​Jamorrian Devon Johnson, age 17, 366 Cora Drive, Ellaville, Georgia passed Saturday, October 29, 2016.
 
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, November 4, 2016 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 104 Packinghouse Road, Americus, Georgia. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery, Ellaville, Georgia.    

Jamorrian, affectionately called "Big Man," was born June 2, 1999 in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia to Mario Smith and Tiffany Johnson. Jamarion was educated in the public school system of Sumter County and was currently an 11th grade student at Americus-Sumter High School. He was a linebacker on the Americus-Sumter High Panthers football team and was also on the baseball team. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Eddie Stovall, grandmother, Theodora Thornton, and brother, Jarius Johnson.

Jamorrian was full of joy, for he loved joking with his brothers, sisters, and friends.  He also spent time studying the bible and learning about God's promises for mankind.
 
Survivors are his parents, Tiffany La-Nee Johnson-Clayton (Myron)  and Mario Smith (Andrea), both of Ellaville, Georgia; maternal grandparents, Angelita Neal (Ronnie) and Elijah Johnson, both of Ellaville, Georgia; paternal grandmother, Julia Mae Smith; ten siblings, Breana Smith, Precious Smith, Cole Smith, Jasmine Mercer, Keondra Lundy, Jamyron Clayton, Ja’Myah Clayton, Ja’Breah Clayton, Jiyah Clayton, and Jazlynn Clayton; aunts and uncles, Wylinda Smith, Jerome Smith (Linda), Antwan Smith, Rahine Neal (Ivey), all of Americus, Georgia, Katesha Tyner (Chris), Labrent Neal, all of Atlanta, Georgia, Deacon Eddie Stovall, Jr. (Chiquita), Warner Robins, Georgia, Natasha Johnson, Crystal Peeples, both of Ellaville, Georgia, Nigel Clayton, Buena Vista, Georgia, Vennie Thornton, Rhode Island, New York, Eric Clayton, De’Erica Clayton, and Anthony Clayton, all of Columbus, Georgia; devoted cousins, Quantavious Johnson and Savion Johnson, who along with Big Man and his brother referred to themselves as "The Four Boys,"; devoted friends, including Derrick Tatum, Jr., Brae'lin Williams, and Sh'Qual White; a host of other relatives and caring friends.

​Benita Nichole Edwards Thornton, age 34, 189 King Circle, Ellaville, Georgia passed Friday, October 28, 2016 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, Georgia.
 
The funeral service will be conducted at 3:30 P.M., Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1908 Dozier Road, Ellaville, Georgia. Rev. William Laster, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
 
Benita was born October 20, 1982 in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia to the late Clyde Edwards and Vernida Blue Edwards. She was a 2001 graduate of Schley County High School. She matriculated later at South Georgia Technical College of Americus, Georgia. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and joined the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Ellaville, Georgia. She was a member of the youth choir. She was united in holy matrimony to Nathaniel Thornton, Jr. on August 10, 2007. She was employed as a shift supervisor with 911 Middle Flint of Georgia for ten years.
 
She leaves to cherish her memories: a husband Nathaniel Thornton, Jr., Ellaville, Georgia; stepsons, Caramen Soloman, Kamauri Brown, and Daylen Greene; two brothers, Illy O. Edwards (Teresa), Ellaville, Georgia and Dexter L. Edwards (Cynthia), Tampa, Florida; mother-in-law, Patricia Williamson (Ray); father-in-law, Nathaniel Thornton, Sr. (Sherlene); sisters-in-law, Deidre Mitchell, Americus, Georgia, and Tiffany Harris (Quincy), Ellaville, Georgia; nephews and niece, Malik D. Edwards, Quentin D. Edwards, Myla S. Edwards, Madden D. Edwards, and Brittany S. Peeples, all of Ellaville, Georgia; godbrother, Michael Carter, Ellaville, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Mirtis B. Coggins (Irving), Clinton, Maryland, Curtis Blue, Larry Edwards (Bertha), all of Ellaville, Georgia, Robin Manfields (William), Austell, Georgia, and Lee Arness Edwards, Milledgeville, Georgia; great aunts and uncles, Lillie Jean Peeples, Atlanta, Georgia, Inez Trice, St. Petersburg, Florida, Mary Dean Smith (Norman), Brooklyn, New York, Cornelius Ann Sellars, Macon, Georgia, and William Smith (Lorene), Ellaville, Georgia. Her extended family includes her stepmother, Linda Ross; step sisters, Ashley Patterson and Temple Patterson, Americus, Georgia; a host of nieces and nephews.

