Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
William Daniel Smith
Mr. William Daniel Smith, 52, of Willacoochee, Ga., passed away suddenly Monday evening, January 12, 2004, at Evans County Hospital in Claxton, Ga., following a brief illness.
Mr. Smith, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was the son of Marion Lois Rowe Smith and the late Williams Marion "Buster" Smith. He was employed by Charles EA. Lewis Construction Company as a steel erector, was better known among his fellow workers as "Coochee," and attended Willacoochee Church of God.
Survivors include: two sons, William Shawn Smith and Brandon Meiss, both of Douglas, Ga.; his companion, Rachel Tatum of Willacoochee, Ga.; mother, Marion Lois Rowe Smith of Willacoochee, Ga.; one granddaughter, Cheyenne Poff of Hoboken, Ga.; four sisters, Linda Carver and husband, John, and Janie Laney and husband, Howard, all of Willacoochee, Ga., Theresa Mathis and husband, Jimmy, of Lakeland, Ga., and Angie Bowen and husband, Jake, of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Charles Smith of Willacoochee, Ga.; two aunts, Doris Jacobs of Douglas, Ga., and Lilly Wagoner of Apopka, Fla.; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Friday, January 16, 2004, at Willacoochee Church of God, with Rev. Levi Jones and Rev. Leland Watson officiating. Special musical selections included "Beulah Land" presented by tape of Crystal Sirmans, "The Anchor Holds" presents by tape of Terri Benefield, "Brothers Forever," "Gloryland," and "When I Look Up in the Sky" presented by taped music. Soft music for the prelude and postlude were provided by pianist Bonnie Kunberger. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Joey Roe, Troy Ladouceur, Richie Dupree, Marty Moore, Scott Graham, and Brian Messick.
Honorary pallbearers were fellow workers of Charles E. Lewis Construction Company and Cedric Davis.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Carlis Elmer McLendon
Mr. Carlis Elmer McLendon, 78, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2004, at Coffee Regional Medical Center, Douglas, Ga.
Mr. McLendon, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born January 19, 1925, the son of the late Willie Burl and Emma Elizabeth Carver McLendon. He was a retired farmer.
Survivors include: two sisters, Florine Harper of Douglas, Ga., and Grace Moore of Callahan, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Christine McLendon of Douglas, Ga.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, January 15, 2004, at 2 p.m., in the of Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Elisha Purvis, Jr., officiating. Wayne and Bobbie Carver sang "Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All" and "The Prettiest Flowers," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the Vickers Rural Cemetery near Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Kenneth McLendon, Lebern Carver, John Henry Harper, Ronnie Carver, Stevie Carver, and Verlon Lewis.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Simon A. 'Buddy' Atkinson
Mr. Simon A. "Buddy" Atkinson, 79, of West Green, Ga., passed away Saturday night, January 10, 2004, at Shady Acres Convalescent Center following an extended illness.
Mr. Atkinson, a native of Jeff Davis County, Ga., was the son of the late Brady Atkinson and the late Arlo Cothern Atkinson. He was a retired machine operator, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, and a member of West Green Church of God.
Survivors include: his wife, Ruth Moore Atkinson of West Green, Ga.; four sons, Rev. Dewayne Atkinson of Cairo, Ga., Albert Atkinson of Ackworth, Ga., Ronnie Atkinson of Korea, and Gary Morrison of Springfield, Mo.; three daughters, Brenda Kight of Broxton, Ga., Shirley Burkhalter of Hazlehurst, Ga., and Belinda Baker of Springfield, Mo.; two sisters, Lavon Tanner and Vonaree King, both of Hazlehurst, Ga.; step-mother, Mae Atkinson of Ranburn, Ala.; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Atkinson was preceded in death by one brother, Bobby Atkinson, and one sister, Maurine A. Summerlin.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2004, at West Green Church of God, with Rev. Dewayne Atkinson and Rev. Jesse Hattaway officiating. Special musical selections, "Little Pine Log Cabin" and "Going Home," were presented by James Moore and pianist Jeanette Johns. Music for the prelude and postlude was presented by organist Cathy Roberson and pianist Donna Deen. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery. At the graveside, the presentation of the U.S. flag was made by a grandson, Sgt. Jerry DeRan Kight, of the U.S. Marine Corps and veteran of Kosovo and Iraq.
