Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Vernie Juanita Meeks Dowdy
Mrs. Vernie Juanita Meeks Dowdy, 93, of West Green, Ga., passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2004, at Shady Acres Convalescent Center, Douglas.
Mrs. Dowdy, a native of Coffee County, Ga. was born February 8, 1910, the daughter of the late Charles Robert and Lilla Belle Hall Meeks. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Thomas Isaac Dowdy of Milan, Ga., and a member of West Green Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one daughter, Joyce Meeks Moore and husband, James, of West Green, Ga.; one sister, Sybil Meeks Gillis of Nicholls, Ga.; three grandchildren, Sherri Jenkins and husband, Bobby, of Douglas, Ga., and Terry Moore and wife, Toni, and Kerry Van Moore and wife, Michelle, all of West Green, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, Kaylon Moore, Kade Moore, and Natalie Taylor, all of West Green, Ga., Clint Jenkins of the Air Force Academy, Courtney Jenkins and Nathan Taylor, both of Douglas, Ga.; several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Dowdy was preceded in death by one son, William (Billy) Meeks; three sisters, Myrtle Robinson, Madelyn Jones, and Ervine (Beanie) Windsor; and five brothers, Cecil Meeks, Harmon Meeks, Avery Meeks, D. C Meeks, and Russell Meeks.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2004, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Herbert Box and Rev. Jason Hayes officiating. Soloist Preston Moore sang "How Great Thou Art," and soloist Helen Casey sang "In The Garden," with Susan Kight accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the Milan City Cemetery in Milan, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Kerry Van Moore, Terry Moore, Bobby Jenkins, Richard Whitley, Jack Walker, Ken Hersey, Harvey Corbitt, Ronnie Windsor, and Gerald Raulerson.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the congregation.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Shirley Mae Curry
Mrs. Shirley Curry, 62, passed away recently.
Mrs. Curry, a native of Ben Hill County, Ga., was born November 10, 1941, the daughter of the late Aaron and Pearlie Mae Curry. She was reared in Fitzgerald, Ga., in her early years then moved to Coffee County, where she spent the remainder of her life. She was a graduate of Coffee High School and a member of Hightower Memorial Temple.
Survivors include: one son, Chris Suggs of Atlanta, Ga.; one daughter, Sharon Young of Long Beach, Ca.; two grandchildren, Jasmine and Courtney Suggs, both of Douglas, Ga.; a god-daughter, Sandra "Sambo" Lockhart of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Ethelene Williams of Douglas, Ga., Gearldine Fuller and Mary Ann Curry, both of St. Petersburg, Fla.; five brothers, James Curry, Bishop Aaron Curry, and Will Curry, all of Miami, Fla., Allen Curry and Morris Curry, both of St. Petersburg, Fla.; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives and special friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 11, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Hightower Memorial Temple in Douglas, Ga., with Elder Randolph D. Scott, Sr., Pastor officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Crystal Ashlee, soloist Bobbie Jean Taylor, and the Hightower Memorial Temple Choir. Interment followed at Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Veoliver Curry, Jr., Bernard Williams, Weldon Rush, Adrian D. Thomas, Tommy Warren, and Charles Wadley.
Honorary pallbearers were James Swinson, Sr., Robert Jordan, Oscar Street, Lonnie Street, and Sam Taylor.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Richard Allen Allison
Mr. Richard Allen Allison, 39, of Ocilla, Ga., passed away Sunday, February 15, 2004, in Statesville, N.C.
Mr. Allison, a native of Fitzgerald, Ga., was born August 2, 1964, the son of Glenda Phillips Hulett and the late Ronald Wayne Allison. He lived in the community for the past eight years and attended Riverbend Baptist Church in Irwin County. Mr. Allison was the branch operations manager for Flowers Baking Company in Tifton/Douglas district and a 1981 graduate of Fitzgerald High School.
Survivors include: his wife, Lisa M. Purvis Allison of Ocilla, Ga.; two sons, Jamie Allison and wife, Samantha of Ashburn, Ga., and Brady Wayne Allison of Ocilla, Ga.; one daughter, Heather Marie Allison of Ocilla, Ga.; mother, Glenda P. Hulett of Milan, Ga.; one brother, Glenn Allison of Statesville, N.C.; one sister, Tammy Allison of Abbeville, Ga.
Funeral services were held Thursday, February 19, 2004, at 3 p.m. at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, Ga., with Rev. Gary Clements and Rev. Glenn Fussell officiating. Interment followed in the Riverbend Cemetery in Irwin County.