​Mr. James E. Wilcher, age 73, received his wings on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at his home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Cedar Creek Baptist Church, 940 Conners Mill Road, (County Road 130-Highway 240) Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia. Reverend Willie Jordan, Pastor will officiate.

James was born in Ellaville, Georgia to the late James Wilcher and Pairee L. Harvey on September 12, 1943. He attended school in Schley County, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his mother, Pairee L. Harvey; father, James Wilcher; brother, Bobby Lee Wilcher; and sisters, Ella Dean Wilcher and Earlene McNealy.
 
At a young age he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he worked for UPS for 35 years. He enjoyed doing for others and cherished his family and friends.  
 
He is survived by his children, Michelle Wilcher and James Dozier; nieces, Brenda Williams and Annette Franklin all of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nephews Travis Wilcher and Tavaris Wilcher, both of Atlanta, Georgia and Kenney McNealy, Chattanooga, Tennessee; special great niece and nephew, Kadeadra McNealy and Jamale McNealy both of Chattanooga, Tennessee; a special friend, Ernest; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Antonio Demetrius Holmes, Sr., age 47, 1403 Parker Street, Americus, Georgia died October 27, 2016 in Albany, Georgia.
 
The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Friendship Baptist Church, 415 Cotton Street, Americus, Georgia, where Bishop Melvin McCluster is pastor.  Reverend Kendrick Barlow, pastor of New Testament Missionary Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia, will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Sun Story Road, Ashburn, Georgia.
 
Antonio was born June 3, 1969 in Ashburn, Turner County, Georgia to Corine Coley Holmes and the late Arthur R. Holmes, Sr.  He was a 1988 graduate of Albany High School. He was employed with Imery of Andersonville, Georgia as a mill operator.
 
On June 29, 2002, he was united in holy matrimony to the former Fatema Dowdell and to this union they were blessed with four children and three grandchildren.  Their love was inseparable until his demise which came in the loving surrounding of his beloved family on Thursday, October 27, 2016.
 
He accepted Christ as his personal Savior and joined the band of Christian believers at New Testament Missionary Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
 
He leaves a legacy of love and many fond memories to his beloved wife, Fatema Dowdell Holmes, Americus, Georgia; his mother, Corine Coley Holmes, Albany, Georgia; father-in-law, Edward Lockhart, Americus, Georgia; four children, Antonio Holmes, Jr. (Beverly) Lawton, Oklahoma, LaShay Dowdell, Tyeesha Walton, and Tristen Holmes, all of Americus, Georgia; four grandchildren, DeAngelo Jenkins, Antonio Holmes III, Aryn Holmes and DeAron Dowdell; siblings, Arthur Holmes, Jr. (Lynda) Albany, Georgia, Christopher Holmes, and Shakisha Jones (Cartes) all of Albany, Georgia, Sherrine Gipson (Darren) and Lewanda Bateman (Patrick), all of Ashburn, Georgia and RoShundra Martin (Collier), Marietta, Georgia; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Wanda Thomas, Americus, Georgia, Stanley Lockhart, Cordele, Georgia, Antonio Dowdell (Erica), Antonio Cooper and Terell Dowdell all of Americus, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Betty Sue Mays, Ashburn, Georgia, Elizabeth Jones, and Verdie Ruth Holmes both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bessie Coley, Ridgeland, South Carolina, Louise Byrd, Albany, Georgia, Willie C. Coley (Louise), A.J. Coley (Georgia), Tommy Lee Holmes, Aaron Holmes, Memzie Holmes all of Ashburn, Georgia, Susie Ann Coley, Chula, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other cousins, and friends.

​Durel Hudson, age 74, Detroit, Michigan passed Sunday, October 23, 2016.

​The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the Antioch Baptist Church, GA Hwy 26 West, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Reverend Dr. George Porter, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Davis Chapel Cemetery, GA Hwy 26 West, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Durel was born May 9, 1942 in Macon County, to Lula Pearle Tookes-Hudson and the late Oliver Hudson Sr. Durel was educated in the Macon County School System. At an early age, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He was preceded in death by his father Oliver Hudson, Sr. and two brothers, Ernest Hudson and Edward Hudson.
 
