Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Winifred W. Courson
Mrs. Winifred Williamson Courson, age 69, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Tuesday night, May 3, 2005, at the Sea Breeze Health Care in Panama City, following a brief illness.
Mrs. Courson, a native of Oak Park, Ga., has lived in the Douglas area several years prior to moving to Panama City. She was the daughter of the late Cyrus Samuel Williamson and the late Alma W. Williamson. Mrs. Courson was a graduate of South Georgia College.
Survivors include: one daughter, Mary Taylor, and husband Gerald of Chipley, Fla.; one son, Billy Courson Jr., and wife Shirley, of Panama City, Fla.; one sister, Mary Ann Sparks of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Leon Williamson of Douglas, Ga.; four grandchildren, Stephanie Moore, Chip Moore, Billy Courson, III, and Robert Courson; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Mrs. Courson was preceded in death by a brother, Harry Williamson.
Graveside services and interment were held Friday, May 6, 2005, at 2 p.m. at the Douglas City Cemetery with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Howard Cooper
Mr. Howard Lee Cooper, age 71, of Nicholls Georgia passed away on Wednesday, May 4, at Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Cooper, a native of Floyd County, Georgia was born April 20, 1934, son of the late Grady Henry and Maudie Irene McBurnam Cooper. He was a retired farmer. Survivors include: Brothers, W. L. Cooper/Wife, Virginia Cooper and John Rufus Cooper, Broxton; Sister, Bonnie Mae Merritt/Husband, Rev. James Merritt, Broxton; Special friend, Betty Kersey, Nicholls; several nieces and nephews. Sisters Mollie Marie Carter and Emma Elizabeth Benefield preceded him in death.
Graveside services and burial were held 4:00 PM, Thursday, May 5, at the Central Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. James Merritt officiating. Active pallbearers included: William Cooper, James Merritt, Jr., Jackie Tipton, Tim Meeks, Tom Meeks and Darryl Spikes.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Danny Grantham
Danny Grantham, age 79, of Jesup, Ga., passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2005, in the Altamaha Health Care, following an extended illness.
A native of Coffee County, he had lived in Wayne County for 13 years. He attended the Screven Church of God and was a retired Brickmason. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Survivors include: seven sons, Bobby Grantham and wife Beth of Piedmont, Ala., Larry Grantham of Vidalia, Ga., Billy Grantham and wife Sherry of Jesup, Ga., Kenneth Eugene Grantham and wife Meloney, Dan Grantham, Jr., Marvin Wendle Grantham and wife Laura, and Tony Joe Grantham, all of Brunswick, Ga.; one daughter, Barbara Jean Stoddard and husband Thomas of Jesup, Ga.; one brother, Audie Grantham of Gray, Ga.; one half-sister, Duzzy Davis of Waycross, Ga.; 24 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel in Jesup, Ga., with Rev. Terry Jones officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in the Salem Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Coffee County, Ga.
Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home, Inc., of Jesup, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.
Bobby Pharr
Mr. Bobby Pharr, age 61, of Gillsville, Ga., and formerly of Franklin, Ga., passed away Monday, April 18, 2005, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Mr. Pharr was born on August 18, 1943 in Telfair County, Ga. He was the son of the late Olin and Ila Belle Culpepper Pharr. Mr. Pharr was a United States Army Veteran and was of the Baptist faith. He was retired from Milliken as a truck driver.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Sue Pharr; one son, James Beau Pharr of Jackson, Miss.; two step-sons, Larry Cantrell of Gillsville, Ga., and Michael Cantrell of Franklin, Ga.; one sister, Evelyn Douglas of West Green, Ga.; two brothers, Thomas Pharr of West Green, Ga., and Kenneth Pharr of Douglas, Ga.; and 13 grandchildren. Mr. Pharr was preceded in death by one step-son, Steven Cantrell.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 21, 2005, at Silver Shoals Baptist Church with Rev. Luther Campbell, Rev. Willie West and Rev. Perry Smith officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Cornelia, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Grady Carpenter
Mr. Grady Lee Carpenter, age 51, of Nicholls, Ga., passed away on Monday, April 11, 2005 at home following an extended illness.
Mr. Carpenter, a native of Richmond County, Ga., was born on June 22, 1953, the son of the late Grady Lee, Sr. and Mary Frances Bates Carpenter. He was a former fireman and security officer and a member at the United Methodist Church in Lumpkin, Ga.
Survivors include: his wife, Kathleen Carpenter of Nicholls Ga.; one son, Kira Carpenter of Augusta Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held 3 p.m., on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at the Chapel of Hillcrest Memorial Park in Augusta, Ga., with Rev. Phillip Burden officiating. Entombment followed in the Hillcrest Memorial Park Christ Mausoleum.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
George Harper
Mr. George Harper, age 71, of Ambrose passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2005, at the Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas. Mr. Harper, a native of Coffee County, Georgia, was born May 15, 1933, son of the late Joe Brown and Annie Harper. He was a retired farmer and his church membership was at the New Bethel Holiness Baptist Church.
