Baby Girl Kyndall Elise Douglas, 225 W. 2nd Avenue, Buena Vista, Georgia passed Sunday, December 29, 2013.

The graveside service will be conducted 2:00 P.M., Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Buena Vista City Cemetery, 3rd Avenue, Buena Vista, Georgia.  Rev. Tabatha Walton will officiate.

Baby Girl Kyndall Elise Douglas was born December 8, 2013 to the parentage of Markita Troup and Kevin E. Douglas.  She was the sister of Keldrick Douglas, Buena Vista, Georgia, Sadie Douglas, Zion Douglas, both of Chicago, Illinois, Kaden and Kamille Douglas, both of Milledgeville, Georgia; maternal grandparents, Janis Troup, Miami, Florida, Samuel Troup II, Coral Springs, Florida; great grandmothers, Estella H. Jones, Buena Vista, Georgia and Margaret Haywood, Waycross, Georgia; paternal grandparents, Charlie & Judith White, Cusseta, Georgia, Bobby Douglas, Atlanta, Georgia; great grandmother, Louise Burton, Buena Vista, Georgia;  uncles and aunts, Samuel Troup III, Mea Troup, both of Miami, Florida, Charlotte Richards (Joe), Cusseta, Georgia, Sidney Douglas (Leticia), Atlanta, Georgia, Mashanna and Marcello Douglas, both of Kingston, New York; and a host of other relatives and friends. 

Mrs. Gladys L. Grant, age 92, Montezuma, Georgia passed Saturday, December 28, 2013 at the Montezuma Health Care Center, Montezuma, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, January 4, 2013 at Zion Grove Baptist Church, White Horse Road, Montezuma, Georgia. Reverend Coley Clark, Jr., Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, 181 Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia.

Mrs. Grant was born March 7, 1921 to the late Louella Ballard Thomas and Tom Thomas. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Gloria Grant. She was also preceded in death by three grandchildren, Brenda Mann, Debra Mann Fobbs, and James Mann Sr. She was educated in the public school system of Macon County, and she was a member of the Zion Grove Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend E. L. Clark  She served as the former president of the Senior Usher Board Ministry, until her health failed. After 32 years of dedicated service to Southern Frozen Foods she retired as a grader.

Left to celebrate the joy of her precious memories are her beloved children, Claude Grant, Jr., Orlando, Florida, Louella Mann (Deacon James Mann) Montezuma, Georgia, Betty Joiner (D. Eddie) Montezuma, Georgia, Willie Grant (Annie) Vienna, Georgia, Betty Carr, Irvington, New Jersey; Larry Grant (Edna) Bloomfield, New Jersey; one brother, Clarence Thomas (Rosie Lee) Montezuma, Georgia; grandchildren, one she reared as a young child, Sandra Mann, Oglethorpe, Georgia; Shuwand Mann, Eric Mann and Felix Mann all of Montezuma, Georgia, Sherry Grant, Cordele, Georgia, Liza Grant, Vienna, Georgia, Leron Grant, Decatur, Georgia, Tyrone Grant, Albuquerque,  New Mexico, Claude Grant III, Tampa, Florida, Cassandra Grant, East Orange, New Jersey; great grandchildren, Carl Akine, Tywann, Mann, Almon Joseph, Jr., ShuErica Mann, James Mann, Jr., Jontasha Kaigler, Takeria Hudson, all of Montezuma, Georgia, DeJuan Mann (Laketa) Warner Robins, Georgia, Larry Fobbs, Jr., Moultrie, Georgia, Gabrietta Fobbs, Perry, Georgia, Daniel Grant and Dominique Cross, Vienna, Georgia, Justin Grant, Atlanta, Georgia, Kennor Grant, Vashti Grant, both of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Crystal Grant, Newark, New Jersey; great great grand children, DeJaun Mann, Jr., Debriah Mann, both of Warner Robins, Georgia, My’Dashia Davis, Perry, Georgia, Tywann Robert, Alma, Georgia, Amani Fowler, Montezuma, Georgia and Ahmad Burney, Macon, Georgia; a devoted roommate, Catherine Melvin, Montezuma Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Montezuma, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and sorrowing friends.

