for Dec. 6, 2002



Sallie Girardin House Bird

CONYERS — Sallie Girardin House Bird, 87, of Conyers, died at home on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002. Sallie was the daughter of the late Sallie Fry and Alphonse Louie Girardin of Valdosta. She moved to Conyers from Cairo in 1955 with her late husband, James Harwell House Jr., who had been appointed superintendent of the Rockdale County Public Schools. He held this post until his untimely death in 1967. The J.H. House Elementary School, under construction at the time of the death of Mr. House, was named in his memory. In 1973, Sallie married Charles Newton Bird, local manager of the Georgia Power Co. She was widowed a second time in 1981. Mrs. Bird was a member of the Conyers First United Methodist Church for 18 years and the Conyers Presbyterian Church for the past 29 years. Preceded in death by a daughter, Ginger House Griffin in March 2002, she was also predeceased by her brothers, A. Louie Girardin, Jr., MD., Emil Girardin and sister, Ernestine G. Symonette. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Caroline House and Tommy O. Morgan of Conyers; and son-in-law, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Joseph W. Griffin of Thomasville; grandchildren, the Rev. Mike Morgan and Mollie Morgan Roberts of Conyers, Sallie Griffin Mann of Fitzgerald, Ernestine Griffin Tucker of Thomasville, the Rev. Jody Griffin of Kings Mountain, N.C.; 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sue Nelle Girardin; a niece and several nephews. Sallie is also survived by step daughters, Carol Bird Buhler of Conyers and Mary Bird Nakhleh of W. Lafayette, Ind.; three step grandchildren; and four step great- grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Bird’s grandsons, the Rev. Mike T. Morgan and the Rev. Jody W. Griffin will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service time on Saturday. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Conyers Presbyterian Church, Conyers, Ga. Memorial contributions may be made to the Conyers Presbyterian Church, 911 Main St. NW, Conyers, GA, 30012 or to Conyers First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 921 Main St. NW, Conyers, GA 30012.– Carson McLane Funeral Home



Audrey Dianne Touchton Wohnig-Counts

HOMERVILLE — Mrs. Audrey Dianne Touchton Wohnig-Counts, 28, of Homerville passed away Wednesday morning from an automobile accident. A native of Lowndes County, she had lived in Prosperity, S.C., before moving to Homerville about two years ago. She was an architect for TMA Incorporated International, Valdosta and attended the New Vision Church of God, Homerville. She was preceded in death by her son, Ernest Ethan Counts, maternal grandparents, Mrs. Clara Pittman, Mrs. Betty Foster and Mr. Ernest Wohnig, Sr. Survivors are one daughter, Victoria Dianne Counts, of Homerville; her mother and adopted father, Debra Pittman Wohnig, Prosperity, S.C. and Ernest Wohnig, Jr., Homerville; her biological father and step mother, Aubrey and Gloria Touchton, Roberta, Ga.; one sister and brother-in-law, Brandi and Darren Graham, Pomoria, S.C.; four brothers, Ernest Wohnig, III, Md., Donnie Wohnig, N.C., Chris Wohnig, Lexington, Ky. and Trevor Kaleb Touchton, Roberta, Ga.; maternal grandparents, the Rev. Henry and Juanita Pittman, Homerville, Mrs. Lillian Wohnig, Homerville and Mr. George Hubert Touchton, Sr., Homerville; and several other relatives. Funeral services for Mrs. Counts will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Vision Church of God, Homerville. Burial will be held in Shiloh Church Cemetery. Mrs. Counts will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. this evening with visitation after 2 p.m. Mrs. Counts will be carried to the church one hour prior to the services. — Roundtree Funeral Home of Homerville



Master Ernest Ethan Counts

HOMERVILLE — Master Ernest Ethan Counts, 5, of Homerville passed away Wednesday morning from an automobile accident. A native of New Berry,





S.C., he had lived here the last two years. He attended the Faith Christian Academy, Valdosta and the New Vision Church of God, Homerville. He was preceded in death by his mother, Audrey Dianne Touchton Wohnig-Counts, his maternal grandparents, Mrs. Clara Pittman, Mrs. Betty Foster and Mr. Ernest Wohnig, Sr. Survivors are one sister, Victoria Dianne Counts, Homerville; his maternal grandmother and adopted grandfather, Debra Pittman Counts, Prosperity, S.C. and Ernest Wohnig, Jr., Homerville; biological grandfather and stepgrandmother, Aubrey and Gloria Touchton, Roberta, Ga.; maternal great- grandparents, the Rev. Henry and Juanita Pittman, Homerville, Mrs. Lillian Wohnig, Homerville and Mr. George Hubert Touchton, Sr., Homerville; one aunt and uncle, Brandi and Darren Graham, Pomoria, S.C.; four uncles, Ernest Wohnig, III, Md., Donnie Wohnig, N.C., Chris Wohnig, Lexington, Ky. and Trevor Kaleb Touchton, Roberta, Ga.; and several other relatives. Funeral services for Master Counts will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the New Vision Church of God, Homerville. Burial will be held in Shiloh Church Cemetery. Master Counts will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. this evening with visitation after 2 p.m. — Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville



Clara Ruth Rodgers

VALDOSTA — Clara Ruth Rodgers, 85, of Valdosta, died on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002, at South Georgia Medical Center, due to a short illness. She was born on May 6, 1917, in Spartanburg, S.C. to the late William Bud and Bernice Voiselle Eledge. She was a homemaker and attended Morningside Baptist Church. Survivors include her two sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Carol Rodgers, Joe and Diane Rodgers, all of Valdosta; five grandchildren, Danny Rodgers, Jr., Kerri and Tyler Doin, Megan Leigh Rodgers, Melissa Rodgers, Tad Rodgers, all of Valdosta; one brother, Julian Eledge, Lebanon, Tenn.; two sisters-in-law, Virgie Steadings, Spartanburg, S.C., Betty Rodgers, Columbia, S.C.; one brother-in-law, Mac McCallister, Spartanburg, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, J.D. Rodgers. Services for Mrs. Rodgers will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, in the Carson McLane Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Maudie B. Coppage, of Hahira died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002, at Heritage House Nursing Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Martin/McLane Funeral Home of Hahira.



Mrs. Lovie Waters passed this life on Dec. 5, 2002, at the Heritage House Nursing Home. Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced later by Harrington Funeral Home.



Trevor F. Washington, 26, died Dec. 1, 2002, at his residence, 819 E. Jane St. Funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Dayspring Baptist Church. The Rev. Charlie Dunbar is pastor, and Pastor Tim Riser will officiate. Interment willbe in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta. Stevens Funeral Home of Valdosta is handling professional arrangements.