Active pallbearers were Garry Moore, Brad Tanner, Tim Fuller, Terry Atkinson, Brent Vickers, and Grant Moore.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Ricky Leon Crockett
SFC Ricky Leon Crockett, 37, of Fort Bragg, N.C., passed away Sunday, January 11, 2004, in Iraq in the line of duty.
Mr. Crockett, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born January 31, 1966, the son of David Crockett and the late Earnestine Crockett. He was educated at Broxton High School and was a member of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include: his wife, Maxine Reese Crockett of Fort Bragg, N.C.; one daughter, Marvise L. Crockett of Fort Bragg, N.C.; one step-son, Scott Thomas Reese of Philadelphia, Penn.; four brothers, Elijah Crockett and wife, Mollie, and Grady Crockett and wife, Audrey, all of Broxton, Ga., Ivy Joe Crockett and wife, Saundra, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Estoney Crockett and wife, Rhonda, of Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters, Cathrine Brockington and husband, Jonathan, of Broxton, Ga., and Samantha Crockett and husband, Ulysses, of Douglas, Ga.; two God-sisters, Tweedy Mizell and husband, Kendrick, of Douglas, Ga., and Shirley Paulk of Broxton, Ga.; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Funeral services were held at noon, Saturday, January 17, 2004, at Broxton Church of God in Broxton, Ga., with Rev. H.N. Turner officiating. Special music was provided by the Douglas Mass Choir, soloist Eloise Coates, and soloist Dinetria Glover. Interment followed in the Broxton City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were United States military.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Class of 1984 and friends.
Harrell's Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Joann Johnson Surrency
Mrs. Joann Johnson Surrency, 69, of Jim Meeks Road, Nicholls, Ga., passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2003, at the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Ga.
Mrs. Surrency, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born September 6, 1934, the daughter of the late Charles Clarence and Oveda Davis Johnson. She was a retired payroll clerk and a member of Nicholls Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband, Samuel D. Surrency of Nicholls, Ga.; one son, Gary Surrency and wife, Renee of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Donna Surrency of Nicholls, Ga.; two sisters, Sandra Gilliard of Nicholls, Ga., and Wanda Moore of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Dennis Johnson of Nicholls, Ga.; three grandchildren, Larree Vickers, Lydia Surrency, and Gary Surrency, Jr.
Funeral services were held Friday, January 2, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Nicholls Baptist Church, with Rev. Jerry Campbell officiating. Soloist Renee Surrency, sang, "Now I Belong To Jesus," and soloist Janelle Anderson, sang "Beulah Land" with Wilbert Anderson, accompanying at the organ and Shirley Thomas, accompanying at the piano. Internment followed at the Meeks Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Chris Elrod, Josh Ellis, Jamie Johnson, Jay Vickers, Allie Ellis, and Chris Johnson.
Honorary pallbearers were David Alderman, Sybil Lee, Quillian Taylor, Clara Taylor, Jenny Waters, Yvonne Newberry, Duane Page, Larry Page, and P. A. Lee.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth Katherine Deaton Corbitt
Mrs. Elizabeth Katherine Deaton Corbitt, 59, of Mark Mobley Road, West Green Ga., passed away on Friday, January 2, 2004, at the Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Ga.
Mrs. Corbitt, a native of Monroe County, Ga., was born February 27, 1934, the daughter of the late Homer and Gladys Burch Deaton. She was a homemaker and a member of Pineview Church of God.
