Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Bobbie Harper Mayer
Mrs. Bobbie Harper Mayer, 77, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Monday, April 19, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Mayer, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born January 20, 2004, the daughter of the late Dennis Tobe and Della Smith Harper. She was the widow of the late Joseph Lee Mayer, a retired assistant college librarian, and a member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for over 10 years.
Survivors include: one step-daughter, Catherine M. Maine of Tunnel Hill, Ga.; one sister, Vernell Burch of Douglas, Ga.; two grandchildren, Melanie Murphy of Bainbridge, Ga., and Thomas Q. Maine of Tunnel Hill, Ga.; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Thursday, April 22, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. Interment will be held at a later date.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Vinnie Elizabeth Harkleroad Newton
Ms. Vinnie Elizabeth Harkleroad Newton, 90, of Waycross, Ga., passed away Thursday, April 15, 2004, at the Baptist Village, Waycross, Ga.
Mrs. Newton, a native of Hawkins County, Tenn., was born February 25, 1914, the daughter of the late Conley Trigg and Ella Orfield Harkleroad. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Howard Newton, was employed at the Methodist Children's Home in Macon Georgia, and was a member of Waycross First Baptist Church.
Survivors include: three sisters, Fannie Louise Deen of Broxton, Ga., Betty Nathene Burkett of Atlanta, Ga., and Jo Ann Burkett of West Green, Ga.; two brothers, Stanley Cotch Harkleroad of Waycross, Ga., and Reno Fernell Harkleroad of West Green, Ga.; mother, Jarvie Harkleroad; nieces and Nephews. Ms. Newton was preceded in death by six brothers, Zenious Harkleroad, Mack Daniel Harkleroad, Nathan Harkleroad, Conley Trigg Harkleroad, Jr., Billy Edward Harkleroad, and Horace Edwin Harkleroad.
Funeral services were held Sunday, April 18, 2004, at 3 p.m., at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Den Weniger officiating. The congregation sang "In The Garden" and "Amazing Grace," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed at the Lone Hill Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Keith Burkett, Cotch Harkleroad, Thad Harkleroad, Keith Harkleroad, Marcus Ricketson, and Ricky Ricketson.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Gary Wayne Taylor
Mr. Gary Wayne Taylor, 53, Nicholls, Ga., passed away Sunday, April 18, 2004, at the Appling Health Care, Baxley, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Taylor, a native of Bacon County, Ga., was born November 13, 1950, the son of Vernon Taylor and the late Ethel Marie Sapp Taylor. He was a truck driver, a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam Era, and attended the Church of God.
Survivors include: his wife, Barbara Taylor of Nicholls, Ga.; two daughters, Rhonda Renee Taylor and fianc/, Michael Crosby, and Rachel Nicole Taylor, all of Nicholls, Ga.; one son, Rodney Wayne Taylor and wife, Helen, of Nicholls, Ga.; father, Vernon Taylor of Alma, Ga.; two sisters, Mary Jane Ladson of Douglas, Ga., and Patricia Moore of Alma, Ga.; six brothers, Larry V. Taylor of Douglasville, Ga., Dennis C. Taylor of Covington, Ga., and Jimmy R. Taylor, Timothy Taylor, Joey R. Taylor, and Robert L. Taylor, all of Alma, Ga.; six grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 21, 2004, 4 p.m., at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home. Special music was as follows: Clint Ledford, Tammy Ledford, and Shirley Jump sang "The Anchor Holds," "Wish You Were Here," and "He Made A Change." Also a taped selection of "I Can Only Imagine" was provided. Burial followed in the Wolf Pit Cemetery near Nicholls, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Rick Nelson, Jimmy Ray Murray, Andy Taylor, Wendell Nelson, Jason Scott, Crickett Taylor, Roy Long, Jr., Michael Foster, Bobby Nelson, and Harold Calhoun.
Honorary pallbearers were Brad Mobley, Dewayne Street, Jeffery Greer, Jim Carter, Robert Johnson, Tony Jump, Glenn Hayes, Dr. Cason, and Tommy Davis.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Johnny Roberts
Mr. Johnny Roberts, 73, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away Thursday afternoon, April 22, 2004, at his residence in Jacksonville, following a short illness.
Mr. Roberts, a native of Douglas, Ga., was a retired butcher, and plant manager of a Meat Processing Plant. He was the son of the late George D. Roberts and the late Mary Sears Roberts. He was a member of the Moose Lodge of Jacksonville, Fla. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elias Roberts and Henry Wallace Roberts.
