Susie Clee Hart, age 63, 170-B Lakeview Drive, Americus, Georgia passed Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, September 7, 2013 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Interment will follow in Union Hill A.M.E. Church Cemetery, Spivey Street, Ellaville, Georgia.

Susie Clee Hart was born May 31, 1950 to Susie Cottle Hart and the late Harry Hart, Sr., in Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia. She was a 1968 graduate of John Lewis High School. After completion of High School she moved to Ohio where she attended Youngtown Art Institution whereas she earned a degree in Fashion and Modeling. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and joined the Valley Missionary Baptist Church of Ferrell, Pennsylvania. She was employed as a CAN at O’Brown Nursing Home of Sharon Pennsylvania. After returning to her native home, Ellaville, Georgia, Susie worked with various companies of Americus, Georgia including, Williams Office Equipment, Trampoline Place of Americus, Georgia and she was a caregiver.

Survivors are a beloved mother, Susie Cottle Hart, Ellaville, Georgia; a beloved son, David Hart, Sr., Oglethorpe, Georgia; two grandchildren, David Hart, Jr., and Lacey Hart both of Byron, Georgia; five siblings, Ida Mae Lampkins, Americus, Georgia, Harry D. Hart (Helen), Albany, New York, Angie Austin, Hermitage, Pennsylvania, James Largers Hart (Diann), Americus, Georgia, and Ruby Hart Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia; a loving companion, Amos Carson, Americus, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces and nephews; a host of loving and devoted cousins including two devoted, Ealy Cottle, Sacramento, California and Linda Haynes, Ferrell, Pennsylvania; and host of other relatives and friends.

Elline Minter Johnson, age 64, 130 Minter Lane, Buena Vista, Georgia passed Sunday, August 25, 2013.

The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 noon, Saturday, August 31, 2013 at the Hall Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Georgia Highway 26 West, Buena Vista, Georgia.  The Reverend Zackery Terry will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Tazewell Cemetery, Georgia Highway 240, Tazewell, Georgia.

Elline, affectionately called “Big Mama,” was born August 1, 1949 in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia to Ellen Terry Minter and the late Charlie Edward Minter, Sr. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charlie Edward Minter, Jr. She was also preceded in death by one aunt, Doris Terry Johnson and two uncles, Arthur Terry and David Jordan.

She was a 1968 graduate of Buena Vista High School.  At an early age she joined the Hall Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where she served faithfully on the Junior and Senior Usher Board Ministry.  After many years of dedicated services she retired from Tyson Food, Inc. of Buena Vista as De-Boner Technician in 2010.  She was united in holy matrimony to Gene Rogers Johnson and to this union they were blessed with one daughter, Tasha Johnson.  She was also blessed to be the mother of one adopted daughter and one son-in-law, Felicia Johnson Vereen (Demecrice).  To add to the legacy of her life, she was blessed with five grandchildren: Malike, Donovan, Kalea, Brianna and Destiny.   Others survivors are a beloved mother, Ellen Terry Minter, Buena Vista, Georgia; two brothers, Leonard Minter  (his wife, Dorothy) and Ricky Minter all of Buena Vista, Georgia. Aunts and uncles include Helen Terry Minter, Buena Vista, Georgia, Ulysses Terry (his wife, Annie Ruth) Indianapolis, Indiana, Reverend Tommy Terry, Sr. (his wife, Mattie Lois), Veristine Jordan, Walter Johnson, Bobbie Terry Woods (her husband, Wallace) all of Columbus, Georgia; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including five very close friends, Mrs. Mary Francis Jackson-Tymes, Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. & Mrs. Laverne & Jeffery Majors, Preston, Georgia, Ms. Lois Jackson, Buena Vista, Georgia, and Ms. Juanita Chapman, Buena Vista, Georgia.

Augustus Smith, age 62, 967 Flint River School Road, Montezuma, Georgia passed Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at Zion Grove Baptist Church, Whitehouse Road, Montezuma, Georgia.  Rev. Coley Clark, Jr., pastor, will officiate.  Interment will follow in the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, Georgia Highway 26 East, Montezuma, Georgia.

