Obituaries
Published 2:59 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005
for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004
Craig Ballew
RAY CITY — Craig Ballew, 46, of Ray City passed away late Sunday night, Feb. 22, 2004, at his residence following a battle with brain cancer. He was born in Spartanburg, S.C., entered the U.S. Air Force and moved to Ray City in 1996. He worked at Austin’s Cattle Company as executive chef before ill health forced his retirement. He was a member of Ray City United Methodist Church, where he played the guitar in church. His greatest joy was listening to and playing Christian music.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Ballew of Ray City; two daughters, Nicolette Ballew, Myranda Ballew, both of Ray City; parents, Cecil and Betty Ballew, Inman, S.C.; two brothers, Chris Ballew, Bolling Springs, S.C., Todd Ballew, Camobellow, S.C.; a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, in Ray City United Methodist Church with burial following in Beaver Dam Cemetery. Mr. Ballew will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com — Music Funeral Services, Lakeland
Ninna Clair Newbern Cater
VALDOSTA — Ninna Clair Newbern Cater, affectionately known as (Mama Ninna), 77, of Valdosta, died on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at her residence after a lengthy illness. Born on Jan. 23, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Talmadge and Merle Patterson Newbern and the widow of Leonard W. Cater. She was a member of Clyattville United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Glenn and Lynne Cater of Lake Park, Bruce Cater of Valdosta; a daughter, Kathryn Moore of Valdosta; grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer Cater, Chad Moore, Kristen and Scott Morehouse, Jason and Anetera Moore, Lee Cater, Timothy Cater and Justin Cater; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Cater will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Mollie Danner officiating. Interment services will follow at 1 p.m. in the Willacoochee City Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Clyattville United Methodist Church Building Fund. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Elizabeth E. (Jean) Cofield
VALDOSTA — Elizabeth E. (Jean) Cofield, 76, of Valdosta, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on March 22, 1927, in Atlanta, she was the daughter of the late Otis and Martha Fuller and the widow of Jenous Clifford (J. C.) Cofield who died March 5, 1985. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Valdosta. Elizabeth was known to everyone who loved her as Jean. She was the kindest person anyone could meet and will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her two daughters and one son-in-law, Sandra Webb and Martha and Mike Pedigo both of Valdosta; grandchildren and their spouses, Heather and Jason Montgomery, Valdosta, Patricia and Michael Cerone, Savannah, Cliff and Heather Dees, Gray, Ga.; a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Wallace Jennings, Hampton, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Cofield will be at 11 a.m., today, Feb. 24, 2004, in the Riverview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with Rev. Mac Weaver officiating. The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until service time. Donations may be made in her memory to the American Diabetes Association, Georgia Affiliate, One Corporate Square, Suite 127, Atlanta, GA 30329. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Arthur Conine
LIVE OAK, Fla. — Arthur Conine, 83, of Live Oak, Fla., passed away at his home on Feb. 22, 2004, following an extended illness. Mr. Conine was born in Echols County, and was retired from Florida Rock. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a former resident of Jasper, Fla., and was a member of Live Oak Christian Church.
Mr. Conine was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Conine; a son, Tyrone Wayne Conine; and a sister, Margaret Rosier.
Survivors include four sons, Paul, Billy and Ronald Conine, all of Live Oak, and James Conine of Lake City, Fla.; two daughters, Patricia McIntosh and Nell Caruthers, both of Live Oak; one sister, Mary Lou McCall, Jacksonville, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at Live Oak Christian Church. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Jasper, Fla. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. this evening. — Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Fla.
Virginia Love Killgore
VALDOSTA — Virginia Love “Giggy” Killgore, 77, of Valdosta, died on Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center after a sudden illness. Born on Jan. 20, 1927, in Valdosta, she was the daughter of the late Paul Love Sr. and Ester Lucille Nicholson Love. Mrs. Killgore was of the Methodist faith.
She is survived by her former husband, Isaac W. Killgore Jr.; daughters, Bonnie Killgore of Athens, Cindy K. Owens of Valdosta; son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Kathy Killgore of Valdosta; grandchildren, Lisa Barnard, Blake Allen Reed, Ginny Reed, Zac Owens, Nik Killgore and Jake Killgore; a sister and brother-in-law, Gloria L. and Leonard LeFiles of Tallahassee; a great-granddaughter, Amber Reed; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Killgore was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Love Jr., and her father, Paul Love Sr.
Funeral services for Mrs. Killgore will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Bussey officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Evelyn Roberts Sirmans
HAHIRA — Evelyn Roberts Sirmans, 74, of Hahira died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta after a short illness. She was born in Lowndes County on May 3, 1929, to the late Fleming and Estelle Hall Roberts. Mrs. Sirmans was retired from the Lowndes County School System, was a member of Hahira United Methodist Church and the Hahira Historical Society.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Tyrone and Pam Sirmans of Dyersburg, Tenn., and Mickey and Patricia Sirmans of Hahira; grandchildren, Gabe and Zane Sirmans and Nicole and Russ Shepard; one sister, Janet Roberts Ledbetter of Hahira; several nieces and nephews. Her husband, O.T. Sirmans Jr., preceded her in death on June 26, 1999.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at the Martin McLane Funeral Home in Hahira. The Rev. Lynn Hurley and Brant Lindsey will officiate. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to Hahira United Methodist Church. — Martin McLane Funeral Home of Hahira
Roy C. Wheeler
ADEL — Roy C. Wheeler, 72, of Adel passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at Memorial Hospital of Adel after a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 27, 1931, to the late Oscar and Lula Giddens Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was a member of the First Assembly of God Church and was a deputy sheriff of Cook County before retiring in 2000. He enjoyed fishing and watching golf and baseball games.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Rozar Wheeler of Adel; one son and daughter-in-law, Andy and T.J. Wheeler of Dell City, Va.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Tommy Jordon of Augusta, Ga., and Tammy and Mark Worm of Augusta, Ga.; one sister, Maudell Etheridge of Adel; four grandchildren, Martha Anne Jordon, Nicole Worm, Matthew Worm and Sean Wheeler.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at First Assembly of God Church at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Bill Vaughn and Rev. Don Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends today from 7-9 p.m. at Purvis Funeral Home. — Purvis Funeral Home
Charles Barneskey
Charles Barneskey, 83, Valdosta passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004, at his residence after a sudden illness. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Music Funeral Services of Valdosta.
Wilfred J. Fritz
Wilfred J. Fritz, 80, formerly of Maplewood, N.J., died at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Wesley and Deborah Robinson in Valdosta. At his request, Mr. Fritz was cremated with no local services scheduled. — Carson McLane Home
Baby Boy Miller
Baby Boy Miller, infant son of Craig and Christa Lynn Ursrey Miller, died on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. — Carson McLane Funeral Home
Dan E. Watkins
Dan E. Watkins, 52, of Valdosta died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at South Georgia Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carson McLane Funeral Home.