Mother Anna B. Whitehead Woolfork, age 80, 2020 Horseshoe Bend Road, Montezuma, Georgia passed Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at the Coliseum Northside Hospital, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 9, 2013 at First Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 191 Twin Church Road. Montezuma, Georgia. Interment will follow in Champ Waters Cemetery, Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia

Mother Woolfork was born June 28, 1932 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Cleveland Whitehead, Sr. and Pennie Brown Whitehead. She was preceded in death by six siblings: Roy Whitehead, Marvin Whitehead, Mazelle Whitehead McKenzie, Nathaniel Whitehead, Lula Whitehead Harvey and Clevelle Whitehead. She acquired her education from the historic Flint River Farm School. At an early age, she joined the Poplar Spring Baptist Church of Unadilla, Georgia. She later joined the Shade Arnold Baptist Church, where she was very active as a choir member, Mission Board, and Hospitality Committee.

Mother Woolfork’s heart was captured by the one and only Anthony Woolfork, Sr. They were united in holy matrimony and to this union they were blessed with eight children, twenty-five grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

Recognizing that services is the rent we pay for our space on earth, Mother Woolfork, along with her husband, had a new vision and a new awakening in their spiritual lives. Together they were the founders of New Vision Tabernacle. She served as Mother of the church, Prayer Change Ministry and Mother’s Board Ministry. As Mother of the church, she kept the church ministries functioning and active. She was a caring and generous person on whom family, friends and neighbors could always depend for boundless love and support.

She touched many people in her career. She was always in a leadership position on the job. She was employed with Southern Frozen Foods, ILC Manf. and Macon County Headstart and retired after many years of dedicated services as a paraprofessional. Being very active in the community and dedicated to the cause of helping other, she became a volunteer with Americo Vista.

She leaves a legacy of love and memories to eight children, Bishop Jimmy Woolfork (Cassandra), College Park, Georgia, Theodora Tookes, Ft. Valley, Georgia, Anthony Woolfork, Jr., Montezuma, Georgia, Bernadette Hughes (Jerome), Macon, Georgia, Paula Johnson (Jimmie), Bonaire, Georgia, Donald Woolfork (Tamu), Ellenwood, Georgia, Ronald Woolfork (Denise) and Stanislaus Woolfork (Aldasha) all of Conyers, Georgia; 25 grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; five siblings, Euis B. Bazile, Warner Robins, Georgia, Irene Johnson (Oscar) Fairburn, Georgia, Rev. Amos Whitehead, Sr. (Shirley), Montezuma, Georgia, Cleveland Whitehead, Jr. (Lildora), Lithonia, Georgia and Fredrick West (Gwendolyn); eleven additional sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alonzo Woolfork, Jr. (Inez), Earl Woolfork (Mattie Mae), Marie Woolfork, JoAnne Woolfork, all of Montezuma, Georgia, Evelyn Whitehead, Greensboro, Georgia, Oscar McKenzie, Clayville, New York, Roosevelt Woolfork (Yvonne), Orlando, Florida, Jewell Lee Woolfork, Immockalee, Florida, Mollie Reed (Robert) Warner Robins, Georgia, Geneva Carter (James), Tifton, Georgia and Eddie Woolfork (Michelle), Canton, Michigan; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Rosetta Thornton Blackshear, age 56, 175 Cherokee Ave., Leesburg, Georgia passed Saturday, February 2, 2013 at Phoebe North Hospital, Albany, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Shiloh Road, Ellaville, Georgia. Interment will follow in Hopewell Cemetery, Hopewell Road, Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia. The Reverend Lem Wright, pastor, will officiate.

Mrs. Rosetta Thornton Blackshear was born March 23, 1956 in Sumter County, Georgia to the late Willie Bell Myrick Thornton and Ellis Thornton, Sr. She attended the public schools in Sumter and Schley Counties. She was a 1975 graduate from Tri County High School in Buena Vista, Georgia. Rosetta was not a stranger to anyone and did her best to make everyone around her feel comfortable and included. At a very early age, she joined the Jerusalem Baptist Church in Schley County, Georgia where she was involved in several Christian ministries of the church. She was the Mother of Jerusalem, a member of the Usher Board Ministry, Kitchen and Hospitality Ministry and public relations. She spent time with the young and old encouraging them to attend and support the church, be involved in the church ministries and activities. She also served as secretary of the Home Mission Society for a number of dedicated years.

She leaves a legacy of golden memories to her beloved family which include her husband of eighteen years, Deacon Willie James Blackshear, Leesburg, Georgia; three children, Lemont P. Thornton (Myra), Ellaville, Georgia, Deddrick K. Thornton, Sr. (Miranda Langes), Ellaville, Georgia and Tameka Johnson (Calvin), Dawson, Georgia; three step-children, Wanice Blackshear, Columbus, Georgia, Michael Blackshear, Buena Vista, Georgia and Mitchelle Blackshear, Irvington, New Jersey; thirteen grandchildren and nine step grandchildren; eight siblings, Mary Morrison, Oakland Park, Florida, Johnnie B. Solomon, Patricia J. Solomon, Ruby Solomon and Linda Murray, Ellaville, Georgia, Bobbie Gainey (Sylvester), Dexter, Georgia, Ellis Thornton, Jr. (Gwendolyn), Buena Vista, Georgia and Nathaniel Thornton, Sr. (Shearlean), Ellaville, Georgia; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Rose Roberts, Hartford, Connecticut, Vera Watson and Fannie Williams, Bishopville, South Carolina, Mary Stewart Hand, Jacksonville, Florida, Shellie Blackshear, Jr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Roger Blackshear, New Brunswick, New Jersey and Freddie L. Blackshear, Jacksonville, Florida; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.