​Dondi Maurice Prather, age 40, passed on July 16, 2019 in Columbus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Bridges Road, Buena Vista, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, New Providence Church Road, Buena Vista, Georgia.

Dondi was born in Columbus, Georgia on October 30, 1978 to Willie A. Prather Sr., and the late Helen McBride Prather. He was reared by his father and stepmother Eddierene Sanders Prather. He was educated in the public school system of Marion County.  Over the years he was employed with Tyson as a live catcher. As a child he attended Popular Spring Baptist Church in Buena Vista, Georgia. Dondi was a social butterfly; he enjoyed being around family and friends providing them with a laugh. 

He leaves to cherish his memories: his parents, Willie & Eddierene Prather of Buena Vista, Georgia; two children, Jourdin Maurice Prather, Rockhill, South Carolina and Mariah Prather, Columbus, Georgia; a companion Stephanie Banks alongside her children whom he reared as his own Markayla Banks, Janiya Banks, and Kourtney Banks all of Columbus, Georgia; four siblings Willie Prather Jr., Buena Vista, Georgia, Rosana King (Mike) Columbus, Georgia, Monica Sanders, Buena Vista, Georgia and Timothy Prather (Clarice), Buena Vista, Georgia; nieces and nephews, Da’Von King, Keveon Sanders, Bre’Anna Prather, Ti’myia Prather and Meori Wells; aunts and uncles, Mozelle Ramsey (Jerome), Buena Vista, Georgia, Charles Prather Jr. (Carlesa), Louisville, Kentucky, Barbara Green (Ronnie), Phenix City, Alabama, Elvira Trice (Richard), Kentucky, Charlie Mae Robinson, Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda Prather, Columbus, Georgia, Elonza Prather, Cusseta, Georgia, Thad Prather (Jeanette), Buena Vista, Georgia, Sandra Taylor, Rosie Moon, Mary Shorter (Keith), all of Columbus, Georgia, Stephanie Stickney (Bruce),  Verdell Prather all of Buena Vista, Georgia, Verlene Smith (Sidney), Gail King, Japhus Daniel, Marybeth Daniel, Tory Daniel (Joann), and Steven Daniel all of Columbus, Georgia, Lula James, Annie James, Mathew Jones, Fannie Murray (Otis), Mamie Sanders, Vernon Sanders, Benji Sanders, all of Buena Vista, Georgia, Mary Cooper (Tyrone), Hawaii, and  Talitha Sanders, Columbus, Georgia;  great aunts and uncles, LC Robinson (Loretta), Columbus, Georgia, Ernestine Simmons and JC Robinson, New York, Lorretta Storey (Larry), New Orleans, Louisiana, Edna George Jacksonville, Florida, and a host of cousins and friends. 

Mrs. Ethel M. Bateman Hinton, age 99, of Ideal, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on her birthday, July 6th, 2019.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Friday, July 12, 2019 at Faith Memorial C.M.E. Church, Brooks Road, Ideal, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Hopewell Independent Church Cemetery, 2280 Brooks Mill Road, Ideal, Georgia.

​Ethel M. Bateman Hinton was born to John and Minnie Bateman on July 6th, 1920, in Turner County, Georgia. Ethel accepted Christ at an early age. She attended Old Pine Hill C.M.E. Church, which later became Faith Memorial C.M.E. Church. She served faithfully as an Usher. She attended Schley County Public Schools. She was a wife, mother and grandmother to her family and later worked at Southern Frozen Foods. On March 2nd, 1941, she married the love of her life, J. C. Hinton, who preceded her in death. To that union, 10 children were born: James E. Hinton (Willie Lou), Lucile Seay (Eddie) all of Montezuma, Georgia; John W. [JW] Hinton of Warner Robins, Georgia; Aldean Hinton, Eddie Hinton (Shelia), Nanette English (Reginald), all of Ideal, Georgia; Ethel T. Kemp of Decatur, Georgia; Alfonia Hinton (Dollie) of Atlanta, Georgia; Arthur L. Hinton of Mableton, Georgia; and Bobbie Hill (Booker) of Marietta, Georgia. Ethel had three sisters and two brothers who preceded her in death. She is survived by all 10 children; 36 grandchildren; 88 great grandchildren; 38 great great grandchildren; 2 great great great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. 

