Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Charles Thomas Beard
Mr. Charles Thomas Beard, 84, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Thursday afternoon, August 19, 2004, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. Beard, a native of Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio, was the son of the late Charles Beard and the late Martha Quinn Beard and had been living in the Douglas and Coffee County area for many years. Mr. Beard was better known to his friends, neighbors, and local merchants, as the "Cardboard Man." He was a retired employee of GE and General Motors.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Jane Hahn Beard of Douglas, Ga.; one stepdaughter, Dianne McIntire and husband, Allen, of Douglas, Ga.; three grandchildren, Robert and Kim Kovack, Delbert and Rhonda McIntire, and Anita and Chris McIntire, all of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Beard was preceded in death by one son, John Francis Wagner.
Memorial services will follow at a later date. It is requested that donations be made to the Hospice of Coffee Regional Medical Center.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Willard Mathis
Mr. Willard Mathis, 77, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Sunday, August 8, 2004, in Semper Care Hospital in Savannah, Ga.
Mr. Mathis, a native of Kemper County, Miss., was born September 2, 1926, the son of the late Ora Houston Mathis and the late John H. Mathis. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in World War II, and had retired from Georgia Pacific in Pearson, Ga.
Survivors include: his wife, Rosie Mae Mathis of Willacoochee, Ga.; 13 children, Betty Jean Wooten and husband, Louie, Mervine Grant and husband, Louis, Jr., Mary Ann McClendon, and Patricia E. O'Neal, all of Meridian, Miss., John Mathis, Jr., and wife, Susan, of Tacoma, Wash., Jerry Mathis and wife, Rita, Donald Mathis, Ricky L. Mathis, Sheila Lynn Mathis, and Shirl Mathis, all of Willacoochee, Ga., Milton Mathis and wife, Barbara, of Douglas, Ga., Lamie Mathis and wife, Ann, of Blackshear, Ga., and Sanj Mathis and wife, Trina, of Nashville, Tenn.; one sister, Merle; three brothers, A.V., Lonnie, and Jake; 29 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Mr. Mathis was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna and Bertha, and two brothers, Willie and Fred.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 14, 2004, at 1 p.m., at Harrell's Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Harvey Williams officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Linda Williams and soloist Barbara Anderson. Interment followed in the Death Aide Cemetery in Willacoochee, Ga.
Active pallbearers were family members.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Harmon Lacy Richardson, Sr.
Mr. Harmon Lacy Richardson, Sr., 68, of Broxton, Ga., passed away Sunday, August 15, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Richardson, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born July 13, 1941, the son of the late George Washington and Effie Kay Davis Richardson. He was a retired carpenter.
Survivors include: his wife, Rosa Lee Singleton Richardson of Broxton, Ga.; one son, Harmon L. Richardson, Jr., of Blackshear, Ga.; two daughters, Ida Kay Reliford and Mary Louise Worth, both of Douglas, Ga.; five sisters, Seyene Anderson of Pearson, Ga., Geneva Reliford, Pearlie Jane Privett, Ann Dibble, and Earnesteen Dibble, all of Douglas, G., and Betty Dickerson of Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother, James Spivey of Ambrose, Ga.; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Graveside services and interment were held at the Douglas City Cemetery on Tuesday, August 17, 2004, at 12:15 p.m., with Rev. Jimmy Tanner officiating. Soloist Betty Dickerson "Consider The Lilies;" also, special taped selections of "Amazing Grace" and "I Saw The Light" were provided.
Active pallbearers were Harmon Richardson, Jr., Glen Worth, Donnie Reliford, Raymond Richardson, Luke Singleton, and James Reliford.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ruby Grace Hope Melvin
Mrs. Ruby Grace Hope Melvin, 85, of Nicholls, Ga., passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Melvin, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 9, 1919, the daughter of the late William Ellison and Millie Howard Hope. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Alonza Melvin, and a member of Saginaw Baptist Church.
Survivors include: two sons, Joel Melvin of Palmetto Ga., and Hoyt Melvin of Elijah, Ga.; two daughters, Marie Gilliard and Peggy Guthrie, both of Douglas, Ga.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Melvin was preceded in death by one son, Howard Melvin.
Funeral services were held at Saginaw Baptist Church, near Nicholls, Ga., Friday, August 13, 2004, at 2 p.m., with Rev. Derek Lovelady officiating. Soloist Bobby Steverson sang "Whispering Hope" and "How Great Thou Art," with Marsha Gilliard accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Saginaw Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Mark Melvin, Michael Melvin, Matt Guthrie, Lynn Hope, Johnnie Batten, Jr., and Hugh Pope.
