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Linda Gail B. Hill
Mrs. Linda Gail Busby Hill, 56, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Monday, February 14, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mrs. Hill, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 25, 1948, the daughter of David Preston Busby and the late Edith Troupe Busby. She was a homemaker and attended Southview Church of God and West Ward Church of God.
Survivors include: her husband, Tommy Hill of Douglas, Ga.; two daughters, Pamela Mimbs of Douglas, Ga., and Kelly Gentry of Tifton, Ga.; one son, Tom Hill of Atlanta, Ga.; father, David P. Busby of Douglas, Ga.; three brothers, Allen Busby and Darrell Busby, both of Douglas, Ga., and David Carl Busby of Washington, KS; six grandchildren, Heather Clower, Christine Distetano, Dayton Mimbs, Shelby Mimbs, John Distetano, and Alex Hill; two best friends, Vertie Lee Spires and Clara Yancey.
Funeral Services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, February 18, 2005, at Southview Church of God, with Rev. Hilton Martin officiating. Soloist, Marie Martin sang, "Amazing Grace" with Scott Roberts, accompanying at the piano; also a taped selection of "One Day At A Time" was provided. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Legrande Busby, Greg Toler, Kevin Fletcher, Dudley Mobley, Greg Harrell, Bobby Busby, Andy Vaughn, and Keith Highsmith.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Louise Wood Hutchinson
Mrs. Mary Louise Wood Hutchinson, 66, passed away Friday night, February 18, 2005, at her residence following a brief illness.
Mrs. Hutchinson, a native of Hialeah, Fla., was the daughter of the late Thomas J. Wood and Jewel Martin Wood. She had lived in Waycross, Ga., since 1993. She was the financial secretary at Central Baptist Church in Waycross, Ga., College Avenue Baptist Church in Douglas, Ga., and Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla. She was also a member of Walkerville Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband, Rev. Wayne Hutchinson of Waycross, Ga.; two daughters, Elizabeth "Beth" Kight and husband, Allen, and Linda Carver and husband, Steve, all of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Steven W. Hutchinson and wife, Melody, of Blackshear, Ga.; six grandchildren, Cameron Brannon, Tyler Howard, Dylan Howard, Zachary Kight, Emily Kight, and Zane Kight; one sister, Barbara LaRue of Leesburg, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Hutchinson was preceded in death by one brother, Johnny Wood.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, February 21, 2005, at Central Baptist Church. Interment followed in Greenlawn Cemetery in Waycross, Ga.
Honorary pallbearers were the members of Walkerville Baptist Church and the present and former office staff of Central Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Southeast Cancer Unit, 401 Pendleton St., Waycross, Ga. 31501, or Hospice Satilla, 1921 Alice St., Suite A-1, Waycross, Ga. 31501.
Music Funeral Home of Waycross, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Henry A. ‘Hal’ Lankford
Mr. Henry Austin "Hal" Lankford, 56, passed away at his residence on Monday, February 14, 2005.
Mr. Lankford was born on July 5, 1948 in Douglas, Ga. He was the only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moncrief Lankford of Pearson, and he was a member of Pearson First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: first cousins, Ginger Lankford Folsom of Albany, Ga., Jakie Bunn Roberts of Millwood, Ga., William M. Lankford of Carrollton, Ga., Patricia Lankford Baer of Pleasanton, Calif., and Charles Lankford, in addition to many special friends and former students.
Funeral services were held on Friday, February 18, 2005, at Pearson United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Swafford and Rev. John Jacobs officiating. The eulogy was given by Shea Browning, and a special song, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," was rendered by soloist Jay Vickers, with Mary Ann Williams accompanying on the piano. Interment followed at Sweetwater Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Hank Sizemore, Shea Browning, Shad Sirmans, Bill Thombs, Sol Summerlin, and L.H. James.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
After graduating from Atkinson County High School in 1966, he obtained his teaching degree from Georgia Southern University. At Georgia Southern, he was a charter member of the Lambda-Upsilon Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon, and he was initiated as its 10th member on May 25, 1968 and served as its President and Historian. After graduating from college, he began teaching in the public school system in 1969 and continued to do so for 34 years before retiring in 2003. English, French, literature, history, and journalism were among the many subjects enthusiastically taught by Mr. Lankford over the years. He was the driving force behind The Rebel Review and other journalistic efforts involving Atkinson County High. He also served as the sports writer for the Atkinson County Citizen.
During Mr. Lankford’s tenure at Atkinson County High School, he was selected to be STAR teacher by six different students. He served as literary team coordinator for many years and led the school to several region championships in the 1980's and early ‘90s. At various points in his career he was directly involved with boys’ and girls’ extemporaneous speaking, oral interpretation, essay, debate, and one-act play.
