Obituaries for Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006
Published 9:45 pm Saturday, February 18, 2006
Valdosta
James Bennett
James T. Bennett Jr., died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at home after a short illness.
He was born in Ft. Gaines on May 4, 1920, to the late James Thomas Bennett and Louise Ward Bennett. Mr. Bennett had lived in this area for the past 55 years. He attended and graduated from Young Harris College and John Marshall Law School. Mr. Bennett was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1947 and The United States Supreme Court in 1953. He began practicing law in Valdosta in 1961. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1940, and served until 1945. He remained in the Air Force Reserve and was called back to service during the Korean War and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a colonel. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1965, where he served until 1974.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Mayme Sheppard Bennett of Valdosta; sons and daughters-in-law, the Rev. Jim and Mattie Bennett of Windsor, S.C., Mike and Evelyn Bennett of Valdosta, Greg Bennett of Thomaston, Major Charles (Buck) and Joni Bennett of Brunswick; grandchildren and spouses, Phil and Rebecca Bennett Moore of Aiken, S.C., Jennifer Bennett Durrin of Aiken, S.C., Michael and Molly Bennett, Jimbo and Lori Bennett, all of Valdosta, Brittany Anne Bennett, Michael Logue of Fitzgerald, B. J. Bennett and John Thomas Bennett of Brunswick; great-grandchildren, Luke and Lauren Bennett, Austin and Sam Bennett of Valdosta, Mathew and Micah Parker and Emily Durrin of Aiken, S.C.; three brothers, Ben Bennett of Melbourne, Fla., Robert Bennett of Jacksonville, Fla., and Ward Bennett of Ft. Gaines; one sister, Louise King of Atlanta.
Graveside services will be held at New Park Cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Ft. Gaines with the Rev. Don Stanley officiating. The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home from 6 p.m.-8 p.m this evening. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of South Georgia, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, Ga., 31603. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
Valdosta
David B. Knowles
David Braxton Knowles, 57 of Valdosta, died peacefully in the arms of his wife and children on Friday, Sept 17, 2006, after a long struggle with heart disease.
He was born on Sept. 10, 1948, to the late Richard and Opal Lindsey Knowles. He was a founding member of the Pine Grove Community Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, a member of several committees and the worship leader. From painting to yard work, he was involved in whatever work was necessary to successfully launch a healthy ministry. He retired as chief master sergeant after 27 years of faithful service in the U.S. Air Force. He also worked at the Social Security office, where he was a conscientious, devoted, reliable employee until the day he was admitted into the hospital.
He was a loyal and loving husband, father and grandfather and leaves behind to celebrate his life and cherish his memory the following survivor: his wife of 38 years, Victoria (Vicki) Knowles; two children he adored, a daughter and son in law, Kimberly and Robert Hill, and a son, Joshua David Knowles; a granddaughter and namesake who brought a great source of joy into every day, Braxton Victoria Hill, all of Valdosta.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at the Pine Grove Community Baptist Church with the Reverend Mike Nelligan. Burial will follow in the McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens with full military honors. David donated his organs to Emory for research to help others; therefore donations may be made in his honor to the Emory University Research Center, 809 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30322. Condolences may be conveyed on the Obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home.
Homerville
Albert Leo Denmark
Mr. Albert Leo Denmark, 68, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, in the South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta following a short illness.
A native and lifelong resident of Clinch County, he was a bee keeper, a member of the Bee Keepers Association and the New Vision Church of God. He was a veteran of the U. S. National Guard. Mr. Denmark was the son of the late Albert Lankford Denmark and Edna Brown Denmark. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Inez D. King and Marjorie D. O’Quinn.
Survivors are one daughter; Cindy Denmark Infinger, Quitman: three sons and daughters-in-law; Al and Debra Denmark, Waycross, Jon and Sandra Denmark, Homerville and Don and Tammie Denmark, Lakeland: eight grandchildren: Brice Denmark, Brett Denmark, Clay James, Nathan Bass, Taylor Denmark, Kelly James, Lindsey Denmark and Mollie Anna Denmark: and several other relatives.
Services for Mr. Denmark will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at the New Vision Church of God. Interment will be in the Pine Forest Cemetery.
Mr. Denmark will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends 5 p.m.-8 p.m. this evening. Mr. Denmark will be carried to the church one hour prior to the services.
Members of the Bee Keepers Association are asked to be honorary pallbearers and to be at the church at 10:30 a.m. Monday. — Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville.
Valdosta
Roy C. Gaskins
Roy C. Gaskins, 62, of Valdosta, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, after a sudden illness at South Georgia Medical Center.
He was born in Berrien County on Nov. 6, 1943, to the late Rev. Roy and Clara Mae Gaskins. Mr. Gaskins worked in automotive sales and repair for more than 40 years, most recently with Ray Norton Tire and Auto. He attended Greenwood Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Edward Gaskins.
Survivors include: two sons and a daughter-in-law, Anthony and Lorri Gaskins of Valdosta, Justin Gaskins of Valdosta; daughters and sons-in-law Debbie and Jerry Rumker of Valdosta, Patty Evans of Valdosta, Vickie and Jerry Evans Jr., of Valdosta, ;grandchildren, Courtney Gaskins, Hunter Gaskins, Payton Gaskins, Jodi Hesters, J.J. Hesters, Amber McQue, Evan Rumker, Dena and Dana Rumker; a great-granddaughter: Kayden Hesters; three brothers, Marion Gaskins of Lakeland, Bennie Gaskins of Albany and Gene Gaskins of Naylor; a companion, Nell Evans of Valdosta.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in the Valdosta chapel of Music Funeral Services with the Rev. Clyde Stokes officiating. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. in Riverside Cemetery in Berrien County. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. this evening at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com — Music Funeral Services, Valdosta.
