Obituaries
Published 2:25 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Aug. 21, 2003
Marsha Faye Barnes Bates
VALDOSTA — Marsha Faye Barnes Bates, 56, of Valdosta, died at home of cancer on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003. She was born in Savannah on Aug. 28, 1946, to Henrietta (Hank) and the late Martin R. Barnes. She graduated from Butler High School in Augusta and attended Valdosta State College. She worked several years in Atlanta for Hertz Rental Car and returned to Valdosta in 1970 to work at Valdosta Technical Institute.
Mrs. Bates was an active member of Christ the King Episcopal Church and had been active at Christ Episcopal Church. She was a founding member of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church where she served on the Mission Council. She was a member of the Order of the Daughters of the King, Episcopal women’s ministry of prayer and service, active in Episcopal Church Women’s organization and the Cursillo renewal movement.
She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was instrumental in getting President Jimmy Carter to Valdosta for the Jimmy Carter Work Project in June 2003. She was a Toastmaster, Dale Carnegie graduate, and former aerobics instructor for the Parks and Recreation Department.
A Weekenders independent fashion consultant until late in her illness, she had previously owned Bates Medical Safety Supply Company and the Gazebo restaurant and had run a daycare business many years. Among her many interests were gardening, rescuing animals, cooking and entertaining.
Deeply spiritual with a lively sense of humor and self-confidence, she never met a stranger and helped many people from all walks of life. Her dynamic personality and open, honest approach to all she met had a positive effect on numerous young people over the years and was affectionately known as “Sha” to many.
She is survived by her husband, Ellis Bates of Valdosta, one daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn Dutton Miley and Mike Miley of Hahira; her mother, Henrietta Barnes; one sister and brother-in-law, Sandy and Keith Blevins; one brother, Dale Barnes, all of Valdosta; two grandsons, Chase and Landon Miley of Hahira; one nephew and his wife, Lee and Missy LeFiles of Hahira; two nieces, Jessica Barnes of Hahira and Kendall Barnes of Pinetta, Fla.; one great-niece, Leesy LeFiles of Hahira; stepchildren, Debora Young, David Bates, Linda Lester, all of Michigan, and Sharie King of Valdosta; stepgrandchildren, Daniel Blankenship of Valdosta, Derrick Bates, R. J. Young, Michael Bates, Christie Law and Meagan Bates, all of Michigan.
Visitation will be held at Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1521 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2003. Memorial services will be held at Christ the King Episcopal Church, 101 E. Central Ave., Valdosta, at 11 a. m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, with interment of cremains at Christ Episcopal Church urn garden immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of South GA, P. O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA 31602. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Joy Carter
HOMERVILLE — Joy Carter, 64, of Homerville, died on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, at her residence after a brief illness. Born on May 10, 1939, in Waycross, she was the daughter of Bryce and Helen Kennedy. Mrs. Carter was a leader in her church, First Baptist of Homerville, where she was active in WMU. She was chairman for three years of the Missions Committee for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Macon. Joy was the most loving and devoted, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Carter is survived by her husband, John Louis Carter of Homerville; one daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Allan Chanaberry of Atlanta; two sons, Jay Carter of Chicago, Ill. and Josh Carter of Valdosta; two grandchildren, Kathryn Chanaberry and Carter Chanaberry; her mother, Helen B. Kennedy of Homerville; and two brothers, Bryce E. Kennedy Jr. and his family of Tifton, and Allan V. Kennedy II and his family of Homerville.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at the First Baptist Church of Homerville with Dr. Ken Ross and Joann and Brantley Harwell officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Forrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia, P.O. Box 4343, Macon, GA 31208. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Lester Carter
LAKE PARK — Lester Carter, 22, of Lake Park, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at his residence. A lifelong resident of this area, he was born on Feb. 8, 1981, in Hahira. Mr. Carter was a heavy equipment operator for Greenleaf Products. His name, Lester, was especially chosen because it means seeker of the truth.