Augustus “Gussie”  “Papa” Smith was born June 14, 1951 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Nathaniel Smith and Willie Mae Kaigler Smith.  At an early age, he joined the band of Christian Believers at Zion Grove Baptist Church.  He acquired his elementary education from the Flint River Farm School.  He was a 1970 graduate of D. F. Douglass High School.  After many years of dedicated services, he retired as a farmer from the farms of Leroy James and Roosevelt James.  For twenty plus years, he was the companion of the late Realice Johnson.  His extended family included her children.

He leaves a legacy of love and memories to his five siblings, Hattie Smith Eley, Seattle, Washington, Annie Smith Allen (Willie James), Samuel Smith, Mary Smith Hammock, Patricia Smith, all of Montezuma, Georgia; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Loftly Smith, Hartford, Connecticut; one aunt, Thelma Kaigler, Warner Robins, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Rickey Rydale Fulks, Sr., age 53, 24 Webb Street, Byromville, Georgia passed Sunday, August 18, 2013.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, August 24, 2013 at New Hope Baptist Church, Georgia Highway 26 East, Montezuma, Georgia, where Reverend Allen Waters is Pastor, Reverend Coley Clark, Jr. will officiate. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery, Dooling, Georgia.

Rickey Rydale Fulks, Sr. was born March 15, 1960 in Dooly County, Georgia to Heddie Mae Burden and the late John Henry Fulks. He was reared by his paternal grandmother, the late Sadie C. Fulks. J. W. West and the late Florence Fulks West were instrumental in helping to rear him. He was preceded in death by his great grandparents, the late Pearline Brinson and Bobby Lee Brinson. He was a 1978 graduate of Vienna High School, Vienna, Georgia. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He was employed with Blue Bird Body Company for four years as a line finisher. He was a member of Reedy Branch Baptist Church, Byromville, Georgia.

He was married to Mrs. Lee Ann Fulks. He was blessed to be the father of four children, Rickey Rydale Fulks, Jr., Byromville, Georgia, Latonya, Turvinqulus, and Ricktavious Fulks, all of Jackson, Mississippi; a loving companion, Ms. Denise Colbert, Montezuma, Georgia; a beloved mother, Ms. Heddie Mae Burden, Byromville, Georgia, step-mother, Norman Jean Fulks, Atlanta, Georgia; 10 grandchildren; three siblings, Pervis Burden (Bonnie), Maxine McReynolds (Keith), all of Jacksonville Beach, Florida and Trinity Burden, Americus, Georgia; aunts, Evelyn Gamble (Robert), Chicago, Illinois, Essie Vera Walker, Saint Louis, Missouri, Edith Fulks, St. Petersburg, Florida, Pauline Harvey (Johnny), Montezuma, Georgia, Jenell B. Lester, St. Petersburg, Florida; a very devoted friend, Larry James Johnson (Linda), a devoted cousin, Valerie West; brothers- in-law and sister-in-law, Larry Hamilton, Byromville, Georgia, John Henry Hamilton, Atlanta, Georgia, Anthony Coleman, Darren Coleman, and Paula Coleman all of Lily, Georgia; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Robert Lewis Lyles, age 52, 1405 Colquitt Avenue, Albany, Georgia passed Sunday, August 11, 2013. The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 noon, Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Friendship Baptist Church, 411 Cotton Avenue, Americus, Georgia. Bishop Melvin McCluster, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at 10:00 A.M., Monday, August 19, 2013 at the Andersonville National Cemetery Rostrum, 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, Georgia.

Mr. Robert Lewis Lyles was born November 16, 1960 in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia to the late John Benjamin Lyles and Bertha Ree Holmes Lyles. He was preceded in death by two siblings, Nettie Pearl Lyles Woods and Ruby Dean Lyles Baisden. He was also preceded in death by three brothers-in-law, Robert Baisden, Sr., Benjamin Thomas, and John Melvin Ingram.

