Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Rose Jardine Taylor
Mrs. Rose Jardine Taylor, 74, of English Avenue, Brunswick, Ga., passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center, Brunswick, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Taylor, a native of Ware County, Ga., was born August 9, 1928, the daughter of the late Alexander and Miriam Merrier Jardine. She was a retired legal secretary, a homemaker, and the widow of the late Ray Alton Taylor.
Survivors include: two sons, Stanley K. Taylor of Brunswick, Ga., Al Taylor of Douglas, Ga.; four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 3, 2003, at the Chapel of Sims Funeral Home, with Rev. Herbert Box officiating.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
T.M. Giddens
Mr. T.M. Giddens, 77, of Albany, Ga., formerly of Atkinson County, Ga., passed away Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Giddens, a native of Atkinson County, Ga., was born July 3, 1925, son of Rev. Teedom and Beadie Burch Giddens. He was a retired machinist from Coats and Clark Company and was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy.
Survivors include: his wife, Evelyn Morgan Giddens of Albany, Ga.; one son, Wayne Giddens and wife, Dian, of Albany, Ga.; one brother, A.K. Giddens of Waycross, Ga.; six sisters, Martha Long, Elizann Clement, and Leona Lewis of Pearson, Ga., Dorothy McClean of Alma, Ga., Cora Belle Pafford and Opal Hodges of Jacksonville, Fla.; two grandchildren, Teresa Giddens and Mandy Giddens of Albany, Ga.; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Giddens was preceded in death by one son, George David Giddens.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 2 p.m., at Sunnyside Freewill Baptist Church, with Rev. Edgar Musgrove and Rev. Leroy Hover officiating. Interment followed in the Sunnyside Cemetery. Special music included "Beulah Land" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" rendered by Billy Musgrove and Becky Jowers with Bonnie Musgrove accompanying at the piano. Ms. Musgrove also provided soft music for the prelude and postlude.
Active pallbearers were John Long, Billy Giddens, Kurt Anthony, Julian Claude Clement, Donnie Giddens, and Larry Giddens.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Barney Luke
Mr. Barney Luke, 74, of Axson, Ga., passed away Sunday, March 30, 2003, at Baptist Village Nursing Home in Waycross, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mr. Luke, a native of Berrien County, Ga., was born July 24, 1928, son of Hancel and Inez Spikes Luke. He was a retired farmer and attended Hargraves Chapel Congregational Methodist Church.
Survivors include: two sisters, Mary Jane Joynet (Dempsey) of Pearson, Ga, and Louise Euch (Raymond) of Axson, Ga.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Hargraves Chapel Church, with Rev. Melvin Burch and Rev. Clayton Davis officiating. Interment followed in the Hargraves Cemetery. Special musical selections included "Serenaded by Angels" rendered by Jean Hendricks and Deana Roberson with tape accompaniment and "I Am Going," "The Other Side of Life" and "Go Rest High On That Mountain" offered by tape.
Active pallbearers were Roger Mizell, Steve White, Donnie Spikes, Lee Spikes, John Mark Spikes, and Ronnie Spikes.
Honorary pallbearers were H.F. Mizell, William Lang, and Jasper Bennett.
Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Reginald Stafford Chastain
Mr. Reginald S. Chastain, 61, of Rabbit Run Road, Douglas Ga., passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.
Mr. Chastain, a native of Dade County, Fla., was born August 10, 1941, the son of Oscar D. and Delilah Endera Kirkland Chastain. He was a horse breeder, a Vietnam Veteran of the US Marine Corps and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.
Survivors include: two sons, Reginald Chastain and James Chastain both of Lompoc Calif., one sister, Anita Enterline, of Fairfax Calif., companion, Jackie Batchelor and sons, Lee and Jay Batchelor all of Douglas Ga.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 4, 2003, at the Sims Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Floyd Musgrove officiating. Special music was provided by soloist, Don Scarbrough who sang, "In The Garden" and "God Bless America" with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano.