Survivors include: her husband, Jimmy Corbitt of West Green, Ga.; two daughters, Kathy Ann Smith and Trisha Dorminey, both of West Green, Ga.; three sons, Dale Corbitt, Dennis Corbitt, and Billy Corbitt, all of Douglas, Ga.; four brothers, Jimmy Deaton and James Deaton, both of West Green, Ga., Grover C. Deaton of Danville, Ga., and William Deaton of Pearson, Ga.; four sisters, Edna Hill and Irene Corbitt, both of West Green, Ga., Martha Lois Highsmith of Pearson, Ga., and Gladys Azalee Corbitt of Douglas, Ga.; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 4, 2004, at 4 p.m., at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Evelyn Cox officiating. The Burkett Family sang "Look What's Happening In Heaven," "Mothers Prayer," and "Amazing Grace," with Connie Burkett accompanying at the piano. Burial followed at the Corbitt Family Cemetery near West Green, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Harvey Corbitt, Stanley Corbitt, Kerry Van Moore, Mitchell Corbitt, Lee Steverson, Buddy Corbitt, and Mark Smith.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Jo Anne Edwards Oakes
Mrs. Jo Anne Edwards Oakes, 71, of Doerun, Ga., passed away December 30, 2003, at Archibald Hospital in Thomasville, Ga.
Mrs. Oakes, a native of Colquitt County, Ga., was born April 15, 1932, the daughter of the late Katherine Lockwood Edwards and the late Ralph W. Edwards. She was a retired school teacher and a member of Doerun Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband, C.J. Oakes of Doerun, Ga.; two sons, Ralph Oakes and wife, Par, of Savannah, Ga., and Dave Oakes and wife, Sandy, of Doerun, Ga.; one brother, Cleburne Edwards and wife, Larae, of Thomasville, Ga.; four grandchildren, Corey Oakes, Amber Porth, Brittney Pilcher, and Patrick Mims.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 1, 2004, at Doerun Baptist Church, with Michael Warren officiating. Interment followed in Doerun Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Ken Tate, Ray Hendricks, Craig Cannon, Gettis Wingate, Torey Wingate, and Cliff Bridges.
Cobb Funeral Chapel of Moultrie, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Peggy Myrtice Soar Caves
Mrs. Peggy Myrtice Soar Caves, 61, of Ambrose, Ga., passed away Saturday, December 27, 2003, at the Palmyra Medical Center in Albany, Ga.
Mrs. Caves, a native of Dade County, Fla., was born January 28, 1942, the daughter of Jeanne Maine Soar and the late Eugene Albert Soar. She was a homemaker, a hospital lab technologist, and widow of the late Gurvis Caves.
Survivors include: two daughters, Sharon Retzler of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Vivian McAlister of Maylene, Ala.; three grandchildren, Heather Retzler, Marc McAlister, and Alex McAlister; mother, Jeanne Soar of Ambrose, Ga.; one brother, Stephen Soar of Severne, Md.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2003, at New Hope Baptist Church, with Rev. Ernest Harper officiating. Soloist Joyce Harper sang "Sheltered in the Arms of God," and the congregation sang "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Meet You in the Morning," with Judy Sturgis accompanying at the piano. Burial followed in the New Hope Church Cemetery near Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Wayne Smith, Dan O'Steen, Reed Jones, David Rixx, Eugene Soar, and Ernest Thibault.
Honorary pallbearers were mmbers of Ladies Sunday School Class, New Hope Baptist Church, members of TOPS, Susan O'Steen, Dannie O'Steen, Gail O'Steen, Ted O'Steen, Lamar Harper, and Lige Hursey.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
E.S. Winn, III
E.S. Winn, III, 72, of Ocilla, Ga., passed away Sunday, January 4, 2004, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Ga.
Mr. Winn, a native of Irwin County, Ga., was born April 2, 1931, the so of the late Elisha Starr Winn, Jr., and, Eva Irene Cobb Winn. He was the owner/operator of Winn's Flowers shop in Ocilla and Scott's Flower Shop in Fitzgerald. Mr. Winn was a member of Ocilla Baptist Church, a former member of the Rotary Club in Ocilla, and a veteran of the U.S. Air force. Mr. Winn had lived in Irwin County all of his life and was the widow of the late Nadyne Breedlove Winn. Mr. Winn was preceded in death by his one sister, Joyce Ryan.
