Obituaries

Published 3:17 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

for Saturday, May 15, 2004



Virginia Gaskins

NASHVILLE — Virginia Gaskins, 84, of Nashville (Riverside Community) passed away Thursday, May 13, 2004, at Berrien County Hospital.

She was born on July 13, 1919, in Lowndes County to Ulrich and Viola Cowart. She was a homemaker and member of Riverside Missionary Baptist Church. She was the widow of Lawton E. Gaskins who died in 1962.

She is survived by two daughters, Juanita Maupin of Nashville, Helen (Ken) Garren, Valdosta; four grandsons, Bill (Lisa) Maupin, Lee (Marsha) Maupin, Kenny ( Heather) Garren, Kevin Garren; five great-grandchildren, Lacey Maupin, Alicia Maupin, Hannah Lynn Garren, William Maupin, Caleb Garren; four nephews and one niece.

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., today, May 15, 2004, at Riverside Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Johnny Hendley and the Rev. George Painter officiating. Burial will be held in Riverside Cemetery. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville



Mary Cannon DeVane Harris

VALDOSTA — Mary Cannon DeVane Harris of Valdosta died on May 13, 2004, after a lengthy illness. Born Mary Leila Cannon in Montezuma, Ga., the daughter of the late Dr. Harry Cannon and Mrs. Lila Davis Cannon, she was a life-long resident of this area. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Floyd DeVane of Brooks County and Valdosta, who died in 1967, and later by Turner Tillman (Tim) Harris of Valdosta, in 1990.

Mrs. Harris is survived by four children and her stepdaughter, Marilyn Harris of Valdosta. Her children are, Judy DeVane Hutcherson (David) of Valdosta; Betty DeVane Hatcher (Carey) of Albany, Mary Jane DeVane Washnock (Bill) of DeVane Farms, Brooks County and Jimmy DeVane (Marianne) of Mandeville, La. Her grandchildren are Mike McLeod (Julie) and Kyle McLeod, all of Valdosta; Shannon Hatcher Stewart (Sam) of Waycross, Melissa Hatcher Brennan (Bob) of Savannah, N. Carey Hatcher III (Bo and Mandy) of Albany; Lara Wetherington Buffaloe (Rob) of Atlanta, Leslie Wetherington Sherwood (Trey) of Valdosta; Christy Vaccaro of Hammond, La., Whitney DeVane Costin (Greg) of Moultrie and Elizabeth DeVane of Mandeville. Her great-grandchildren are Ross, Mary Catherine and Rhett McLeod, Sam and Caroline Stewart, Catherine and William Brennan, Abbie Jane Sherwood and Chandler Vaccaro. She is survived by two sisters, Helen Cannon Burkhalter and Frances Cannon Fowler and numerous nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Cannon Blake and a brother, Harry Cannon Jr.

She was a devoted member of the Baptist faith in Valdosta, first at Lee Street Baptist Church and for the last few years at Northside Baptist. She maintained a summer home in Blairsville, Ga., for many years and particularly enjoyed participation in the First Baptist Church of Blairsville, where she taught in the pre-school children’s ministries and was a dedicated vocalist with the “Silver Ties” choral group.

Her dedication to the preservation of the antebellum farm structures at DeVane Farms led to the recognition and designation of the estate as a Georgia Centennial Farm site. Mrs. Harris was an avid gardener who created beautiful landscapes of flower and vegetable gardens wherever she lived.

Graveside funeral services will be held in Campground Cemetery near Morven, Ga., at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2004, with Dr. Charles P. Adams officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Those wishing to honor her memory may send a memoriam to the Mary Harris Fund for Children’s Ministries, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2058, Blairsville, GA 30514. — Carson McLane Funeral Home

Dr. Melford James Robinson

ADEL — Dr. Melford James Robinson received his crown on May 12, 2004, 9:40 p.m. at South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta, Ga. He was born in Helena, Ark., to the late James and Lululla Robinson on Aug. 19, 1927.

His education was received from Louisville, Ky., at the Simmons Bible Theological Seminary College. Dr. Robinson was called into the ministry at an early age. A pioneer of teaching and leadership for 51 years, the pastor expanded his career over eight churches. He also pastored Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Lynch, Ky., Pilgrim Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, Utah, Payne Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. Dr. Robinson founded two churches, the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tenn., and Trinity Baptist of Whiteville, Tenn. With the help of the Lord, he pastored Mount Olive Baptist Church of Sparks, Ga. Dr. Robinson showed passion for all the churches that he pastored from the smallest to the greatest. He was a man of all seasons, with wisdom and a strong sense of the mission of Jesus Christ. He was known as a scholar and a man for all people.

To keep his cherished memories: wife, Corine Jones Robinson of Whiteville, Tenn., one sister, Doris (Gene) Holder of Louisville, Ky., nine children, Angela (Min. Gene) Hollimon of Valdosta, Ga., Michael (Sherry) Wilkes of Warrenton, Va., Janet (Marvin) Neal of Duluth, Ga., Christine Walker of Knoxville, Tenn., Rodney (Tomika) Robinson of Augusta, Ga., Rev. Melford (Jackie) Elliott of Akron, Ohio, and Larry (Mary) Robinson of Louisville, Ky., 21 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, mother-in-law, Christine Jones of Whiteville, Tenn., four sisters-in-law, Rosie Mae (Joe) Turner, Orie Lee (Bernard) Womack of Whiteville, Tenn., Ann (Jessie) Cross of Bolivar, Tenn., Climaty (Mike) Anderson of Jackson, Tenn., brothers-in-law, Larry (Beverly) Jones of Knoxville, Tenn., Melvin Jones of Whiteville, Tenn., Jerome (Erlene) Jones of Whiteville, Tenn., devoted friends, Dell (Jill) Young of Sparks, Ga., Evelyn Fortson of Knoxville, Tenn., Artie Marshall of Valdosta, Emanuel Smith (Smithie) Davis of Emperior, Va., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends and all the members he pastored.

The family will receive friends on Monday evening at Cornerstone Christian Church, Sparks, Ga., from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held May 18, 2004, at 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Church, Sparks, Ga. Interment will be at Sparks Cemetery, Sparks, Ga. — Lane Memorial Chapel Inc. of Adel



Dwayne Andrews

Funeral services for Dwayne Andrews will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at Bethel AME Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman with the Rev. Irvine officiating. Burial will follow in Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. — Stevens McGhee Funeral Home



Rosa Ford

Funeral services for Rosa Ford will be held at 11 a.m. today at Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman with Dr. Redman officiating. Burial will follow in North End Cemetery. — Stevens McGhee Funeral Home in Quitman



joey Lee McMillian

Funeral services for Joey Lee “Joe” McMillian, 46, will be today, Saturday, May 15, 2004, at 3 p.m., Holy Community C.O.G.I.C., 505 W. Seventh St., Adel, Ga. Interment will be at Adel Cemetery. — Lane Memorial Chapel of Adel