​The funeral service of Emma Mae Edge will be held at 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 540 Winder Road, Andersonville, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Freeman Hill Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia.

Miss Emma Mae Edge was born June 10, 1936 to the late Mr. James Wash Edge Sr. and the late Mrs. Susie Mae Slappey Edge in Sumter County. She later moved to Detroit, Michigan and left there and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where she was employed at Spalding Sports, until she retired. Emma loved to bowl, cook, Watch T.V., listen to music, and play Bingo.  

On Thursday, October 3, 2019, Miss Emma Mae Edge departed this earthly life for an eternal life. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Charles Edge, Sr. (Johnnie B), James Edge Jr. (Ida Mae), Henry Willie Edge (Catherine), Morris Edge (Rochelle), Artie Edge, Gilbert Edge (Elouise), Wilbert Edge (Rose), Mattie Pearl Edge, Jannie Crittendon Tatum, Betty Jean Wingard, and Jannis Edge Gaines (George).
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Left to cherish her memory include her son, Dale L. Edge and his wife Brenda; two granddaughters, Jevhan Velez (Julian) and Tyler Bowie-Edge and three great grandsons; five brothers, Dallas Edge, Wetumpka, Alabama, Amos L. Edge (Mattie), Hope Hull, Alabama, Dorsey Edge (Daisy), Hamntramck, Michigan, Harvey Edge (Ozie), Montezuma, Georgia, and Johnny Edge (Angela), West Palm Beach, Florida; four sisters, Mary Edge Mcgee, Emma Edge Fuller, Trudie Edge, and Alberta Edge Walker, all of West Palm Beach, Florida. She also leaves to cherish her memories the following: her devoted nieces and nephews whom she helped raised, Minnie G. Edge Banks (James), Annie R. Edge Battle (Willie) of Springfield, Massachusetts, Addie R. Edge Poole (James L.) of North Prince George, Virginia, Veola Edge of Lorton, Virginia, Maellen Lusane, Shirley Edge, of Americus, Georgia,  Ronnie Edge Sr. (Ida) of Hamramack, Michigan, and Eddie Edge (Amy) of Albany, Georgia and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. 

​Tommy Frank Gardner, age 84, of Atlanta, Georgia originally of Buena Vista, Georgia, passed on October 2, 2019.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Friday, October 11, 2019 at Cool Springs Baptist Church, 1625 Cool Springs Road,  Buena Vista, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery.

Mr. Tommy  Frank Gardner was born September 3, 1935 in Buena Vista, Georgia to  the union of late Thomas and Beatrice Gardner. He was preceded in death by one son, SGT David Gardner, and siblings, Joe Gardner, Gertrude McKay, James Gardner, Sr. and Betty Thornton.

Tommy was educated in Marion County School System and later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. He was an experienced truck driver for 50 plus years.

Tommy was best known as “Pops”  or “Dad” to his children,  and he was great dad to all of them. To others, he was “Unc”, uncle, cousin, brother, or granddad. Yes, he was very family-oriented. He was the one who would enter a room and could make everyone laugh and put a smile on their faces. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, playing lottery, and talking on the phone to everyone. Tommy loved the Lord. He was a loyal Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons fan.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Larry Thomas (Cecila), Barry Roberts (Debbie), Kenneth Gardner (DeeAnn), Darrell Beard, Tangia “Tiger” Thomas; two God-given daughters, Perkecia “Keekee” Cantrell, Chandrea "Chan Chan” Warner; 18 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren;  one brother, David Jerome Gardner (Mary); two sisters, Doris Allene Thomas and Martha Miller; aunts, Margie Jackson and Marie Jackson; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends including his best friend, Willie C. Hughey.

Ja’Kim Oneal Walker, age 23, 208-B Virginia Dare Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia passed September 15, 2019.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, September 26, 2019 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Ja’Kim was born June 4, 1996 in Americus, Georgia to the parentage of Marlonessia Chevette Walker and James Merritt, Jr. He was educated in the public school system of Houston County. He graduated from Houston County High School in 2018.

Survivors are his parents, Marlonessia Chevette Walker, Warner Robins, Georgia and James Merritt, Jr.; siblings, Jarrod Walker, Warner Robins, Georgia, and Zynovia Merritt, McDonough, Georgia; grandmother, Lula Merritt, Americus, Georgia; aunts, Sonya Hubbard, Veronica Holston (Clifford), and Wyvette Lloyd all of Montezuma, Georgia, Jackie Merritt and Katrina Sloan both of Americus, Georgia; uncles, Darrin Simpson, Fort Valley, Georgia, John Walker, West Palm Beach, Florida, Ronald Simpson (Kesha), Marshallville, Georgia, and Terrence Walker, West Palm Beach Florida; godparents, Angela Brown, Cynthia Cromer and Timothy Felton all of Montezuma, Georgia; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends including three devoted friends, Angela Clark, Shaneka “Wee Wee” Thomas and Shantell Harris.

Mrs.  Lizzie Bell Robinson,  age 92, 111 Honeysuckle Court, Americus, Georgia,  passed Friday September 20, 2019 at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 11:30 A.M., Friday, September 27, 2019 at Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Mrs. Robinson was born March 22, 1927 in Americus, Georgia to the late Doc Williams and Ether Mae Myers Williams.  She was preceded in death by her siblings Tommie Lee Williams, Doc Williams Jr., Willie Robert Williams, Leroy Williams and James McArthur Williams. She acquired her education in the local Sumter County area. She was marred to the late Willie Robinson. She was a homemaker and enjoyed farming  vegetables .