Survivors include: by one daughter, Rose W. Smith of Broxton; one son, E.S. Winn, IV, of Tifton, Ga.; three grandsons: Cam Pierce of Douglas, Ray Pierce of Ocilla, and Josie Olliff-Winn of Tifton; one great-granddaughter: Victoria Pierce of Douglas.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Thursday, January 8, 2004 at Ocilla Baptist Church in Ocilla, with Rev. Joey Copeland and Rev. Gerald Thomas officiating. Interment followed in Ocilla Cemetery, Ocilla.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, was in charge of the arrangements.
Talmadge Harper
Talmadge Harper, 73, of Fitzgerald, Ga., passed away Sunday, January 4, 2004, at his home.
Mr. Harper, a native of Coffee county, Ga., was born September 26, 1930, the son of the late Elisha and Dessie Allen Harper. He lived in Ben Hill County for the past five years from Irwin County where he lived most of his life. Mr. Harper worked for 35 years at Irwin Manufacturing Corporation and was a former farmer. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War era and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Ocilla.
Survivors include: his wife, Josephine T. Harper, Fitzgerald, Ga.; three sons, Tony Harper of Ocilla, Ga., Andy Harper and Michael Harper of both of Ben Hill County; one daughter, Sandy Harper of Wilcox County; one grandchild, two great-grandchildren; five brothers, Lorenzal Harper, Ronald Harper, Donald Harper, Vernon Harper, and Charles Harper, all of Ocilla, Ga.; five sisters, Alice Leverett, Ocilla, Margaret Railey, Fitzgerald, Mary Forbes, all of Monroe, N.C.; Carolyn Kirkland of Pearson, Ga., and Alicia Harper, Fitzgerald, Ga.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2004, at Bethel Baptist Church in Ocilla, Ga., with Rev. Tracy Clements and Rev. Jack Thompson officiating. Interment followed in Bethlehem Cemetery, Ben Hill County.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, was in charge of the arrangements.
Lowell D. Adams
Mr. Lowell D. Adams, 78, of Douglas, Ga., passed away Sunday morning, December 28, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mr. Adams, a native of Royalton, Ill., was the son of the late Olin G. Adams and the late Alma Taylor Adams. He had lived in the Douglas area for most of his life, was a prominent farmer of Coffee County, and was a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include: several cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by one brother, Dr. Olin Burton Adams.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, December 30, 2003, at 11 a.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Elisha Purvis, Jr., officiating. Special musical selections, "Long, Long Journey" and "Prettiest Flowers," were rendered by Dexter Kirkland, Larry and Patsy Spivey, with Susie Kirkland accompanpying at the piano. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were William Spivey, Carroll Spivey, Robert Lanier, Shannon Spivey, Jacob Spivey, and Darryle Wooten.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
John Wesley Sorrow, Sr.
Rev. John Wesley Sorrow, Sr., 84, of McDonough, Ga., passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2003, at Henry Medical Center.
Rev. Sorrow, a native of Lincoln County, Ga., was born September 29, 1919, the son of the late Martha Clark and George Watson Sorrow. He was the pastor of Calvary Temple Holiness Church in Atlanta, Ga., and had been a lifetime minister preaching the gospel. He was a devoted minister, husband, father, grandfather, and brother.
