Mrs. Josephine Jolly McCrary, age 97, passed on May 23, 2017 at her residence surrounded by family. 

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Reverend Coley Clark Jr., Pastor of Zion Grove Baptist Church in Montezuma, Georgia will officiate.

Josephine Jolly McCrary was born on April 17, 1920 in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Elijah Jolly and Amanda Jolly. She was preceded in death by 11 siblings. At an early age she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and joined the band of Christian believers St. Paul Primitive Baptist Church in Montezuma, Georgia.  She was joined in holy matrimony to the late Charles McCrary.  Josephine was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and caring for her family.

She leaves behind five children, Jerome Jolly, Atlanta, Georgia, Earl McCrary, Americus, Georgia, Walter McCrary (Shirley), Atlanta, Georgia, Charlie Mae Hill (Percy), Macon, Georgia and Deloris Higgs (James), Americus, Georgia; 10 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.  

Mrs. Jamie Respress Graham, age 74, passed on May 25, 2017 at Summerville Senior Living Community, Perry, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Burial will follow at Willow Lake Cemetery, Fort Valley, Georgia.

Mrs. Jamie Graham was born March 29, 1943 in Crawford County, Georgia to the late Willie Fred Respress and Claudia Colbert-Respress.

“Curtis,” as she was commonly called, attended the public school system of Macon County, Georgia, where she graduated from the historic D.F. Douglass High School in 1964.

Thursday evening, May 25, 2017 while a patient at the Summer Hill Nursing Center, Perry, Georgia, she departed this earthly life. Her weary hours and days of pain, her troubled nights are past.  In our hearts, we know you have found sweet rest at last.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her siblings, Annie Ruth Rumph, Rose Bud Jackson (Harvey), Claudia Felton, Jerry Fields, and Willie James Respress (Willie Mae) all of Marshallville, Georgia, Mary Lindsey, Miami, Florida, Hannah Lowe, Fort Valley, Georgia, and Bobby Hightower (Ilene), Warner Robins, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends; a very devoted niece and nephew Keisha Simpson and Darrius Lowe

​Susanna Alridge Gardner, age 69, 1110 Alridge Road, Buena Vista, Georgia passed May 24, 2017 at her home.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1908 Dozier Road, Ellaville, Georgia.  The Reverend William Laster, pastor, will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Mt. Zion Road, Buena Vista, Georgia.

Mrs. Susanna Alridge Gardner was lovingly known to many relatives and friends as “Doot.”  She was born to the beloved parents of the late Michael Alridge, Sr. and the late Vernice Murray Alridge.  Born into a Christian family, Susanna learned early in life her path of duty.  She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and joined the band of Christian believers at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.  After joining the church she became a Sunday school scholar and worked diligently on the Usher Board Ministry.  After many years of dedicated services, she was given the title of Honorable Usher Minister.  She was educated in the public school system of Marion County.  She was a 1965 graduate of the historic Buena Vista High School.  She was employed as a social worker with the Tri-County Headstart Program and retired after thirty years of dedicated services in 2006.

She was united in holy matrimony to the late Joseph Samuel Gardner, III.  To this union they were blessed with three children and nine grandchildren.  She loved her children dearly and that love was reciprocated.

She leaves a life full of love and admiration for her children and grandchildren: Joseph Samuel Gardner, IV of Cusseta, Georgia and Dwanna Gardner Carter (Shawnon) Buena Vista, Georgia; nine grandchildren, Quanelius Holt, Zada Gardner, Kambi Gardner, Febe Carter and Meah Carter all of Buena Vista, Georgia, Rodderick Gardner, Mobile, Alabama, Cammeron Gardner and Biankka Chukwuma both of Birmingham, Alabama;  three siblings, Judson Alridge, Buena Vista, Georgia, Michael Alridge, Ellaville, Georgia, and Linda Dawson, Warner Robins, Georgia; a beloved sister-in-law, Gail Alridge, Buena Vista, Georgia; aunts and uncle, Lois Aldridge, Buena Vista, Georgia, Mary Fudge Hartford, Connecticut and Michael Minter, Atlanta, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces and nephews; a host of beloved cousins and friends including Marjorie Minter (Clarence), Buena Vista, Georgia.