Nicholas Edwards, age 34, 155 King Road Ellaville, Georgia passed Thursday, December 26, 2013 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1908 Dozier Road, Ellaville, Georgia. The Reverend William Lassiter, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

Nicholas O’neal Edwards, better known as “Boo” was born October 29, 1979 to the late Clyde Wayne Edwards and Vernida Blue Edwards. He was educated in the public school systems of Schley County and Marion County. He was a 1998 graduate of Tri-County High School. During his tenure at Tri-County he played with the Tri-County Eagles Football Team. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and joined the band of true believers at Ebenezer Baptist Church. After high school he was employed with Macon State Prison as a correctional officer.

Nicholas O’neal Edwards, our “Boo”, leaves a legacy of love and many memories to his beloved family which include: two brothers and one sisters, Illy O. Edwards (Teresa), Benita Nichole Thornton (Nathaniel, Jr.) all of Ellaville, Georgia and Dexter L. Edwards (Cynthia), Tampa, Florida; nephews and niece, Malik D. Edwards, Quentin D. Edwards, and Brittany S. Peeples all of Ellaville, Georgia; God-brother Michael (Charkita) Carter, Macon, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Mirtis B. Coggins (Irving), Clinton, Maryland, Curtis Blue, Carolyn Aldridge (Michael), Larry Edwards (Bertha) all of Ellaville, Georgia, Robin Manfields (William), Austell, Georgia, Lee Arness Edwards, Milledgeville, Georgia; great aunts and uncles, Lillie Jean Peeples, Atlanta, Georgia, Inez Trice, St. Petersburg, Florida, Lou Willie Edwards, Americus, Georgia, Mary Dean Smith (Norman), Brooklyn, New York, Cornelius Ann Sellars, Macon, Georgia, William Smith (Lorene), Ellaville, Georgia; His extended family include his step mother, Linda Ross and step sisters, Ashley Patterson and Temple Patterson, Americus, Georgia; his friend Tameka Arnett, Christian Arnett whom he reared as a son and the staff of the Macon State Prison; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Mr. James Edward Terry, age 73, 203 Georgia Highway 240 Connector, Buena Vista, Georgia passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2013.

The memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 3, 2014 at Shelton Temple Church of Christ, 5th Street, Buena Vista, Georgia. Elder Charlie Kelley, Pastor, will officiate.

Mr. Terry was born November 20, 1940 in Ellaville, Schley County, Georgia to the late Lockett Terry and Ollie Dupree Terry. James was joined in holy matrimony to the former Rosa Swanson in January 18, 1962.  To this union, they were blessed with seven children.  One son, Ronnie Swanson, preceded him in death.

James joined the Concord Holiness Church of Schley County.  He was employed as a Foreman for Lester McNichols Farm and later Pulpwood with Chuck Johnson Pulpwood Company. He later became the owner of Terry’s Straw Company.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Mrs. Rosa Swanson Terry, Buena Vista, Georgia; six children, Rosa Mae Bryant (Larry) Buena Vista, Georgia, Carrie Terry, Atlanta, Georgia, Eddie James Terry, Emma Terry Stewart, Bennie Terry, all of Buena Vista, Georgia, and Veronica Terry of Albany, Georgia; fifteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; siblings, Robert Terry, Buena Vista, Georgia, Ernest James Rogers, and Luther Mae Swanson (David), all of Ellaville, Georgia; aunts and uncles, James Dupree, Ellaville, Georgia and Sarah Richardson, Ideal, Georgia; sisters-in-law and brothers–in-law, Minnie Pearl Swanson and David Swanson, both of Ellaville, Georgia, Sylvia Swanson, Americus, Georgia, Eva Harvey, West Palm Beach, Florida and Bessie Brown (Linsey), Macon, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a devoted friend, Jimmy Smith, Buena Vista, Georgia. 

Elder William Otis Gilbert, age 73, Ideal, Georgia passed December 25, 2013 at the Miona Geriatric Dementia Nursing Center, Ideal, Georgia.

The memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 30, 2013 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Elder Laquanda Grady will officiate.

William Otis was born June 25, 1940 in Oglethorpe, Macon County, Georgia to the late Willie Oscar Foster and Essie Ford Gilbert Leggett. He is the widow of the late Emma Jones Gilbert. For many years he was the owner of Gilbert Plastering Service of West Palm Beach, Florida. He retired from the city of Ideal, Georgia as a sanitation worker. He was a member of West Side Missionary Baptist Church of Butler, Georgia, where Rev. Franklin is pastor.