Paulk Funeral Home of Fitzgerald, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ruth Johnson Day
Mrs. Ruth Johnson Day, 81, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Monday, January 19, 2004, at the Southern Senior Living Retirement Home in Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Day, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born on February 27, 1922, the daughter of the late Joseph Laurence and Mary Emma Luke Johnson. She was a homemaker, widow of the late Homer Virgil Day, and a member of Douglas First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: one son, Laurence Day of Douglas, Ga.; four grandchildren, Laurence Virgil Allen Day, Lauren Anne Day, Alicia Anne Day, and Ruth Anne Day, all of Douglas, Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Douglas First United Methodist Church, with Dr. John McGowan and Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Soloist Paul Hutcheson sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Joe Day, Rodney Ragsdale, W. Durden Duncan, Ron Hutcheson, Rufus Hutcheson, Jim M. Hall, Jimmy R. Fussell, and Jon Chester.
Honorary pallbeares were members of the Kiwanis Club, Jim Eddy, Arlis Burch, Kenny Day, Glen Harden, Josh Cribbs, Darrell Tucker, George Blampied, and Paul Jowers.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Donald Howard Tanner
Mr. Howard Tanner, 80, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Thursday, February 12, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mr. Tanner, a native of Coffee County, was born in Garant, now known as West Green, Ga., on August 24, 1923, the son of the late Austin Tanner and Ruby Peterson Tanner. He had made his home in Gainesville, Fla., since 1985, with his second wife, Shirley Campbell Roberts.
Howard, an airman at heart since his childhood and a pilot for over 50 years, was well known in the Douglas aircraft community. He was an aircraft mechanic who helped convert World War II military aircraft to civilian use, and then returned to Douglas as an aircraft mechanic just after the Douglas Airport was used for training courses. He also traveled with the first helicopter crop-dusting company in the U.S. During that time, he invented the tail rotor guard, which is still used on many helicopters today.
He was later well known in the poultry industry, having started in it when it was just beginning in Georgia. He was well regarded as an on-site diagnostician in poultry diseases in the local area. He went on to become one of the major egg farmers in Coffee County. He and his first wife, Eunola Crider, through their company, provided eggs for Winn-Dixie in most of South Georgia for several years.
Survivors include: one son, Donald Herman Tanner (from his first marriage); daughter-in-law, Catherine Mapes Tanner; one sister, Sandra Kight Moody; several nieces, nephews, step-children, step-grandchildren, and sisters-in-laws. Mr. Tanner was preceded in death by one sister, Dorothy Tanner Morris of Atlanta, Ga., and one brother, Paul Tanner of Douglas, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 627648, Marietta, Ga. 30006, in his memory.
Memorial services will be held on February 22, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Marty Carnes officiating.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
Ridley H. Barron, Jr.
Mr. Ridley H. Barron, Jr., 74, of Columbus, Ga., passed away Friday, February 13, 2004, in Oak Manor.
Mr. Barron, a native of Columbus, Ga., was born February 6, 1930, the son of the late Ridley H. Barron, Sr., and the late Madge Carter Barron. He had lived in Columbus most of his life and retired from Georgia Power Company after 20 years of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Mr. Barron was a member and Deacon of Hilton Terrace Baptist Church. His first love was music and he had a great interest and participated with the church choirs wherever he belonged. He was active in youth athletic programs and served as president of Pioneer Little League.
Survivors include: his wife, Nadine C. Barron; three children, Harriet and Richard Barrow of Columbus, Ga., Tonda and Keith Solomon of Douglas, Ga., and Rev. Ridley H. Barron, III and wife, Sarah Ellen, of Douglas, Ga.; nine grandchildren, Ric and Carter Barrow, Barron, Reid, Kenan, and Luke Solomon, and Harrison, Abby, and Joshua Barron. Mr. Barron was preceded in death by one brother, James Shipp.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m., Sunday, February 15, 2004, in Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road Chapel, with interment in Parkhill Cemetery. Rev. Ridley H. Barron, III, Dr. Kevin Calhoun, and Rev. Bill VanDyke officiated.
Memorials may be made to GracePointe Church, 948 S.W. Bowens Mill Road, Douglas, Ga.