On December 27, 1966, he joined in holy matrimony to Betty Jean Greene and to this union they were blessed with two daughters, Aliney Machell Hudson-Love and Monica Annette Hudson. Durel moved to Detroit, Michigan in January of 1968. He started employment with General Motors Corporation in 1968 and retired in 2001 after 30 plus years of service. Durel loved to hunt, fish, landscape (his and others yards), and hang out with longtime friends and talk about old times at the plant and growing up down south in the country. Durel’s love for his grandchildren and great granddaughter was ever present with his constant catering to their every WANTs and NEEDs.
 
On October 23, 2016 God came for one of his greatest angels, leaving to cherish his memories: his wife of 49 years, Betty Jean Hudson; his loving daughters, Aliney Machell-Love and Monica Annette Hudson; two granddaughters, Brittany Camille Love and Janay Sarah Love; one great granddaughter, Khloe Elizabeth Love all from Detroit, Michigan; his loving mother, Lula Pearle Hudson of Oglethorpe, Georgia; six devoted brothers, Oliver Hudson (Florine), Henry Joe Hudson (Ann) all of Detroit Michigan, Willie Hudson (Estelle) of Savannah, Georgia, Milton Hudson, Kenneth Hudson (Mamie) and Donald Hudson, all of Oglethorpe, Georgia; two sisters in-law, Dorothy Westberry of Jacksonville, Florida and Patricia Greene of Manchester, Connecticut; four loving aunts; Dorothy Haynes of Ellaville Georgia, Eunice Hudson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Evern Tookes Sanford of Detroit Michigan and Irene Tookes Bias of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Also to cherish his memories were some special friends, Abraham “Abe” Ellis, Lee “Bunny” Ellis, Mr. Howard Ware, Ralph Brady, and Johnny “Country”. Also left to cherish "Uncle Durrey" memories is an honorary grandson, Ryan Moton.

The family may be contacted at the home of his mother, Mrs. Lula Pearl Hudson,  314 Stewart Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

​Jessie Harris, Jr., age 67, 121 Margie Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia passed on Saturday evening, October 22, 2016.
 
The funeral service will be held at 5:00 P.M., Thursday, October 27, 2016 at St. James C.M.E Church, 215 Railroad Street, Marshallville, Georgia, where Reverend Miracle Bass is pastor. Rev Joe Oglesby, pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Tazewell, Georgia, will officiate.  Burial will follow at Colonel Felton Cemetery, Marshallville, Georgia.
 
Jessie Harris, Jr., “O.C.” as he was known by family and friends, was born on November 13, 1948, in Marshallville, Georgia to the late Jessie Harris, Sr. and Eva Lou Oglesby Harris. He was preceded in death by one brother, Eddie James Harris. He was educated in the public school system of Macon County, where he was a 1967 graduate of the historic D.F. Douglas High School in Montezuma, Georgia. Following graduation, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and, by trade, became a Radiology Technician. He was employed for over 30 years and retired from Kaiser Permanente in San Jose, California. In 1974, O.C. first met and married Cynthia Murphy. Later on in life he was able to share his love with the lovely Rosetta Woods and on June 23,1989, they were joined in holy matrimony. He was a simple humble man who loved life and his family.
 
He leaves to cherish his lifetime of memories to his wife, Rosetta Woods Harris; four children, Adrianne Sherrill, Tameka Harris, Jesse Maurice Harris and Sheena Clark, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Jerome Murphy who he reared as his own; 12 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; five siblings, Chester Harris, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Billy Harris (Sarah), Marshallville, Georgia, Tommie Harris (Francis), Hinesville, Georgia, Alred Harris (Connie), Warner Robins, Georgia, and Brenda Bottom (Sam), Marshallville, Georgia; ten stepchildren, Tracy Mosley (Jimmie McNeil), Warner Robins, Georgia, Tontina Muhammed (Shakur), Detroit, Michigan, Herman Lovell Woods, California, Joe Bellard, Tennessee, San Antonio Bellard (Marie), Saint Louis, Missouri, Emma Robinson (Lamont), Renetta Brown (Ian), all of Detroit, Michigan, Kenneth Bellard, Texas, and Carol Bellard, Detroit, Michigan; 28 step grandchildren, 42 step great grandchildren;  and a host of  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Ethel Lee Lane Milner of Americus, Georgia has transitioned to her new home on October 14, 2016. Her memories will live on with all of those who loved her especially her daughter Mikita Milner. A memorial will take place at a later date.