Survivors are his eight children, Wilma Hadley, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Teresa Sneed, William Irvin Gilbert, both of Montezuma, Georgia, Sharon Thomas, Andersonville, Georgia, June Gilbert, Palm Beach, Florida, Billy William Gilbert, Delray Beach, Florida, and Tracy White, Palm Beach, Florida; stepdaughter, Karem Sumter, Ideal, Georgia; two nieces and nephew, Elaine Collier Moore, Mary Helen Clark and Arthur Collier, Jr.; his former wife, Betty Gilbert, Perry, Georgia; and a host of beloved cousins including several devoted cousins, Beatrice Gaines, Marie Spikes, Agnes and Laura Ann Harris; and a host of friends.

Mary Haynes Matthews, age 95, 140 Cadman Plaza West Apt 13D, Brooklyn, New York, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2013.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1908 Dozier Road, Ellaville, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

Mary was born March 31, 1918 at Lacrosse, Schley County, Ellaville, Georgia to the late Annie Haynes. She acquired her education from Ellaville High School (Schley County) Ellaville, Georgia. For many years she was a domestic housekeeper. Mary was known as a caregiver; she cared for two of her older brothers until their deaths. Mary had a compassionate and giving heart, and she opened her doors to those who were in need.

At early age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and joined the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Ellaville, Georgia. Mary was united in holy Matrimony to Nathaniel Matthews, who preceded her in death. They were blessed with two children, Roosevelt Matthews and Barbara Ann Matthews Jackson. She reared her niece, Thelma Haynes, as her own from birth.

She leaves to mourn her passing three children, Roosevelt Matthews (Norva), Brooklyn, New York, Barbara Ann Jackson (James – deceased) and Thelma Haynes, both of Columbus, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Scott Girard Matthews (Meg), Dr. Brett Alexander Matthews, Tanisha Y. Haynes, Barbara L. Jackson, James C. Jackson, Jr. (Jacqueline), Melissa A. Heffin (Jimmie), and Charice J. Palm; ten great grandchildren, Hannah, Julia, Chantel, Haven, James, Brandi, Ronnie Huling, Jr. Jodi, Demetria, and Akiera; three great great grandchildren, Jordan, Daja Mallorie, and Adriana Cartrie; and a host of loving nieces nephews and loving friends.

Mr. Johnny L. Ellis, age 55, 56 Poplar Street, Ideal, Georgia passed Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 21, 2013, at Shady Grove Baptist Church, 5311 White Water Road, Ideal, Georgia, where Reverend David Thomas is pastor. The Reverend Rodney Duncan will officiate. Interment will follow in the Oglethorpe City Cemetery.

Johnny was born August 13, 1958 in Ideal, Macon County, Georgia to the late Marie Ellis Meadows and the late Brown Jr. Turner. His devoted aunts, Gussie Ellis and Lessie Ellis, preceded him in death. Three siblings, Lizzie Mae Mitchell, Eddie Neal Turner, and Freddie Lee Turner, preceded him in death.  

He was educated in public school system of Macon County, Georgia. He was a 1977 graduate of D. F. Douglass High School. He worked at the Miona Nursing Home in Ideal, Georgia for 26 years as an Orderly. He was married to Frances Ellis for many years.

He leaves to cherish his memories seven children, Katrina Ellis-McGhee, Sheena Ellis, Monique McCants, Lisa McCants, Cordero Ellis, Johnnedra Ellis, and Elizabeth Ellis; three grandchildren, Corderius Howard, Caniya Ellis, and Lasia McCants; siblings, Roosevelt Meadows (Gloria), M. L. Ellis, Clarice Hicks, Alma Wiggins, Ethel Adams, Emma Gail Turner McKenzie, Almeta Turner, Margaret Turner, Henry Lewis Turner, Curtis Turner and Wayne Turner; aunts and uncles, Dora Mae Turner, Mariah Turner Williams, Betty Jean Turner, Mary Turner, Louise Turner, L. C. Turner, and Freddie Turner; a host beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including four devoted, Tyrone Ford, Bobbo Walker, Eunice Dawson, and Ellaree Pridgeon.

Norma Jean Williams, age 59, 114 West Artesian Avenue, Montezuma, Georgia passed Monday morning, December 9, 2013 at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Americus, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, December 14, 2013 at New Hope Baptist Church, Georgia Hwy 26 East, Montezuma, Georgia. The Reverend Allen Waters, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow in the Church cemetery.

Norma Jean was born June 2, 1954 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to the late Johnnie B. Williams and Jennie Rogers Williams. Three siblings, Oscar Williams, Carolyn Howard, and Burt Palmer, preceded her in death.