He was educated in the public school system of Sumter County whereas he was a 1979 graduate of Americus High School. He enlisted in the United States Army January 15, 1980 and was honorably discharged October 25, 1982. During the time of his service, he was a member of the 196 Avn Company whereas he was a Petroleum Supply Specialist. He was the recipient of the Army Service Ribbon and Expert M-16 Rifle Badge.

He was formerly employed with Davidson Rubber Company as an assemble line technician. He acquired his Christian training in the local churches of Americus and Albany.

He leaves a legacy of love and memories to his beloved family which include his four children, Sabrina Lyles (and friend, Anterio McKinney) Albany, Georgia, Crystal Lyles (her friend, Sean Gray) Americus, Georgia, Keyanna Lyles (her friend, Fred Reddick), Albany, Georgia and Travis Wilson (his friend, Cynthia McDonald), Albany, Georgia; nine grandchildren, Keldrick Hightower, Kayshon Lyles, Kayvon Lyles, Anijila Lyles, Dezmon Lyles, Leonnia Moore, Travis Wilson, Jr., Tamia Wilson and Zyion Gray; Maternal grandparents, Allie B. King and Hiram King, Sr., Columbus, Georgia; eleven siblings, Ora Dean Ingram, Americus, Georgia, Nathaniel Lyles, Plains, Georgia, Bennie James Lyles (Lillie), Willie Lee Lyles (Anita), Johnny B. Lyles and Annie Lee Cleveland all of Americus, Georgia, Mary Ann Lyles Hill, South Carolina, Mamie Tavares (Jesus), Plainfield, New Jersey, Sara Lyles Thomas, Jonesboro, Georgia, Annie B. Lyles, Riverdale, Georgia and Charles Edward Lyles (Barbara), Ideal, Georgia; brother-in-law, Eugene Woods, Americus, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Barbara Ann Bradley (Eddie C.) Brenda Lattimore (Jerry) all of Columbus, Georgia, Annie Bell Holmes, Americus, Georgia, Glenn Holmes (Luvena) Tifton, Georgia, Lois Twenty, Lorine Twenty, both of Americus, Georgia, Doris Holmes, Bainbridge, Georgia, Hiram King, Jr. (Teresa) and Clarence King all of Columbus, Georgia; devoted friends, Elaine Davis-Evans, Albany, Georgia and Lisa Rennie, South Plainfield, New Jersey; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lawrence “Sugar Boy” Latson, Jr. passed away at the age of 69 on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at the home of his daughter, Denise Latson-Brown, in Douglasville, GA.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at the Shade Arnold Baptist Church, GA Hwy 26 West, Montezuma, GA. Reverend George Porter, pastor, and The Reverend Joe R. Oglesby, pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Tazewell, Georgia, will officiate. Interment will follow at the Andersonville National Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, Georgia.

Lawrence was born on May 9, 1944 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Jessie Bell Lowe and Lawrence Latson, Sr. He was preceded in death by one sister, Barbara Jean Scott, and one brother, Henry Scott, Jr. At an early age, he joined the Shade Arnold Baptist Church. He was a 1962 graduate of D. F. Douglass High School in Montezuma, Georgia and moved to Atlanta in 1965. Lawrence was inducted into the U.S. Army on July 16, 1968, approximately one month after the birth of his first child. He served in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged on July 15, 1974.

Lawrence moved his family to Detroit, Michigan in 1972, where they remained until 1979. Lawrence always worked hard as an entrepreneur and businessman and while living in Detroit, he owned and operated Curry’s Party Store. Upon returning to Georgia in 1979, Lawrence continued proprietary ventures and worked for several years as the owner of Independent Mortgage Company. Prior to his passing, Lawrence owned and operated one of the few farms located in the metro Atlanta area. As the owner and developer of The Latson Farm, he specialized in the growth and distribution of organic produce.