Mr. Lankford was also instrumental in working with the cheerleading program at ATCO High throughout his career, and he served as an officer for the National Cheerleading Association in the early ‘80s. In the late 1990s, he served as cheerleading coach at the high school and furthered the squad’s involvement in competitive cheering.
Mr. Lankford served as the "Voice of the Rebels" as stadium announcer and radio commentator for the sports programs at ATCO High, and he was also an avid statistician for the athletic program. He also served as sponsor of the Beta Club chapter at ATCO High for several years. He devoted much of his time and tremendous talent to countless other school and community events throughout his lifetime.
Mr. Lankford was an avid reader who enjoyed a wide range of literary tastes. He was also a Civil War afficionado who enjoyed memorabilia, movies, and literature from the era. He was known for his uncanny ability to recite facts, dates, and general lore from local history, as well as his deep familiarity with school history and the statistics and records from athletic programs of yesteryear. He was a true fan of high school as well as college sports. He was also an extremely gifted writer whom many students and members of the community turned to long after graduation for assistance when it came to essays, job applications, or other literary needs.
In honor of Mr. Lankford’s lifelong commitment and dedication to public education, a scholarship fund has been established in his memory to benefit students graduating from ATCO High. The fund is being maintained by the Citizens Exchange Bank, P.O. Box 338, Pearson, GA 31642. A scholarship foundation is being organized with family assistance to ensure that Mr. Lankford’s legacy in education will be forever honored.
Charles R. Hawkins
Mr. Charles R. Hawkins, 68, of Irwinville, Ga., passed away Sunday, February 20, 2005, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Ga.
Mr. Hawkins was born in Fitzgerald, Ga., October 10, 1936, the son of the late J.D. and Ruby Mae Padgett Hawkins. He was a 1954 graduate of Ocilla High School and moved back to Irwinville in 1994 from Atlanta, Ga., where he owned and operated C&G Construction Company. Mr. Hawkins attended Berry College in Rome, Ga., and after moving back to Irwin County, worked as a paralegal. He was also a former insurance salesman for Liberty National Life Insurance Company. Mr. Hawkins was a volunteer for the Blue-Gray Community Hospice and the Christian Kitchen. He was a member of Irwinville Baptist Church and the American Legion. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving in Saudi Arabia. Survivors include: his wife, Marie Hodge Hawkins of Irwinville, Ga.; five daughters, Deborah Schirm of Mentor, Oh., Melissa Blackman of Omaha, Neb., Stephanie Davis of Dahlonega, Ga., Felicia Simonton of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Scarlett Ross of Woodstock, Ga.; three grandchildren, Aidan Davis, K.C. Simonton, and Ian Ross; and one sister, Mary Bradley of Irwinville, Ga. Mr. Hawkins was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Tara McMillan.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Ga., with Charles Bryan officiating. Interment followed in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Wilcox County, Ga.
Paulk Funeral Home of Fitzgerald, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Blondine Lott Johnson
Mrs. Blondine Lott Johnson, 80, of Douglas,Ga., passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2005, following a brief illness.
Mrs. Johnson, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 6, 1924, the daughter of the late Walter "Tobe" Lott and the late Alma Jowers Lott. She was the widow of the late Nathaniel "Johnny" Johnson and a former telephone operator, and a former owner/manager of a farm supply store.
Survivors include: one daughter, Kay Stone and husband, Kenneth, of Douglas, Ga.; one granddaughter, Misty Bordeaux of Lansing, Mich.; two brothers, Terrell Lott and wife, Corine, and John Ralph Lott and wife, Barbara, all of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., on Friday, February 18, 2005, at Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. B.D. Carter and Rev. Jack Stolte officiating. Special music was provided by Darla Stewart, who sang "Amazing Grace," with Lois Mills accompanying on the piano. Interment followed in the Satilla Memorial Gardens, near Douglas, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Stanley O’Steen, Ned Carson, Danny Lott, Kevin Lott, J.R. Lott, Terry English, and Van Grantham.
Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Atkinson, Zip Grantham, Jimmy Grantham, Joe Bell, Duane Carr, and Lowell Burnam.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Gertrude P. Stringer
Mrs. Gertrude Peacock Stringer, 73, of Broxton, Ga., passed away on Friday, February 18, 2005, at home after an extended illness.
Mrs. Stringer, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born February 17, 1932, the daughter of the late Charlie Hanes and Dora Lillian Cliett Wooten. She was a homemaker and a member of the Douglas Gospel Assembly.