Annie Jo Lucas Phillips, age 80, 112 Easy Street, Americus, Georgia passed on July 7, 2019 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Friendship Baptist Church, 411 Cotton Avenue, Americus, Georgia.

Mrs. Phillips was born February 1, 1939 in Roberta, Crawford, County, Georgia to the late Joe Jones and the late Willie Faye Raines. She was reared by her mother and stepfather, the late Freddie Lee Raines. She was preceded in death by her five siblings, Rosa Mae Jones, Robert Raines, Agnes Raines Walker, Emma Raines Cook, and Georgia Ann Murchison. She was educated in the public school system of Crawford County.  Annie was a member of Travelers Home Baptist Church where she remained until her demise. She was married to Emmitt Heath and to the union five children were born. Annie retired from Magnolia Manor Nursing Center after 12 years of dedicated services.

Survivors are her five children, Sorrell Phillips (Kim), Lascalla Phillip, Girard Heath  (Dorothy), Tony Phillips,  all of Americus, Georgia, Danny Heath, Ellaville, Georgia; a goddaughter Ruth Robertson (Gregg), Americus, Georgia;  eleven grandchildren; six siblings, Ilene Raines, Ideal, Georgia, Clara Braswell, Christine Jones, both of Warner Robins, Georgia,  Eloise Raines, Ideal, Georgia,  Tommy Lee Jones (Bernice), John H. Jones (Gladys), all of Warner Robins, Georgia; brother-in-law Gilbert Marchison, Roberta, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends including devoted friend, Patricia Waters.

Teresa Ann Brown, age 46, 120 Apt. A, Hanson Drive, Americus, Georgia passed July 2, 2019 at her residence.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 6, 2019 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. 

​Teresa Ann Brown was born to the late Reverend Charlie Brown, the  late  Annie  Lou  Asberry  Brown,  and  the  late Jack Sims in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia, June 10, 1973.  Teresa was preceded in death by two siblings, Vera Mae Brown and Jeanette Dodson.  She was also preceded in death by her grandparents, Ella Lou Hamilton and James Brown, and an uncle, David Brown.  She was a 1991 graduate of Americus High School of Americus, Georgia. After several years of dedicated services, she medically retired from the Light House Restaurant as a cook.  She joined the Mount Olive Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member until her demise.  Servant of God, well done. 

Survivors  are her grandmother, Vera Mae Brown, Americus, Georgia; eleven siblings, Charles L. Brown (Sandra), DeSoto, Georgia, Cynthia Denise Brown, Americus, Georgia, Bobbie Jean Brown (James), Florida, Patricia Styles, Mac Arthur Sims (Essie), Americus, Georgia, John Sims,  Clyde Sims, Hollywood, Florida,  Willie Fred Sims, Michael Styles (Brenda), Charlie Brown, Jr. and Lincoln Brown, both of Trenton,  New  Jersey; aunts, and uncles include, William Brown (Yvonne), Joe  Brown, Walter Lee Brown, James Brown (Bobbie Jean), Ozie Mae Walton, Katherine Hamilton, and Katie Hamilton; a host of nieces and nephews including two devoted, Morgan Brown and Charles A. Brown; a host of loving cousins and friends including Verna  Bryant Thomas,  Lois Hamilton, Keneth Hamilton, Nancy Bryant Green, John Solomon, Liz Hodges, Jewell Josey, Annie B. Bryant, Annie Bell Moss, the Mount Olive Baptist Church family, Phoebe Sumter Hospice, Magnolia Manor, and Innovative Senior Solutions. 

