​Shelby Jillian Shaw, age 33, 602 Washington Street, Montezuma, Georgia, passed on May 29, 2018.

The funeral service will held at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Magnolia Baptist Church, 415 Hosie Waters Street, Montezuma, Georgia.

​Shelby Jillian Shaw was born November 17, 1984, to Charlotte Nicholson Shaw and Elijah Shaw, Jr. Shelby was affectionately called “Jill”, “Jill Mae”, “Shel” and “Jilly”, by her family who loves her dearly. Shelby loved family and family time. She was always willing to do whatever she could for her family and friends.

Shelby was a 2003 graduate of Macon County High School where she was a member of the Lady Bulldogs Basketball Team, the MCHS Girls Track Team, MCHS Prom Committee, FVSU Educational Talent Search, and the Foreign Language Club. She was also a Merit List Honor Student. She attended Georgia Southwestern State University and was most recently attending the University of Phoenix seeking a degree in Information Technology. Shelby was employed by Georgia Power VogtleNuclear Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia.

Shelby was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Charles B. Nicholson, and her paternal grandparents, Elijah Shaw Sr. and Catherine Shaw; paternal aunts: Mable Shaw, Brenda Shaw, Elloree McCallum.

Left to cherish beautiful memories of Shelby are her parents: Charlotte Nicholson of Montezuma, Georgia; and Elijah Shaw Jr. of Waynesboro, Georgia; her brothers: Michael Shaw (Jennifer) of West Palm Beach, Florida; Trevor Shaw (Denisha) of Byron, Georgia; Cailon Shaw of Atlanta, Georgia; Elijah Shaw III of Atlanta, Georgia; maternal grandmother, Elois Nicholson of Montezuma, Georgia; Aunts: Caroline Carter (Norman) of Montezuma, Georgia; Christene Clifton (Milton) of Tampa, Florida, Uncles: Robert Nicholson of Miramar, Florida; Daniel Shaw (Carla) of Macon, Georgia; Mark Shaw of Atlanta, Georgia; Great Aunts: Elizabeth Larry (Willie James) of Montezuma, Georgia; Phyllis Nicholson-Middleton of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Great Uncles: Felix Nicholson of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; James Nicholson (Anita) of Wilmington, Delaware; Joseph Nicholson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dedicated cousins: Makayla and Vindhya Carter of Montezuma, Georgia; Keishya Larry of Montezuma, Georgia; Sharmillian Larry of Montezuma, Georgia; and a host of relatives and friends.

​Leonard “Charlie” Byse, age 82, 127 Spanky Avenue, 3rd Street, Lot 66 Trailer 25 passed on May 22, 2018 at his residence.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 26, 2018 at House of God Miracle Temple, 602 Hoke Smith Avenue, Ideal, Georgia, where Theresa Smith is Pastor. The Reverend Rodney Duncan will officiate. Burial will follow in Hopewell Independent Church Cemetery, Brooks Mill Road, Rupert, Macon County, Georgia.

Leonard was born December 19, 1935 in Ideal, Macon County, Georgia to the late Wille Ben Byse, Sr. and Mamie Lou Howard Byse. He was preceded in death by one son, Danny Byse, and all of his siblings, Owens Byse, Mattie Walker, Willie Ben Byse, Jr., Ulysses C. Byse, Monroe Byse, Fannie M. Glover, Marvin Byse, Eddie Byse, Alfore Byse, and Mamie Davis. He was educated in the public school system of Macon County. Charlie was employed with Ford Motor Company for over 30 years. Following retirement from Ford Motor Company he return back home to Macon County. He was joined in holy matrimony to the late Jessie Alexander Byse.

He leaves to cherish his memories to one son Timothy Byse, Oglethorpe, Georgia; one adopted son, Peter Tate, Montezuma, Georgia; 10 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; an aunt, Ruthie Mae Howard, Ideal, Georgia; sisters-in- law, Carrie Pearl Byse, Shirley Byse both Ideal, Georgia, Christine Byse, Louise Byse, both of Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Thelma Louise Melvin-Mitchell, age 71, passed on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Heart of Georgia Hospice, Perry, Georgia.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, May 26, 2018 at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 114 Johnson Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

On May 9th 1947, a beautiful centerpiece came into this world. Thelma L. Melvin-Mitchell departed her earthly life for an eternal life on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Heart of Georgia Hospice Center in Perry, Georgia. Thelma Melvin Mitchell was born in Macon County, Georgia to the late Catherine and Henry Melvin. She was the fifth out of twelve siblings; in which Henry Thomas Melvin & Joe McCellar has preceded her in death. She was educated in the Macon County School System, being a Graduate of the D.F. Douglass High School Class of 1966. At an early age, she accepted Christ as her personal savior and joined the Davis Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she served as a devoted member even when she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and later joined Second Salem Baptist Church in Montezuma, Georgia.

Thelma was joined in holy matrimony to the late Sherman E. Mitchell in 1980. To this union, they were blessed to combine a total of five children. She leaves to cherish in her memories three children: Jarvis Mitchell (son, Samar Dallas), Varrick L. Melvin (Chaka McMullen Melvin); three grandchildren, Meosha Melvin, Khaliya Melvin (sons, Kayson & Kannon), all of Atlanta, Georgia, Yasmine & Dynna Melvin (son, Yevin) of Clarksville, Tennessee.