Eula Harper FussellFreeman
Mrs. Eula Harper Fussell Freeman, 85, of Donnie Harper Road, Douglas Ga., passed away Sunday, February 15, 2004, at home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Freeman, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born September 24, 1918, the daughter of the late Wiley and Sally Spivey Harper. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Norman Freeman, and a member of Saint Illa Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one son, Herman Fussell of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Margaret McDonald of Douglas, Ga.; three sisters, Nellie Smith of Willacoochee, Ga., and Edith Smith and Evelyn Purvis, both of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Odis Harper of Broxton, Ga.; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 17, 2004, at 3 p.m., at Saint Illa Baptist Church near Douglas, with Rev. Elisha Purvis and Rev. Bobby Fussell officiating. Wayne and Bobbie Carver sang, "Just One Rose Will Do" and "Amazing Grace," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the Griffin Cemetery near Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Wade Purvis, Kelly Merritt, Verlyn Harper, Wilson Smith, Richard Merritt, Ronnie Harper, and R. T. Merritt.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Carl Dean Norris, Sr.
Mr. Carl Dean Norris, Sr., 73, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, February 13, 2004, at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mr. Norris, a native of Watuga County, N.C., was the son of the late W.H. and Myrtle Swift Norris of Brunswick, Ga. He was a graduate of Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., and South Georgia College in Douglas, Ga., where he played football. Mr. Norris went on to become an honor graduate at the University of Georgia in 1958 and served in the United States Air Force. He retired as a superintendent at the Fernandina Beach Paper Mill facility of Container Corporation of America. Mr. Norris enjoyed woodworking and was an avid University of Georgia Bulldog fan.
Survivors include: his wife, Geraldine S. Norris of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; one son, Carl Dean Norris, Jr., of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Beulah Rector of Lenoir, N.C., and Dorcas Norris Campbell of Brunswick, Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, February 16, 2004, at 10 a.m., in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, with Rev. James E. Woods of Brunswick, Ga., officiating. Internment followed at the Rocky Pond Baptist Church Cemetery in Douglas, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Andy Barney, John Spivey, Jr., Chuck Smith, Randall and Steve Rector, Ken Gilder, and Fayne Durrance.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the local arrangements.
Claud Michael 'Mike' Brown
Mr. Claud Michael "Mike" Brown, 60, of Waycross, Ga., passed away Monday, February 2, 2004, at Satilla Regional Medical Center, Waycross, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Brown a native of Shelby County, Tenn., was born October 10, 1943, the son of Nellie Katherine Boswell Brown and the late Claud Brown. He was a supervisor in the restraunt industry and an U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam Conflict.
Survivors include: his wife, Sherrill Jewell Brown of Waycross, Ga.; one daughter, Brandy Ingalls of Waycross, Ga.; two sons, Joey Holland of Waycross, Ga., and Roy Brown of Boca Raton, Fla.; mother, Nellie Brown of Thomason, Ga.; two grandchildren, Zachery Holton and Caitlin Brown; two sisters, LaJune Lindquist of Fredricksburg, Va., and Patricia Teeters of Palmyra, Va.; father-in-law, Arnold Parsons of Douglas, Ga.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, February 5, 2004, at 4 p.m., at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home, with Rev. Marshall Adcock officiating. Paul Hutcheson, Derward Buchan, and Scott Roberts sang "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Fly Away," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed on Friday, February 6, 2004, in Shiloh Cemetery, Mansfield, Tenn.
Honorary pallbearers were Donnie Pendley, Phil Coppernoll, Meredith Grover, Jason Jewell, and Ronnie Standridge.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the American Cancer Society.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of local arrangements.
Sara Louise Taylor Slocumb
Mrs. Sara Louise Taylor Slocumb, 86, of West Gordon Street, Douglas, Ga., passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center, Douglas, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Slocumb, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born May 25, 1917, the daughter of the late Simon Peter and Sara Louise Rountree Taylor. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late John Irwin Slocumb, Jr., and a member of Douglas First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include: one daughter, Sara Jo Davis of Douglas, Ga.; one sister, Mary Helen Vickers of Neptune Beach, Fla.; one brother, Thurston Haldane Taylor of Jacksonville, Fla.; three randchildren, Elizabeth Curry and husband, Tom, of Augusta, Ga., David Davis and wife, Connie, of Douglas, Ga., and Art Davis, Jr., and wife, Kim, of Lutz, Fla.; four great-grandchildren, Lindsey Davis, Daniel Davis, Kevin Davis, and Amanda Davis; one Godchild, Sarah Pauline Vickers.
Funeral services were held Sunday, February 8, 2004, at 2 p.m., at the Douglas First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Soloist Hope Pate sang "Where Angels Fear To Tread." Also, soloist Brad Riner sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Amazing Grace," with Tanya Myers accompanying at the organ. Burial followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Larry R. Baird, Clint M. Slocumb, Carl Slocumb, Jurell Davis, Paul R. Fouche, William T. Vickers, Raymond B. Vickers, and Sarah Pauline Vickers.