​Willie Clarence “Punk” Solomon, Sr. age 71, 170 B Forest Park Road, Americus, Georgia passed Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 27, 2017 at Greater New Lebanon Baptist Church, Highway 308, Plains, Georgia. The Reverend George Monts, Pastor of Zion Hope Baptist Church, Sumter City, will officiate. Interment will follow in the New Lebanon Cemetery, Thomas Mill Road, Plains, Georgia. 

Willie Clarence Solomon, Sr. was born January 13, 1946 in Plains, Sumter County, Georgia to the late G.T. Solomon and  Ozie Bell Dew Wallace. He was preceded in death by three brothers, James T. Solomon, Bennie Wallace, and John Bernard Wallace. He was educated in the public school system of Sumter County.

He was united in Holy Matrimony in August 2004 to the formal Rosa Burton. He joined Greater New Lebanon Baptist Church at an early age where he served on the Usher Board Ministry. He was employed at J.D. Ray Trucking Company but mostly loved working on vehicles.
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He leaves to cherish his memories: a devoted wife of 13 years, Rosa Burton Solomon, Americus, Georgia; four sons, Clarence Solomon Jr. Jacksonville, Florida, Jermaine Solomon, Atlanta, Georgia, John (Stephanie) Burton Louisville, Kentucky, and Eugene Burton; Wisconsin; four daughters Ozzie Solomon, Atlanta, Georgia Vivian Solomon, Atlanta, Georgia, Christy Solomon, Americus, Georgia, and Viola (Sherman) Williams, Plains, Georgia; two siblings Earnest Solomon, Americus, Georgia Jimmy (Cindy) Wallace, Louisville Kentucky; two-sisters-in-law Judy Brown Wallace, Virginia Wallace, both of Americus, Georgia; two-brothers-in-law Charlie (Denise) Burton and Clarence (Lisa) Smith all of Americus, Georgia; a host of grandchildren and relatives he helped raise Portia Burton, Quanesha Burton, Shakedra Wilson, Curtis Solomon Jr. Joseph Solomon, 15 Grandchildren;  12 great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews including Constance Harris, Crystal Goldsmith, Earnest Solomon Jr., Torrance (Faith) Solomon, Kenya Wallace, Allison Solomon, LaTonie Solomon, Deann Solomon, Bobby Jackson, Leroy Myrick, Ricky Myrick, Julius Wallace, LaKeia Wallace, Calvin Wallace, Shatehema Johnson, Lanette Wallace, Clara (Leslie) Johnson; special friends including Michael Moore, RoyKell Hurley, Travis Hurley, Luke Hurley, Leonard Pope, Artis Bateman, Joshua Williams, Mary Jane Williams, Terry McCoy, Ricky McCoy, Minnie Lewis, Monesha Lewis and many other sorrowing friends.  

Aldyne Pride English, age 73, 863 Oscar English Road, Andersonville, Georgia passed Monday, May 22, 2017 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, Georgia.
 
A wake service will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 27, 2017 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Winder Road, Andersonville, Georgia, where Reverend Norris Harris is pastor. Burial will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia.
 
Aldyne was born September 3, 1943 to the late James Pride Sr. and Juanita Hannah Wiggins-Pride in Sumter County, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her brother, Monroe Pride. She was educated in the public school system of Americus, Georgia. She furthered her education at Island Institute of Drafting and Electronic. She was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church of Andersonville, Georgia where she served faithfully on the Usher Board.
 
She was united in holy matrimony to Alfred English and to this union they were blessed with two children. She was employed with several companies, such as VICON Industries where she started at an entry level and through promotions she elevated to a supervisory position. She supervised the Camera Security System at Balley Park Place Gambling Casino in Atlantic City. After retiring from VICON she accepted a position as a Receptionist at Publishing Clearing House of Syosset, New York.
 