Survivors include: Wife, Evelyn Nugent Harper; Sons, George Daryl Harper, Marianna, Fla., Walter Joe Harper, Ambrose, Ga., and Jerry Harper, Willacoochee, Ga.; Daughters, Carla Paulk, Willacoochee GA, Vickie Highsmith, Douglas, Ga.; Sisters, Jimmie (Mose) Denton, Douglas, Ga., Jo Ann (Carroll) Spivey, Nicholls, Ga.; Nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, three step grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 1, at the Wray Holiness Baptist Church in Wray, with Rev. Farrell Harper, Rev. Marshall Adcock and Rev. Dale Smith officiating. James Denzel Harper gave the Eulogy.
Special music as follows: David Kirkland, Patsy and Larry Spivey sang “Stroll Over Heaven,” “Amazing Grace” and “Long, Long Journey” with Lois Mills, pianist.
Burial followed in the Flem Harper Cemetery near Ambrose. Active pallbearers: Rocky Joe Harper, James Denzel Harper, Nick Harper, John Highsmith, Cason Adams, Shannon Spivey, J. B. Sanders and Mike Harper. Honorary Pallbearers: Carlton, Wayne Fussell, Dan Fussell, Tommy Dorminey, John Price, Rob Smith, Doyle Paulk, J. L. Paulk, Tony Brantley, Jim Bo Atkinson, Jimmy Atkinson, Dennis Paulk, Randy Vickers, James H. Smith, Leon Harper, Dave Harper, Conway Harper, George Kight, James D. Sayer, Wayne Sayer, Roscoe Harper, Sherrill Tucker, Huey Fussell, Bobby Carver, Tom Caves, Oscar Patten, Jr., Milton Royal, Rambo, Oscar McReady, Ruben Spivey, Carl Myers, Brown Boggan, H. E. Nelson, Craig Vickers, Jean and Edwin Vickers.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy Whitley
Mr. Jimmy Larry Whitley, age 65, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Friday, April 29, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mr. Whitley, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born on June 5, 1939, the son of Pauline Cato Whitley and the late Junious Felton Whitley. He was a retired insurance agent employed 40 years with Liberty National Life Insurance and a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: his wife, Patricia Browning Whitley of Douglas, Ga; one son, Gregory Felton Whitley and wife Angela, of Glenville, Ga.; his mother, Pauline Cato Whitley of Douglas, Ga.; two sisters, Shirley Whitley Johnson and husband, Roger Larry, of Monroe, Ga., Jennell Whitley Trowell and husband Harry, of Loganville Ga.; two grandchildren, Amber Grace Whitley and Phillip Blake Futch; several nieces, nephews and a brother-in-law, David Vann. Mr. Whitley was preceded in death by one sister, Joan Carol Vann.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, May 1, 2005, at the Central Baptist Church near Douglas with Rev. Wes Brown, Bryan Cannington and Robert Moore officiating. Soloist, John Baker sang, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” and soloist, Alison Bailey sang, “Wind Beneath My Wings,” with Margie Cason accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Central Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were nephews: Chris Johnson, Chad Johnson, Lee Vann, Glenn Vann, Eddie Royal, and Ricky Trowell.
Honorary pallbearers were: Employees of Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Allen Vaughn, Sammy Peterson, Paul Hutcheson, Dan Miller, Johnny Walton, Wayne Baker, Ronnie Anderson, Billy Joe Cato, Tony West, Osman Lewis, and Laurence Day.
In Lieu of Flowers,The family encourages Memorials to Central Baptist Church.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
John W. Cartrett
Mr. John Walter Cartrett, age 73, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center, following an extended illness.
Mr. Cartrett, a native of Folkston, Ga., had lived in the Douglas area for many years. He was the son of the late Joe Cartrett and the late Annie Larence Cartrett. He was a retired truck driver, a logger, a United States Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and a member of the V.F.W.
Survivors include: his wife, Linda H. Cartrett of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Randall Cartrett of Deltona, Fla.; four aunts, Vitus Baker of Douglas, Ga., Leona Taplin, Ethel O’Conner, and Louise O’Conner, all of Montgomery County, Ga.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will follow at a later date.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ella D. Styles Lott
Mrs. Ella D. Styles Lott, age 74, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Thursday, April 21, 2005.
Mrs. Lott, was born on July 27, 1930, daughter of the late A.J. Denson and the late Cora Scott Denson. She was a member of Second Elizabeth Baptist Church in Brooks County, Ga.
Survivors include: her husband, Willie Styles Lott of Willacoochee, Ga.; two daughters, Willie Mae Tucker of Douglas, Ga., and Mattie Mae Pittman and husband Nathaniel of Nashville, Ga.; seven sons, Jessie Denison and wife Mary, and Joseph Styles of Willacoochee, Ga., Jim Denison of New Jersey, Earnest Styles, Dennison Styles and wife Loriane, Richard Styles and wife Tina, Willie Styles and wife Lisa, all of Douglas, Ga.; twenty-six grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; three sisters, Julia Brown and Edith Brinson, both of Quitman, Ga., and Margie Fountain and husband Fred of Valdosta, Ga.; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 30, 2005, at 12 noon at the Union Holiness Church in Willacoochee, Ga., with Pastor Harvey Williams and Pastor W.L. Perkins officiating. Special musical selections were rendered by the Everette Chapel Choir, and Ronald Johnson rendered a solo. Interment followed in the Death Aid Cemetery in Willacoochee, Ga.