Internment followed at the Douglas City Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were: Roy Crenshaw, Brandon Crenshaw, John Crenshaw, Preston Carver, Zach Taylor and Rufus Wiggins. Honorary Pallbearers were: Members of the South Georgia Saddle Club.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Lt. Col. Clyde L. Dopson
Lt. Col. Clyde L. Dopson, age 70, of Jacksonville, Ga., passed away Sunday, April 6, 2003, at Tift Regional Hospital in Tifton, Ga.
Mr. Dopson was the son of the late John Edward Dopson, Sr., and Doris Lowe Dopson. He was a member of Jacksonville Lions Club and president of J.E. Dopson and Sons, Inc., of Jacksonville, Ga.
Survivors include: his wife, Nealy B. Dopson of Jacksonville, Ga.; two daughters, Julie L. Dopson of Rossville, Ga., and Christy D. Sapp and husband, Richie, of Jacksonville, Ga.; two grandchildren, Bradley and Beth Sapp of Jacksonville, Ga.; one brother, John E. Dopson, Jr., and wife, Vivian, of Jacksonville, Ga.; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at 7 p.m., at the Chapel of Lowe's Funeral Home in Helena, Ga., with Rev. Gwinnette Aldridge and Rev. Mike Eller officiating. Interment followed at Telfair Memorial Gardens in McRae, Ga.
Lowe's Funeral Home of Helena, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Vonn/ Benson
Vonn/ Benson, 66, of 2855 Sheffield Road, Macon Ga., passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at his residence.
Mr. Benson, son of the late H. B. and the late Mary Benson of Wray, Ga., was a member of Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church. He lived in Macon for most of his adult life and was retired from Delta after 30 years of service.
Survivors include: his wife, Marion Benson of Macon, Ga.; one son, Randy Benson and wife, Lisa of Atlanta, Ga.; two grandchildren, Corey Benson and Brandon Benson of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Audrey Guilford and husband, John of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Benson was preceded in death two brothers, Devon and Malcolm Benson.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 4, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church in Macon, Ga., with Rev. Bob Moon officiating, and at 4 p.m., at New Hope Baptist Church in Ambrose, Ga., with Rev. Dahl McDermitt, Rev. Tom Anderson, and Rev. John Anderson officiating. A eulogy was given by his son, Randy Benson. Interment follow in the New Hope Cemetery in Ambrose, Ga.
Pallbearers at Martha Bowman Memorial United Methodist Church in Macon were: Keith Guilford, Randy Benson, Ryan Hodges, Jeffery Jowers, Ray Bell, Tom Van Loon, James Brower, and Joe James.
Pallbearers at New Hope Baptist Church in Ambrose were: Randy Benson, C. B. McCauley, Dahl McDermitt, Lamar Harper, Dennis Paulk, Joey Vickers, Kenneth Russ, James Tanner, Keith Guilford, and Bonwell Royal.
Hart's Mortuary of Macon, Ga., was in charge of arrangements and was assisted by Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga.
Walder Stacey Holton
Mr. Walder Stacey Holton, 67, of Miami, Fla., passed away March 20, 2003, at the Northshore Medical Center in Miami, following an extended illness.
Mr. Holton, a native of Pearson, Ga., was the son of the late Johnnie Walter Holton and the late Anne Lee Baker Holton. He was a retired carpenter and a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: three daughters, Loretta Harvey of Hawkinsville, Ga., Susan Holton of Miami, Fla., and Nancy Daubermar of Danville, Ga.; one step-daughter, Martha Susie Cook of Macon, Ga.; one sister, Norma Jean Holton of West Green, Ga.; one brother, Donald Holton of West Green, Ga.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Graveside services and internment were held Saturday, April 5, 2003 at 4 p.m., at the Sand Hill Cemetery with Rev. Jessie Hathaway officiating.
A favorite hymn "Amazing Grace" was presented by the congregation at the graveside, led by Rev. Jessie Hathaway.
Active pallbearers were: Dave Roberson, Van Smith, John Holton, Paul Matis, Elijah Grantham, and Alvin L. Ricketson, Jr.
Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Oather Larry Jenks
Oather Larry Jenks, 55, of Ambrose Ga., passed away Thursday, April 3, 2003 at Coffee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mr. Jenks, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born June 18, 1949, the son of the late Oather Leonard and Ruby Eliza Read Jenks. He was a farmer and a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
Survivors include: wife, Lillie Bush Jenks of Ambrose, Ga.; two sons, Kevin Dewayne Jenks and Timothy Jenks and wife Sabrina all of Ambrose, Ga., one sister, Laura Sue Taylor and one brother, Bobby Jenks of Ambrose, Ga.; grandchildren, Alex Jenks, Jacob Clark Jenks, Davon Timothy Jenks, Marcie Elizabeth Jenks and Loy Renne Peacock.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2003, at the New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. Ernest Harper officiating. Special music was provided by soloist, Susan Harper who sang, "I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy" and "Amazing Grace" with Virginia Lewis accompanying at the piano.
Interment followed at the New Hope Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were: A. J. Saeed, Ronald Taylor, Scott Burch, Wayne Vickers, Craig Vickers, Eddie Vickers, Jeremy Vickers, Danny Smith. John Welch, Buddy Paulk, Glenn Moorman, Bobby Leverette, Billy Carver, Howard Smith, Wendell Sturgis, Howell Vickers, Larry Bennett and Jerry Davis.
Sims Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Ann Simmons Gay
Mrs. Dorothy Ann Simmons Gay, 59, of Talbotton, Ga., passed away Friday, March 14, 2003, at Saint Francis' Hospital in Columbus, Ga., following an extended illness.
Mrs. Gay, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born April 5, 1943, the daughter of the late Lacy Franklin and Claryce Vickers Simmons. She was an area technical college teacher for15 years and taught at Warm Springs Institute for 13 years. She was a member of Talbotton Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband, Jerry Duane Gay of Talbotton, Ga.; one step-daughter, Gerry Sue Johnson of Griffin, Ga.; one step-son, William Andy Gay of Lake, Ms.; one brother, Frank Simmons and wife, Glenda, of Douglas, Ga.; four step-grandchildren, Misty Dawn Loyd, Nichole Williams, Michele Hendrix, and Joey Duane Johnson.
Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 16, 2003, at the Douglas City Cemetery, with Rev. Shep Johnson officiating. Ben, Jake, and Josh O'Steen provided the special music at the graveside.
Active pallbearers were Ben O'Steen, Jake O'Steen, Josh O'Steen, Sean Simmons, Joey Johnson, Scott Loyd, Keith Williams, Shawin Hendrix, Brian Aycock, David Aycock, and Willis Aycock.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Abbie Leona Holton
Ms. Abbie Leona Holton, 90, of Alma, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2003, at the Bacon County Hospital.
Ms. Holton, a native of Bacon County, Ga., was the daughter of the late Benjaman Asberry Taylor and Elizabeth Lillie Music Taylor and was the widow of the late Leon Lawton Holton.
Survivors include: four sons, Oswald (Buddy) Holton, John Berry (J.B.) Holton, Leon L. (Mann) Holton, Jr., all of Midway, Ga., and Quincy Holton of Cumming, Ga.; six daughters, Lillie Mae Taylor, Betty Jean Nettles, and Elois Marie Hutchinson, all of Nicholls, Ga., Lavada Sweat and Abby Martinez, both of Waycross, Ga., and Virginia Sue Cooper of West Green, Ga.; one brother, Elvin Taylor of Douglas, Ga.; 43 grandchildren, 96 great-grandchildren, and 27 great-great-grandchildren. Ms. Holton was preceded in death by one daughter, Doris Evans, and four brothers, Ernest, Early, Jimmie Lee, and Shafton Taylor.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 15, 2003, at Wesley Chapel Southern Congregational Methodist Church, with Rev. Ernest McCarty and Rev. David Bowen officiating. Special music was provided by Sharon Harper as she sang "Go Rest High on That Mountain" and "Mama's Not Crying Anymore." Interment followed in the Wolfpit Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were grandsons.
Honorary pallbearers were all in attendance.
