Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Donie Mathews
Miss Donie Gladys Mathews, age 84, of Macon, passed away on Tuesday, August 3, at the Coliseum Hospital in Macon.
She was born in Pike County in April 1921. She is the daughter of the late Emit Carl and Susie McHarque Mathews.
Survivors include: sister, Marie M. Mingledorff, Douglas; niece, Susan Mathews Thomas, Hattiesburg, Miss.; nephews, Thomas Davis Mathews, Barnesville, George Henry Mingledorff, III, Marietta, Carl Mathew Mingledorff, Douglas; several great nieces and great nephews.
Graveside services will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Douglas City Cemetery with Rev. Benji Varnell officiating.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Clyde W. McGovern
Mr. Clyde W. McGovern, age 86 of Broxton, passed away Monday morning, Aug. 29, at the residence of his daughter and caregiver, Mrs. Betty Jo Milhollin, following an extended illness.
Mr. McGovern, a native of Broxton and Coffee County, was a retired machinist. He was the son of the late Patrick McGovern, and the late Victoria Threatt McGovern and the widower of the late Corren Johnson McGovern. He retired from Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Upon retiring, he moved to Wray and enjoyed gardening and growing peaches. After the death of his wife in 2003, he moved to Broxton to reside with his daughter. Mr. McGovern was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include: two daughters, Betty Joe Milhollin of Broxton, and Jeri L. Meeks of Orlando, Fla.; one step-son, Albert Sumner of Warner Robins; three sisters, Myrtice Broom, Liz Malcolm and Wilma Anderson, all of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a sister, Annie Grace Newell, and a brother, Louis M. McGovern.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 1, at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home with the eulogy being presented by his daughter, Betty Jo Milhollin. Prelude and postlude soft selections were rendered by Willifred Thompson, pianist. Interment followed in the Wray Holiness Baptist Church Cemetery in Wray.
Active pallbearers were Eddie Vickers, Sherell Day, Curtis Newell, Geraldine Newell, Kathy Ricketson, and Wallace Newell.
Mr. McGovern was a U.S. Army veteran.
Ricketson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Celie Ann P. Wilson
Mrs. Celia Ann Porter Wilson, age 61, of Broxton, passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, at Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Wilson, a native of Coffee County, was born Dec. 22, 1943, the daughter of the late Ida Louise Spivey Porter and the late Clinton Porter. She was a homemaker and a member of Evangel Tabernacle.
Survivors include: her husband, James Ed Wilson of Broxton; two daughters, Teresa Weathers and husband Teddy of Douglas, and Angie King and husband Johnny of Broxton; two sons, Robert Wilson and Billy Wilson and wife LaDonna of Douglas; mother, Louise Porter; one sister, Shirlene Gusman of Douglas; two brothers, Danny Porter and Joe Porter both of Douglas; grandmother, Gertrude Spivey of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 2 p.m. at The Evangel Tabernacle with Rev. R.L. Wiley officiating. Special taped selections of “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” “Peace Speaker,” and “Precious Memories” were rendered. Also the congregation sang “Amazing Grace.” Interment followed in the Roxie Mae Church Cemetery near Nicholls.
Active pallbearers were Joey Porter, Jamie Porter, Bo Porter, Earl Wilson, George Hill, Marcus Whitfield and Tiny Sikes.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
Judy Tibbetts Evans
Judy Tibbetts Evans, 58, of Tifton, formerly of Waynesville, NC, and Douglas, Ga., died Monday, May 30, 2005, at her residence after a courageously fought seven-year battle with breast cancer.
A Memorial Requiem Eucharist will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church with The Very Reverend H. Jacoba Hurst and The Reverend Nancy Mills officiating. A private committal ceremony will be held to celebrate Ms. Evans’ life in her beloved North Carolina mountains.
Friends may greet the family at 1705 Regent Road, Tifton, the home of her brother, G. W. Tibbetts, from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. Tuesday evening.
Ms. Evans was born February 18, 1947, in Atlanta to Harrison Eugene Tibbetts of Tifton and the late Jewell Hunt Tibbetts.