Active pallbearers were her grandsons.
Harrell’s Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Fannie Harrell
Mrs. Fannie Lee Day Harrell, age 93, of Panama City Florida, formerly of Coffee County, passed away on Friday, April 22, at Bay Medical Center in Panama City after a brief illness.
Mrs. Harrell, a native of coffee County, Georgia was born September 19, 1911, daughter of the late Lester and Ruby Gertrude Glisson Day. She was a homemaker and widow of the late Carl Woodfin Harrell.
Her church membership was at the Reedy Branch Baptist Church. Survivors include: Daughter, Roberta Treadwell, Lynn Haven FL, Daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Maynard and husband, Gene Maynard, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A son, Carl Harrell, Jr., preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held 2:00 PM, on Monday, April 25, at Reedy Branch Baptist Church with Rev. Den Weniger officiating.
Music was as follows: Soloist Wayne Fales sang “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” and “How Great Thou Art” with Rev. Den Weniger, pianist, and Evelyn Weniger, organist, provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Burial followed in the Reedy Branch Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were: Robert Yancey, Phillip Weatherly, Tony Harrell, Carl La Rocque, Jason La Rocque and Jeffery Williams.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Martha B. Belger
Mrs. Martha Eugenia Barns Belger, age 89, of Douglas, passed away on Friday, April 22, at home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Belger, a native of Baldwin County, Ga., was born June 14, 1915, the daughter of the late George Edward and Mattie Stembridge Barns. She was a homemaker and a member at the Douglas First Baptist Church. She was a retired school teacher with the Coffee County School System.
Survivors include: her husband, Jack Roberts of Douglas; two daughters, Aggie Pat Dockery and husband Jimmy, of Douglas, and Nancy Terrell of Jacksonville, Fla.; two grandchildren, Ami Terrell of Valdosta, and Belger Dockery of Eatonton, Ga. Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her first husband, Murray E. Belger.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 24, at Sims Funeral Home Chapel in Douglas, with Rev. George Thompson, nephew and Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. Music was rendered by soloist Dr. Diskin Morgan as he sang “In The Garden.” The congregation sang, “Victory In Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art” with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were David Norris, Mike Wills, Joe Day, Martin Rains, Fred Binder, Dr. Steve Wilkerson and Russ Gillis.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Anna Sunday School Class, Harry and Catherine Moody, David Vickers, Leon Burch, Edwin Crabb, Dr. Arlis Burch, Harvey Brigmond, Randall Adams, Dr. Roy Lindsey and Lynn Lott.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of arrangements.
Beatrice R. Nipper
Mrs. Beatrice Reliford Nipper, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, April 20, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas.
Mrs. Nipper, a native of Atkinson County, was born February 10, 1923, the daughter of the late John and Ida Mae Anderson Reliford. She was a homemaker and the widow of the late Jack Nipper.
Survivors include: three daughters, Debbie Amerson and Imogene Zanders both of Douglas, and Rudine Thompson of Fitzgerald; one sister, Ruby Nipper of Douglas; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Nipper was preceded in death by one son, Billy Nipper.
Funeral services were held 4 p.m., Friday, April 22, at the Chatterton Holiness Baptist Church with Rev. R. L. Wiley and Rev. Newton Cox officiating. The Burkett Family sang "Long, Long Journey" and "Stroll Over Heaven" with Connie Burkett accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Chatterton Church Cemetery near Nicholls.
Active pallbearers were grandchildren: Edward Thompson, Dwight Thompson, George Thompson, Donnie Zanders, Ashley Nipper and Neal Nipper.
Honorary pallbearers were great-grandchildren: Josh Stone, Jamie Nipper, Keegan Faulkner, and Mike Nipper.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
Mildred O. Taylor
Mrs. Mildred Oliver Taylor, age 78, of Alma and Douglas, went to be with The Lord on Friday, April 22, at the Medical Center in Columbus, Ga., after a brief illness.
Mrs. Taylor, a native of Calhoun County, Fla., was born November 4, 1926, the daughter of the late Omar Clarence and Mary Lou Kenimer Oliver. She was a graduate of Asbury College and the University of Georgia. She was a retired educator, and had taught in the Bacon County and Coffee County School System and South Georgia College. She was the widow of the late Russell Taylor.
Survivors include: two sons, Stephen Taylor and wife Karen, of Salem, Ala., and Neill Taylor and wife Lynn; grandchildren, Bryan Taylor, Lara Sullens, James Taylor, Scott Taylor, Alyssa Taylor and three great-grandchildren. Her brother, Zelotes Oliver and one grandson, Caleb Taylor, preceded her in death.
Graveside services and interment were held on Monday, April 25, at 4 p.m., at the Douglas City Cemetery with Rev. Glenn Taylor officiating.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of the arrangements.