She leaves to cherishes her memories five children Eather Brown, Americus, Georgia, Bertha Kate Fuller, Cape Cod, Florida Annie Lee Pearsey (Larry), Ft Myers, Florida , Rosa Lee Angry (Clyde), Americus, Georgia, Gloria Dean Greene (Howard) Cape Cod, Florida; 20  grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Louise Williams, Ft. Myers, Florida, Cottle Williams, Sumter City, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Willie Clarence Johnson Sr., age 85, 211 Lorraine Avenue, Americus, Georgia passed on September 21, 2019 at his residence.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Ga Hwy 118, Smithville, Georgia Burial will follow in the Church cemetery.

Willie was born February 16, 1934 to the late J.C. Johnson and the late Mary Alice Moreland Johnson.  He was preceded in death four siblings Jessie C. Johnson, Bertha Allen, Curtis Johnson, and Albert Johnson. He was educated in the Sumter County School System. He was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Smithville, Georgia.  Willie was first joined in holy matrimony to Katie Woods and to this union six children were born.  He then later married Margaret Johnson and to this union two children were born. One son, Michael Johnson, preceded him in death. Willie retired from Empire Color Bind after dedicating thirty-three years as a machine operator. 

Survivors are Katie Woods Johnson, Valdosta, Georgia; his children, Donald Woods (Anita) Valdosta, Georgia, Colleen Glover (Louis) Atlanta, Georgia, Willie C. Johnson Jr. (Carolyn) and Aaron Johnson (Bernice) all of Americus, Georgia, Brenda Johnson Lipscomb (Charles) Valdosta, Georgia, Anita Davis (Matthew) North Brunswick, New Jersey and Darryl Johnson, New Jersey; a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings, Elizabeth Johnson, St. Mary, Georgia, Jessie Pearl Johnson, Bronx, New York, Julius Johnson (Mary) Americus, Georgia, Pauline Johnson Heath (Emmett) Americus, Georgia, and Andrew Johnson (Carolyn), Statesboro, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends and devoted friend, Estella Melton.

​Mr. George William “G.W.” Thomas Sr., age 85, passed on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Cool Spring Baptist Church, 1625 Cool Springs Road, Buena Vista, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery.

Mr. George William “G.W.” Thomas Sr. was born June 29, 1934 to the late William Thomas and Ida Mae Robinson Thomas in Webster County, Georgia. He was educated in the public school system of Webster County.  At an early age, G. W. joined Evan Chapel C.M.E. Church where he served faithfully. He was united in holy matrimony to Doris Allene Gardner.  They were married for 61 years.  To this union six (6) children were born.  He retired from the Redman Homes Inc. in Richland, Georgia. Also, G.W. served as a foster parent and was honored by the Marion County, Department of Family and Children Services.  One sibling, Leila Mae Pough, preceded him in death. 

On Saturday night, September 14, 2019 at 9:15 p.m., after the battle was fought, after he finished his course of life here on earth and having kept the faith, he heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

A beloved husband, father, cherished granddad, great granddad, brother, uncle, and a Christian friend who leaves a devoted wife, Doris Thomas; six (6) loving and devoted children and a son-in-law, George William Thomas, Jr., Brenda Tommie Thomas, both of Buena Vista, Georgia; Tony Jerome Thomas, Jacksonville, Florida; Janis Evon (Mitchel) Carthon, Albany, Georgia; Desiree Jackson, Albany Georgia; and Jeffery Thomas, Waianae, Hawaii; Seven (7) grandchildren: Brian Quanez Williamson, Buena Vista, Georgia; Second Lieutenant Keimon Kornelius Jackson and Brystan Thomas Carthon both from Albany, Georgia; Nyshona Carthon, East Point, Georgia, Brian Mitchel (Trashonda) Carthon, Sneed Ferry, North Carolina; Brandon Lewis (DeAndrea) Carthon, Huntsville, Alabama; and Shanica Cherie (Calvin) Poole, Albany, Georgia. Five (5) loving great grandchildren Chloe Carthon, Layla Williamson, Talia, Camryn, and Savannah Poole;  Five (5) devoted siblings:  Eula Thomas Green, Essie Thomas, Willie Roy Thomas, all of Buena Vista, Georgia; Doris Thomas (Jimmie) Milner, Columbus Georgia; and Bobbie Jean Thomas, Buena Vista, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Jacqueline "Jackie" Durham-West, age 55 passed on September 16, 2019

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Taylor County Auditorium, Oak Street, Butler, Georgia. Burial will follow at Pine Level Baptist Church, 6540 Old Wire Road Hwy 280, Junction City, Georgia.

Jackie was born on March 9, 1964 in Junction City, Georgia, to father Thurman Durham Sr. and mother Minnie Lee Durham. She grew up in a large, loving family with three sisters and 8 brothers. She graduated from Central High School in Talbotton, Georgia.

Jackie was a driven professional at KIA in West Point, GA with a secret love of romance novels and horror movies. When diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, she remained dedicated in her work and in her will to fight her illness. She remained a brave, iron-willed woman, even throughout her final days.

Jackie leaves behind her husband, Ronnie West, Sr.; her daughter, Sasha West; her son, Ronnie West Jr.; and her granddaughter, Autumn West; as well as her children-in-love, Steven Hartage, Stephanie Tymes, Marcus Howard, Janina Jones, Kim Hatcher, and April Dixon; her grandchildren-in-love, Janiya Jones, Troytavia Denmark, Jacinda Hartage, Maximus Hartage, Savannah Hartage, Carmen Howard, Madyson Morton, and Kelby Tymes; sisters, Annie Claude Green, Sandra Hatcher, and Elaine Bell; her brothers, James Carreker, Robert Carreker, Charlie Carreker, Samuel Durham, Johnny Durham, Thurman Durham, Horris Durham; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Johnny Carreker