​Mrs. Thelma Jean Oliver Williams, age 55, 343 Stewart Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia passed Monday, March 25, 2019 at the Phoebe Sumter Hospital, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Sunday, March 31, 2019 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Corner of Russell and Johnson Streets, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Thelma was born April 17, 1963 in Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia to the late Walter Oliver, Jr. and Joyce Tookes Oliver.  She acquired her high school education at the historic D. F. Douglass High School.  She grew up attending the Saint Paul A.M.E. Church along with her siblings, aunts, and uncles.  She was preceded in death by two of her siblings, Deborah Elaine Walker and Walter Cornelius Oliver, III.

Thelma loved her family and her community, where she was a personal health care provider for Sarah Trask for over 25 years of dedicated services.

She was united in holy matrimony to the late Dock Williams and to this union they were blessed with five children who loved and cared for her dearly, Sakema Clark (Aldean), Perry, Georgia, Melissa Oliver, Montezuma, Georgia, Lamar William (Kennisha), Warner Robins, Georgia, Fabin Williams and Tomeka Williams both of Oglethorpe, Georgia; fourteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren; four siblings, Laverne Walker (Robert), Oglethorpe, Georgia, George Steven Oliver, Miami, Florida, Vincent Oliver (Lydia) Montezuma, Georgia and Sebastian Oliver, Miami, Florida; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. 

Cheryl Haynes Sampson, age 44, 2970 Lighthouse Way, Conyers, Georgia passed Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Piedmont Rockdale Hospital, Conyers, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Sunday, March 31, 2019 at Union Hill AME Church, Will Spivey Street, Ellaville, Georgia. Burial will follow in the Church cemetery.

Cheryl Haynes Sampson was born February 18, 1975 to Barbara Rogers Haynes and Ernest Gregory Haynes in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia. She attended elementary and middle school in Schley County and went to high school at Tri-County High School in Marion County. Cheryl was a 1993 graduate of Tri-County High School. She was a faithful member of Union Hill A.M.E. Church in Ellaville, Georgia. Cheryl was previously employed by the Middle Flint E911 dispatch center in Ellaville, Georgia and Sumter Phoebe Hospital in Americus, Georgia.

Cheryl was the proud mother of five children, including 2 beautiful daughters and 3 handsome sons. She was preceded in death by her father, the late Ernest Gregory Haynes.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019, the angel of death swiftly moved and released our beloved Cheryl from her pain and called her home to rest.

Cheryl leaves to cherish her memories: her stunning daughters, Jazmin Briana Caldwell, Conyers, Georgia; Danique Wright, Albany, Georgia; three handsome sons, Christopher Jamison Marquez Caldwell, Ellaville, Georgia, Markell Ke’Shon Sampson, Buena Vista, Georgia, Jamal Ke’von Sampson, Buena Vista, Georgia; A loving, tenderhearted, and sarcastic nephew, Kabren Erness Hawkins, Conyers, Georgia; A beautiful, loving mother, Barbara Jean Rogers Haynes, Ellaville, Georgia; two loving, dedicated, and loyal sisters, Alethea Briana Haynes, Ellaville, Georgia and Ernestina Shante Haynes, Conyers, Georgia; aunts/uncles, Turner (Sandra) Rogers, Stella McCarter, Steve Rogers, Michael Rogers, Delois Rogers, Elaine (Tracy) Fudge, Mary Rogers, Lewis (Tania) Rogers, Willie Rogers, Vivian (Emmett) Lawson, Joann Murray, Janice (Donald) Cottle, Carol McIntosh, David McIntosh, Mary (Milton) Storey, Martha Shelton, and Gloria Wright. She also left behind a host of devoted and loving cousins and other relatives, including three trustworthy and devoted special friends, Sylvia Murray, Charlise Alford, and Vincent Jackson. 

​Lelia Marie Burney, age 75, passed on Friday, March 22, 2019 at Phoebe Putney Hospital , Albany, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Lebanon Baptist Church, 403 Botsford Road, Plains, Georgia. Rev. Hosie Waters, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow at the New Hope A.M.E. Church Cemetery, Smithville, Georgia.

Ms. Lelia Marie Burney, the daughter of the late Mr. Robert Burney, Sr., the late Mrs. Emma Tyson Burney, the late Mr. Rodolph Edwards, Sr. and Mrs. Martha Edwards, was born on July 2, 1943 in Smithville, Georgia. She attended the public schools of Lee County in Leesburg, Georgia and graduated from Lee County Training School in the class of 1961. She furthered her education by attending Albany State College in Albany, Georgia. After completing two years at Albany State College, she moved to Miami, Florida where she finished her post-secondary education.

After returning to Smithville in 1970, Marie accepted positions at Lee County Manufacturing Company in Leesburg, Georgia as a Line Supervisor from 1970 – 1994 and at Woodgrain Millworks in Americus, Georgia as a Supervisor from 1995 – 2009, when she retired.

Marie knew that as she traveled life’s journey she would face numerous obstacles, trials, and tribulations; therefore, she confessed Jesus Christ as her personal savior and joined the Green Grove Baptist Church in Smithville, Georgia and was baptized by the late Reverend Daniel Thomas. After joining the church, she was extremely dutiful in her service. She served on the Ushers’ Ministry, Mission Ministry, and as a Vacation Bible School Staff member.

On Friday, March 22, 2019, she received her wings as her soul left to be with her savior in her heavenly home.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Mr. Robert Burney, Jr., Mr. Charlie Burney, Mr. J. C. Burney, and Mr. Herschel Edwards; sisters, Ms. Vinice Burney and Ms. Cora Burney.

She leaves a legacy of love to her children, Mr. Allen Smoak, Jr., Gainesville, Georgia; Mr. Torrence Burney, Smithville, Georgia; Mrs. Tamika Burney Carter (Corey), Newport News, Virginia; stepmother, Mrs. Martha Edwards, Smithville, Georgia; brothers, Mr. Daniel Smith, Rochester, New York; Mr. Willie Frank Bell, Los Angeles, California; Mr. Walker Fred Dean, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mr. James Tilles (Mae Frances), Decatur, Georgia; Mr. Ricky J. Myrick (Theresa), Mr. Morris Paul Edwards (Jackie), Mr. Rodolph Edwards, Smithville, Georgia; sisters, Mrs. Gracie Yelverton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ms. Connie Burney, Rochester, New York; Ms. Yvonnia Munns, Smithville, Georgia; Ms. Brenda J. Edwards, Fairburn, Georgia; Ms. Shirley Edwards, Leesburg, Georgia; uncle, Mr. Walter Edwards (Anna), Smithville, Georgia; grandchildren, Lavonda Holley, Allen Smoak, III, Allen J. Smoak, Ralphael Smoak, Kendrick J. Burney, Shadrika Burney, Jamaal Loud, Shakeria Ananda Burney, Kirsten Emma Nicole Burney, Devante’ La’Quon Carter, Koriana Mone’ Carter, Na’Lani Mahri Carter; great-grandchildren, Keyera Latia Holley, Keyasia Lamia Holley, Jaz’myne Danielle Green, Sahria Janay Grogans, Alauana Nicole Smoak, Jamaal Loud, Jr., Devante’ Michael Carter, and Deshaun La’Quon Carter, and Ralpheal Rashad Smoak, Jr.

Additional survivors include a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, her Pastor and First Lady Reverend and Mrs. Hosie Waters, and her Green Grove Baptist Church family.

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.  
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