Mrs. Gwendolyn Delois Redding Thornton, age 58, passed on June 29, 2019.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 109 Moody Road, Tazewell, Georgia.  Burial will follow at Evans Chapel C.M.E. Church Cemetery, 498 Church Hill Road, Preston, Georgia

Gwendolyn was born on August 21, 1960 to the late Leroy Redding and the late Eddie Mae Williams Redding in Buena Vista, Georgia. She was educated in the public school system of Marion County and was a 1978 graduate of Tri-County High School. She furthered her education at South Georgia Technical College where she received a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. She went on to earn her Master of Business Administration degree from Ashford University. Through the years she was employed with Marion County Headstart and Middle Flint Behavior Healthcare in Administration. At an early age Gwendolyn accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She was a faithful member of Evans Chapel C.M.E. Church where she served as the church secretary and was a Member of the Women’s Missionary Society. She also served on the South Columbus-Cordele District.  Gwendolyn served as Vice-President of the Board of Christian Education. On the West Georgia Region, she served as treasurer of the Women’s Missionary Society. She was elected to serve as a delegate to the 19th Quadrennial of the Women’s Missionary Council on the connectional level of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Gwen was on the battlefield for the Lord.

Two hearts became one when Gwendolyn was joined in holy matrimony to Ellis Thornton Jr. and to this to union two children were born.

She leaves precious memories to her devoted and loving husband, Ellis Thornton, Jr., Buena Vista, Georgia; two caring children, Ellis Fidel Thornton, Buena Vista, Georgia, Brandon Lamar Thornton (Shandra), Phenix City Alabama, two sons in love,  Patrick Peeples (Regina), Columbus, Georgia, and Deondrick Thornton, Jacksonville, Florida; six precious grandchildren, Kameron Thornton, Kamelia Thornton, Syniah Brown, Kamethian Thornton, Keon Hart, Jamarcus Peeples; two loving siblings, Mary Dell Houston, Samuel Askew, (Chiwan),  all of Richland, Georgia; loving aunts and uncle, Rose McGhee, Columbus, Georgia, Ludie Rozier, Annie Redding and Henry Mack Redding, all of Linden, New Jersey, and Willie Elma Williams; loving sisters/brothers-in-law, Mary Morris, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ruby Solomon, Ellaville, Georgia, Bobby Gaines (Sylvester), Dexter, Georgia, Linda Murray, Ellaville, Georgia, and Nathaniel Thornton (Shearlean); a host of loving and caring nieces, nephews, other  relatives and friends including a devoted cousin Ocie Baker (Robert), Preston, Georgia.

​Mrs. Annie Ruth Smith Harris, age 69, passed on June 30, 2019 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, July 5, 2019 at Zion Grove Baptist, 91 Whitehouse Road, Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, Montezuma, Georgia.

Annie was born on March 6, 1950 in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Willard Smith Sr. and Lola Brown Smith. She was preceded in death by one son, Felix Bernard Smith, and four siblings, Willard Smith Jr., Samuel Josh Canady, Lillie M. Smith, Elgen Smith Sr. She was educated in the public school system of Macon County. Annie was a member of Zion Grove Baptist where she enjoyed singing in the Church choir. She was employed at the Southern Frozen Food where she retired as a Line Technician. Annie met and married the love of her life the late James Harris Sr. and to this union three children were born.  

She leaves to cherish her memories: two children, Mrs. Casstine Alford (Eddie), Oglethorpe, Georgia and Mr. James E. Harris Jr., Montezuma, Georgia; six grandchildren, Ryan McKenzie, Warner Robins, Georgia, Justin Jenkins, Kenyetta Passmore, both of Oglethorpe, Georgia, SSG Mack Passmore Jr. (Ronnay), Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jamez Harris and Kennetra Harris, both of Montezuma, Georgia; great grandchildren, Nyla Passmore, Mack Passmore III, Kennedi Davis; four siblings, Robert Smith, Erie Calvin, both of Americus, Georgia, Percella Smith, Byron, Georgia, Jerry Chastine, Atlanta, Georgia; aunts, Louise Lee and Min. Jessie Mae Canady and both of Montezuma, Georgia; her phone buddies; and a host of loving & caring nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Deacon Robert Lee Vaughn, Jr., age 81, departed this life on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. 

