Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Emma Lee Knight
Mrs. Emma Lee Knight, 77, of St. Augustine, Fla., passed away March 2, 2004, at Flagler Hospital.
Mrs. Knight, a native of Nicholls, Ga., had resided in St. Augustine since 1947. She was a retired seamstress and a founding member of Anastasia Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband of 57 years, Prentiss Rudy Knight of St. Augustine, Fla.; one son, Glen Knight and wife, DeAna, of Dawsonville, Ga.; one sister, Mary Lou Brusaw of St. Augustine, Fla.; one half-sister, Shirley Brown of Dunellon, Fla.; one half-brother, Charles Randle of Texas; one niece, Joyce Luker; and one nephew, James Ellis. Mrs. Knight was preceded in death by her mother, Alvie Williams of Nicholls.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 5, 2004, at 10 a.m., at Anastasia Baptist Church, with Rev. Ron Moore, pastor, officiating. Interment followed in St. Augustine Memorial Park.
Clayton Bennett Easom
Mr. Clayton Bennett Easom, 64, of Blackshear, Ga., passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, in Pierce County, Ga.
Mr. Easom, a native of Crisp County, Ga., was born January 7, 1940, the son of the late Clayton Bivins and Mary Ruth Lott Easom. He was a heavy equipment mechanic.
Survivors include: two daughters, Cathy Smart and Sandra Smart, both of Blackshear, Ga.; one son, Clayton Easom of Nicholls, Ga.; two sisters, Sara Pittman of Ocilla, Ga., and Iomie Bartlett of Pitts, Ga.; one brother, Arthur Lee Easom of Sylvester, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Timothy James Easom, Michael Smart, Cory Smart, Reba Smart, Mary Moore, Regina Smart, and Tracy Smart; two great-grandchildren, Jennifer Easom and Darlene Easom.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 10, 2004, at Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Richard Jeffords officiating. Soloist/pianist Brenda Smith sang "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Interment followed at the Satilla Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers were Michael Smart, Jason Kennedy, Donnie Easom, Chris Easom, Reggie Easom, and Earl Easom.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Micah Brody Roberts
Little Micah Brody Roberts, infant son of Ray and Leslie Phillips Roberts of Axson, Ga., passed away April 8, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, include: two brothers, Brady Roberts and Bailey Roberts, both of Axson, Ga.; two sisters, Lerah Roberts and Leah Roberts, both of Axson, Ga.; maternal grandmother, Vicki Phillips of Axson, Ga.; paternal grandparents, Harold and Marguerite Vickers of Douglas, Ga.; paternal grandfather, J. C. Roberts of Douglas, Ga.; aunts and uncles, Derryl and Cathy Lee of Axson, Ga., and Richard and Jan Thurston of Douglas, Ga. Little Micah Brody was preceded in death by one brother, Russell Ray Roberts, and his maternal grandfather, Russell Phillips.
Graveside funeral services and interment for Little Micah Brody Roberts were held at 2 p.m., Monday, April 12, 2004, at Mt. Zion Cemetery, with Rev. William Pope officiating.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Irma D. Young
Mrs. Irma D. Young, 83, of Fitzgerald, Ga., passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at Fitzgerald Nursing Home.
Mrs. Young, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 30, 1920, the daughter of the late Elias and Laura Lee Fussell Dale. She was the widow of J.J. Brown and Martin Young, a homemaker and farmer's wife, worked as an overhead welder in the Brunswick shipyards during World War II, and was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one son, Larry Brown of Fitzgerald, Ga.; three sisters, Christine D. Brown of Fitzgerald, Ga., Sally D. Pridgen of Rome, Ga., and Vernell D. Ellison of Zephyrhills, Fla.; one brother, Curtis Dale of Fitzgerald, Ga.; two granddaughters, Kristie B. Perry and Kendall Brown, both of Fitzgerald, Ga.; two step-grandchildren, Terrie Hout and Ginger Clark; and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Young was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Ga., with Rev. Ed Reeves and Rev. Howard Kitchens officiating. Interment followed in Abba Cemetery, Ben Hill County.
