Mary Anne Henderson



Mary Anne Henderson, educator, activist, and matriarch of a family of lawyers, died Wednesday at Hospice Care Center in Port Orange, Florida following a long struggle with Alzheimers. She was 95.

Known to her friends as “Mamie,” Mrs. Henderson was a 37 year resident of Edgewater, Florida, and New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She was a teacher at Edgewater Elementary School from its opening in 1967 until her retirement in 1988. During much of this time and in her retirement, she was a tireless activist for the Democratic Party. She was a member of the Volusia Democratic Executive Committee, delegate to the Florida Democratic Convention, and active in the Southeast Volusia Democratic Club. She was an energetic volunteer in the campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Lawton Chiles. Locally, she led grassroots campaigns for the election of her son Clay Henderson to Volusia County Council in 1986 and daughter-in-law Mary Jane Henderson as County Judge in 1990. She was a long time member of Edgewater United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Henderson was born on a dairy farm in Moultrie, Georgia, in 1920. She grew up in Waycross and attended the University of Georgia. World War II interrupted her studies while she worked as a civilian employee at US Army bases at Ft. Stewart and Ft. Benning. Following the war, she taught school in Statenville and Waycross.

In 1952, she married Odis Henderson a lawyer from Jasper, Florida. Shortly thereafter they moved to Tallahassee, Florida, following his appointment as Assistant Attorney General. He died in 1966, and Mrs. Henderson returned to the University of Georgia to complete her studies, now accompanied by two young children. Among her fellow classmates at graduation were students she had taught two decades before.

Mrs. Henderson is survived by two children, New Smyrna Beach lawyer Clay Henderson, and Atlanta, Georgia, lawyer Suellen Henderson, daughter-in-law County Judge Mary Jane Henderson, and two grandchildren, Craig and Ardis.

Funeral services were held Saturday, June 18, 2005, at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, with the Reverend Robert C. Brown officiating. Committal service was held on Sunday, June 19, 2005, in Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to either Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Fla. 32119, or to Edgewater Public School, 801 South Old County Road, Edgewater, Fla. 32132.

Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 406 South Orange Street, New Smyrna Beach was in charge of arrangements.



Marie C. Saffles



Marie C. Saffles, age 66, of Jasper, Florida, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at Trinity Community Hospital. She was born April 23, 1939, to the late Carl and Leona Jestes. She retired after 20 years from the Hamilton County Sheriffs office where she worked in the jail.

Survivors include two sons: Elton Cribbs Jr. and Gary Cribbs Sr., both of Jasper; two daughters, Susan Cribbs Miller of Madison, Florida, and Star Fisel of Defuniak Springs, Florida; Two sisters: Sadie Cox of Jasper and Shirley Woods of Albany, Georgia; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a special care giver, Tina Hollie; special niece, Gwen Morgan; nephews and niece: Ken and Jeff Wood, Ben Cox, J.D. Cox, Harry Cox, Jack Cox and Sandra Wood; and her aunt, Edna Meadows.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 10, 2005, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home with Reverend Wendell Hill and Reverend Wendall Mathis officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



Marie Ragan Scaff



Marie Ragan Scaff, age 92, of Jennings, Florida, passed away Friday, June 10, 2005, in a Valdosta hospital. Mrs. Scaff was a native and long time resident of Hamilton County where she was a homemaker and a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Decar Scaff Jr. of Jennings; two daughters: Barbara Jean Smith of Waycross, Georgia and Annette Stanford of St. Petersburg, Florida; one brother, Byron Ragan of Waterford, Ohio; one sister, Elizabeth Laseter of Jennings; nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 13, 2005, in the New Hope Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial be made to: New Hope Baptist Building Fund, 6592 NW 48th Street, Jennings, FL 32053.

Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Sr.



Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Sr., age 71, of Old Town, Florida, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at his home following a brief illness. He was born in Newport, Tennessee, on March 26, 1934. He was key in starting and building churches and served as a Church of God pastor for over 40 years.

Survivors include his wife Emogene (Jean) Johnson of Old Town; three daughters and sons-in-law: Freda Osborn (Frank) of Jasper, Florida, Cheryl Davis (Blake) of Chiefland, Florida, and Valarie Henson (Chip) of Old Town; one son and daughter-in-law, Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Jr. (Karen) of Haines City, Florida; three brothers, Charles Johnson of Wildwood, Florida, Steve and George Johnson, both of Tennessee; three sisters: Retha Miller of Virginia, Una Rimmer and Annette Jones, both of Tennessee; 18 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 10, 2005, in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home with Reverend Billy Joe Johnson Jr. and Reverend Rocky Bray officiating.

Interment followed at Osborn Family Cemetery near Jasper.

Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



C. Howard Hall



C. Howard Hall, age 71, of Jennings, Florida, passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2005, at South Georgia Medical Center. Born in Jennings on November 3, 1933, he was the son of the Leonard Lee and Jimmie Lee Collins Hall. Mr. Hall was a Navy Veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. He had owned and operated C. Howard Hall Appliances for several years and worked for Specialty Distributing for several years.

Survivors are his son and a daughter-in-law, Dan and Joye Hall of Douglasville; daughters and a son-in-law, Katrina and Jordan Essoe of Pittsburg, California and Melinda Hall of Valdosta; a sister, Frances Howell of Valdosta; a brother, Lonnie Hall of Lake Park; grandchildren: Rebecca Hall, Danielle Hall of Douglasville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.

Graveside services were held on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Condolences may be conveyed online at obituaries at www.mclanefuneral services. com.

Carson McLane Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.



Doris Marcella Elliott



Doris Marcella Elliott, age 71, of Jasper, Florida, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Mrs. Elliott was born September 1, 1933, to the late Herbert and Susie Wadsworth Sr. She moved to the Jasper area six years ago from Live Oak where she maintained a daycare center in her home.

Survivors include her husband, Elvis Elliott of Jasper; one daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Sammy Tanner Jr. of Jasper; one brother and sister-in-law Mackie and Genie Wadsworth of Orlando, Florida; and three grandchildren: Taylor Parker, Shania Tanner and Trevor Tanner.

Graveside services were held Monday, June 20, in Evergreen Cemetery with Reverend Mark Collins officiating.

Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of arrangement.