for Sept. 10, 2001



Allie Woodrow Carter

STATENVILLE — Allie Woodrow Carter, 87, died Saturday at his residence. Carter was a native of Echols County and had returned to Echols County 20 years ago, having moved from Siler City, N.C. He had been a rancher most of his life until his retirement. Survivors include five sons, Franklin Carter, Ft. Collins, S.C., Richard Carter, Siler City, Jimmy Carter, Lake Wales, Fla., Don Carter, Valdosta, and Ken Carter, Castle Rock, Colo.; one daughter, Linda Brooks, Hillsborough, N.C.; eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Statenville United Methodist Church with burial in the Eugene Carter Cemetery near Statenville. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Harry T. Reid Funeral Home. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla.



Joseph James Matchett

VALDOSTA — Joseph James Matchett, 84, 4360 Forrest St., expired Wednesday at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born on June 26, 1918, to the late Rev. Turner Matchett, Sr. and Irene Wright Matchett. He was educated in the Lowndes County School System. Matchett was united in Holy Matrimony in 1947 to California Riley Matchett. He became a Christian at an early age, always uniting with the church wherever he went. He left Valdosta and resided in Detroit, Mich., where he was a construction worker for several years. Matchett later moved to Fort Myers, Fla., where he retired. After retirement he returned home to Valdosta. Upon his return to Valdosta he became an active member of Mt. Vienna AME Church. He served as a steward, dedicated choir member, and a member of the Sons of Allen. He was preceded in death by one son, Leroy W. Matchett; seven brothers, Irvin, Hezekiah, Turner, Benjamin, D.C., Lorene, and Arnett; two sisters, Vernita and Leah. He leaves to cherish his precious memories his faithful and devoted wife, California Riley Matchett; one daughter, the Rev. Dr. Leah Gaskin Fitchue, Hampton, Va.; one granddaughter, Ebony Joy Fitchue of Philadelphia, Penn.; two sisters, Rosalie Baker (Nathaniel), Valdosta, and Queen McDonald, San Diego, Calif.; two loving sisters-in-law, Velma Reed Matchett,and Georgia Stafford Riley, Valdosta, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Vienna AME Church. The Rev. Eugene Foster, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. — Stevens Funeral Home.



Frances Cone Shepherd

LEESBURG — The funeral of Frances Cone Shepherd, 67, 284 Linden Road, Lot 17, who died Sunday, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Thundering Springs Baptist Church. The Rev. Giles Lovejoy and the Rev. Johnny Farr will officiate. Interment will follow in Leesburg Cemetery. A native of Valdosta, Shepherd had resided in the Albany area since 1972. She was a retired paraprofessional with the Dougherty County School System and a member of Thundering Springs Baptist Church. She was the widow of John Franklin Shepherd and was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis Cone and Lizzie Gray; two stepdaughters, Alice Clark and Sharon Shepherd; and a stepson, Thomas Shepherd. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Fay and Kerry Ward, Leesburg; a stepson, Jimmy Shepherd, Americus; a brother and sister-in-law, Ellis M. and Jean Cone, Zephyrhills, Fla.; a grandson, Zachery Ward, Leesburg; six step-grandchildren, Pam Powell, Mike Carter, Jerry Shepherd, Jason Shepherd, Matthew Shepherd and Rebecca Shepherd; and four step-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Mathews Funeral Home. Those desiring may make contributions to Lee County Primary PTO, 282 Magnolia St., Leesburg, Ga., 31763, c/o Dr. Jeanne Johnson, or Albany Community Hospice, 2332 Lake Park Drive, Albany, Ga., 31707. — Mathews Funeral Home.



Wilma Ruth Smith Crews Padgett

FARGO — Wilma Ruth Smith Crews Padgett, 79, passed away Saturday in the South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta, following an extended illness. A native of Bryceville, Fla., she had lived in Clinch County





most of her life. She was a homemaker and a member of the Fargo Evangelistic Church and the Fargo Senior Citizens. She was the daughter of the late Robert Smith and Myrtle Carroll Smith and widow of Laulie “Slim” Padgett. Survivors are three daughters and two sons-in-law, Brenda and David Stalvey and Caron Padgett, all of Fargo, and Myrtle and Vernon Caldwell, Bryceville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Junior and Bea Crews and Bobby and Pat Crews, all of Bryceville; 13 grandchildren, April Stalvey, Justin Pennington, Dwayne Crews, Randy Crews, Sherri Ard, Robert Crews, Ricky Crews, Robin Hamlin, Lisa Stewart, Melissa Dunning, Kevin Stewart, Jamie Garard and Crystal Baker; 16 great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, Tony Pennington; seven sisters, five brothers, and several other relatives. Funeral services for Padgett will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Fargo Church of God. Officiating will be the Rev. Carolyn Warren, the Rev. Nancy Chauncey and Tony Pennington. Burial will be in Boney Bluff Cemetery in Echols County. Padgett will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight. She will be carried to the church one hour prior to services. — Roundtree Funeral Home of Homerville.



Ora Louelle Williams

VALDOSTA — Ora Louelle Williams, 91, 200 Hollywood St., passed away Sunday morning at South Georgia Medical Center after a lengthy illness. She was born in Berrien County and had lived in Valdosta for most of her life. She was Baptist by faith and a retired seamstress. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Williams, two sons, Bobby and Carroll Williams, her parents, Lawrence and Cassie Blanton. Survivors include one daughter-in-law, Gloria Williams, Valdosta; six grandchildren, Alan Williams, Brian Williams, Teresa Kincella, Tina and Ricky Nitschke, Becky and Walt Dasher, all of Valdosta, Wendy and Paul Hopkins, Lake City, Fla.; four great-grandchildren, Bobby Hopkins, Brooke Kincella, Jon Kincella, and Stephney Dasher. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Riverview Memorial Gardens in Valdosta. Visitation will begin after 3 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight. — Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.



Janet Elaine Prairie

Janet Elaine Prairie, 60, of Valdosta passed away at her home early Sunday surrounded by her family. Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Carson McLane Funeral Home.