Ms. Evans had lived in Tifton for four years and formerly lived in Waynesville, NC, and Douglas, GA. She graduated from Mercer University, Macon, in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. While at Mercer, she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. Ms. Evans was executive director of the Coffee Alliance for the Arts from 1995 – 2000, where she planned, implemented, and raised funds for art exhibitions and musical and theatrical performances. She held a special interest in providing arts opportunities for children.
Ms. Evans knew and understood 18th Century architecture, decorating, and gardens. She shared her considerable knowledge of interior design, cooking, and catering with friends, family, and community. Love of flowers was evident in her yard, floral arrangements, and library. She was highly experienced in the design and maintenance of formal herb and flower gardens.
Ms. Evans’ most recent projects included assisting with the creation of The French Market in Ashburn and the renovation of a 1930’s cottage in the Tifton Historic District. She tirelessly volunteered throughout the Douglas community, including in the schools, civic groups, business community, and churches.
Judy always made everyone that she met feel unique and special.
Surviving Ms. Evans, in addition to her father, are two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer Evans Versch and Werner Versch, II, Midlothian, VA, and Mary Amelia Evans Carver and Corey Carver, Douglas; two brothers and sisters-in-law, G. W. and Christine Tibbetts, Tifton, and Bob and Clair Tibbetts, Zionsville, IN; one sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Bill Daniel, Jacksonville, FL; one grandson, David W. Versch, Midlothian, VA; six aunts and numerous nieces, nephews, and special and wonderful friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coffee Alliance for the Arts, P. O. Box 2823, Douglas, GA 31534; St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Needlepoint Fund, P. O. Box 889, Tifton, GA 31793; or American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer Research, P.O. Box 7514 Tifton, GA 31793.
Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors – Tiftarea Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Tydlee Harper
Tydlee Harper of Wray, Georgia, died Thursday, May 26, at her residence.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m., at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla. Visitation was held Sunday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mrs. Harper was born in Bedford, Virginia, to the late Jasper Lewis and Wavie Mays Waldron. She grew up in Bedford, moving to the Irwin community in 1949 from Los Angeles, California, where she worked at Bullock's Department Store. She was a farmer, homemaker and during World War II, she worked as an aircraft inspector in Los Angeles. Mrs. Harper was an avid reader and gardener.
Mrs. Harper is survived by her husband, Clyde E. Harper of Wray; two sons, Clayton Harper of Clear Lake, Tex., and Mike Harper of Macon, Ga.; two daughters, Leah Harper of San Francisco, Calif., and Lynn Harper-Young of Houston, Tex.
Gladys Tanner Howard
Mrs. Gladys Tanner Howard, age 84, of Broxton passed away on Wednesday, May 25, in Fernandina Beach, Fla., following a brief illness. Mrs. Howard, a native of Coffee County, was a published author, dance instructor and a member of the Sunshine Girls and Broxton Women’s Club. Her survivors include: sons, Dr. Robert Lott and wife, Emily of Fernandina Beach Fla.; David Lott and wife, Karen of Broxton; step-children Steven Howard, Sharon Johnson & Sheila Howard of California; special cousin Gladys Rempley of St. Augustine Fla.; and grandchildren Dedra Taft and David A. Lott, II.
The memorial service was held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Broxton United Methodist Church with Rev. Elick Bullington and Rev. John Homer officiating. Burial followed in the Broxton City Cemetery.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary N. Lewis
Mrs. Mary Newmans Lewis, age 72, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Friday, May 20, 2005, at her home following an extended illness.
A native of Atkinson County, Mrs. Lewis was born July 21, 1932, the daughter of Rell and Recie Hall Newmans. She was a homemaker and a member of Willacoochee United Methodist Church. Her husband James Henry Lewis, a son, Gary C. Lewis, two brothers, R.L. Newmans and Ira Newmans, three sisters, Melissa Bennett, Thelma Adams and Janie Lott, preceded her in death.
Survivors include: two daughters, Deborah Mosher and husband Larry; and Amy Pate and husband Mike, all of Willacoochee, Ga.; two sisters, Ethel Corbitt of Savannah, Ga. and Grace Delk of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren, Johnny Mosher and wife Kim, James Mosher, Dillon Pate, Mason Pate and Angela Kelley; two great-grandchildren, Adam Kelley and Alexis Kelley; several nieces, and nephews; two special friends, Annette Scott and Jeannie Sapp of Willacoochee, Ga.
