for Dec. 15, 2001



Margaret Durrance Aldridge

NASHVILLE — Margaret Durrance Aldridge, 71, of Nashville, Ga., passed away early Friday morning, Dec. 14, 2001, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born in Lanier County and had lived in the Lanier/Berrien County area most of her life. She was a contracted carrier for The Valdosta Daily Times. She was preceded in death by one child. Survivors include her husband, Marvin Aldridge, Nashville; brother, Aaron Durrance, Lakeland; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, in the Chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Riverside Cemetery in Berrien County. Visitation will begin after 3 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. tonight. Music Funeral Services Inc. of Lakeland is serving the Aldridge family.



Merle Atkins

LAKE PARK — Merle C. Atkins, 65, of Lake Park, passed away Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, at South Georgia Medical Center after a short illness. Born in Echols County to Elsie Hughes Carter and the late Forest Carter, she was a retired metal products worker and worked at the Holiday Inn Express. Mrs. Atkins was a member of Sardis Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Eugene (Gene) Atkins; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Donnie E. and Cindy Atkins, Marty Steven Atkins; two grandchildren, Melissa Kaye Atkins and Eric Steven Atkins; five step grandchildren, Jacob Stratton, Guy Stratton, Bobby Stratton, Tyler Stratton, Tiffany Stratton; mother, Elsie Irene Carter; and brother Billy Forest Carter, all of Lake Park. She was preceded in death by her father, Forest Carter, and a sister, Myrtle Blair. Services for Mrs. Merle Atkins will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sardis Baptist Church. The Rev. Hugh Zorn and the Rev. Marvin Smith will officiate. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time. Burial will follow in the Carter Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. this evening at McLane Lakewood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home



James “Jim” Belch

HOMERVILLE — Mr. James “Jim” Belch, 66, of Homerville passed away Friday morning at his residence following an extended illness. A native of Atkinson County, he had lived in Clinch County for the last 49 years. He was a retired logger and attended the Shiloh Southern Congregational Methodist Church. He was the son of the late Cleon Belch, Sr. and Eva Davis Belch Spivey. He was preceded in death by a sister, Naomi Schultz. Survivors are his wife, Clara Steedley Belch, Homerville; four daughters, Brenda Childress, Donna Bean and Teresa Register, all of Blackshear and Cindy Steedley, Manor; four sons, Robin Belch, Waycross, Wilson O’Berry and Dewayne O’Berry, both of Homerville and Brad Fitzgerald, Lakeland; one brother, Cleon Belch, Greenbush, Mich; 18 grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; and several other relatives. Funeral services for Mr. Belch will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Shiloh Southern Congregational Methodist Church. Burial will be held in Shiloh Church Cemetery. Mr. Belch will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. this evening with visitation after 1 p.m. — Roundtree Funeral Home of Homerville



Gene Brantley

VALDOSTA — Gene Brantley, 69, of Valdosta died on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001, at her home. A native of Denton, Texas, she was born on Nov. 28, 1932, the daughter of the late Ralph and Oleta Harbert Alsup. Formerly of Naragna, Fla., she had lived in Valdosta, since 1992, and was a member of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church. Survivors are her husband, Tex Brantley of Valdosta; daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Brian Gilley of Tallahassee, Sheryl and Steve Boinski of Valdosta, Linda and Doug Melin of Merritt Island, Fla., Joy and Dean Brakel of Caribou, Maine, Rhonda Brantley of Valdosta; seven grandchildren, Sara and Richard Gilley of Tallahassee, Angela and Sherri Boinski o





f Valdosta, Trisha and Ryan Melin of Merritt Island, Fla., Jenny Brakel of Caribou, Maine; one great- grandson, Brantley Gilley of Tallahassee; and a brother, Ralph Alsup, Jr. of Las Vegas, Nev. She was preceded in death by a grandchild, Amy Nicole Brantley. A memorial service will be held at the Brantley home at 1 p.m. today with Father John O’Brien officiating. Mrs. Brantley’s cremains will be entombed at the mausoleum at Riverview Memorial Gardens. — Carson McLane Funeral Home



Thelma Ollie Martin Futch

TIFTON — Thelma Ollie Martin Futch, 79, of Tifton died on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001, at Tift Regional Medical Center. She was born on July 28, 1922, in Ray City to the late Briggs and Ella Mae Cowart Martin. She lived most of her life in Tifton and lived 12 years in Live Oak, Fla. Mrs. Futch was a homemaker, a member of Mary Belle Baptist Church, Live Oak, Fla. and attended First Assembly of God, Tifton. She was known in Live Oak as “Me Ma,” loved by everyone; known in Tifton as “Nanny Futch” and enjoyed crocheting. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Lee Futch; and two brothers, Chester Martin and Buddy Martin. She is survived by two sons, Kenneth Raymond Futch of Nashville, Tenn., and William Lee Futch, Tifton; one daughter, Shirley Futch Warner, Leesburg, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Kenny Futch, Tifton, Keith Futch, Nashville, Tenn., Allen Futch, Tifton, Angela Futch Phillips, Nashville, Tenn., Mendy Futch Fulghum, Tifton, Kayla Lynn Futch, Tifton, Kevin Warner, Lake City, Fla., and Kelly Warner, Leesburg, Fla.; 10 great- grandchildren; one brother, L. C. Martin, Adel; one sister, Doris Martin Giddens, Adel. Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Assembly of God, Tifton with the Rev. Eddie Hutchinson officiating. Burial will be held in Oakridge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kenny Futch, Keith Futch, Allen Futch, Kevin Warner, Robbie Baker, and Jeff Fulghum; Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Tyson, Chris Taylor, Terrell Cowart, John Elliott, Anthony Elliott, Francis Wisham, and Steve Cowart. The family will receive friends this evening from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. — Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors-Tiftarea Chapel



Mrs. Christine Sutton of Adel died on Dec. 14, 2001, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. They will be announced at a later date by Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home.