Survivors include: two daughters, Terry Roberts of Atlanta, Ga., and Tina Roberts of Alpharetta, Ga.; one son, John Roberts of Alpharetta, Ga.; two brothers, Joe Roberts of Douglas, Ga., and William Roberts of Apopka, Fla; one sister, Estelle Merritt of Nicholls, Ga.; several nieces and nephews and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 26, 2004, at 1 p.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Robinson officiating. Special musical selections were "Serenaded by Angels" presented by soloist, Amanda Clifton with Tracey Phillips at the piano. An instrumental "Good-Bye World, Good-Bye" was presented by Eloise Phillips at the organ and Tracey Phillips at the piano. Soloist Juliann Sproul rendered, "If You Could See Me Now" with taped music.
Active pallbearers were: Donnie Brigmond, Johnny Brigmond, Raymond Clifton, Mark McDaniel, Bill Roberts, and Roger Streat.
Interment followed in the Carver Baptist Church Cemetery
Ricketson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Billy Oliver Smith
Mr. Billy Oliver Smith, 79, of Walker Street, Douglas Ga., passed away Saturday, April 24, 2004, at Jeff Davis Hospital in Hazlehurst, Ga.
Mr. Smith, a native of Toombs County, Ga., was born May 20, 1924, the son of the late William Baxter and Sallie Page Smith. He was a retired car dealer, a U.S. Navy WWII veteran, and a member of the Douglas Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include: his wife, Edith Moore Smith; two sons, William O. Smith and wife, Tracy, of Douglas, Ga., and Glenn Smith and wife, Terri, of Orem Utah; two daughters, Angela Smith Beecher and husband, Bill, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Lori McBride and husband, David, of Bentonville, Ark.; one brother, John P. Smith of Jacksonville, Fla.; 17 grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at 2 p.m., in the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints with Bishop Timothy Fussell and Bishop Ovid O'Neal officiating. Lerah Roberts, Lois Mills, and Lou Ray sang "I Know My Redeemer Lives" and "O My Father," with Lois Mills accompanying on the organ. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Will Beecher, Mathew Smith, Jake Gray, Brian McKinnon, Chance Harrell, and Jesse Harrell.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence Ray Arend
Mr. Lawrence Ray Arend, 75, of Christmas Lane, Broxton, Ga., passed away Thursday, April 15, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mr. Arend, a native of Berrien County, Mich., was born May 13, 1928, the son of the late Clarence and Myrl Lauer Arend. He was the widower of the late Carolyn June Potter Arend, a retired hardware salesman, and a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Douglas, Ga.
Survivors include: one daughter, Beth Greene and husband, Bill, of Broxton, Ga.; four brothers, Lester Arend of St. Joseph, Mich., Vere Arend of Baroda, Mich., Delbert Arend of San Diego, Calif., and Earl Arend of Sturgis, Mich.; and two grandchildren, Will Greene and Vanessa Greene, both of Broxton, Ga. Mr. Arend was preceded in death one brother, Alva Lynn Arend.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 16, 2004, at 3 p.m. at Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. John Dobbins officiating. Clark McKinnon gave the eulogy and special music was provided by soloist John Glosson who sang "If You Could See Me Now" and Because He Lives." Graveside services and interment were held Sunday, April 18, 2004, at 3 p.m. at the Galien Cemetery in Galien, Mich.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Donald Wayne Wooten
Mr. Donald Wayne Wooten, 53, of Pridgen, Ga., passed away Sunday, April 25, 2004, at his residence following an extended fight with cancer.
Mr. Wooten, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born January 30, 1951, the son of Albert Cecil and Wyleen Ragsdale Wooten. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, having served as a military police officer in Germany, worked as a state probation officer from 1979 until his illness, and was a member of Scotland Baptist Church. Mr. Wooten received his degree from Georgia Southern College in 1976 and rewarded himself by bicycling across the country, from Jekyll Island, Ga., to Los Angeles, Calif.
Mr. Wooten served both his country and his God with honor. He practiced a visible and heart-felt patriotism and an equally, deeply-felt Christian faith and was well-known for his friendly demeanor and positive outlook on life.
Family, friends, and even casual acquaintances could bask in the glow of the warmth of his friendliness and spirituality. He never let a stranger go without sharing his sunny disposition and never wavered in his belief in God, family, and country. He was the epitome of a good American -- honest and straightforward, unwavering in faith and trust.
Survivors include: two sons, Micah David Wooten and Jared Wooten, both of Helena, Ga.; his parents, Albert and Wylene Wooten of the Pridgen, Ga., community; one brother, Al Wooten of Snellville, Ga.; one sister, Kim W. Yates of Opelaka, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at 4 p.m., at the Pridgen Baptist Church near Broxton, Ga., with Rev. Jimmy Hollis and Rev. Buddy Waldron officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Sharon R. Harper, who sang "In the Garden;" soloist Jane Riser sang, "Amazing Grace," with Ronnie Chaney accompanying at the piano; also, a taped selection of "Death Go Down Under" was provided. Interment followed in the Pridgen Church Cemetery. The family requested donations to the American Bible Society in lieu of flowers.