Paulk Funeral Home of Fitzgerald, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Theresa C. Corbitt
Mrs. Theresa C. Corbitt, 92, of Pearson, Ga., passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Corbitt was born March 7, 1912 in a part of Clinch County which is now Atkinson County. She was the oldest daughter of the late Martin and Ella Pafford Corbitt and was the widow of Lester C. Corbitt. Mrs. Corbitt was a retired school teacher, member of Eastern Star and a member of Springhead United Methodist Church where she also served on the Board of Trustees. Her early education began at Bradwell School (Old Ozias Freewill Baptist Church) under the teaching of her aunt Estelle Corbitt Mizell and her uncle Bobby Wilson. After graduating from high school in 1928 she and her first cousin, Eva Delle White were roommates in Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, Ga. She later completed her BS Degree in Elementary Education from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga. She was a member of the faculty of the opening of the new 1929 Kirkland Consolidated Jr. High School in Kirkland, Ga., and taught the first and second grades at both Kirkland and Pearson Elementary Schools for a total of 39 years. She served as PTA President and held various other offices throughout her teaching career.
She served as Secretary and Treasurer of the annual Corbitt-Starling Reunion and at the time of her death was the matriarch of the annual Pafford Reunion and great-granddaughter of the founder, the late Senator Rowan Pafford, the first elected representative from Coffee County in 1857.
Mrs. Corbitt was preceded in death by a brother M.C. Corbitt and four sisters, Jessie Corbitt, Iva C. Bennett, Mary Lydia Edgar and Kathleen C. Guthrie.
Survivors include: one son, Johnny L. Corbitt and wife, Stella of Sylacauga, Ala.; five daughters, Beatrice C. Blue and husband, Charlie of Fitzgerald, Ga., Ethel C. Hatcher of Spring City, Tenn., Jean C. Perkins of Pearson, Ga., Thada C. Graham of Pearson, Ga., Rudy C. Storey and husband, Hennan of Pearson, Ga.; one sister, Martha C. Chaney and husband Glenn of Lakeland, Ga.; three brothers, Johnny Corbitt and wife Doris of Rome, Ga., Newsome Corbitt and wife Hilda of Macon, Ga., Emory Corbitt of Lakeland, Ga.; 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 2, 2004 at 2 p.m., at Springhead United Methodist Church with Rev. John Jacobs officiating. Special music included "Turn To Him" and "Serenaded by Angles" rendered by Jeanette Castleberry and Thada C. Hilyer with taped accompaniment. "Beulah Land" was rendered by soloist James Dirst with Larinda Dirst at the piano. Larinda Dirst provided soft music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in Sweetwater Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were grandsons, Lamar McDonald, Jason McDonald, Ron E. Arnold, Adam Castleberry, Ben Corbitt, Lanier Corbitt, Chuck Graham, Richard Corbitt, Billy Mix, and Jody Corbitt.
All who attended the service were considered Honorary Pallbearers.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Charles Max Lockwood
Mr. Charles Max Lockwood, Sr., 78, of Douglas, Ga., passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident.
Mr. Lockwood, a native of Macon County, Ga., was born November 9, 1925, the son of the late Lester Brown and Ethel Tarrer Lockwood. Mr. Lockwood was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a P.O.W. in Germany.
A graduate of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga., he had lived in Douglas since 1979 where served two terms as mayor. Mr. Lockwood was the first director and originator of the Recreation program in Statesboro, where he served for 19 years. He was the state president of the Georgia Recreation Society, now known as the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. Mr. Lockwood was also a recent inductee into the Statesboro Parks and Recreation Hall of Fame.
He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Municipal Association and as chairman of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee in 2000 and 2001. He was active in economic development organizations and served two terms as Chairman of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. He was renamed to the Authority on June 5, 2001, by Governor Roy Barnes and served a total of 10 years.