Lawrence leaves to cherish his memories three daughters: Florence Denise Latson-Brown of Douglasville, GA, Jumekia L. Sutton (Paul) of McDonough, GA and Kristy Marie Latson-Wilson of Livonia, MI; one son: Michael Lawrence Curry of Douglasville, GA; two granddaughters: Kelly Brown of Douglasville, GA and Gabrielle Carter of Livonia, MI; seven grandsons: Shariff Brown of Douglasville, GA, Derian and Joshua Sutton of McDonough, GA, Justin Carter, Christopher Wilson, Kaleb and Jacob Clora of Livonia, MI; Eight siblings: Bernice Latson of Detroit, MI, Rosetta Bullock of Atlanta, GA, Mary Louise Little of Fort Valley, GA, Carton Scott of Warner Robins, GA, Marilyn Kirkland (Joe) of Douglasville, GA, Carolyn Barnes (Larry) of Indianapolis, IN, Billy Roy Scott of Detroit, MI and Marie James (Larry) of Atlanta, GA; three aunts: Rose Mitchell of Hartford, CT, Louise Lowe of Perry, GA and Elene Lowe of Montezuma, GA; a host of nieces, nephews and other beloved relatives and friends; a very dear and special friend, Sherrill Wilson.

Wendy Ellen Perry, age 54, 2790 Broadway Street, Toledo, Ohio passed Saturday morning, August 3, 2013 at the University Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, August 10, 2013 at the Union Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church, Will Spivey Street, Ellaville, Georgia. The Reverend Jefferson Davis, III, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

Wendy was born November 3, 1958 in Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia to the late George Peeples, Sr. and Etta Dean Jackson Peeples. Four siblings, Geraldine Shelton, Ester Mae Williams, Tony Peeples and Phillip Peeples, preceded her in death. She was educated in the public school system of Schley whereas she acquired her high school education from the old historic John Lewis High School. At an early age she joined the Union Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church whereas she attended Sunday School and participated in the church activities and supported every facet of the church she loved so well.

After high school, Wendy moved to Atlanta, Georgia whereas she became employed with Church’s Chicken as a cashier. Later Wendy was transferred to Church’s Chicken in Toledo, Ohio where she also becamed an assistant manager/cashier. Wendy was a dedicated employee for twenty-four years.

Wendy was married to Willie Robert Perry of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the proud mother of one daughter, Danielle Peeples Butler; and two granddaughters.

Survivors are a beloved daughter and son-in-law, Danielle Butler (Henry), Ellaville, Georgia; two granddaughters, Britany Peeples and Raven Butler, both of Ellaville, Georgia; seven siblings, Rachel Johnson (Curtis), Glenda Ruff, Harriett Peeples all of Ellaville, Georgia, George Peeples (Annie), Smithville, Georgia, MacGarry Peeples (Betty) Americus, Georgia, Connie Peeples and Scottie Peeples (Annette) all of Ellaville, Georgia; a loving and devoted companion, Raymond Adams, Toledo, Ohio; sister-in-law, Zelda Perry, Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Betty L. Rackley Green, age 67, 228 Stockbridge, New York  passed Friday, August 2, 2013 at the Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, New York. 

The funeral service will be conducted  at 1:00 P. M., Saturday, August 10, 2013 at  the First Salem Baptist Church, 191 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia. The Reverend Paul McFarland, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, 181 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia.

Betty was born in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to Mrs. Carrie Rackley and the late John D. Rackley.  She was educated in the public School System of Macon County and attended D. F. Douglass High School of Montezuma, Georgia with the class of 1966. She was retired as a line operator.

Survivors are children, Charlene Moore (Terry), Riverdale, Georgia, Aaron Malone, Atlanta, Georgia; mother, Mrs. Carrie Rackley, Montezuma, Georgia; siblings, Elizabeth Turner, Lula Rackley, Zebedale Rackley and Cecil Marshall (Emmitt) all of Atlanta, Georgia, Leslie Wilburn (Frank), Montezuma, Georgia, Leonard Rackley (Lunell), John B. Rackley, Curtis Rackley all of Montezuma, Georgia, Judy Gable, Oglethorpe, Georgia, Willie Harris, Montezuma, Georgia and Phillistine Garner, Lithonia, Georgia; aunts, Sarah Forehand, Fort Valley, Georgia; 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends