Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Agnes Metts Meeks
Agnes Metts Meeks, age 89, of Buford, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, at her home.
Meeks, a native of Atkinson County, was born on March 15, 1917, the daughter of the late Aaron and Ellen McDonald Metts.
She was a beautician, the widow of the late Alton Gordon Meeks and a member of United Methodist Church in Buena Vista.
Survivors include: Her son Dale Meeks of Eustis Fla.; her daughter Joyce Meeks of Buford; her grandchildren Ashley Meikle, Lana Meeks,
Brooke Meeks and Brittany Meeks; her brother Aaron Metts of West Green; her sister Dayelle Roberts of Alapaha; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 28, at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home, with Rev. Benji Varnell officiating. Linda Sue Harper gave the eulogy.
Soloist Lena Mae McQuaig sang "Nearer My God To Thee," “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace,” with pianist Lois Mills accompanying.
Burial followed in the Satilla Gardens Cemetery near Douglas.
Active pallbearers included Daryl Metts, Danny Harper, Aaron Harper, Ricky Harper, Jared Meikle and Mark Metts.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vida Lou Kight Cooper
Mrs. Vida Lou Kight Cooper, 92, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Saturday, October 9, 2004.
Mrs. Cooper was born October 15, 1911, in Broxton, Ga., the daughter of Robert Lexon and Elizabeth Haskins Kight. She was the widow of the late Milton E. Cooper, Sr., and she was a first grade school teacher, working mostly in Georgia and Florida, retiring after 45 years of service. She had been a resident of Panama City for 10 years, moving there from Coral Gables, Fla.
Survivors include: three children, Mary Cooper Weaver and husband, James, of Lynn Haven, Fla., Beth Cooper Ray and husband, Peter, of Parrish, Fla., and Milton E. Cooper, Jr. and wife, Ann, of Palm Coast, Fla.; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. Mrs. Cooper was preceded in death by one daughter, Margaret Sue Cooper.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 16, 2004, at the Reedy Branch Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Mathison Employees Fund, c/o Mathison Retirement Center, 3637 W. Hwy 39C, Panama City, FL 32405, in memory of Mrs. Cooper.
Wilson Funeral Home of Panama City, Fla., was in charge of arrangements.
Willie J. Givens, Sr.
Willie J. Givens, Sr., 76, of Broxton, Ga., passed away Wednesday, October 6, 2004, at Sunbridge Care and Rehabilitation following an extended illness.
Mr. Givens, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born August 22, 1928, the son of the late Ossie Sr., and Elizabeth Givens.
Survivors include: his wife, Joanna Givens of Broxton, Ga.; 11 daughters, Sandra Flynt, Evelyn Teal and husband, Dereck, LaVerne Fountain, and Shirley Givens, all of Daytona Beach, Fla.; Patricia Hudson of Norwalk, Conn., and Jersey Williamson, Cheryl Givens, Phelisa Givens, Lorraine Givens, Yvonne Givens, Ronese Givens, all of Miami, Fla.; two sons, Willie James Givens, Jr., and Bernard Givens, both of Miami, Fla.; seven sisters, Willia M. Givens of Chila Vista, Calif., Mary E. Kittles of Cincinnati, Ohio, Aletha Givens of Miami, Fla., Mary Schley and husband, Wiley, of Broxton, Ga., and Margaret Wilkerson and husband, James, Pastor Betty Johnson, and Oree G. McRae, all of Douglas, Ga.; four brothers, RasBerry Givens, Sr. and wife, Juanita, of Daytona, Fla., Ossie Givens, Jr., of Augusta, Ga., David L. Givens and wife, Flora, of Springfield, Mass., and Joe Givens and wife, Shirleen, of Broxton, Ga.; 38 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, October 11, 2004, at Little Zion Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga., with Rev. Melvin Harper officiating. Special selections were rendered by the choir and soloist Angie Johnson. Interment followed in the Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Willie Walker, Dewayne Schley, Sandy Givens, Thomas Hudson, Maurice Thomas, and Dereck Teal.
Honorary pallbearers were RasBerry Givens, Ossie Givens, Jr., David Givens, Joe R. Givens, Lester Givens, and Hubert Givens.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Alexia Fussell
Alexia Fussell, 42, of Broxton, Ga., passed away Sunday, October 3, 2004.
Ms. Fussell, a native of Broxton, Ga., was born August 27, 1962, the daughter of John Edward and Louise Fussell. Alexia attended Broxton High School of Broxton, Ga. She later moved to Tampa, Fla., and then returned to Georgia. She was a member of New Hope Covenant Christian Fellowship Center where she served as youth coordinator.
Survivors include: two daughters, Savina Fussell of Broxton, Ga., and Shamele Lewis of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Donzel Kashif Fussell of Broxton, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Jabr/, Anthony, Savion, De'Jon, Roshed, Alexis, and Zarion; two sisters, Leisha Riley of Douglas, Ga., and Stephanie Fussell of Tampa, Fla.; two brothers, John Fussell, Jr., and Arresta Fussell, both of Broxton, Ga., a special friend, Stanley Lewis; and several other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 9, 2004, at New Hope Covenant Christian Fellowship Center in Broxton, Ga., with Elder Sid Whitefield officiating. Special music was provided by the New Hope Covenant Choir and soloist Crystal Tyson. Interment followed in the Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.
Active pallbearers were her first cousins, Marcus Hancock, Travino Porter, Anthony Poole, Thomas Poole, Antonio Jones, and Bobby Sims.
Honorary pallbearers included members of the Class of 1980 and friends.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga. was in charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Alice Drew Fleshman
Mrs. Ruth Alice Drew Fleshman, 93, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away Monday evening, October 4, 2004, at her residence.
Mrs. Fleshman was the widow of the late Commander Wilfred Edwin "Bill" Fleshman. She graduated from Douglass College in New Brunswick, N.J., with a bachelor's degree in Business, after which she worked as an executive secretary on Wall Street in New York City before becoming a homemaker. She was active in many naval and civilian organizations and an active member of the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., until her declining health.
Survivors include: one son, David Fleshman of Douglas, Ga.; one granddaughter, Robyn Knight and husband, Joe, of Douglas, Ga.; and two great-grandsons, Lance Knight and Logan Knight, both of Douglas, Ga.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 23, 2004, at 3 p.m., at the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., with Mrs. Glenda Courson presenting the special music.
Cliff Spikes
Mr. Cliff Spikes, 83, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Saturday, October 9, 2004, at Tift Regional Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Spikes, a native of Berrien County, Ga., was born June 3, 1921, son of Dan and Nancy Rowe Spikes. He was a retired farmer and also worked for many years at Brockway Standard in Homerville, Ga. He was a member of the Axson Church of God of Prophecy, American Legion Post 173, and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was the widower of the late Lillian Corbitt Spikes.
Survivors include: one sister, Lelia Farmer of St. Marys, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, October 11, 2004, at the Axson Church of God of Prophecy with Rev. Newton Cox and Rev. Clayton Davis officiating. Special musical selections included "The Lighthouse" and "Victory In Jesus," rendered by Mary Ann Zom and Delores Bennett, with Newton Cox accompanying on the guitar. Soft music for the prelude and postlude was provided by tape. Interment followed in Axson Cemetery with military honors rendered at the gravesite by an Honor Guard Contingent from Ft. Stewart, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Marvin McDaniel, Allen Farmer, Donnie Spikes, Ronnie Spikes, Danny Johnson, and Lee Spikes.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Sidney Major Stewart
Mr. Sidney Major Stewart, Jr., 60, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Monday, October 4, 2004, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. Stewart, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born August 3, 1944, the son of the late Sidney Major, Sr. and Mary Vienna Royals Stewart. He was employed as a packing/shipping clerk and he attended Hebron Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Frances Griffis Stewart of Douglas Ga., son, Travis Dion Stewart, Sr.; one daughter, Mary Brandi Stewart Young and husband, Jimmy, of Wray Ga., two sisters, Thelma Sturgis of Ambrose Ga., and Mary Andrews of Douglas Ga., six grandchildren, Travis Dion Stewart, Jr., Kyle Stewart, Sierra Tarrant, Shyan Stewart, Kortney Highsmith, and Erika Highsmith; also several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., on Thursday, October 7, 2004, at Hebron Baptist Church with Rev. Buddy Mitchell, Rev. Garvey Nichols, and Rev. Bobby Fussell officiating. Special musical selections were provided by the Hebron Church Choir who sang, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", "Beulah Land", "Sanctuary" and "Go Rest High On That Mountain" with Danny Dees, accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Hebron Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were James Newman, Mack Wooten, Joel Sharrod, Sidney Cady, Sharmon Thurman, and Jerry Paul Cooper.
Honorary pallbearers were Charles Mercer, Danny Dees, Donald Vickers, Wendell Vickers, Darrell Busby, Paul Jimnez, and Glenn Mercer.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas was in charge of arrangements.
