Mrs.  Yvonne Lezette LaGrone Aldridge, age 69, passed on March 10,  2019,  at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Travelers Home Baptist Church, Travelers Home Road, Ideal, Georgia. Burial will follow at Galilee Cemetery, Ellaville, Georgia.

Yvonne was born March 3, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois the late Fannie Paul Coffee and the late  Excell LaGrone.  She was reared by her mother and stepfather, the late Rev. Dewey D. Coffee. She was educated in the public school system of Macon County graduating from school in Ideal in 1969. She was a member of Travelers Home Baptist Church in the Grangerville Community.  Yvonne loved to sew and enjoyed all types of arts and crafts and spending time with her family.  She was also a caregiver. Throughout the years, she was employed as a line technician at Southern Frozen Food and a machine operator at Mead Paper Company. She was joined in holy matrimony to the late Terry Aldridge Sr. and to this union they were blessed with four sons. She was preceded in death by one sister, Annie Jewel LaGrone, and a niece, Linda Gail Fulks.
 
She leaves her love and memories in the hearts of her children, Terry Aldridge, Jr. (Patrice), Steven Aldridge, Alexander Aldridge (Cynthia), and Felton Aldridge; 15 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren; a sister, Flora Mae Bogin; a brother Johnny LaGrone Sr.; nieces and nephews, Nikia Smith, Valencia LaGrone, Johnny LaGrone, Jr. Marshan LaGrone, Amber LaGrone, Marcelle and Asia, Bernard Bogin, Craig Bogan and Sharon Bogin; and a host of other relatives and friends including devoted friends Ruby Polson, Shirley Byas, Serbrina Leggett, Fannie Bailey, and her loving neighbors. ​

Jerry “ Chico” Robinson Jr., age 43, passed Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at his residence.
 
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Friday, March 8, 2019 at Magnolia Baptist Church, 415 Hosie Waters Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia.
 
Jerry “Chico” Robinson Jr. was born September 19, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia at Southwest Community Hospital to the parents of Jerry Robinson, Sr. and Mary Robinson.
 
Chico attended Oak Knoll Elementary and Tri City High School. He enjoyed playing football and basketball. After graduating from Tri City High School, he attended Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia.
 
He attended St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Howard Creecy, Jr. A few years later, he joined the drama department and even performed in the choir at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church. He rededicated himself under the leadership of Pastor Eric Vincent Thomas. Jerry also attended New Hope Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia.

He was employed with Tyson before realizing his passion for hair cutting, then he started his own business in barbering. In loving his trade he earned a good living for his family. Jerry remained in that trade until the Lord called him home. He was married to Tiquita Joiner Robinson.
 
He is survived by his devoted parents, Jerry and Mary Robinson, Sr.; daughter, Destiny Robinson; son, Tyrus Robinson; sister, Rashida (Douglas) Harris;  his  beloved companion,  Frankie Bowers and her children, Jazzmin, Crystal; stepchildren, Mahogany and DJ; granddaughters, Aubrey, Justice and Malaysia; grandmother, Margaret Hillman; nieces, Chloe Steele, Carley Taylor; nephew, Easton Harris; and a host of aunts and uncles. Precious memories also will be forever cherished by his loving family and friends.  
​

Mrs. Marie “Ree” English Meadows, age 78, passed away peacefully on February, 14, 2019 at her residence in Atlanta, Georgia.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Monday, February 18, 2019 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 114 Johnson Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Burial will follow at the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Marie “Ree” peacefully passed away early Thursday morning, February 14th – Valentine’s Day, the day of love when the LORD called His angel home. Marie was born May 20, 1940 in Oglethorpe, Georgia to the late John Thomas English and the late Minnie Louise English. At an early age Marie dedicated her life to Christ and became a devoted member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church until moving to Peachtree City, Georgia to be closer to her daughters. As a faithful member of St. Paul, Marie sang in the choir, served on the Communion and Financial committees.

As a young girl Marie and her sisters (Carrie and Evelyn) competed in singing competitions at Fort Valley State College. Marie was educated in the Macon County school system and was a star basketball player at Macon County Training Center. After graduating high school, Marie attended secretarial school in Macon, Georgia.

On April 15, 1961 Marie married the love of her life, the late C.L. Meadows, and their union was blessed with four wonderful children – Carla, Anita, Pamela and Marcus. Marie and C.L. moved their family to the big city of Atlanta, GA where she began a career as an assistant to a buyer at Rich’s department store. After some time, they decided to return to Oglethorpe. While living in Oglethorpe, Marie worked in positions that allowed her to touch those in the community through the Macon County Extension Agency, D.F. Douglass High School, and Macon County Library (retired 2000).

Marie lived a full life and shared many experiences with her family – weddings, births of grandchildren, graduations and trips to San Destin, Florida; Miami, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bowie, Maryland; and Toronto, Canada. She was an amazing cook and an even better baker. Marie loved the LORD, her church and her family, and faithfully served them all.