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, June 30, 2019 at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church, Georgia Hwy 30, Americus, Georgia. Burial will  follow in the Eastview Cemetery  in Americus, Georgia. 

He was born on November 6, 1937 to the parents of the late Mr. Robert Vaughn, Sr. and Mrs. Bertha Vaughn in Russell County Alabama. Deacon Vaughn was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from A. S. Staley High School in 1957. At an early age, Deacon Vaughn gave his life to Christ, and he worked faithfully in the Union Tabernacle Baptist Church until his death. He was married to Mother Johnnie Vaughn, and they lived a blessed, happy life for fifty-eight and a half years. 

Deacon Vaughn was a devoted father to Mrs. Sheila Vaughn Moran and a loving grandfather to Mrs. Alisa Janay Trout and Mr. Timothy Trout.

He is survived by several close cousins, Mr. Nelson Brown (Luneda), Mrs. Virginia Minter (Walter), Mr. Charlie B. Brown (Yvonne), Mr. John Bottley, Jr. (Geneva), Mrs. Bobbie Ann Williams, Mrs. Bertha Day, Mrs. Betty Lewis (David), Mrs. Glenda Leonard (Henry), and Mrs. Ruth Ann Middleton. He is survived by three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Hazel Brown, Mrs. Patricia Walton, and Mrs. Sharon Woody (Jimmie). Deacon Vaughn was an uncle to several nieces and nephews, Mrs. Stacey Towns (Ricky), Mr. Carlton Zanders (Sarah), Ms. Kamika Davis, Mr. Christopher Walton  (Tachelle), Mr. Willie Walton, Jr. (Telesa), Ms. Kenyatta Thomas, Ms. Whitley Walton, Mrs. Teresa Stewart, Mrs. Shonda Reed. He was also a godfather to Mr. Carlton Glenn Maye (Patricia), Rev. Paul Little and Natalie Little, Ms. Koreen Davis, Ms. Keondria Banks, and Mrs. LaSondra Swain.

He was a good provider for his family. He worked at Marlette Coach Company as a supervisor until they closed. He also worked as a supervisor at Cooper Lighting for thirty years until his retirement in 2002. 

Deacon Vaughn was truly a man of God. He served in many capacities in the church. He was the leader of the Deacon’s Ministry, Adult Sunday School teacher, Finance Committee member, Serving Team member, and a member of the Music Ministry until illness prevented him from continuing to sing. Deacon Vaughn believed in the word of God. He believed that we should walk by faith and not by sight and that we should be faithful until death. 

Deacon Vaughn was a strong, quiet man who loved God, his church, and his family. He was a father figure and role model to many. Whenever you saw “Dec” as everyone called him, you saw Mother Vaughn. They were always together on this lifelong journey. ”Dec” had a fun-loving side because he loved sports, especially cheering for his Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Bulldogs. Psalms 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed spirit.” We love and miss you Deacon Vaughn, but we all say, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

​Prophet Corley, age 68, better known as “Sponk” of 301 Railroad Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia passed Tuesday morning, June 25, 2019 at the Coliseum Park Hospital, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at the Pilgrim Rest Primitive Baptist Church, Railroad Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Reverend Coley Clark, Jr., pastor of Zion Grove Baptist Church,  will officiate.

Prophet was born November 26, 1950 in Andersonville, Sumter County, Georgia to the late Dalzie Wallace Corley and the late Obie John Corley, Sr.  He was preceded in death by two brothers, Obie John Corley, Jr. and Ernest Corley. Prophet was educated in the Macon County Public School system.  After high school Prophet moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he lived with his sister, Cora Corley Sanders.  After several years in Atlanta, Georgia he returned back to Oglethorpe, Georgia where he acquired a job with the city of Oglethorpe Sanitation Department.  After about thirty years, he retired as a truck driver.