Funeral services for Mrs. Lewis were held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2005, at the Willacoochee United Methodist Church with Rev. Eddie Morrison and Rev. Marvin Goodman officiating. Special musical selections included “Calling All Angels,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” and “Precious Memories,” presented by tape. Debra Merritt, pianist, played soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were William Bennett, Randy Hile, Mark Hile, Roger Hile, Donald Stone, and Ronald Stone.
Honorary pallbearers were Donnie Stone, J.W. O’Neal, Sr., and Larry Troupe.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ira Newmans
Mr. Ira Newmans, age 74, of Lower Brookfield Rd., Tifton, Ga., passed away Thursday evening, May 19, 2005, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Ga., following an extended illness.
A native of Atkinson County, Ga., Mr. Newmans was born on January 6, 1931, the son of Rell and Recie Hall Newmans. Mr. Newmans had made his home in Willacoochee, Ga., for many years before moving to Tift County. He was a retired logger, a U.S. Navy veteran and attended the Union Grove Church of God in Tifton.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary E. Newmans of Tifton, Ga.; two sons, Jerome Newmans and wife Connie of Enigma, Ga., and Darrell Newmans and wife Belinda of Brookfield, Ga.; four daughters, Sherrill McMillan, Iris Cooper and husband Bill Tift, and Chasity Charles all of Tifton, Ga., and Peggy Bailey and husband Willie of Miami, Fla.; two sisters, Ethel Corbitt of Savannah, Ga., and Grace Delk of Jacksonville, Fla.; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 22, 2005, at Union Grove Church of God in Tifton with Rev. Ray Dawson and Rev. Denise Percibal officiating. Special music included “Amazing Grace” presented by the Union Grove Church Choir with Becky Bambrough accompanying at the piano, Pam Dawson, organist, and Shane Hill on the guitar. Soloist Chris Bambrough sang “The Anchor Holds” with tape accompaniment. Pam Dawson, organist and Becky Bambrough, pianist, provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Union Grove Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jamie White, Michael Newmans, Timmy Newmans, Mark Hile, Randy Hile, and Roger Hile.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Newmans was a veteran.
William Kramer Royer
Mr. William Kramer Royer, age 20, of Douglas, Ga., passed away May 14, 2005, as a result of an accident.
Mr. Royer, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 25, 1984. He was a graduate of Coffee County High School and was attending Athens Technical College in Athens, Ga. His church membership was at the Douglas First Baptist Church.
Mr. Royer is survived by his parents, Christopher and Martha Lou Dockery Royer of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, John Christopher Royer; one sister, Kathryn Lee Royer of Douglas, Ga.; grandparents, Dr. Karl K. Sr., and Mirt Dockery of Douglas, Ga., and Mrs. Betty Lee Peavy of Guyton, Ga., and Mr. John Howard Royer of Statesboro, Ga.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 19, 2005, at the Douglas First Baptist Church with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. For special music, the congregation sang “Victory In Jesus,” and “Because He Lives” with Marsha Gilliard as pianist. Friends, Anna Evans, Corey Harrell and Aaron Stewart read poems they had written. The services closed with a harmonica rendition of “Amazing Grace” by Terry Dockery. Interment followed in the Reedy Branch Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Willis Grant Royal, Chase “Chewy” Lewis, Henry Lewis, Mitch Lewis, Ben Smith, Josh Vickers, Chad Mercer and Corey Harrell.
Honorary pallbearers were teachers from Westside School and friends.
The family asks that memorials be made to the Coffee County Emergency Management Agency, Kramer Royer Memorial fund, C/O Wesley Vickers, Coffee County Financial Director, 101 South Peterson Ave., Douglas, Ga. 31533.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Howell Hollis
Howell Center Hollis, 48, passed away at home on Saturday, May 14. A United States Naval Academy graduate, Howell served his country honorably as a P-3 pilot with the US Navy and Naval Reserves. He retired at the rank of Commander and became a pilot with Delta Air Lines.
As an assistant girls’ basketball coach for Lakeside Junior High School and Orange Park High School, he touched the lives of countless young athletes, inspiring them to succeed on and off the court. Howell was preceded in death by his father, Col. Jeff F. Hollis. He is survived by his wife Maryellen Hollmann Hollis, of Jacksonville, Florida; his children Christi, of Atlanta; Cleary, and Beau, both of Gainesville, Florida; his mother Laurens Center Hollis, of Peachtree City, Georgia; his sister Cleary Tanner, of Douglas, Georgia; and his brother Jeff Hollis, of Atlanta.
Visitation was held at Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home at 111 Blanding Blvd., in Orange Park from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday evening, May 19. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am Friday, May 20 at St Paul’s Catholic Church, 2609 Park Street in Riverside.
Tim Bennett
Mr. Tim Bennett, age 81, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday morning, May 14, 2005, at the Shady Acres Convalescent Center, following an extended illness.
Mr. Bennett, a native of Clinch County, Ga., the son of the late Ed Bennett and the late Ida Corbitt Bennett. He was the widower of the late Geraldine Duke Bennett and a United States Army Veteran of World War II. Mr. Bennett was a retired auto mechanic and had worked with a local auto dealership for many years prior to his retirement.
Survivors include: three daughters, Sandra Bradford and husband Gerald, Lisa Craigue and husband Richard, all of Douglas, Ga., and Kathy Streat and husband Mike, of Blackshear, Ga.; two sisters, Estelle Dupree of Uvalda, Ga., and Louise Wright of Lumber City, Ga.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Monday morning, May 16, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home with Rev. Matt Rutland officiating. A special musical hymn, 'In The Garden,' was presented by soloist Rev. Matt Rutland, with taped music. Prelude and postlude music was rendered by pianist Phyllis V. Ricketson. Interment followed in the Denton Cemetery, in Jeff Davis County.
Active pallbearers were Scott Bradford, Todd Bradford, Lloye Davis, Duke Streat, Brandon Streat, and Charlie Bennett.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements. Veteran
Thomas Richey
Mr. Thomas Overby Richey, age 73, of Douglas, passed away on Friday, May 13, at the Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas. Mr. Richey, a native of Coffee County, was born December 13, 1931, son of the late Willie Presley and Clara Overby Richey. He was a retired veteran of US Air Force and he was a formerly employed with the Douglas Housing Authority.
His church membership was at the Douglas First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: Wife, Nannette Nipper Richey; Daughters, Clara Nannette Burch, Warner Robins, Ga. and Jean Angela Guilford, Rome, Ga.; Sons, William Presley Richey, Evans, Ga., and Robert David Richey, Warner Robins, Ga.; Sisters, Mary Lou Hubbard, Virginia Beach, Va., Billy Jo Kleven, Marietta, Ga.; Brother, Robert G. Richey, Stewart County, Ga.; Grandchildren, Alana Guilford, Ashley Burch, Hannah Burch, Samantha Richey, David Guilford and Thomas Richey. A son, Thomas Overby Richey, Jr., preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM, on Saturday, May 21, at the Douglas First United Methodist Church with Benji Varnell and Dr. John McGowan officiating.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sidney Deal
Mr. Sidney Marvin Deal, age 81, of Ambrose, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, at Life Care Center in Fitzgerald. Mr. Deal, a native of Emanuel County, Ga., was born September 14, 1923, son of the late Simon and Mattie Harbuck Deal. He was a retired construction contractor and he was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: Son, Randy (Dela) Deal, Ambrose; Grandchildren, Sidney Deal and Kimberly Deal, Ambrose; Sister, Lillian Reese; Brothers, Gene Deal, Macon, Ga., Irwin Deal, Savannah, Ga.; Special friend, Laverne Purvis Deal, Ambrose, Ga.; Several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 14, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel in Douglas with Rev. George Carroll Paulk officiating. Chris Purvis, Carolyn Wright and Faye Adams sang “Amazing Grace” and “Victory In Jesus” with Lois Mills, pianist. Burial followed in the Mount Union Church Cemetery near Ambrose. Active pallbearers were: Don Paulk, Travis Peavey, Larry Purvis, Doyle Paulk, Steve Stewart and Wayne Williams.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
