Jackie G. Ward, age 54, a native of Macon County, Georgia and a citizen of Charleston, South Carolina passed Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at the Union Baptist Church, Norris Street, Montezuma, Georgia. The Reverend Joe Hairston, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, 181 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia.

Jackie was born December 18, 1957 in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida to the late George J. Ward and Mary A. Lewis Ward. She was educated in the public school system of Macon County. At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ the Lord as her personal Savior and joined the Union Baptist Church. She was employed with Bessingers Barbeque in Charleston, South Carolina for over 10 years.

She leaves to cherish her memories to her beloved children, Sarah Ward, Atlanta, Georgia, Stacy Ward Prince, Americus, Georgia, George Quincy Ward, St. Louis Missouri, Semmie McKenzie Jr., Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Ebony McKenzie Smith, Montezuma, Georgia, John McKenzie, Fort Hood, Texas; Ten grandchildren; eight siblings, Linda Ward, Montezuma, Georgia, George Ward, College Park, Georgia, Kenneth Ward, Stockbridge, Georgia, Cheryl Ward, Conyers, Georgia, Pamela McKenzie, Montezuma, Georgia, Gail Ward, Charleston, South Carolina, Ronnie Ward, Montezuma, Georgia and Kathy Mann, Montezuma, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Joe Henry Shaw, Sr., age 81, 13325 Holland Drive, Byromville, Georgia passed Monday morning, May 28, 2012 at the Montezuma Health Care Center, Montezuma, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Little Poplar Spring Baptist Church, corner of Poplar Spring Road and Jenkins Road, Byromville, Georgia, where the Reverend Marcellus Willis is pastor. Rev. Lewis Burden will officiate. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

Mr. Shaw was born September 29, 1930 in Byromville, Dooly County, Georgia to the late William Taylor Shaw and Willie Mae McCants Shaw. Born in a family of six, two siblings preceded him in death, W. T. Shaw, Jr. and Everlene Shaw Leary. He was educated in the public school system of Dooly County and Macon County. At an early age he joined the Little Poplar Spring Baptist Church. After completing two years of high school in Macon County, he moved to Pompano Beach, Florida where he met and later married the love of is life, the late Queen Ester Haye. And to this union, they were blessed with twelve children. Three preceded him in death; Vanessa Shaw, Joe Henry Shaw, Jr. and Jerome Shaw. He joined The Church Of The Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he served as acting deacon for a number of dedicated years.

He was a self-employed landscaper. He was owner and operator of Ever Ready Landscaping Company of Pompano Beach Florida and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (where he lived until he retired). In March of 2000, he moved back to his native land, Byromville, Georgia where he was affiliated with Little Poplar Spring Baptist Church again and remained until his death which came on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Mr. Shaw will be long remembered as a successful businessman and roll model in the Pompano Beach and Ft. Lauderdale communities. During his tenure, in Florida he was an inspirational leader to many young men and women who later became entrepreneurs in their business ventures. He will also be known for his famous barbeque sauce and those of us who are left behind, will never know his secret recipe. . . Sorry, "Suga-Suga" and "Tight-Man". (Joe Henry Shaw’s words of endearment that touched so many lives).

He leaves a legacy of golden memories to his beloved family which include: nine children and their spouses, Tommy Henry Shaw (Tanya), Binghamton, New York, Mattie Shaw Glover (Willie), Byromville, Georgia, Belinda Shaw, Warner Robins, Georgia, Clarence Shaw, and Lyzell Shaw (Deidra) all of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Reverend Leonard Jeffery Shaw (Della), , Nathaniel Shaw, and Sharon Ann Shaw (Dave) all of Atlanta, Georgia and Timothy Allen Shaw (Freda) Suwanee, Georgia; thirty seven grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren; Three siblings and their spouses, Emma Lou Washington, Omaha, Nebraska, Albert Shaw (Bernice), Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Donald Shaw (Ann) Detroit, Michigan; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Osia Mae McClendon, age 54, 604 Kelly Street, Warner Robins, Georgia passed May 21, 2012 at the Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the Mt. Pleasant/Travelers Rest Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, corner of Norris and Antigo Streets, Montezuma, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Whiteline Street, Montezuma, Georgia. The Reverend Sidney Kendrick, pastor, will officiate.