Adel
Nellie E. Graham
Mrs. Nellie Earnestine Graham, 56, of Rt. 1 Adel, a loving wife and mother, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at Berrien County Hospital after a long illness.
She was born Aug. 25, 1949, in Lanier County to the late Earnest Tucker and the late Nellie Varnell Stone Tucker. She lived most of her life in Berrien County. She attended the Zion Hope Pentecostal Church in Adel and Calvary Tabernacle in Tallahassee. She was retired from Taylor Made Systems and delivered the Tifton Gazette for many years.
She is survived by her husband, James David Graham of Adel; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Jimmy Johnson of Lakeland and Joey and Tabbitha Johnson of Lakeland; a stepson, Kenneth Graham of Lenox; a stepdaughter, Cyndi Martin of Tifton; two brothers, Marrlon Tucker of Nashville and Melvin Tucker of Sparks; a sister, Marth Smith of Nashville; his mother-in-law, Virginia Register Graham of Adel.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Nettie Mae Braddy.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in the chapel of Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home with the Rev. Clarence Gray, the Rev. Kenneth Matthews and the Rev. Ted Graham. Interment will be in Beulah Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. tonight at Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home, 1804 S. Hutchinson Ave. (Hwy. 41 South.) — Boone-Lipsey Funeral Home.
Nashville
Teddy Walter Kelley
Teddy Walter ‘Ted’ Kelley, 56, of Nashville, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at his home.
He was born Feb. 6, 1950, in Covington County, Ala., to the late Clyde Franklin Kelley and the former Frances Louise Mathews. He was an automotive salesman with previous service at Valdosta Lincoln-Mercury, Greg Isaacs Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC, Nissan and Jerry Kelley Pontiac, GMC.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with service in Vietnam.
He is survived by his mother, Frances Louise Mathews Kelley of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; two brothers, Lee Kelley of Valdosta and Jimmy Kelley of Newnan.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at Nashville Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Clarence Luke officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.
Enigma
Cora Mittie Hall
Cora Mittie Hall, 85, of Enigma, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at Tift Health Care.
She was born Oct. 16, 1920, in Berrien County toe Eddie Jackson and Ida McMillan. She was a homemaker and a member of New Griffin Missionary Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Hall, who died in 1991; two sisters, Mildred Wetherington and Dorothy Watson; and a brother, J.E. Jackson Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Leroy Hall of Enigma; four daughters and sons-in-law, Marjorie Brown of Bainbridge, Sue (Freddie) McClendon of Enigma, Shirley (Richard) Lilly of Albany and Vickie (Kenny) Stephens of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry (Rita) Hall and Murray (Glenda) Hall, all of Enigma; two sisters, Betty Joyce Whitley of Ocilla and Dollie Ann Heath of Nashville; a sister-in-law, Wylene Jackson of Tifton; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at New Griffin Missionary Baptist Church. The ministers will be the Rev. Edward Mimbs, the Rev. Leonard Conger and the Rev. Simms Youngblood. Interment will be in Brogdon Cemetery. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends from 7-9 p.m. — Lovein Funeral Home, Nashville.
Moultrie
William L. Miller
William L. ‘Bill’ Miller, 78, of 1801 4th St. SE, Moultrie, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville.
He was born Dec. 6, 1927, in Colquitt County to the late David H. Clark and the late Beulah H. Clark. He was a butcher for 44 years. He belonged to the Trinity Baptist Church and served as secretary of the Alex Hall Sunday School class and was a Sunday school teacher. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dorothy Roberts Miller of Moultrie; two sons, David Miller and his wife Susan of Valdosta and William E. ‘Bill’ Miller and his wife Cathy of Moultrie; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Miller of Orange Park, Fla.; a sister, Virginia Beverly and her husband John T. of Moultrie; a brother, Leamon Miller of Atlanta; his grandchildren, Jeffery Miller, Jason Miller, Tyler Moser, Melanie Turner, Amy Miller and Savannah Miller; his great-grandchildren, Brook Turner, Alex Turner, Alexis Turner and Jaina Turner.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in Cobb Suncrest Memorial Gardens. Officiating ministers will be Dr. Michael Helms and Mr. Jim Hardy. Casketbearers will be James Grogan, Homer Salter, Rob Gilchrist, Jeffery Miller, Joe Roberts, Cecil Law, Jason Miller and Brad Shealey. Honorary casketbearers will be members of the Alex Hall Sunday School class. — Cobb Funeral Chapel, Moultrie.
NOTICES
Johnny Ray
‘J.R.’ Sirmans
Johnny Ray “J.R.” Sirmans, of Adel, passed away Feb. 17, 2006, at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held today at Beulah Holiness Baptist Church at 3 p.m. with Rev. Kenneth Matthews and Rev. Charles Blair officiating. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Longbridge Cemetery. Purvis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. — Purvis Funeral Home
Esavious
Devon Wright
Funeral services for Mr. Esavious Devon Wright of Valdosta will be held Tuesday, February 21 at noon at New Greater Union Ministries Church. Bishop-elect Wade S. McCrae, pastor and Bishop Queen Potite will officiate. Burial will follow in the Charles Knight Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. — Scott and Roberts Mortuary