Honorary pallbearers were Harvey Walker, Curtis Harper, Sr., Harry A. Smith, Billy O. Smith, and Kenny Adams.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Betty Jean Wilcox
Mrs. Betty Jean Wilcox, 62, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2004.
Mrs. Wilcox, a native of Douglas, Ga., was born August 13, 1943, the daughter of the late Herman and Franklin Buchanan. She was a member of Hightower Memorial Temple, a volunteer at Shady Acres Nursing Home, and was employed by the Coffee County Board of Education as a paraprofessional with the special education department, she was also the director of the Food Service program at the Mary Hayes Center.
Survivors include: her husband, Johnny Wilcox; four sons, Maverick, Gerald, Champ, all of Douglas, Ga., and Jimmy of Albuquerque, N.M.; three daughters, Taledia (Michael) of Albany, Ga., Loretta of Douglas, Ga., and Conchetta of Jacksonville, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Johnny Maurice (Marie), Arionte, Venterirus, Christian, and William, all of Douglas, Ga., Jasmine and Joshua, both of Albany, Ga.; one great-grandchild, Johnny Marque'z Wilcox, Jr.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, August 16, 2004, at Hightower Memorial Temple in Douglas, Ga., with Elder Randolph Scott officiating. Special musical selections were provided by the Hightower Memorial Temple Sanctuary Choir and The Buchanan Family. Interment followed in the Sunnyside Cemetery in Douglas, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Lonnie Stewart, Jessie Wilcox, Donnell Buchanan, Robert Wilcox, Travis Adams, Cliffton Sheffield, Hosea Wilcox, and Michael Wilcox.
Honorary pallbearers were James Swinson, Sr., Willie Wilcox, Charlie Wilcox, Amos Oliver, Robert Jordan, Willie Buchanan, Joe Reliford, Frank Jackson, and deacons of Hightower Memorial Temple.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Wayne B. Thomason
Mr. Wayne Benson Thomason, 79, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday afternoon, August 21, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Thomason, a native of Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Ga., was the son of the late Charlie McBean Thomason and the late Lula Maude Sorrow Thomason and had lived in the Douglas area for many years. He was the widower of the late Peggy Jean Pitts Thomason, was a retired serviceman, after 40 years, with Georgia Power, and was a member of St. Illa Baptist Church, where he was previously a Sunday school teacher for several years.
Survivors include: two daughters, Cindy Crenshaw and husband, Roy, and Myra Buchan and husband, Vance, all of Douglas, Ga.; two sons, Mitch Thomason and wife, April, and Tim Thomason, all of Douglas, Ga.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews and other relatives. Mr. Thomason was preceded in death by one grandson, William Forrest Buchan, and three brothers, Edsel Thomason, Mason Thomason, and Hal Thomason.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 23, 2004, at 11 a.m. at St. Illa Baptist Church, with Rev. Jimmy McMillan officiating. Special musical selections, "How Great Thou Art" and "What A Friend I Have In Jesus," were presented by soloist Bobby Stevenson, with Marsha Gilliard accompanying at the piano. Soft piano music for the prelude and postlude were also provided by Marsha Gilliard. Interment followed in the Satilla Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers were Jason Crenshaw, Brandon Crenshaw, Roy Crenshaw, Ben Thomason, Dale Fender, and Vance Buchan.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Walvester 'Moochie' Tukes
Mr. Walvester "Moochie" Tukes, 60, of Alamo, Ga., passed away Monday, July 26, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. Tukes was born February 3, 1944, the son of the late Willie Ellis and Ollie Mae Tukes. He was a member of Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Tukes of Alamo, Ga.; his mother-in-law, Jessie Mae Harrell; two sons, Terrance Johnson and wife, Bobbie, of Warner Robins, Ga., and Marcus Tukes and wife, Evette, of Douglas, Ga.; three daughters, Bernice Martin and husband, Willie, and Janice Johnson and husband, Ferlonzo, all of Douglas, Ga., and Jessica Tukes of Alamo, Ga.; four brothers, Wilbert Tukes and wife, Leona, and Willie Bee Tukes, all of Bridgeton, N.J., and Edward Tukes and Charles Tukes, both of Jacksonville, Ga.; three sisters, Myrtice Tukes of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Lottie Wilson and husband, Waymon, and Christine Folston, all of Savannah, Ga.; nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Tukes was preceded in death by three sisters, Bessie Mae Harrell, Annie Mae Harrell, and Doretha Tukes, and two grandchildren, Daishai Tukes and Daishon Tukes..
Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 4, 2004, at noon at Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church in Rhine, Ga., with Rev. Adam Graham officiating. Special music was provided by the Wesley Chapel Church Choir and soloist Brenda Graham. Interment followed in the Wesley Chapel Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Avery Harrell, LeRoy Livingston, Desmond Lester, Randy Harrell, Antwan Asprin, and Joseph Harrell, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were Edward Tukes, Wilbert Tukes, Charles Tukes, and Willie B. Tukes.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Christelle Jones Newsome Horton
Mrs. Christelle Jones Newsome Horton, 48, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2004, at St. Joseph Chandler Hospital in Savannah, Ga.
Mrs. Horton, a native of Willacoochee, Ga., was born December 4, 1955, the daughter of Georgia Bell Jones and the late Wilbert Jones. She was the widow of the late Freddie Lee Newsome, a member of the House of God Church and had been employed with Jackson Family Dentistry.
Survivors include: her husband, Robert Horton of Willacoochee, Ga.; two daughters, Donetha Newsome and Jalisa Jones, both of Willacoochee, Ga.; three sons, Fredrick Newsome and wife, Calesha, Roshun Lumpkin, and Chan Jones, all of Willacoochee, Ga.; two stepchildren, Keandra Horton and Robert Horton, Jr., both of Valdosta, Ga.; her mother, Georgia Bell Jones of Willacoochee, Ga.; three sisters, Helen Jones and husband, Joe, Mercedes Munford, and Gloria Thompson, all of Willacoochee, Ga.; eight brothers, Willie D. Jones and wife, Carlene, Eddie Jones and wife, Louise, Leroy Jones and wife, Winifred, Henry Jones, Tim Jones, and Thaddeus Spencer and wife, Gloria, all of Willacoochee, Ga., Thomas Spencer and wife, Edna, of Douglas, Ga., and Willie B. Jones and wife, Jennifer, of Killen, Tex.; seven grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mrs. Horton was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Adella Coleman.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 24, 2004, at The House of God Church, with Elder Willie McCoy officiating. Special music was provided by the House of God Combined Choir and soloist Penny Jackson.
Active pallbearers were Christopher Jackson, Allen Roberts, Archie Myers, Johnny Rogers, Eugene Folison, and Ellick Floyd.
Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Locklear, Johnny Swinson, Ray Lott, Dr. Andrew Jackson, Lonnie Griffin, and George H. Myers.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Anita Lynn Willis Womack
Mrs. Anita Lynn Willis Womack, 53, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Friday, August 6, 2004, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Womack, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born March 26, 1951, the daughter of Bobbie Jean Willis Batten and the late Eugene Willis. She was a homemaker and a member of The Sanctuary at Waldroup Avenue.
Survivors include: her husband, Mike Womack of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Fred Veazey of Fayetteville, N.C.; three daughters, April Lynn Womack, Noah Lynn Womack, and Aara Zanna Lynn Womack, all of Douglas, Ga.; her mother, Bobbie Jean Willis Batten and step-father, Arthur Batten, of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Gloria Merritt, Deverna Sistare, and Lefevra McLoon, all of Douglas, Ga.; three brothers, Ron Willis of Atlanta, Ga., and J.W. Willis and Joe Willis, both of Douglas, Ga.; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2004, at The Sanctuary at Waldroup Avenue, with Rev. Barry Peavy officiating. Soloist Terry Spivey sang "First Day In Heaven" and the congregation sang "Amazing Grace," with Sam Jordan accompanying at the piano. Also, special taped selections of "Please Remember Me" and "Beulah Land" were provided. Interment followed in the Hebron Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Eddie Tarrant, Zane Hutto, Kenneth Smith, Tim Pridgen, Reggie Screws, and Chris Willis.
The honorary pallbearer was Jason Tanner.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Hugh Vernon Barnett
Mr. Hugh Vernon Barnett, 72, passed away Monday, July 12, 2004.
Mr. Barnett, a native of Pasquotank County, N.C., was born May 28, 1932, the son of the late Charlie and Ollie Barnett.
Survivors include: his wife, Annie Dance Barnett; three children, Melvin Parker of Rocky Mount, N.C., Verndolyn Barnett of Douglas, Ga., and Teresa Washington of Troy, Va.; four grandsons, Saivaris Burch of Douglas, Ga., and Kenny Washington, Jamal Washington, and Shaquille Washington, all of Chesapeake, Va.; two special daughters, Devery Davis and Josephine McRae and husband, Larry; two sisters, Beulah Barnett Davis and Annie Barnett Smith, both of Norfolk, Va.; one brother, Clinton Barnard and wife, Bessie, of Elizabeth City, N.C.; one sister-in-law, Helen Barnett of Elizabeth City, N.C.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 17, 2004, at 3 p.m. at Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Sherman O. Childers officiating. Special music was provided by the church choir. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Fred Jones, Stafford Hicks, Larry McRae, Derrick Glover, Tommy Hudson, and Clifford Bussey.