Sponk leaves a legacy of love and many fond memories to his beloved family including three sisters, his oldest sister, Gladys Corley Baldwin, his sister and caretaker, Cora Corley Sanders, both of Oglethorpe, Georgia, and Emma Corley Silas (Calvin) Atlanta, Georgia; a beloveth aunt, Willie Ruth Higgins (Champ) Atlanta, Georgia; nieces and nephews including devoted nephew, Ervin Baldwin (Annette), Antonio Corley (Teresa), Ernest Sanders, Jr. all of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Obie Corley, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia, Anthony Baldwin, New York, a loving and dedicated nephew he assisted in rearing Calvin Sanders, Tashika Roberts (Charlie) Atlanta, Ga, Leola Griffin, Oglethorpe, Georgia; great nieces & nephews, Jessica Baldwin, Jeromy Baldwin, Ervin Baldwin Jr., Kendra Baldwin, Estee Griffin, all of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Sierra Cromer, Albany, Georgia, Tiffany Baldwin, Perry, Georgia; great great nieces and nephews, Antiliyah & Antonio Corley Jr., Caniya & Caleah Sanders all of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Krischian McClain, Charli Roberts and Cameron Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia and a host of beloved cousins and friends.

Charlie James Pride, of Dallas, Texas originally from Andersonville, Georgia, passed at the age of 68 on June 17, 2019.

A memorial service will be held 3:00 P.M., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Charlie James Pride was born August 3, 1950 in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Mr. Calvin Abraham Pride and the late Mrs. Willie Mae Davis Pride. He was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice J. Brown Pride, and a brother-in-law, Mr. Rudolph Coley.

He received his education in the public schools of Sumter County, Georgia and graduated in 1968. After high school, he enlisted and joined the United States Army. During his tour in the Army, he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

He leaves to cherish his memories: four children: Kerri Pride, Donald Bernard Pride Sr., Desmelda Pride Hill, all of Americus, Georgia, and Charlene Johnson of Columbus, Georgia; 7 grandchildren: Naija Abdul-azeez, Brianna Pride, Donald Bernard Pride, Jr., Jacolby Pride, Kelliondrea Hill, all of Americus, Georgia, Jacorey Rivers and NyAsia Rivers of Columbus, Georgia; his brothers, Frank B. Pride of Columbus, Georgia, Michael Pride of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Kirkland (Kerri) Pride of Americus, Georgia, and Ernest (Sonja) Pride of Albany, Georgia; his sisters, Velma Coley and Ms. Tommie McCuller of Andersonville, Georgia; and a daughter like his own, Sharece Willey of Dallas, Texas. He has a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family who loved him dearly. Several relatives and friends also survive.

Mrs. Mildred Williams Edmonds passed June 17, 2019.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 110 South McDuffie Street, Buena Vista, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Mt. Zion Road, Buena Vista, Georgia.

Mildred Edmonds was born in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia on October 5, 1942, to the late Irene Jackson Williams and Ananias Williams Sr. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Joe Lewis Williams and Ananias Williams Jr. She graduated from John Lewis High School in 1961, Ellaville, Georgia. She was employed by Pratt & Whitney of E. Hartford, Connecticut for many years. She later moved to Georgia and worked for the Travelers Insurance Company of Alpharetta, Georgia, retiring in 2007. She received her Real Estate license while living in Douglasville, Georgia.  She was married to the late Levi Edmonds.

She is survived by her daughters: Veronica Williams of Vernon, Connecticut, Jacqueline Williams, Manchester, Connecticut and Bridget Edmonds, Hartford, Connecticut; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren; seven siblings, Harold Williams, Sr. (Beulah), Columbus, Georgia, Annie Rene Williams, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Dorothy Graves (Linwood), Killeen, Texas, Mary Ann Williams (Dan), Manchester, Connecticut, Sallie Williams, Bloomfield, Connecticut, Larry Williams (Bonnie), Bloomfield, Connecticut, and John D Williams, Sr. (Paris), Lithonia, Georgia; three uncles, Milton Minter (Irene), Clarence Minter (Marjorie), and Willie Minter (Louise); an aunt, Mary Lou Minter, all of Buena Vista, Georgia; sister-in-law, Thelma Williams, Americus, Georgia; and a host of nieces , nephews, relatives and friends.