John M. Maley
Mr. John M. Maley, 81, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Monday, October 4, 2004, at his residence after an extended illness.
Mr. Maley, a native of East Liverpool, Ohio, was born December 20, 1922, the son of the late Joseph Ignatious and Alice McNaughton Maley. He had attended Dana Institute of Music in Warren, Ohio, and graduated from Birmingham Southern University and the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. He was a veteran of the United States Army and a member of U.S. Army Bands during World War II.
Mr. Maley was a founding member of the Birmingham Symphony and he was the director of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp of Birmingham. He taught music in Jefferson County, Blount County, Ala., School Systems and Appling County School System in Baxley, Ga. The Coffee County School System is where he spent the years of 1964-1984 as band director; in addition, he was associated with the music program at Citizens Christian Academy and South Georgia College. He was lead trombonist with the dance band known as "The Men of Note" in Waycross, Ga.
Mr. Maley was a member of Saint Paul Catholic Church, where he served as music director and organist for 30 years and received the Bishop Gartland Award and a Papal Blessing for all his church service.
Survivors include: his wife, Charlotte Marie Lefebvre Maley of Douglas, Ga.; children, Danny Maley and wife, Carol, of Douglas, Ga., Bill Maley of Phoenix, Ariz., Joe Maley, Bernard Maley and wife, Elaine, all of Sunbury, Ga., Tommy Maley of Hampton, Ga., Michele Little, Patrick Maley and wife, Kathy, all of Yulee, Fla., Charles Maley of St. Simons Island, Ga., Timothy Maley and wife, Pok, of Eagle River, Ark., Jimmy Maley and wife, Shirley, of Hazlehurst, Ga., and Anne Marie Harper and husband, Mike, of Colonels Island, Ga.; 24 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; two sisters, Gertrude Ring and husband, Eddie, and Loretta Maley, all of East Liverpool, Ohio; and one sister-in-law, Eunice Maley of Fernandina, Fla.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 8, 2004, at Saint Paul Catholic Church, with Father Dan O'Connell officiating. The Saint Paul Church Choir sang "You Are Near," "Here I Am Lord," "On Eagle's Wings," "Our Father," and "Prayer Of Saint Francis." Soloist Jacque Wheeler sang "Let There Be Peace On Earth." and the congregation and Choir sang "Jesus Remember Me," with Ginger Burress accompanying at the organ. Military rites and interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery in Douglas, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Daniel Maley, Jonathan Maley, Amos Maley, Joseph Maley, Clayton Maley, Mason Little, Andrew Maley, and John Maley.
Honorary pallbearers were Charles Stephenson, Al Lott, John O'Brien, Bill Taylor, Paul Mardis, Don Ray Paulk, Wendell Bryant, J.A. Roberts, Bill McIntosh, Betty and Joe O'Leary, Oscar Streat, Tony Kirkland, John Henderson, Jr., James Dennis, Sam DeCasper, John Parker, Ethan Fellows, Bill Bowers, former band members of "Men Of Note," and members of Coffee County Retired Teachers.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Amber LaRonn Bennett
Mr. Amber LaRonn Bennett, 42, of Douglas, Ga., passed away suddenly Friday afternoon, October 1, 2004.
Mr. Bennett, a native of Naylor, Lowndes County, Ga., was a truck driver and a mechanic. He served in the National Guard for some years prior to moving to the Douglas area.
Survivors include: his wife, Janice Thurman Bennett of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Jason Bennett, stationed with the U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; one step-daughter, Amanda Brooke Bennett of Douglas, Ga.; his mother, Evelyn Cowart Offutt of Naylor, Ga.; his father, Billy A. Bennett, Sr., of Chillicothe, Ohio; three sisters, Sabrina Petty and Jaime LaPlante, both of Naylor, Ga., and Brandy Bennett of Ohio; three brothers, Joshua Darling, Jr., of Naylor, Ga., Franklin Darling, Jr., of Hahira, Ga., and Billy A. Bennett, Jr., of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 6, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Marshall Adcock officiating. Special musical selections included "Amazing Grace," "It Is Well/Keep On Rolling," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain," and were presented by tape. Soft piano music for the prelude and postlude were presented by Phyllis V. Ricketson. Interment followed in the Satilla Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers were Lee Cowart, Raymond Campbell, Robert Hall, Robert Murray, Carl Murray, and Joey Petty.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Gertrude Blackwell Mancil
Mrs. Gertrude Blackwell Mancil, 83, of Douglas Georgia passed away on Thursday, October 07, 2004 at Shady Acres Convalescent Center, in Douglas Georgia.