Survivors include: her husband, Rev. George Melvin Stringer of Broxton, Ga., one daughter, Sharon Griffin and husband, Bobby, of Nashville Ga.; two sons, Rev. Allen Peacock and wife, Pearl, and Royce L. Peacock and wife, Wanda, all of Broxton, Ga.; two step-sons, Randy Stringer and Greg Stringer, both of Waycross, Ga.; two step-daughters, Angela Young and Kelly Stringer, both of Fitzgerald, Ga., two sisters, Winnie Smith and Dora Pearl Floyd Warnock, both of Broxton, Ga.; eight grand-children and 14 great-grand-children; one uncle, Bud Cliett of Broxton, Ga.; and one aunt, Vernie Wooten of Broxton, Ga.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, February 20, 2005, at the Douglas Gospel Assembly near Broxton, Ga., with Rev. Melvin Stringer and Rev. Allen Peacock officiating. Soloist Diana Griffin Phillips sang "Another Soldier’s Coming Home;" Royce Peacock, Sr., Royce Lee Peacock, Ramon Peacock, Tina Peacock, Candace Buggay, Maxell Smith, Wanda Peacock and Joshua Peacock sang, "I Never Shall Forget The Day" and "His Love Lights The Way;" and Royce Lee and Hannah Peacock sang "I Can Only Imagine." Interment followed in the Douglas Gospel Assembly Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Stuart Griffin, Royce Lee Peacock, Joshua Peacock, Ramon Peacock, Victor Peacock, and Randy Stringer.
Honorary pallbearers were Greg Stringer, Eric Phillips, Ricky Wade, Kenny Buggay, Richard Chutters, Steve Cruiser, and Brian Payton.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Steven M. Johnson
Mr. Steven Matthew Johnson, 37, of Nicholls Ga., passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2005, in Atkinson County, Ga., as a result of injuries received in an ATV accident.
Mr. Johnson, a native of Montgomery County, Ala., was born on February 22, 1967. He was an electrician.
Survivors include: his daughter, Chére Johnson of Deltona, Fla.; one son, Steven Matthew Johnson, Jr., of Pittsfield, N.H.; his mother and stepfather, Sandra and Marvin Goodwin of Douglas, Ga.; his father and stepmother, Steven Daniel and Darlene Johnson; one sister, Sonya Easterly of Orlando, Fla.; one half-sister, Trina Hennessey of Pineville, Oreg.; one half-brother, Marty Goodwin of Hinesville. Ga.; his companion, Annette Taylor of Nicholls, Ga.; a special friend, Dennis McCartan of Axson, Ga.; and his grandparents, Willard and Judy Bradford of Hueytown, Ala., and Dorothy M. Johnson of Fredericksburg, Va.
Graveside services and interment were held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at Wolf Pit Cemetery in Bacon County, Ga., with Rev. Bo Turner officiating.
Active pallbearers were Mark Easterly, Dennis McCartan, Kenny Cobb, Danny Leach, Wayne Reeves, and Dale Taft.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Louise M. Hope
Ms. Louise Mobley Hope, 72, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Friday, February 18, 2005, at Beverly Nursing Home in Tifton, Ga.
Ms. Hope, a native of Jeff Davis County, Ga., was born October 12, 1932, the daughter of the late Mike and Ida Tatum Mobley. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late William Mark Hope, and a member at the Nicholls Church of God.
Survivors include: two nephews, Randall Smith and Johnny Smith, both of Douglas, Ga.; two step-sisters, Joyce Chaney and Virginia Hollinger, both of Douglas, Ga.; two step-brothers, James Burkett and Roger Burkett, both of Douglas, Ga.
Funeral Services were held at 4 p.m., Sunday, February 20, 2005, at the Douglas City Cemetery, with Rev. Milton Dean and Rev. Robert Tanner officiating. Interment followed. Connie and Denise Burkett sang "Amazing Grace" at the graveside.
Active pallbearers were Randy Smith, Russell Smith, Stephen Smith, Freddie Burkett, Eddie Burkett, and Gary Burkett.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Malcolm ‘Mackie Lee’ Davis
Mr. Malcolm "Mackie Lee" Davis, 54, of Millwood, Ga., passed away on Friday, February 18, 2005, at his home following an extended illness.
Mr. Davis, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 13, 1950, the son of Malcolm, Jr. and Nellie Faye Lee Davis. He was a timber logger and a member of Saginaw Baptist Church.
Survivors include: Diane Carol Cahela Davis; one son, Casey Davis and fiancé, Mandy White; one daughter, Ami Leigh Kidd and husband, Tim, of Millwood Ga.; grandson, Lee Davis Kidd of Millwood, Ga.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Davis; one brother, Ashley Davis and wife, Yvonne, of Nicholls, Ga.; two sisters, Tammy Meeks and husband, Jack, of Douglas, Ga., and Ellen White and husband, Steve, of Boone, N.C.; mothers-in-law, Helen Stovall of Douglas, Ga., and Jessie Cahela of Ala.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held 2 p.m., on Monday, February 21, 2005, at Saginaw Baptist Church with Rev. Donnie Kirkland and Rev. Kermit Soileau officiating. Soloist, Jennifer Davis sang "Go Rest High On That Mountain;" soloist, Liz Kirkland sang "Soar Like An Eagle," with Iris McElhaney, accompanying at the piano. Also, a taped selection of "Daddy’s Hands" was provided. Interment followed in the Roxie Mae Church Cemetery near Nicholls, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Malcolm Davis, Atlas Hough, Chris Hutchison, Bobby Davis, Johnny Deems, Clark Holton, Jeremy Hutchison, and Allen Graham.
Honorary pallbearers were Duane Wilcox, Brad Mobley, Jeff Bayard, Edd Taylor, Mike Carter, Travis Thomas, Gene Gill, Scott Kirkland, Daren Kirkland, P.A. Lee, and Selina Davis.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Annie Lee Justice
Mrs. Annie Lee Teston Justice, 72, of Douglas Ga., passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Justice, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born on October 14, 1932, the daughter of the late Benjamin Jefferson and Georgia Varnedore Teston. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include: two daughters, Sue McDuffie and husband Larry of Douglas, Ga., and Marlene McDonald and husband George of Rochelle, Ga.; two sons, Wendell Wright and wife Dawn of Pearson, Ga., and Lonnie Wright and wife Jan of Scotland, Ga.; 15 grand-children and 19 great- grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steve Sirmons officiating. Carolyn Wright, Chris Purvis and Faye Adams sang, "Sheltered In The Arms Of God" and "I’ll Be Waiting At The River For You," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Burkett Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Mark Rivers, Reggie Wright, Dennis Wright, Dustin Wright, Michael Gillis and Sammy Burkett.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ira Donald McCallum
Mr. Ira Donald McCallum, 69, of Wray, Ga., passed away on Sunday, February 20, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center/ER in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. McCallum, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born October 17, 1935, the son of the late James Jordan and the late Celie Lott McCallum. He was a member the DeBerry Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and training union teacher for over 20 years.
Mr. McCallum, a farmer, was on the Board of Directors of the Sun Trust Bank, Douglas Division and he was President of Coffee County Farm Bureau for over 30 years. Also, he was a member of the Coffee County School Board of Education for 12 Years.
Survivors include: his wife, Delores McCallum; one son Hal McCallum and wife, Debbie, of Wray, Ga.; two grandchildren; three brothers, Roy McCallum of MacClenny, Fla., John Thomas "J.T." McCallum and Arthur McCallum, both of Broxton, Ga.; two step-sons, Michael Peagler and wife, Cheryl, of Manor, Ga., and Farrell Peagler of Waycross, Ga.; three step-grand-children, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. McCallum was proceded in death by two brothers, Oscar McCallum and Ralph McCallum; and two sisters, Fannie Mae McCallum Day and Pauline McCallum Fletcher.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at the DeBerry Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Dean and Rev. Andy Day officiating. The Deberry Church Choir with Jordan McCallum sang, "Build My Mansion" and "What A Day That Will Be" with Peggy Ott, accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the DeBerry Church Cemetery. The congregation with Eva Brown sang, "Amazing Grace" at the Graveside.
Active pallbearers were Chris Merritt, Ronnie Lewis, Michael Harper, Don Paulk, Gary McCallum, Steve Crosby, Tony Crosby and Dennis Cato.
Honorary pallbearers were members of Coffee County Farm Bureau, Members of the State Farm Bureau and Personnel, Deacons of Deberry Baptist Church and Rev. Farrell Harper.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
David Jewell
Mr. David Jewell, 52, of Douglas, Ga., passed away suddenly Saturday morning, February 19, 2005, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Jewell, a native of Willacoochee, Ga., was a retired poultry worker, the son of the late Rubin Jewell, Sr. and the late Ora Griner Jewell, and was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors include: two sons, David Jewell, Jr. of Douglas, Ga., and Rubin Harmon Jewell of Broxton, Ga.; three grandchildren; five brothers, Merle Jewell and Grady Jewell, both of Nashville. Ga., L.A. Jewell and Phillip Jewell, both of Douglas, Ga., and Eddie Jewell of Collins, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Jewell was preceded in death by two brothers, R. J. Jewell and Joe Jewell; and two sisters, Teresa Raper and Betty Lee Purvis.
Funeral services were held Monday, February 21, 2005, at 2 p.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Milton Dean officiating. Special musical selections, "Go Rest High On That Mountain," and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," were rendered by the Courdle Family, with James and Eugene Courdle accompanying on guitars. At the graveside "He Set Me Free," was presented a cappella by Savannah Davis, Summer Robinette, and Katie Jewell. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Wesley Taft, Jason Afaneh, Jason Voorhees, Lonzo Zanders, Aaron Morrison, Matt Lemons, Wayne Jones, and Jesse Key.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