Survivors include: his wife, Wilma Sorrow of McDonough, Ga.; three sons, John W. Sorrow and wife, Gail, of Tyrone, Ga., David N. Sorrow and wife, Eva, of Atlanta, Ga., and William W. Sorrow and wife, Martha, of Jackson; one daughter, Joan Franz and husband, Ray, of Social Circle, Ga.; one sister, Grace Jenkins of Abbeville, S.C.; one brother, Rev. Tye Sorrow of Abbeville, S.C.; 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren. Rev. Sorrow was preceded in death by Lena Sorrow.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2004, at Calvary Temple Holiness Church, with rev. Tye Sorrow, Rev. Colin Hicks, and Rev. Bill Lewis officiating. Special musical selections included "Inside the Gate," "Amazing Grace," and "He'll Understand and Say, 'Well Done,'" rendered by the choir; and "My Country" was sung by Tye Sorrow, with Gloria Roberts accompanying at the piano and Betty Smith accompanying at the organ. Interment followed at Sherwood Memorial Park, with Rev. Loyd Warwick officiating. The congregation sang "Farther On."
Haisten Funeral Home of McDonough, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
David C. 'Dave' Harrell
Mr. David C. "Dave" Harrell, 85, of Broxton, Ga., passed away Sunday morning, December 28, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mr. Harrell, a native of Alapaha, Berrien County, Ga., was the son of the late Charlie H. Harrell and the late Eudley Giddens Harrell. He was a farmer, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and the widower of the late Opal Smith Harrell. He retired from the Department of Transportation (DOT) after many years of service and was a member of Rocky Pond Baptist Church.
Survivors include: one son, Shelton Harrell of Carrollton, Ga.; one daughter, Dianne H. Nipper of Broxton, Ga.; one grandson, Isaac Brigmond of Broxton, Ga.; friend, Tom Caves of Broxton, Ga.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 31, 2003, at 2 p.m., at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. T.L. Adams, Rev. Olem Bennett, and Rev. Larry Stone officiating. Special musical selections, "Long, Long Journey," "Amazing Grace," and "Beulah Land," were rendered by the Rocky Pond Baptist Church Choir, with Debbie Ward accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Billy O. Smith, Harry Smith, Wendall Gaff, Truman Wood, Johnny H. Johnson, and Tommy Forte.
Honorary pallbearers were Edward Brigmond, Pete Barrineau, Brandon Kirkland, Lawton Taylor, Jackie Fussell, and Danny Spivey.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Harvey Vickers, Jr.
Mr. Harvey Vickers, Jr., 72, of Douglas, Ga., passed away suddenly Sunday afternoon, December 28, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mr. Vickers, a native of Coffee County, was the son of Vivian Davis Vickers and the late Henry Harvey Vickers, Sr. He was self-employed as a tire distributor and tree farmer, was chairman of the board of the Bridges of Hope Centers, was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, and was a member of Carver Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Faye Clara Fender Vickers of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Lisa Faye Vickers Taylor and husband, Harvey, of Fitzgerald, Ga.; his mother, Vivian Davis Vickers of Douglas, Ga.; two sisters, Mary Frances Wilkes and LaTaine Vickers, both of Douglas, Ga.; two grandsons, William Bradley Taylor and Matthew Vickers Taylor, both of Fitzgerald, Ga.; one aunt, Vera Sunday of Jacksonville, Fla.; three nieces and one nephew.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 31, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Carver Baptist Church, with Rev. Marty Cames officiating. A special eulogy was presented by Aden Griffis. Special musical selections, "Amazing Grace" and "It Is Well with My Soul," were presented by the Carver Baptist Church Choir, and "I Cried Holy" was rendered by Michelle Fender Harrell, with Patricia Tanner accompanying at the piano. Interment followed in the Carver Cemetery with military rites. Members of Fort Stewart Army Base of Hinesville served as the Flag Detail. Taps were presented by the bugler, Andrew Sawyer.
Active pallbearers were John Scheffield, Jr., Rev. Marty Wilkes, Jim Metts, Jason Fender, Cdm. Randolph Kirkland, Scott Moore, Jerome Crosby, and Elisha Vickers, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers were staff members of the Bridges of Hope Centers, deacons of Carver Baptist Church, and the Adult Sunday School class of Carver Baptist Church.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