Mrs. Mancil, a native of Stephens County, Georgia was born April 14, 1921. Daughter of the late Joseph T. and Agnes Pearl Tanner Blackwell. She was a homemaker and the widow of the late Henry Mancil. She was a retired cafeteria worker with the public school system.
She was member was at the Harrell Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include: daughters, Lucille (Cecil) Holt and Louise (Dan) Bullard, Douglas GA, son, Lonnie R. (Lois) Mancil, Lake Charles LA, sisters, Nora Mae Darley, Willacoochee GA, Nellie Jo Harper, Ambrose GA, eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 09, 2004, at the Harrell Grove Baptist Church near Douglas with grandson, Rev. Howard Holt officiating. Special Music was by grandson, Dewayne Holt as he sang, "First Day In Heaven", "New Shoes" and "Beulah Land" with taped backup. Interment followed in the Harrell Grove Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers: Stephen Holt, Andrew Holt, Justin Holt, Marshall Spivey, Garrett Spivey, Kyle Holt, Alex Holt, Ryan Holt and David Mancil.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Grady Doyle King
Rev. Grady Doyle King, 57, beloved husband of Dianne Evans King, 2667 Ansley Road, Warrenton, GA entered into rest Thursday, October 7, 2004 at University Hospital , Augusta GA.
Funeral services were held Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 2:00 PM at Long Creek Baptist Church, Warrenton with brother Chad Crews officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
Rev. King, was a native of Greenwood SC, a graduate of Greenwood SC High School, and Luther Rice Seminary of Jacksonville FL. He was Pastor at Long Creek Baptist Church, and taught Young Couples Class there. He had served as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Broxton GA, and Moniac Bapitst Church of Moniac, GA, and Associate Pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL. He also was a Pre-need Counselor for Elliott's Funeral Home, in Augusta, GA.
Survivors include his wife, Dianne E. King of Warrenton; two daughters, Kelli King Brooker (Scott) of Douglas GA, and Lindsay King Crews (Chad) of Augusta GA; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Grady King of Greenwood, SC; one sister Patsy Noffz of Rock Hill SC and one grandchild Kara Miller of Douglas, GA.
Pallbearers were Ray Toulson, Sammie Toulson, Larry Johnson, James Johnson, Joe Smallwood, Bennie May, Johnny Wilkerson and Billy Hobbs.
Honorary pallbearers was the Adult Men's Sunday School Class and the Deacons of Long Creek Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Long Creek Baptist Church, C/O CathyCooper, 1317 Baker Rd, Mitchell, GA 30820 or to The Gideon's Foundation, C/O Mr. B. Lewis Johnson Sr, 481 Morris Rd., NE, Thomson GA 30824.
Lowe Funeral Home, Warrenton, GA, was in charge of arrangements.
Alonzo Bennett
Mr. Alonzo Bennett, 64, of Alapaha, Ga., formerly of Coffee County, Ga., passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2004, at Berrien County Hospital.
Survivors include: one son, Kelly Alonzo Bennett, Jr., of Broxton, Ga.; two daughters, Tomekia Lashawn Bennett of Douglas, Ga., and Burnice Clark of Nashville, Ga.; one sister, Catherine Reives of Douglas, Ga.; one sister-in-law, Delphine Bennett of Miami, Fla.; and a devoted friend Mildred Green of Alapaha, Ga.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, October 9, 2004, at New Hope Baptist Church in Alapaha, Ga. Interment followed in the New Salem Cemetery, off Vickers Crossing, Ambrose, Ga.
Black and Son Funeral Home of Nashville, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Murwin L. Harper
Mr. Murwin L. Harper, 93, of Douglas Georgia passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2004 at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Georgia.
Mr. Harper, a native of Irwin County, Georgia was born October 28, 1910, son of the late Alonzo and Eunice Ethel Buchan Harper. His church membership was at the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall. Survivors include: three brothers, Lanell Harper, Dallas GA, Jacob Harper, Wray GA, Russell Harper, Fitzgerald GA, one sister, Miriam Sherritt, Fitzgerald GA, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 25, 2004, at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home with Brother Raymond Way officiating. Interment followed in the New Hope Church Cemetery near Ambrose, Georgia.
Active pallbearers were: Joshua Harper, Kenneth Way, Kim Harper, Mark Webster, Emmanuel Littleton and David Rease.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