Survivors include his son, Tyler Criswell, and daughter, Stormy Carter, both of Lake Park; his mother, Beverly Carter of Jennings; his father, Edward Carter of Valdosta; his fianc/, Crystal Criswell of Lake Park; two brothers, Derrick Lee Carter of Statenville, Wesley Allen Carter of Jennings; four sisters, Stace Ann Carter of Statenville, Alexis Nicole Walker and Meranda Michelle Carter, both of Jennings, Marlana Carter of Valdosta; his grandmother, Saraha Athalene Bennett of Tifton; five aunts, Sandra Jean Trouille of Jennings, Connie Zukowski of Lake City, Stephanie Bennett, Nancy Carter and Pam Bennett, all of Tifton; two uncles, Jimmy Darrell Deloach of Willacoochee, Michael Lynn Carter of Valdosta; and three cousins, Margaret Ann (Mandy) Rogers of Mayday, Theresa Jean Morrell and Cody Alexander Webb, both of Statenville.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, in the chapel of the McLane Lakewood Funeral Home with the Rev. Milton Sellars officiating. Burial will follow in Statenville Cemetery. The family will receive friends on today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. — McLane Lakewood Funeral Home
Dorothy Holton
HAHIRA — Dorothy Holton, 68, lifetime resident of Hahira, died on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 at Heritage House Nursing Home in Valdosta. Born on July 1, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Adele McNabb Simpson. Mrs. Holton was a homemaker and a member of Bethany Baptist Church.
Survivors are her daughters and son-in-law, Wanda Fiveash of Valdosta, Sandy and Randy Folsom of Hahira; sons and daughter-in- law, Scott Holton of Savannah, Mark and Terri Holton of Lake Park; five grandchildren, Chris and Travis Fiveash, Allen and Matt Folsom of Hahira, Sarah Holton of Savannah; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Corine Stone and Marie Webb of Hahira, Laura Newman of Brooks County; brother, Norman Simpson of Brooks County; numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Holton was preceded in death by her husband, Ashley Holton; a brother, Charlene (Pete) Simpson and daughter-in-law, Linda Holton.
Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Burial will follow in McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Clyde Stokes will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on today from 6-8 p.m. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Robert Grover Smith
NASHVILLE — Robert Grover Smith, 77, of Nashville, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, at Berrien Nursing Center. He was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Oahu, Hawaii to Earnest Harry and Marjorie Cole Smith.
He was a retired boiler operator for Martin-Marietta Co.; was a Navy veteran WW II; member of VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He was the widower of Nelda Nash Smith who died in 1996.
He is survived by one daughter, Susan Nix, of St. Marys; three sons, Donnie Smith, Kissimmee, Fla., Steve Smith, Hazlehurst, Alan Smith, Nashville; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Lillian Evelyn Miller, Simpsonville, Ky., Barbara Frances Pierce, Cedar Springs, Mich., Elenor Margaret Gardner, Baltimore, Md., Priscilla Bertha Farmer, Baltimore, Md.
Graveside funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, in Pleasant Cemetery with the Rev. Clarence Luke officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 8 a.m. until the funeral hour at the funeral home. — Lovein Funeral Home, a member by invitation of Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Coretha Mitchell
Coretha Mitchell, 77, who resided at 105 Cherry St., passed away at her home on Aug. 17, 2003. Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at 11 a.m. at St. Timothy AME Church. The Rev. Terry McCreary, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Stevens Funeral Home
James Sen-tel Travis
James Sen-tel Travis, 19, of Lake Park (formerly of Quitman), passed away Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, in Lowndes County from an automobile accident. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at Bethel AME Church in Quitman. The Rev. Ronnie Averett, pastor, and Brother Willie Davis will be officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. — Washington Funeral Home
B.A. Warren
B.A. Warren, 90, of Nashville, died Wednesday at the Berrien County Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church with burial in the Church Cemetery. Complete service arrangements will be announced by Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.