Osia was born July 13, 1957 in Macon County, Georgia to the late Carborn McClendon and Cathlene Jordan McClendon. She was preceded in death by one sister, Sandra Jean McClendon. She was educated in the public school system of Macon County and a graduate of the historic D. F. Douglass High School. She joined the Mt. Pleasant CME Church at an early age.

She was employed as a USDA Inspector with Perdue Foods, Inc. of Perry, Georgia.

Survivors are three sons and two daughters-in-law, Jimmie Lee Akine Jr, (Yolanda Nicole Harris) Perry, Georgia, Kelly Bernard McClendon, College Park, Georgia and Herbert James McClendon (Patricia), Columbus, Georgia; a companion, Willie James Kitchen, Jr, Warner Robins, Georgia; eight grandchildren; sister, Mary Stewart (Sam Burnam), Montezuma, Georgia; five aunts, Willie Lou Harvey, Montezuma, Georgia, Minnie McClendon, Indianapolis, Indiana, Flora Robinson, Buena Vista, Georgia, Gracie Smith, Montezuma, Georgia and Alice Jordan, Barnesville, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces and nephews, including one devoted, Leondra McClendon, Ft. Valley, Georgia; godchild, Tavoris Kitchen, Richland, Georgia; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Betty Jean Gardner Thornton, age 71, 3288 Flannigan Mill Road, Richland, Georgia passed Monday, May 14, 2012.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 18, 2012 at Cool Spring Baptist Church, Cool Spring Road, Buena Vista, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery. The Reverend Jerome Jones, Pastor, will officiate.

Betty Jean Gardner Thornton was born December 25, 1940 in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia to the late Tom Gardner and Beatrice Jackson Gardner. She was preceded in death by three siblings: Gertrude McKay, James Gardner and Joe Lewis Gardner. She was educated in the public school system of Marion County and was a 1959 graduate of Buena Vista High School. She was united in holy matrimony to the late J. W. Thornton and to this union they were blessed with two daughters. After many years of dedicated services she retired from the C & W Cabinet Company of Buena Vista.

Being reared in a Christian home she learned early in life her path of duty. She joined the Cool Spring Church where she served faithfully as the church announcer, usher and deaconess.

Survivors include her beloved daughters and son-in-law, Laverne McKinney (F.C.) Havelock, North Carolina and Seleta Thornton, Richland, Georgia; three grandchildren, Taneisha McKinney, Elisha McKinney and C. J. McKinney; four siblings, Tommy Frank Gardner, Atlanta, Georgia, Martha Miller, Union, Kentucky, Allene Thomas (G.W.) Buena Vista, Georgia and Jerome Gardner (Mary), Atlanta, Georgia; two aunts, Pinkey Green and Margie Thomas (Pastor Daniel), Columbus, Georgia; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Essie Mae Ramsey, Buena Vista, Georgia, Willie Frank Thornton (Mary Ann) and Henry Lee Thornton (Bernice) all of Richland, Georgia, Tom Thornton (Ruth), Felton Thornton all of Atlanta, Georgia, Verine Jackson and Eva Daniel both of Buena Vista, Georgia and Nadine Thomas, Atlanta, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mr. Hollis "Jake" Simmons, age 83, passed Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Warner Robins Rehabilitation Center, Warner Robins, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Poplar Spring Baptist Church, Byromville, Georgia, where the Reverend Marcellus Willis is pastor. The Reverend Willie James Simmons will officiate.

Mr. Hollis Simmons was born May 11, 1928 in Dooly County, Georgia to the late Eli Jones and Millie Oliver Simmons. "Jake," as he was called by family and friends, was preceded in death by four siblings, Ophelia Gary, Zellie B. Felton, Doris White and Lewis Simmons. At an early age, he joined Poplar Spring Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the United States Army. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Belleglade, Florida. After fifty years of dedicated service, he retired as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He was married to the late Clara Simmons.

Around 2005, he moved back to his nativeland where he remained until his demise.