Mr. Lockwood served as a member of the Executive Committee for Georgians for Better Transportation based in Atlanta, Ga. In August 2001 he was recognized as "Board Member of the Year" by GBT.
He was named to Joint House and Senate, LARP (Local Assistance Road Program) Study Committee by Lt. Governor Mark Taylor on June 6, 2002. Mr. Lockwood was a member of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center and served as State Chairman of the Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers. He was a recipient of the 2001 Zell Miller Public Policy Leadership Award.
Mr. Lockwood was a past president of the Georgia Chambers of Commerce Executives Association and served on the Governmental Affairs Council for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He was also a past president of the Douglas Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1996, he received the State Bar of Georgia Liberty Bell Award.
Mr. Lockwood was the president and chief executive officer of the U.S. 441 Economic Development Council based in Douglas, Ga., and was named the State Volunteer Partner of the Year by the Georgia Department of Labor in 1997.
In 1998, he was featured on the cover of "Georgia Trend" in recognition of his support of transportation and was listed as a member of Trend's 100 most influential Georgians in 2002. He served two years as chairman of the GEDA State Transportation Committee and two terms on the Board of Directors. Mr. Lockwood was named one of the 40 Most Influential South Georgians by "South Georgia Business Magazine" for 2004.
Mr. Lockwood was named in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2004 edition. He was also named to the Republican Chairman's 2003 Honor Roll, National Republican Congressional Committee -- Tom Reynolds, chairman. Mr. Lockwood was a recipient of the 2003 Republican Gold Medal, the party's highest honor award, and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation in 2003.
Mr. Lockwood was an editorial columnist for Georgia's weekly newspapers for 50 years and a member of First Baptist Church of Douglas, Ga.
Survivors include: his wife, Ginny Lockwood of Douglas Ga.; two daughters, Skye Jordan of Vidalia, Ga., and Honey Evans of Martinez, Ga.; two sons, Charles Max Lockwood, Jr., of Willacoochee, Ga., and Pratt Lockwood of Hagan, Ga.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 3, 2004, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. Special music was provided by Dr. Diskin Morgan, soloist, who sang "Always" and "The Old Rugged Cross;" also, the congregation sang "Amazing Grace," with Marsha Gilliard accompanying at the piano. Interment followed at the Douglas City Cemetery with Moody Air Force personnel performing "Taps" and Steve Myers performing "Reveille."
Active pallbearers were Robert Walker, Mark Roberts, James Grantham, Bruce Whitley, Buddy Phillips, Antonia Ward, Joe Stewart and Bobby Atkinson.
Honorary pallbearers were Mayor Tony L. Paulk; Mayor Pro-Tem Johnnie L. Roper, Sr.; City Commissioners Olivia Pearson, Ronnie Anderson, Paul Elliott, Dennis Josey, and Oscar Street; former mayors Derward Buchan, J.C. Adams, and Jim Minix; former commissioners Don Brooks, Charles Moore, Bob Moore, and Elisha Harrell; City Manager Jackie Wilson; City Attorney Jerome Adams; Pat Baker; Charles Davis; Dale Batten; Joyce Cliett; Carlos Woodward; Michelle Wilkerson; Larry Royal; Donald Carver; Eddie Harp; Terry Fesperman; Chief of Police John Sweat; Fire Chief Tim White; Roger Johnson; Georgia Henderson; Bob Scott; Ernest Crussel; DNR Commissioner Lonice Barrett and Carol; Waycross Mayor John Fluker; Alma Mayor Roger Boatwright; Fitzgerald Mayor Gerald Thompson and wife, Janet; U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and wife, Julianne; Senator Tommie Williams; County Commission Chairman Frank Jackson; County Commissioners Glynn Tanner, Vickers Smith, Donnie Graham, and Earl Brice; Sheriff Rob Smith; Past President's Council of Chamber of Commerce; Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce officials; Rotary Club members; U.S. 441 Representatives Garland Thompson and Tim Thomason; former Statesboro Mayor Hal Averitt; the Industrial Authority Board; members of the Sara Betty Durham Sunday School class of First Baptist Church; Atkinson County Commission Chairman Edwin Davis; Coffee County Board of Education members Billy Ray Harper and Ronnie Johnson; Walter Huckaby; Tom Williams; and Atkinson County Sheriff's Deputy Lewis Gurley.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Wreatha Dell M. Abercrombie
Mrs. Wreatha Dell Meloy Abercrombie, 80, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Sunday evening, March 28, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Abercrombie, a native of Pelham, Mitchell County, Ga., was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Will Meloy. She was the widow of the late Thomas Edwin Abercrombie, a member of West Ward Street Church of God, and had lived in the Douglas area for many years.