Marie leaves a lifetime of memories to her children: Carla Mendes, College Park, Georgia; Anita Mitchell, College Park, Georgia; Pamela (Neal) Taylor, Ellenwood, Georgia; Dr. Marcus (Dr. Nikki) Meadows; grandchildren: Nicholas Lea, Briana Mendes, Morgann Mitchell, Maya Mitchell, Rhana Mitchell, Rhegan Mitchell, Jalen Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Carter Meadows and Mason Meadows; sister Evelyn Bailey Smith, Miami, Florida; brother-in-law Willie Ree Harmon, Chicago, Illinois; sisters-in-law Gretha Meadows and Tammy Meadows; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, A.C & Doris Meadows, Albany, Georgia; Neal & Joanne Meadows, Atlanta, Georgia; Morris & Norma Meadows, Albany, Georgia; Thomas & Lutherine Meadows, Oglethorpe, Georgia; Lee Willie Meadows; aunts Clara English, Odessa Taylor, Beulah Griffin, Anna Little; Ola Williams; cousins Eula Kendrick, Madison Porter, Rev. Freddie Johnson, Mary Jean Callier, plus many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

New Ray Wallace, Sr., age 82, 484 Old VFW Road, Oglethorpe, Georgia passed Friday, February 8, 2019 at the Heart of Georgia Hospice Inpatient Care., a division of Houston Medical Center, Perry, Georgia.
 
The funeral service will be conducted 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the Bethel AME Church, 406 River Road, Montezuma, Georgia, where the Reverend Monica Spencer is pastor. The Reverend Allen Hudson will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Davis Chapel A.M.E. Church Cemetery, 5827 GA Highway 26 West, Oglethorpe, Georgia.
 
New Ray was born October 9, 1936 in Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia to the late Prince Wallace and Sarah Ford Wallace.  He was educated in the public school system of Macon County.  He was united in holy matrimony to the late Mary Emma Hudson and to this union they were blessed with eight children. Mrs. Mary Emma and two children preceded him in death, Patricia Wallace Law and New Ray Wallace, Jr. After many years of dedicated service, he retired as a Farmer.
 
Survivors are his loving and devoted children, including Agnes Wallace, Jeffery Wallace, Sherri Williams (Ronnie), Deborah Mathis, (J.D.), Phillip Wallace and Tanya Wallace; daughter-in-law, Frances Wallace; twenty-one grandchildren, Raymond Wallace, Jacqueline Wallace, Latadra Wallace, Ravik Williams, Javian Williams, Winter Williams, Rayburn Wallace, Shanterika Wallace, Keyanna Davis, Lakeisha Hall, Brittany Wallace, Jacqueline Wallace, Jeffrey Wallace, Jr., Jet Wallace, Jaxon Wallace, Jada Mathis, Quay Wallace, Devin Wallace, Amber Wallace, Miriah Wallace and Javlen Wallace;  ten great grandchildren; three brothers, Jessie Ford, Jr., Atlanta, GA, Todd Wallace, West Palm Beach, Florida and Johnny Stradley, Germany; sisters, Joyce Gadson, West Palm, Florida, Clara Mae Zanders (George), New York, Martha Stewart, Andersonville, Georgia, and Betty Ford, Jacksonville, Florida; two devoted aunts, Dorothy Haynes and Lula Pearl Hudson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Rev. Allen Hudson (Patricia), Maxine Hudson Range (Melvin), Gloria Hudson Meadows (Roosevelt) and Earnestine Livingston; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

​Helen Denise McMurray, age 69, passed on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at the Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Georgia.
 
The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the Josh B. Gibson Center, 20 Gibson Way, Buena Vista, Georgia. Her body will lay in state from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. prior to the service. Reverend George Monts will officiate.
 
As written by her daughter
A Time to be Born_ Ecclesiastes 3:34
Helen D. McMurray was born July 30, 1949 in Buena Vista, Georgia. She was the 3rd born child to Rev. Robert Crumbley and Maxie Crumbley.
 
A Time to Live- Amos 3:4
Helen McMurray can best be remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother to Yolanda, Yuri, Megan and Ariane. She was an honest woman and a committed friend to everyone she encountered. Helen was raised with her 13 siblings in a house built by her father. She fought with them, nurtured them and loved them her entire life. Helen was a trailblazer, a “boss”, who broke through barriers and hardship early in life. She endured the loss of a child, Taronda Denise McMurray and her beloved husband, Odie C. McMurray.
 
Her life was an example of virtue, hard work and respect. Helen was an excellent cook and enjoyed hosting her friends and family with collards, cakes, pies, and southern goodness. She was employed as a cook at Marion County Nursing Home, influencing her daughter’s career as a Registered Nurse in long term healthcare and Schley County High School, in Ellaville, Georgia. She enjoyed traveling with friends and family throughout her life. Travel destinations included, Schweinfurt, Germany, Bahamas, Las Vegas, New York, Mexico, etc. Her favorite place was Destin, Florida where she spent quality family time.  She was an unapologetically strong woman. Helen usually meant what she said, except when it came to her children who she found pleasure in spoiling. She was gifted to chastise you and make you feel loved. She spoiled her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her firm “no”, usually ended with an actionable “yes”.