​Malik DaLante Freeman, age 7, passed April 21, 2017.

A wake service will be held at 5:00 P.M., Friday, April 28, 2017 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the First Salem Baptist Church, 191 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia, where Reverend Jeffery Randle is pastor. Reverend Prince Brown will officiate. Burial will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia.

Malik was born June 15, 2009 in Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia to the parentage of Melinda Leggette and Michael Freeman. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary Simpson, and grandfather, Isaih McCoy. He attended Macon County Elementary School.

Malik had a joy for life. He centered his life around Mattel Hot Wheel Cars, reading, and spending time with his family. He enjoyed wrestling with his dad. He enjoyed watching Nick Jr. every night on T.V.

He leaves to cherish his memories to his parents, Melinda Leggette and Michael Freeman, Fort Valley, Georgia; grandparents, Joseph Freeman, Pearlie Forehand Riley (Jerry), and Jesse Simpson; five siblings, DAndre Harris, Montezuma, Georgia, Christopher Freeman, Aya Freeman, both of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mari Freeman, and Mi'Youna Freeman; aunts, Mattie Freeman, Bettye Freeman Howard, Sanyica Leggette, Jowanna Leggette, Viola Freeman, Sarah Freeman Rodgers, Esther Brown; uncles Isaih McCoy, Jr., Jarmar McCoy, Henry leggette, Cassius Freeman, Prince Brown, Glenn Freeman, Maurice Rodgers, and Willie Howard and a host of cousins and friends.

James Mullino Forehand, age 78, 1155 Lower River Road, Montezuma, Georgia passed Thursday, April 20, 2017.
 
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at First Salem Baptist Church, 191 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia where Reverend Jeffery Randle is Pastor. Reverend Governor Gibson, Pastor of Corinth Baptist Church, Garden Valley, Georgia, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia.
 
James was born March 8, 1939 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Pete Forehand and the late Mattie Tookes Forehand.  He was married to the late Ida Pearl Range Forehand.  He was educated in the public school system of Macon County.  James was a boxer in Miami, Florida.  He was very talented and skilled in auto mechanic, electrical and vegetable farming.   He was employed with various companies which include the following: Ben and Leonard DeVaughn Company, Boyce Riddle Farm and Clark Ford Tractor Company of Montezuma, Georgia.  For the past several years he has been self-employed as a lawn mower and tractor repairman.
 
He leaves a legacy of love and many fond memories: six children and their spouses, Janice Range, Fitzgerald, Georgia, Curby Range (Vickey), Bossier City, Louisiana,  Vanessa Winslow (Jeffery), Jonesboro, Georgia, Jemal Forehand (Grace), Norcross, Georgia, John Forehand, Americus, Georgia and Jody Forehand, Ft. Valley, Georgia;  ten grandchildren; Jeffery Winslow, Jr., Octavia Stewart Driver (Lynn), Tierra Range, Ezzard Stewart, Jr., Jenicia Winslow, Jamil Forehand, China Nichols, James Forehand, Jamiyah Forehand  and Jahara Forehand,  one sister, Pearlie Riley (Jerry), Montezuma, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Emma Richardson, Montezuma Georgia and Catherine Durham, Oglethorpe, Georgia; devoted friends Frank Jones, and Joseph Freeman and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends . 

​Mary Ann Williams Joiner, age 81, 47 Tulip Drive, Montezuma, Georgia passed Monday, April 17, 2017 at home surrounded by her beloved family.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the New Hope Baptist Church, Georgia Highway 26 East, Montezuma, Georgia. Rev. Allen Waters, Pastor, will officiate.  Burial will follow in the Church cemetery. 

Mary was born October 14, 1935 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Willie B. Williams and Bessie Mae Peterson Williams.  She was educated in the public school system of Macon County where she acquired her education from the historic Flint River Farm School.  At a very early age, she joined the Zion Hill Baptist Church.  She retired from the D.F. Douglass High School as a cafeteria worker. She also was employed with the Montezuma Health Care Center.

She was united in holy matrimony to the late Frederick James Joiner, Sr. and to this union they were blessed with thirteen children. Two children, Torena Joiner and Juanita Joiner Redding, preceded her in death.

She leaves a legacy of love and many wonderful memories to her beloved family which include her eleven children, Bessie English (Boiesy), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Dorothy Jean Rogers, Ruby Joiner, Brenda Joiner, Freddie Joiner, Mary Nell Joiner, Laura Lester (Tony), Rickey Joiner, LaShavous Joiner, and Kimyatta Joiner, all of Montezuma, Georgia and Fredrick Joiner (Kizzy), North Carolina; twenty-six grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; four siblings and their spouses, Mildred Johnson (Ernest), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Jonnie Mae Smith, Betty Ann Williams and Bessie Lee Williams, all of Montezuma, Georgia; sisters-n-law and brothers-in-law include Rubie Mae Miller, Adell Joiner (Johnnie Mae), Willie Joiner, and Willie McGhee, all of Montezuma, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends including Tiny Joiner and Angel English; caregivers, Staff of Geneva Hospice and Heartland.  