Survivors include: two daughters, Corrine Lewis of Douglas, Ga., and Christine Webb of Hilliard, Fla.; two sons, Wendell Douglas of Baconton, Ga., and Vann Abercrombie of Douglas, Ga.; 12 grandchildren, one great-grandson, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at West Ward Street Church of God, with Rev. Leroy Spivey and Rev. Jesse Ogden officiating. Special musical selections included "More To Go To Heaven," presented by soloist and guitarist Wade Nettles, and "God Will Wipe Away All Tears" and "If I Knew of a Land," presented by Paul Hutcheson, Scott Roberts, and Derward Buchan, with Scott Roberts accompanying at the piano. Mr. Roberts also provided soft piano music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Alma, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Wade Nettles, Larry Lewis, Kenny Wooten, Trevor Douglas, Carl Wooten, and Wayne Thomas.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Dennis Wayne Story
Mr. Dennis Wayne Story, 47, of Spring Oak Street, Douglas, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. Story, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born August 20, 1956, the son of Lynette Stone Story and the late Samuel Waver (S.W.) Story. He was a hospital respiratory therapist and a veteran of the Army National Guard.
Survivors include: one son, David Story of Douglas, Ga.; his mother, Lynette Story of Douglas, Ga.; two brothers, Sammy Story and wife, Sandra, of Fitzgerald Ga., and Billy Story of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Pat Turner and husband, Wayne, of Douglas, Ga., Linda Hunt and husband, Tom, of Clarksville, Ga., and Sandra Kirkland and husband, Keith, of Nicholls Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 2, 2004, at 11 a.m., at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with David Bowen officiating. Soloist Ricky Marks sang "When We Cross Over Jordan," accompanying himself with the guitar. Interment followed at the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Lonnie Story, Shane Purvis, Wayne Turner, Samuel Story, David Carelock, and Mark Holder.
Honorary pallbearers were Travis Steptoe, Terry Carver, Eddie Cato, Gary Lott, and Gary Merritt.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
James Daniel Dees
Mr. James Daniel Dees, 68, of Pine Forest Drive, Douglas, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mr. Dees, a native of Ware County, Ga., was born February 3, 1936, the son of the late Henry Olen and Ollie Beatrice Moore Dees. A graduate of Ware County High, he was a retired insurance sales agent with Coffee County Farm Bureau, a veteran of the U.S. Army, having been a Sergeant serving with the Paratroopers 101st Airborne Special Forces, and a member of the Douglas First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, a member of the Sounds of Joy Quartet, and a member of the church choir.
Survivors include: his wife, Betty Purvis Dees of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Delia Dees Garrett and husband, Randy, of Ashburn Ga.; two sons, Daniel Dees and wife, Sheri, and Michael Dees and wife, Denise, all of Douglas, Ga.; two sisters, Corrie Parr of Waycross, Ga., and Grace Adams of Greenwood, S.C.; eight grandchildren, Sonya Grantham, Jade Dees, Chris Grantham, Jacob Dees, Levi Dees, Chase Garrett, Brant Garrett, and Brice Garrett; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 2, 2004, at 2 p.m., at the Douglas First Baptist Church, with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. The congregation sang "Because He Lives" and soloist Terri Bailey sang "Every Time I Speak His Name," with Marsha Gilliard accompanying at the piano. During the recessional, a taped selection of James Dees singing "The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference" was played. Interment followed at the Satilla Gardens Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Tommy Sheppard, Johnny Deems, Dr. Arlis Burch, Jim Wilkerson, John Crenshaw, and Jeff Christopher.