Active pallbearers were Joe Day, Cleveland Ragsdale, Rodney Ragsdale, Robert Ragsdale, Samuel Morton, and Jerry Rakestraw.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. Eugene D. Bell, Sr.
Dr. Eugene Demarque Bell, Sr., 89, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Wednesday evening, April 14, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Dr. Bell was born January 19, 1915 in Savannah, Ga. He lived in Bethesda Home for Boys in Savannah until the age of 18. He was a graduate of Savannah High School and a 1937 graduate of Georgia Southern College. He was an honor graduate, Phi Kappa Phi, from Georgia College of Pharmacy in 1940. He married his college sweetheart, Lillian Josephine Simmons, on October 21, 1940.
He served five years in the Army during World War II exiting as a Captain. In 1950, he graduated from the Medical College of Georgia. He was a member of Alpha Omicron Alpha, a medical academic honor fraternity. He interned at the Naval Hospital in Norfolk, Virg., and began a medical practice in Douglas in 1952, sharing office space with Dr. Roy Johnson. He completed his surgical residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, Ind., during 1954-1956, where he served for 1-1/2 years as Chief Resident. Upon completion of his surgical training, he returned to Douglas and set up practice on Ocilla Road, across from the hospital. He remained in that location until his retirement in 1983.
Dr. Bell was a member of the American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, founding fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and past Chief of Staff at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Employees at Coffee Regional Medical Center elected him Doctor of the Year in 1972.
Survivors include: his wife of 63 years, Lillian Simmons Bell of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Elizabeth Bell Lumpkin of Macon, Ga.; one son, Dr. Eugene Demarque Bell, Jr., of Macon, Ga.; five grandchildren, Kathryn Lumpkin Bertram of Mooresville, N.C., Laura Bell Wright of Chapel Hill, N.C., Lisa Bell of Athens, Ga., Frances Elizabeth Lumpkin of Charlotte, N.C., and Eugene Demarque Bell, III, of Athens, Ga.; three great-grandchildren, Ashley, Natalie and Emma Bertram, all of Mooresville, N.C.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 17, 2004, at 4 p.m., at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, with Father Joseph Daley officiating. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Jimmy Atkinson, Gene Simmons, Mark Bell, Charlie Wright, Dr. Arlis Burch, Ken Vickers, and Dr. Ellis Evans.
Honorary pallbearers were the men of St. Andrews, L.C. Williams, Jennings Hinson, Shirley Tanner, Rufus Patton, Dr. Wills, Mark Vickers, Wayne Vickers, and Jimbo Atkinson.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Jarvie Lucy Cannon Harkleroad
Mrs. Jarvie Lucy Cannon Harkleroad, 98, of West Green, Ga., passed away on Friday, April 16, 2004, at Baptist Village, Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Harkleroad, a native of Brooks County, Ga., was born October 19, 1905, the daughter of the late Reno and Johnnie Rosencrantz Cannon. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Conley Trigg Harkleroad, Sr., and a member of Central Baptist Church.
Survivors include: two sons, Stanley Harkleroad of Waycross, Ga., and Fernell Harkleroad of West Green, Ga.; three daughters, Louise Deen of Broxton, Ga., Betty N. Burkett of Atlanta, Ga., and Jo Ann Burkett of West Green, Ga.; one brother, Oscar Cannon of Moultrie, Ga.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Harkleroad was preceded in death by two sons, Billy Harkleroad and Horace Harkleroad.
Funeral services were held Sunday, April 18, 2004, at 11 a.m., at Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Wes Brown and Rev. Herbert Box officiating. Soloist Heather Davis sang "I Can Only Imagine" and "Only Sleeping," with Doris Wooten providing soft music for the prelude and postlude. Burial followed in the Lone Hill Church Cemetery near Douglas, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Thomas Conley Harkleroad, Ollie Harkleroad, Randy Harkleroad, Keith Burkett, Ronnie Burkett, Hugh Burkett, Cotch Harkleroad, and Thad Harkleroad.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Winefred Kirkland Mitchell
Mrs. Winefred Kirkland Mitchell, 77, of Tifton, Ga., passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Mitchell, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 31, 1926, the daughter of the late Thomas Presley and Venita Vickers Kirkland. She was a homemaker, a member of Douglas First United Methodist Church, had retired from the Georgia Peanut Commission, and was the widow of the late Fred Tschudin.
Survivors include: her husband, Steve Mitchell of Tifton, Ga.; two sons, John Richard Tschudin of Birmingham, Ala., and Presley K. Mitchell of Marietta, Ga.; two daughters, Melanie Marshall of Watkinsville, Ga., and Cindy Julian of Clarksville, Ga.; seven grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 15, 2004, at 11 a.m., at the Bowen-Donaldson Chapel in Tifton, Ga., with burial following at 3 p.m. at the Douglas City Cemetery.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the local arrangements.