James Largears Hart, age 65, 898 Angus Drive, Americus, Georgia passed Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Shipp Chapel Baptist Church, 130 Georgia Hwy 49 South, Americus, Georgia. Rev. Daniel Clinton, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, 1908 Dozier Road, Ellaville, Georgia.

James was born January 2, 1952 in Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia to the late Harry Reynolds Hart and Susie Jane Cottle Hart.  Six siblings, Mark Lander Hart, Ronnie Samuel Hart, Susie Clee Hart, Willie C. Hart, and Arvie Hart, preceded him in death. He was educated in the public school system of Schley County. He was a 1970 graduate of John Lewis High School. He was a Cabinet Builder by trade.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Dianne Frizaer Hart, Americus, Georgia; two children, James Largers Hart, Jr. (Kimsharrian) Perry, Georgia and Suresa Hart, Americus, Georgia; seven stepchildren, Nakita Johnson (Robert), Natasha Johnson and Omar Miles (Tameka), all of Americus, Georgia, Janice Clark, Columbus, Georgia, Bridgett Taylor (Darryl), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Henry Clark (Dianne) Americus, Georgia and Eddie Mitchell; forty-two grandchildren; six great grandchildren; siblings, Ida Mae Lampkin, Americus, Georgia, Harry Diston Hart (Helen), Albany, New York, Angie Austin, Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and Ruby Jackson, Decatur, Georgia; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Willie Jean Harden (Charlie), Ocilla, Georgia, Brenda Baker, Belle Glade, Florida, J. C. Richardson, West Palm Beach, Florida, Katrina Richardson, Albany, Georgia, Leroy Richardson, Americus, Georgia, Vanessa Richardson, Belle Glade, Florida, and Helen Hart, Ellaville, Georgia and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Dr. Anthony English, age 56, 500 Quail Run Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia passed April 15, 2017 at Pine Point Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 110 Johnson Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia.  The remains will lay in state at the church one hour prior to service.

Anthony, known to many as "Maestro," was born January 14, 1961 in Macon County, Georgia to Clara L. Smith English and the late Cornelious English.  He was educated in the public school system of Macon County where he attended Oglethorpe Grammar School and graduated Macon County High School in 1979. Born in a family of educators, he continued his education at Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, Georgia where he received his Bachelor Degree in Music Education in 1983.  In 1998 he received his Master Degree from Albany State University in Educational Administration and Supervision.  In 2010 he acquired his Doctoral degree in Education from Nova Southeastern University.  His years of teaching, administrative duties, and supervision included the following schools:  Brunswick Elementary, Albany High, Assistant Principal - Roberta Elementary and Principal - Crawford County Middle.  He was a member and a great supporter of the National Educators Association (NEA) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

As a young man, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined the band of Christians at the Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Oglethorpe, Georgia under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Sanders. He exemplified his worth as a member, a choir director of the Oglethorpe Mass Choir, the Steward Board Ministry, the Trustee Board Ministry, and every facet of the church he loved so well.

His love of music and his melodic voice was heard in many harmonic compositions and plays. Anthony, Lyn Tyson, and Gary Hunter organized the “Silky Smooth Trio Band.” 

Anthony leaves a legacy of love and many fond memories to his beloved family which include the following: his loving and devoted mother, Clara L. Smith English, Oglethorpe, Georgia; his three siblings and their spouses, Milton English (Bessie), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Cheryl English Smith (Conrad), Warner Robins, Georgia, and Marvis Kent English, Oglethorpe, Georgia; his half sister and half brothers and their spouses, Michelle Davis (Charles), Paul Oliver, all of St. Petersburg, Florida and Cornelious Oliver (Pam), Americus, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including two devoted, Lyn Tyson and Gary Hunter.

Elijah Simmons, age 83, 4994 Poplar Springs Road, Byromville, Georgia, passed Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Old Poplar Spring Baptist Church, Popular Spring Road, Byromville, Georgia, where Rev. Jerome Glover is Pastor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Elijah Simmons was born February 11, 1934 to the late Millie Oliver and Ely Simmons. Elijah was educated in the public school system of Dooly County. Elijah was always a provider. At an early age he left school to start work so that he could help his dear mother take care of the house. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age and joined the band of Christian believers at Poplar Springs Baptist Church where he became a Deacon. He was a jack of many trades, as he worked as a carpenter, land owner, and bus driver for the Dooly County School System. Deacon Simmons was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Mavie Simmons. To this union one son, Orndra Simmons, was born.

Deacon Simmons found love again and went on to marry Glenda Haddock.

He was friend to many and loved and respected by all. He will be truly missed. He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving and devoted wife, Glenda Simmons;  seven children, Orndra Simmons, Frank Simmons (Robin), Atlanta, Georgia, Peggy Mackey, Ocala, Florida, Mary Merrell, Brunswick, Georgia, Lois Lester, Montezuma, Georgia,  Glenda Caldwell, Saint Petersburg, Florida, and Beverly Power, Atlanta, Georgia; a host of grandchildren; one brother, Jimmie Jones (Delois), Big Springs, Texas; two devoted nieces, Johnnie Mae Morgan, Gloria Simmons, Jacksonville, Florida; a devoted nephew, James Simmons, Montezuma, Georgia; other relatives and friends, including a special friend James Burden.  ​