Honorary pallbearers were deacons of First Baptist Church, Garland Thompson, Dr. David Arnett, Dr. B.G. Patel, Dennis Harper, Dr. Diskin Morgan, George McIver, the staff of Farm Bureau, Larry Morris, and William White.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald D. "Jerry" Pitts
Mr. Gerald Dewayne "Jerry" Pitts, 53, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Friday, April 2, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Pitts, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 18, 1950, the son of Juanita Nettles Pitts and the late Madison Thomas Pitts. He was a paper company maintenance manager and a member of Central Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Jeanie Meeks Pitts of Douglas Ga.; one daughter, Rebecca Pruitt and husband, Brooker, of Atlanta, Ga.; one son, Chad Pitts of Atlanta Ga.,; his mother, Juanita Pitts of Douglas Ga.; one sister, Sherrill Miller and husband, Dan, of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Colie Pitts and wife, Pat, of Douglas Ga.; and one half-brother, Tommy Pitts of Newberry S.C.
Funeral services were held Sunday, April 4, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Central Baptist Church, with Rev. Wes Brown and Rev. Tom Davis officiating. Soloist Larry Lewis sang "The Anchor Holds" and "I Can Only Imagine"; also, soloist Tom Davis sang "Beulah Land," with Gene Davis accompanying at the piano. Interment followed at the Central Church Cemetery. Sidney Meeks led the congregation in "Amazing Grace" at the graveside.
Active pallbearers were Jess Miller, Thad Meeks, Thomas Harkleroad, Jody Cason, Scott McDermitt, and Jared Shedd.
Honorary pallbearers were Chris Kitchens, Bobby Hutchison, John Meeks, Sidney Meeks, Jim Hudson, Tim Meeks, Jimmy Meeks, Jack Williams, Jack Meeks, and Dewayne Hutcheson.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ellene Nevada Day Carver Clements
Mrs. Ellene Nevada Day Carver Clements, 60, of Wray, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Kindred Hospital in Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Mrs. Clements, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born February 9, 1944, the daughter of the late Homer and Fannie Mae McCallum Day. She was the widow of the late William Walter Clements and a retired County Court Recorder.
Survivors include: one daughter, Daphene Clements Batchelor of Camilla, Ga.; four sons, Lee Clements, Gordon Carver, and Kenneth Carver, all of Wray, Ga., and Henry Carver of Douglas, Ga.; one sister, Wanelle Newbern of Broxton, Ga.; one brother, James Homer Day of Ambrose, Ga.; and 10 grandchildren. Mrs. Clements was preceded in death by one sister, Ruby Carter.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 2, 2004, at 4 p.m., at Deberry Baptist Church near Ambrose, Ga., with Rev. Ronnie Chaney and Rev. Joey Copeland officiating. Soloist Rick Marks sang "Go Rest High On That Mountain" and "Beulah Land;" Ronnie and Sharon Chaney sang "Stroll Over Heaven," with Ronnie Chaney accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Deberry Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Charles Beecher, Carl Beecher, Hall McCallum, Donald McCallum, Jordan McCallum, and R.M. Phillips.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Coffee County Sheriff's Office.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Fannie S. Kilpatrick
Mrs. Fannie S. Kilpatrick, 89, passed away Monday, March 22, 2004.
Mrs. Kilpatrick, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born April 30, 1914, the daughter of the late Charles and Fannie Speight. She was a member of Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Survivors include: several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 27, 2004, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Huffer, Ga., with Rev. James Anthony and Rev. Dexter Taylor officiating.
Active pallbearers were Maurice Gifford, Sidney Harrell, Andy Moody, Jr., Andy Moody, Sr., Leroy Street, and Corey Weary.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