Survivors are three sons, John Edward Simmons, Atlanta, Georgia, Ronald Simmons and Ricky Simmons, both of Buffalo, New York; three daughters,Gayell Simmons, Sabrina Simmons, both of Buffalo, New York and Marsha Atkins, Gainesville, Florida; three brothers, Abraham Simmons, Jacksonville, Florida, Elijah SImmons, Byromville, Georgia, and Jimmy "JD" Jones (Delois), Big Spring, Texas; a host of grandchildren; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, including two devoted, Peggy Mackey and Eddie Simmons; a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. J.C. Daniels, age 81, passed Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Coliseum Northside Hospital, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 11, 2012 at Shady Grove Baptist Church, White Water Road, Ideal, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

J. C. Daniels was born in Macon County, Georgia August 3, 1930 to the late M. C. Daniels and Rosa Mae Ford Snipes. He was educated in the public school of Macon County. At an early age he joined the Shady Grove Baptist Church along with his cousins. He was employed as a logger for some forty years. During these forty years he worked with Stafford Brothers, Hammocks Logging Company, Kelly Bearden Logging Company and Chipper Coogle Logging Company.

He was united in holy matrimony to the late Fannie Mae Howe Daniels and to this union they were blessed with seven children, two preceded him in death, Otis Daniels, Sr. and Willie J. Daniels. He was also preceded in death by two grandchildren, Otis Daniels, Jr. and Kim Turner Daniels.

He leaves a legacy of golden memories to his beloved children which included: Jimmy Daniels, Sr. (Thelma), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Emma Rumph, Ft. Valley, Georgia, Larry Daniels (Janice Hicks), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Linda Rose Daniels Smith (Leon), Reynolds, Georgia and Dangle Denise Colbert, Montezuma, Georgia; daughters-in-law, Barbara Daniels, Montezuma, Georgia, Diane Daniels, Oglethorpe, Georgia; uncle, Frank Duncan, Butler, Georgia; brother, Henry Gibson (Louise), Roberta, Georgia; devoted cousin, Nellie Mae Walker, Butler, Georgia; twenty five grandchildren, twenty three great grandchildren including one devoted, Cha‘Veyon Buckner; a host of beloved nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends including three devoted friends, Kelvin Hall, Americus, Georgia Oscar Holmes, Tommy Coogle, Robert Lee Hill, Rodney Vissage, Virlyn Harvey, Wilbert Smith, Reginia Smith, Henry Davis and Emma Richardson Hall, all of Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Mr. Fred Douglas Watts, age 60, passed Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Saint John Baptist Church, Allen Street, Leslie, Georgia. Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery, Kaylor Road, Leslie, Lee County, Georgia.

Fred Douglas Watts was born May 23, 1951 in Lee County, Georgia to the late Allen Watts, Sr. and Lizzie Mae Green Watts. He was preceded in death by four siblings: James Watts, Doris Watts, Lizzie Davis, and Nathaniel Watts. He was educated in the public school system of Lee County where he was a 1971 graduate of Lee County High School. He enlisted into the United States Army April 20, 1972. He was the recipient of several awards, ribbons and commendations. His tour of duty was served in Vietnam, Korea, IndoChina and Germany. Fred acquired his Christian training and joined the membership of St. John Baptist Church. He was a devoted member of St. John and a dedicated Usher. He supported every facet of the church ministries and loved his Christian family unconditionally. Fred enjoyed seeing people filled with Joy. He enjoyed telling those old stories and encouraging the youths to get an education or enter into the military. Everyone enjoyed Fred’s company for his compassion, wisdom and giving spirit.

He leaves a legacy of golden memories to his beloved children: Fredrick Fuller, Keith Fuller, Kenneth Fuller and Tony Fuller, Sr. all of DeSoto, Georgia, Fred Reddick, Eatonton, Georgia, Kenyada Watts, Atlanta, Georgia, Matthews Watts, Fort Drum, New York, Keysha Watts, Kentrell Watts both of Atlanta, Georgia, Tekela Watts, Smithville, Georgia and Azariah Watts, Albany, Georgia; eighteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter; fourteen siblings and their spouses, Johnnie Presbury, Snellville, Georgia, Allen Watts, Jr. (Patricia), Jacksonville, Florida, Vernetta Watts, Willie Watts (Rugenia), Emanuel Watts (Jeanette), Ricky Watts (Reginia), Vanessa Watts, Juanze Watts (Jennifer), all of Albany, Georgia, Lillie Watts, Lithonia, Georgia, Willa Watts, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Bernice Watts, Leslie, Georgia, Annetta Watts and Seneca Watts, DeSoto, Georgia, and Bridget Champion (Jeffery) Columbus, Georgia; a devoted friend, Joan Smith, Albany, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.