Survivors are her beloved husband of 54 years, Alfred English, Sr., Andersonville, Georgia; two children, Alisa English Shepard (Craig) Patchogue, New York, and Alfred English, Jr. (Michele) Bay Shore, New York; stepson, Alphonso Harris (Beverly), Andersonville, Georgia; four grandchildren, Erick, Cory, Kamren and Tiahna; two great grandchildren, Isabelle and Alex; siblings, James Pride (Ann) Americus, Georgia, Ella Pride Hargett, Brooklyn, New York, Crawford Pride (Earline) Dothan, Alabama and Bessie English (Milton) Oglethorpe, Georgia; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Nathaniel (Elizabeth) English, Andersonville, Georgia,  Doris (Elder Van) Snead, Orange Park, Florida, Artie (Walter) Schofield, Jacksonville, Florida, Ruby Ludaway, Jacksonville, Florida and Margaret Tookes English, Oglethorpe, Georgia: a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Eddie L. Jones, Jr. age 68, 8710 South West 11th Street, Pembroke Pine, Florida 33025 passed May 13, 2017 at Memorial West Hospital West Hospital, Pembroke Pine, Florida.
 
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at the Zion Hill Baptist Church, 260 W. Allen Street (GA Highway 118), Leslie, Georgia, where Rev. James Hill is pastor.  The Reverend Eugene Hall, pastor of Jackson Grove Baptist Church, will officiate
 
Burial will follow in the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, Florida at 2:30 P.M., Thursday, May 25, 2017 of Jacksonville, Florida with military honors.
 
The family may be contacted at the home of his mother, Mrs. Emma Spencer Jones, 449 Bone Road, Americus, Georgia.
 
Mr. Eddie L. Jones, Jr. was born August 29, 1948 in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia to Emma Spencer Jones and late Eddie Lee Jones, Sr. He was a 1967 graduate of Sumter County High School.  He continued his education at Miami Dave College of Miami, Florida.    He was a veteran of the United States Army.  He was a member of First Baptist Church of Brownfield, Miami, Florida.  He retired from Federal Government - Social Security Administration Division of Miami, Florida.
 
Survivors are a beloved wife of twenty-eight years,  Loretta Hall Jones, Pembroke Pine, Florida; children, Lathen Rogers (Sonya), Elkridge, Maryland, Lequeista Smith (Dwayne), Jacksonville, Florida; four grandchildren, Akilah, Ledarius, Dorian and Asha;  mother, Emma Spencer Jones, Americus, Georgia; siblings Ossie Bishop, Leslie, Georgia, Ira Jones, Americus, Georgia,  Mary Lee Preston (Jack), Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Calvin Jones ( Rosemary), Leslie, Georgia; loving and devoted aunts, Beaurina Johnson, Albany, Georgia, Ossie Johnson, Cobb, Georgia, Hattie Jones, DeSoto, Georgia and Addie B. Hightower, Leesburg, Georgia; a host of nieces,  nephews, other cousins and friends including Reverend Eugene Hall.

​Cedric English, age 59, 403 Russell Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia passed Friday, May 12, 2017.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the St. Paul A.M.E Church, Corner of Russell and Johnson Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia, where Reverend Norris Harris is pastor. Interment will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery, Memorial Drive, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Cedric was born May 21, 1957 to the late Sipp English and Mae Ola Russell English in Oglethorpe, Georgia.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Torryce English. He was educated in the public school system of Macon County and was a 1975 graduate of Macon County High School in Montezuma, Georgia. He attended the Fort Valley State College. Cedric confessed Christ as his personal Savior and joined the band of Christian believers at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Oglethorpe, Georgia.

He was joined in Holy Matrimony to the former Earnestine Haugabook and to this union, four children were born.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Earnestine Haugabook English, Oglethorpe, Georgia; four children, Monica Laster, Warner Robins, Georgia, Demarco Witchard, Americus, Georgia, Cedric English, Jr., Montezuma, Georgia and Carol Hollis, Warner Robins, Georgia; one sister, Rosa English Marshall, Oglethorpe, Georgia; aunts and uncle, Daniel Russell (Ellen Rose) Decatur, Georgia, Ruthie Bell Dooley, Atlanta, Georgia, Annie Mae Jairrels, Decatur, Georgia and Emma Parrish, Bonaire, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.