John "Shelton" Melvin (Regina Melvin); 6 kids blended by this union, Shadonna Nelson, Brittany Lewis, of Atlanta, Georgia, Au'Promice Mann, Africa Streeter (Lil Shelton), Charles Harris and Reginald Harris, with a combined total of 19 great grandchildren, all of Americus, Georgia; and one great grandchild who preceded her in her untimely death. Siblings, Annie Pearl Hamilton (Cleve), Mary King, Gail Rumph, John Melvin, all of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Shirley Hawkins, Rachel Clark (Jimmy), all of Montezuma, Georgia, Willie C. Melvin (Vernel), Inez Owens (Larry), both of College Park, Georgia, and Jimmy Melvin of Jacksonville, Florida.

She leaves a host of other relatives and friends: a special loving friend, Mr. Douglas Harrison. A day didn't go by without her talking to a group of beloved friends: Mattie Redding, Margaret McCants, Annie Harris "Pooh Gal", Alma Lester and son, Freddie Adams, Eric Mann also Milton Hayes and Leroy Harris.

The family will receive guests on Thursday, May 24, 2018 and Friday, May 25, 2018 from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the residence of Jimmy and Rachael Clark, 419 Hill Street, Montezuma, Georgia. They can be reached at 478-244-9288. 

​Deacon Robert Lee Hill, age 79, passed on May 15, 2018 at Medical Center of Navicent Health, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Sunday, May 20, 2018, Felton Chapel Independent Church, Highway 128, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Burial follow in the Church cemetery.

Deacon Robert Lee Hill was born on August 16, 1938 to the late Matilda Dixon Hill and Robert “Bob” Hill, in Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Ann Hill; a grandson Kimothy Collins; brothers, Willie James Hill, Herbert Lockhart, Jr.; sisters, Annie Maude Walker and Wilmearl Edwards; and mother-in law, Lula Mae Walker. He was educated in the local church schools. He was employed as farmer with Chester Gilmore Farms, Garden Valley Farms, and he retired for the Macon County Board of Education as a Bus Driver. He was a faithful member of Felton Chapel Independent Church where served on the Deacon Ministry and cemetery sexton.

Deacon Hill was joined in holy matrimony to Annie Mae Walker.

He leaves to cherish his memories: a devoted wife of 55 years, Annie Mae Walker Hill, Oglethorpe, Georgia; three children Eugene Hill (Lillie), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Patricia Walker, Reynolds, Georgia, and Raymond Hill (Pearl Collins), Oglethorpe, Georgia; 24 grandchildren; 49 great grandchildren; sisters, Bobby Ann McCrary (Ernest), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Elizabeth Hill (J.W.) Oglethorpe, Georgia, Maxine Daniels, Atlanta, Georgia, Matilda Joiner, Atlanta, Georgia; one brother, Talmadage Hill, Oglethorpe, Georgia; sisters & brother-in-law, Peggy Walker, Oglethorpe, Georgia, Minnie Walker, Atlanta, Georgia, Alice Neil Walker Green (Carl), Oglethorpe, Georgia, Estella Kazinazrul, Oglethorpe, Georgia, Mary Florence Hillmon, Oglethorpe, Georgia, Robert Walker (Catherine), Atlanta, Georgia, Frank Walker, Atlanta, Georgia, J.B. Walker, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlie Walker, Oglethorpe, Georgia, Shirley Lockhart, Perry, Georgia, and Larry Walker, Oglethorpe, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephew, cousins and friends including a nephew he reared as his own, Tony Walker, Oglethorpe, Georgia; devoted cousin, Annie Claude Thomas; and close friends, Robert Wells, Tommy Jones, Willie Joe Daniels, Rev. Willie Waymon, Charles Cannon, Minnie Horne, and Charlie Walker.

​Mrs. Delois Cooper, 223 Horton Drive, Americus, Georgia passed Sunday, May 6, 2018 at the Coliseum Hospital, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Big Bethel Baptist Church, Jackson Street, Americus, Georgia.  The Reverend Calvin Rollins, pastor, will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Staley Cemetery, Corner of Souther Field Road and Mayo Street, Americus, Georgia.

Delois Cooper was born July 4, 1941 in Americus, Georgia to the parentage of the late Ray Bell Hightower and Willie Mae Clark. She was preceded in death by two children, Shirlene Cooper Chambliss and Dianne Myers; two brothers, G. D. Clark and James Arthur Chambliss; and three sisters, Mattie Pearl Clark, Helen Watson and Mary Alice Clark.

She was educated at Welcome School in Americus, Georgia. Delois was a faithful member of New St. Paul Baptist Church and later she joined the band of Christian believers at Big Bethel Baptist Church. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Plains, Georgia. Delois worked for many years at the Stewarts’ Restaurant until she retired. One of her biggest joys was listening to gospel music, watching gospel videos, looking at old western movies and the Matlock show.

Delois was a great mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, but what made her so unique and astounding was the love she had for people. She truly showed genuine love toward her family, friends, and those she had just met. Matthew 25:35-40 clearly represents her “For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”. The love she had and showed touched so many lives. Her love will continue to be showed through our hearts...

She leaves to cherish her memories to her five loving children, Charles Cooper Jr. (Rosie), Alma Jean Cooper, Jacqueline Hall (Eric), Sharon Cooper and Lisa Cooper, all of Americus, Georgia; nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; siblings, Arthur Clark (Margaret) Jacksonville, Florida, Mary Clark, Americus, Georgia, Ora D. Williams (Otis), Americus, Georgia, Evelyn Floyd, Americus, Georgia and Edna Clark, Vera Beach, Florida; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including three devoted, Monica Borrow, Janice Arnett and Ernest Cooper.