Henry Norman 'Buddy' Luke
Mr. Norman "Buddy" Luke 69, of Mora Rd., Willacoochee, Ga., passed away Saturday morning April 10, 2004, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. Luke, a native of Berrien County, Ga., was born May 26, 1934, the son of Oel Byrd and Adell Taylor Luke. He was a retired farmer, had worked in law enforcement for many years, and attended Ozias Freewill Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Anna Sue Guthrie Luke of Willacoochee, Ga.; two sons, Wesley Luke and wife, Anna G., of Waycross, Ga., and Randall Luke and wife, Bertha, of Davenport, Fla.; three daughters, Norma Lynne Vickers of Pearson, Ga., Ava Christine Lee and husband, Gary, of Poetry, Tx., and Charity Margaret McDonald and husband, Jamie, of Ambrose, Ga.; two brothers James Wilton Luke and Kenneth Luke, both of Willacoochee, Ga.; seven sisters Mary Lou Barnard of Jacksonville, Fla., Doris Guthrie of Pearson, Ga., Neta O'Berry of Cochran, Ga., Linda Stephens of Hawkinsville, Ga., Martha Vazquez of Willacoochee, Ga., Joyce Ann Martin of Graniteville, S.C., and Debbie Luke of Nashville, Ga.; 19 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Luke was preceded in death by one brother, Harry Luke and one sister, Sara Luke Corbitt.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at Ozias Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Larry Johnson, Rev. Herschell Smith, and Rev. Willie Daniel Guthrie officiating. Special music was as follows: "Amazing Grace" was sung by Carissa Lee, Chantel Luke and Alyssa Vickers; soloist Phillip Guthrie rendered "Daddy's Hands," with taped accompaniment; "Turn Your Eyes" was sung by Carissa Lee, with Andy and Teresa Leigh Harper accompanying; and "Whispers Sweet Peace" was rendered by Andy and Teresa Leigh Harper, with Christy Hurst at the piano. Ms. Hurst, pianist, provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Riverside Cemetery in Berrien County, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Phillip Guthrie, Herman Dillingham, Greg O'Berry, Darwin Corbitt, Clint Martin, and Anthony Funderburk.
Honorary pallbearers were Gillis Carter, Ricky Carter, Ben Tanner, Mark Tanner, Jonathan Tanner, Bill H. Guthrie, Sammy Guthrie, Bobby Guthrie, Tom Aids, Billy Luke, and Jimmy Corbitt.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Sutton McDonald
Mrs. Mary Sutton McDonald, 86, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Monday, April 12, 2004, at Waycross Health and Rehabilitation Center in Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Sutton, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born October 24, 1917, the daughter of David Madison and Aliff Murray Sutton. She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one son, Jack Weathers and wife, Joanne, of Savannah, Ga.; eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Sutton was preceded in death by one son, Garland Weathers.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2004, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. William Pope officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Elaine Floyd who sang "Then I Met The Master," accompanying herself at the piano. Brenda Spivey provided soft piano music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ricky Weathers, Loran Weathers, Lamar Weathers, Billy Joe Sutton, Curtis Dubberly and Mark Sutton.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Zelma Irene Shouse Darwin
Mrs. Zelma Irene Shouse Darwin, 77, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Monday, April 12, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Darwin, a native of Prentiss County, Miss., was born February 2, 1927, the daughter of the late Ernest Lafayette and Lucy Wright Manley Shouse. She was a homemaker and a member of Douglas Church of Christ.
Survivors include: four daughters, Linda Raybon and husband, Ed, of Broxton, Ga., Brenda Johnson and husband, Frank, of Winter Haven, Fla., Donna Batchelor and husband, David, and Carol Kibbey, all of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Paul Darwin and wife, Cheryl, of Douglas, Ga.; two brothers, Theo Shouse of Booneville, Ms., and James V. Shouse of Morganville, Ky.; one sister, Edna Thornton of New Site, Ms.; 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Mrs. Darwin was preceded in death by one daughter, Vonda Kay Darwin.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 14, 2004, at 11 a.m., at Sims Funeral Home Chapel in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Bob Pierce and Don Cross officiating. The Church of Christ Ensemble sang "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," "Shall We Gather at the River," and "Lead Me To Calvary." Also, soloist and granddaughter Courtney Darwin sang "Roses Will Bloom Again" and "Amazing Grace." Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Bill Kibbey, Jr., Benny Overstreet, Todd Wisenbaker, Darwin Johnson, Charles Mancil, Jimmy Ray Roberson, Keith Mathews, Tony Fletcher, and Early McCray.
Honorary pallbearers were Rev. Charles Synesael, Jess Tanner, Wade Tanner, Billy Ray Vickers, Cary Vickers, Dr. Wallace DeLoach, and Benny Lowery.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