Honorary pallbearers were Melvin Johnson, Thomas Dukes, Johnny Lee Roper, and Lonnie Campbell.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
James Walter Hersey
Mr. James W. Hersey, 51, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Thursday, August 12, 2004, in Camden County, Ga., as a result of a boating accident.
Mr. Hersey, a native of Ware County, Ga., was born October 13, 1952, the son of Louise Chaney and J.W. Hersey. He had made his home in Atkinson County for most of his life and worked as an escort driver in the mobile home industry. He had also worked as a mechanic for many years.
Survivors include: his wife, Carolyn Hodges Hersey of Pearson, Ga.; one daughter, Brandi Bennett and husband, Michael, of Pearson, Ga.; one son, Steve Hersey and wife, Sharon, of Waycross, Ga.; his mother, Louise Chaney of Pearson, Ga.; his father, J.W. Hersey of Nicholls, Ga.; five brothers, Jerome Chaney and Jimmy Chaney, both of Pearson, Ga., and Jeff Hersey, Bobby Hersey, and Johnny Hersey, all of Winter Haven, Fla.; six sisters:, Glenda Johnson of Knoxville, Tenn., Laura Jean Hersey of Gainesville, Fla., and Kathy Hersey, Debbie Hersey, Brenda Hersey, and Lisa Hersey; four grandchildren, Angel Joiner, Emily Fisher, Morgan Bennett, and Marissa Bennett; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and interment were held at 4 p.m., Saturday, August 14, 2004, at Union Hill Cemetery, with Rev. Edward Mathews and Rev. Larry Johnson officiating.
Active pallbearers were Robert Pritchard, Tom Wooten, Nathan Chaney, Jeff Chaney, Lee Harris, and William Bedgood.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Robert Jackson
Mr. Robert Jackson, 62, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Thursday, August 12, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Jackson, a native of Calhoun County, Ga., was born January 24, 1942, the son of Azzel and Easter Shelton Jackson. He had made his home in the Kirkland community for most of his life and had worked in the poultry industry before retiring due to his health.
Survivors include: his wife, Lucille McDonald Jackson of Pearson, Ga.; three sons, Robby Dale Jackson and wife, Donna, of Douglas, Ga., Charles Edward Jackson of Pearson, Ga., and Samuel Lewis Jackson of Abbeville, Ga.; five sisters, Helen Jordan and Patricia Batten, both of Pearson, Ga., Linda Heath of Broxton, Ga., and Arnell Jackson and Barbara Cochran, both of Dalton, Ga.; five grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and interment were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, August 14, 2004, at Kirkland United Methodist Church Cemetery, with Rev. John Jacobs officiating. Special music included "Amazing Grace" and "Precious Memories," sung by all attending the service.
Active pallbearers were Mark Glidden, Tracey Batten, Donnie Chaney, Bill Jordan, Greg Daniels, and Neal Jordan.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Morris Cribb, Jr.
Mr. Morris Cribb, Jr., of Nicholls, Ga., passed away Friday, July 30, 2004, at Memorial Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mr. Cribb, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born January 17, 1943, the son of the late Morris, Sr. and Bessie Susan Christian Cribb. He was a farmer, a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean Conflict, and he was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: his wife, Jo Anne Floyd Cribb of Nicholls, Ga.; three sisters, Earnie Dean Youngblood of Nicholls, Ga., and Juanita Clements and Edna Earle Joyner, both of Tampa, Fla.; and several cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Mr. Cribb was preceded in death by four brothers, David Thomas, Aldean Thomas, Monroe Thomas, and R.G. Thomas.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, August 2, 2004, at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home, with Rev. Donnie Kirkland officiating. Soloist Liz Kirkland sang "Amazing Grace" and "Sailing Toward Home," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jeff Bayard, Steve Thompson, Jerry Kirkland, Johnny Johnson, Leon Gray, and Daren Kirkland.
Honorary pallbearers were Alvin Christian, Claude Davis, Brad Mobley, Robert and Maxine Johnson, Bobby Jack and Grace Gray, Mike Carter, Tim Meeks, Don and Faye Lott, and Autrey Merritt.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
