Lou Taylor, Annie Mae Mathews and Zora Bell Davis preceded him in death.
Survivors include: wife, Louise Cady Hursey of Douglas; daughters Melva (Paul) Brown, Kathy (Gene) Chaney, Lynn (Dody) Hersey, all of Douglas; brother, Elijah Hursey of Douglas; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and special friends Tony Brantley and Sammy Snipes.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert Merritt and Rev. Gene Chaney officiating. The Cady Sisters sang “Shake The Master’s Hand” with Bonnie Musgrove, pianist. The Barnes Sisters sang “I’m A Winner, Either Way” with Wendy Spikes, pianist. Soloist Kori Clements sang “Daddy’s Hands." Sammy Snipes, pianist, provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Burial followed in the Harrell Grove Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were: Peter Brown, Michael Brown, Cody Hursey, Shane Chaney, Kyle Meeks, Steve Burke, Shawn Boltin and Ray Hursey.
Honorary Pallbearers were: John Long, Sammy Snipes, Joe Wooten, Tommy Pharr, Reggie Gilliard, Billy Boatright, Zack Taylor, Steve Foskey, Charles Johns, Ernest Johns, Robert Anderson, Jimmy McElroy and Clyde Kirkland.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Patricia Pearson
Patricia Pearson entered this life on Oct. 25, 1961 in Coffee County. She was born to the late Johnny Pearson, Sr. and the late Willie Lee Askew Pearson. She departed this life on Saturday, Nov. 5. One brother, Charles Pearson,preceded her in death.
Patricia attended elementary school at G.W. Carver High and Elementary School in Douglas. She received her high school education from Coffee High School in Douglas. She attended Job Corps in Breckingridge, Ken. Patricia moved to Tampa, Fla., in the early eighties and was employed by Singleton Seafood Co. Upon returning to Douglas in 1982, Patricia began her employment with Ivy Manor Motel. Patricia was an artistic writer, having had several of her poems published. Her most cherished treasures were when she was blessed to have two beautiful daughters and two granddaughters.
She leaves to cherish her memories: Two daughters, Jessica and Victoria Pearson of Douglas; two granddaughters, Tamesha and Anastasia Trotter of Douglas; two sisters, Hazel Pearson of Tampa, Fla. and Justina Pearson of Douglas; five brothers, Oscar (Eartha) Street, Larry (Laverne) Johnson, Johnny (Annie) Pearson, Jr., Tony (Olivia) Pearson and Dan (Shirley) Pearson, all of Douglas; three aunts, Minnie Mae Oliver and Pearl Lattimore both of Tampa, Fla., and Evelyn Tanksley of Douglas; one uncle, Eugene (Mary) Tanksley of Salt Lake City, Utah; one special godbrother, Jay Jay Wimberly; and a special godfamily, The Powells. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends.
Funeral service was held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Douglas with Rev. Steve King officiating.
Special musical selection was rendered by soloist, Tweety Paulk. Interment followed in the Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton.
Honorary pallbearers were: Herman Wilcox, Jimmy Clay, Henry Coley, Leon Sutton, James Graves and Mike Fitzgerald.
Active pallbearers were: Jay Jay Wimberley, Jimmy Alls, Anthony Poole, Calvin Faison, Demetrius Lane and Alonzo Johnson. Flower attendants were the Coffee High School Class of 1979.
The family of Patricia Pearson wishes to express their sincere thanks to each of you for all of your flowers, prayers, visits and calls during our time of bereavement. May God bless each of you is our family prayer.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
David P. Busby
Mr. David P. Busby, age 78, passed away Monday morning, Oct. 31, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mr. Busby, a native of Coffee County, retired from the Department of Transportation, Coffee County Division, as a motor grader operator. He was the son of the late Julius Busby and the late Anna Morris Busby, and the husband of the late Edith Troupe Busby. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Linda Gail Hill, and one step-son, Bobby Gene Busby.
Mr. Busby was a member of the Southview Church of God.
Survivors include: three sons, Walter Busby of Douglas, David Busby of Washington, Kan., and Darrell Busby of Willacoochee; two brothers, Lonzie Busby of Lake Okeechobee, Fla., and Leman Busby of Savannah; one half-brother, Julius L. Busby of Douglas; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; special friend to the family Vertie Lee Spires of Douglas; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at the chapel at Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Hilton Martin officiating. The interment followed in the New Hope Cemetery, near Ambrose.
Active pallbearers were Richard Roberts, Stuart Sterling, Allen Mimbs, Anthony Busby, David Busby and Daniel Busby.
Special music selections for the service included “You’re Invited To My Mansion,” presented by Marie Martin, taped music, and “Amazing Grace,” presented by Scott and Joyce Roberts, with Scott Roberts at the piano. Pre-lude, post-lude and soft hymns were provided by Scott Roberts.
Ricketson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Jann W. Heaton
Mrs. Jann Wheeler Heaton, age 58, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross.
Mrs. Heaton, a native of Alma, had resided in Waycross since 1989. She was the daughter of the late Alton and Jodie Wheeler of Alma. Mrs. Heaton was a member of Second Baptist Church, where she was active working with the AWANA Ministry and Upward Basketball. She was retired from DFACS after 11 years of service.
Survivors include: her husband, Roy Heaton of Waycross; two sons, Kenny Heaton and wife Lesa of Waycross and Adam Heaton also of Waycross; two daughters, Crystal Webber and husband Lee of Nashville, and Tammy Heaton of Waycross; one sister, Gayle Carter and husband Jimmy of Waycross; two granddaughters, Kayla Heaton and Kristen Epley; one grandson, Austin Hutchison and several foster children, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Friday, at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church in Waycross with Rev. Derwin Griffin and Rev. Gerald Murphy officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Lawn Cemetery in Alma.
Members of the Adult III Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mattie Gunder
Mattie Everett Gunder, age 88 of Nicholls passed away Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Shady Acres Nursing Home in Douglas following and extended illness.
Mattie Everett Gunder was born on July 19, 1917 in Bacon County to the late Samuel L. and Minnie Davis Everett. She was preceded in death by brothers Howard, Harry, Jack, Moultrie and Corneilus Everett and sisters, Ruth and Pauline Everett.
Those who will always cherish her memory: Her loving sister, Mable Thomas of Nicholls; special nephew, Rev. Sam Sykes of Nicholls; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and sorrowing friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gunder were held at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the McIver Funeral Home Chapel in Douglas with Rev. Sam Jordan Sykes officiating. Interment followed in the Nicholls City Cemetery in Nicholls.
We, the family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, comfort, food, phone calls, cards and every act of kindness shown during our time of bereavement. May God bless each of you.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