Crosby Funeral Home of Alma, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
William Chester Smith
Mr. William Chester Smith, 80, of Gracie Lane, Douglas, Ga., passed away Saturday, March 8, 2003, at Coffee Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mr. Smith, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born September 25, 1922, the son of James Ira and Bessie Vickers Smith. He was a retired farmer and a member of Saint Illa Baptist Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Edith Harper Smith of Douglas, Ga.; two daughters, Pamela Teston and Aleicia Purvis, both of Douglas, Ga.; one son, Stanley Smith of Wray, Ga.; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 10, 2003, at Saint Illa Baptist Church near Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Jimmy McMillan and Rev. Elisha Purvis, Jr., officiating. Special music was provided by Carolyn Wright, Chris Purvis, and Faye Adams who sang "I'll Be Waiting at the River for You" and "Prettiest Flowers," with Lois Mills accompanying at the piano. Interment followed at the New Hope Church Cemetery near Ambrose, Ga.
Active pallbearers were Rex Smith, Jeff Traynham, Donnis Carroll Smith, Wilson Smith, Gree Harper, and Wade Purvis.
Honorary pallbearers were W.L. Grantham, Danny Grantham, Lawrence Stone, Wilbert Carver, Aldean Smith, and Rev. Joey Copeland.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
Hugh Alan Williamson
Mr. Hugh Alan Williamson, 55, of Raven Lane, Douglas, Ga., passed away Friday, March 14, 2003, at home following an extended illness.
Mr. Williamson, a native of Ben Hill County, Ga., was born September 12, 1947. He was a retired fireman with the City of Douglas, Ga., Fire Department and was a member of Faith Chapel Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.
Survivors include: his wife, Betty Sue Chaney Williamson of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Sanette English and husband, Edward, of Nicholls, Ga.; one son, Scott Alan Williamson and wife, Kari, of Spokane Wa.; father, William Howard Williamson of Bryon, Ga.; mother, Jacqueline Ann Livingston Batey of Eufaula, Ala.; mother-in-law, Mildred Chaney of Douglas, Ga.; two sisters, Patricia Williamson Hall of San Diego, Calif., and Nina Batey Welch of Eufaula, Ala.; four grandchildren, Abbie English, Torrie English, Jessica Bol/, and Joseph Williamson; one sister-in-law, Sandra Tanner and husband, Vinson; three brothers-in-law, Ronnie Chaney and wife, Sharon, Gene Chaney and wife, Kathy, and Danny Chaney and wife, Sandra.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, March 17, 2003, at the First Assembly of God Church in Douglas, Ga., with Rev. Alton Carver, Rev. Gene Chaney, and Rev. Ronnie Chaney officiating. Special music as follows: Soloist Ronnie Chaney sang, "The Anchor Holds;" also, Ronnie, Sharon, and Amanda Chaney sang "I Want To Stroll Over Heaven with You," with Ronnie Chaney accompanying at the piano. Burial followed at the Chatterton Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were members of the Douglas Fire Department, Jason Long, James Graham, Lee Clements, Bruce Whitley, Scott Wiggins, and Daniel Chaney.
Honorary pallbearers were members of the Douglas and Coffee County Fire Department, members of the American Legion, members of CareOne Home Health Services, and members of the Southern Band of Cherokees.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Lillie Mae Cook Strickland
Mrs. Lillie Mae Cook Strickland, 81, of West Gordon Street, Douglas, Ga., passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2003, following an extended illness.
Mrs. Strickland, a native of Cook County, Ga., was born March 25, 1921, the daughter of the late David and Lannie Cook. She was a homemaker, the widow of the late Holman Hodge Strickland, and a member of First Assembly of God Church in Douglas, Ga.
Survivors include: one daughter, Betty Jean Fish and husband, Richard, of Eastman, Ga.; one son, John Paul Strickland of Alapaha, Ga.; one brother, John L. Cook of Adel, Ga.; six grandchildren, Wanda Davis, Wayne Fish, and Wendell Fish, all of Eastman Ga., Yevette S. Milton of Ray City, Ga., Alicia S. Harper of Nashville, Ga., and John Paul Strickland II of Ray City, Fla.; 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granchild.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, March 14, 2003, at Harrell Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Marshall Adcock officiating. Special music was provided by soloist Lena Mae Gardner who sang "In The Garden" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," with Rebecca Taylor accompanying at the piano. Interment followed at the Harrell Grove Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were Terry Morgan, Timmy Morgan, Jack Spivey, Johnny Dykes, Casey Thompson, and Billy McQuaig.
Sims Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.