Honorary pallbearers were sitters and staff of Summer's Landing Retirement Home, Ernest Taylor, and David Vickers.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Te'Yonna Sha'Dimon Harris
Miss Te'Yonna Sha'Dimon Harris, 21 months, passed away February 2, 2004.
Mrs. Harris was born April 28, 2002, the daughter of Tora McDuffie of Jacksonville, Ga., and Willie C. Harris, II, of Ocilla, Ga.
Survivors include: her parents, Tora McDuffie and Willie C. Harris, II; maternal grandparents, Nancy (Tommie) Wesley of Jacksonville, Ga., and John D. McDuffie of Eastman, Ga.; paternal grandparent, Doretha Harris of Ocilla, Ga.; great- grandparents, Jessie Will Harrell of Jacksonville, Ga,. and Lucille McDuffie of Eastman Ga.; several other relatives. She was preceded in death by one grandparent, Willie C. Harris, Sr., and two great-grandparents, Bessie Mae Harrell and William Tommie Clark.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 7, 2004, at Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Jacksonville, Ga., with Elder Cornelius Davis officiating. Interment followed at the Rock Hill Church Cemetery in Jacksonville, Ga.
Active pallbearers were cousins.
Honorary pallbearers were uncles.
McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Betty Sue White
Mrs. Betty Sue White, 47, of Waycross, Ga., of passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2004, in Savannah, Ga.
Mrs. White, a native of Douglas, Ga., was born December 7, 1956, the daughter of Gussie Drummond and the late Ike Drummond. She was a graduate of Nicholls High, a member of St. James A.M.E. Church in Nicholls, and a food service manager.
Survivors include: her husband, James M. White of Waycross, Ga.; three sons, Carlos White and wife, Chenille, James R. White and wife, Kristie, and Joe Cooks and wife, Patty, all of Waycross, Ga.; mother, Gussie Drummond of Nicholls, Ga.; two sisters, Ann Moore and husband, Mike, of St. Louis, Mo., and Janice McGowan of Nicholls, Ga.; seven brothers, James Drummond, John Charles Drummond, Columbus Drummond, and Roy Drummond, all of Nicholls, Ga., Jim Drummond and wife, Wilma, of Davenport, Ia., Stanley Ray Drummond of Mesa, Az., and Donnell Drummond and wife, Joann, of Belleville, Il.; nine grandchildren; one Godsister, Gwendolyn Gleason of St. Louis, Mo.; special friends and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 1, 2004, at Harvest Renewal Worship Center, with Pastor William "Bo" Turner officiating. Special music was provided by soloist LaToshia Kirksey. Interment followed in the Nicholls City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Unity Riders.
Honorary pallbearers were nephews.
Fluker Funeral Home of Waycross, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Arloa Pridgen Tanner Morey
Mrs. Arloa Pridgen Tanner Morey, 95, of the Stokesville community in Axson, Ga., passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center, Douglas, Ga.
Mrs. Morey, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born February 14, 1908, the daughter of the late William Luke and Sarah Elizabeth Lott Pridgen. She was a retired farmer and teacher, a homemaker, and a member of Stokesville Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one daughter, Sarah T. Rowell of Axson, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Anthony A. Rowell and Gregory Moore, both of Douglas, Ga., Nancy Elizabeth Yazdiya of Jacksonville, Fla., Charles James Moore of Averill Park, N.Y., Brenda Joyce Cliett of Fitzgerald, Ga., Carol Ann Moore of Gansevport, N.Y., and Timothy Moore of Coram, N.Y.; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 24, 2004, at Stokesville Baptist Church near Axson, Ga., with Rev. Bobby Pierce and Rev. Edgar Musgrove officiating. Soloist Larry Lewis sang "Beulah Land" and "He Lives," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the Stokesville Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were John Meeks, Tom Meeks, Tim Meeks, Marshall Pridgen, Jeffery Pridgen, and Wade Tanner.
Honorary pallbearers were Sid Adams, Ed Gillis, J.M. Pridgen, Howard Pridgen, W.L. Pridgen, Adair Tanner, Oscar Pridgen, Jack Batten, Hiram Tanner, L.H. Tanner, Jess Tanner, Jessie McKinnon, Jimmy Atkinson, Dr. Arlis Burch, and David Batchelor.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