She acquired her education in the public school system whereas she was a 1972 graduate of D.F. Douglass High School. She was employed with Allen’s Inc., formerly Southern Frozen Food, Inc., for 30 years as a Line Technician. Later on, she was employed as a CNA with Montezuma Health Care for six years.

She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and joined the band of Christian believers at New Hope Baptist Church.

She leaves to cherish her memories three sons, Rickey Williams, Michael Williams (Fontella), and Garett Williams, all of Montezuma, Georgia; seven grandchildren, China Lester, Sirmarcus Brown, Kerry Williamson, Christopher Williamson, Cortez Williams, Emily Deed, and Kentavious Wishop, all of Montezuma, Georgia; great granddaughters, Kaitlyn Williamson and Keron Felton; siblings, Alguria Miller, Dover, Delaware, Johnnie B. Williams, Jr. (Ludy), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Willie James Williams (Elizabeth) Augusta, Georgia, Lewis Williams, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Leonard Williams (Ella), Port Saint Lucia, Florida, Willie Joe Howard, Atlanta, Georgia, Bruce Palmer (Barbara), Montezuma, Georgia, Ronnie Williams (Sherrie), Hagerstone, Maryland, Iris Turner (Oliver), Montezuma, Georgia, Ruthie Felicia Whitfield (Waymond), Oglethorpe, Georgia; uncle, Lonnie Rogers (Marilyn), Montezuma, Georgia; two aunts, Abby Weaver, Oglethorpe, Georgia and Vicky Felton, Los Angeles, California; devoted friends, Paula Harpe and Ilene Raines; devoted cousin, Lelia Warren; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.  

Mr. Kelvin Lamar Smith, age 52, 709 Harold St., Americus, Georgia passed Saturday, December 8, 2013, at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia.

Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 - 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, December 12, 2013, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Georgia Highway 118, Smithville, Georgia. Bishop Henry Holton, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at 2:00 P.M. at Andersonville National Cemetery Rostrum with military honors.

Mr. Kelvin Lamar Smith was born September 6, 1961 in Dothan, Alabama to Jeannette Jenkins-Smith and the late Edgar Eddie Smith. He was the grandson of the late Robbie Jenkins. He acquired his education in the Alabama Public School System. He was a 1979 graduate of Dothan High School. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Kelvin enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1979 and was honorably discharged. For several years, he was employed by Fleming Foods in Rose Park, Utah as a Warehouse Manager.

Kelvin leaves to cherish his memories his wife, Bobbi Johnson Smith, Americus, Georgia; children, Hope McCullen, Kelvin Antonia Reeves, both of Dothan, Alabama, Elton Johnson (Angela), Wesley Chapel, Florida, Latoya Johnson, Americus, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Naomi, Gage, Asia, Jasmine, Calvin, Elton III, and Alyse; mother, Jeannette Jenkins Smith, Dothan, Alabama; siblings, Cynthia Smith and Michael Smith, both of Dothan, Alabama; godmothers, Arleane of Utah and Eloise Reddick, Smithville, Georgia; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Eddie Snell (Vanessa), Dothan, Alabama, Jackie Daniels, Tampa, Florida, Gregory Weatherington (Sherry), Jacksonville, Florida, Zannis Weatherington (Annette), Calera, Alabama, Debbie Wynn, Cottonwood, Alabama, Aiesha Daniels, Leon Daniels, Ricky Daniels, all of Tampa, Florida, Claude Daniels, Tallahassee, Florida, and Rev. James Newby, Dothan, Alabama; aunt, Robbie Holmes, Dothan, Alabama; aunts-in-law, Janice Oliver, Campbellton, Florida and Jennette Jones, North Carolina; a host of beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Mrs. Helen Louise Hubbard, age 79, 523 Travelers Rest Road, Montezuma, Georgia passed Saturday, December 7, 2013 at her home.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Mt. Pleasant/Travelers Rest C.M.E. Church, 315 Norris Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Interment will follow in the Champ Waters Cemetery, Twin Church Road, Montezuma, Georgia. The Reverend Sidney Kendrick, pastor, will officiate.

Mrs. Helen Louise Hubbard better known as “Sue” was born March 15, 1934 in Montezuma, Macon County, Georgia to Mrs. Beatrice Spivey Roberts and the late Willie Beal & George W. Roberts. She was preceded in death by six siblings, Dorothy Witchard, Mattie Brown, Georgia Bell Journey, Dorothy Loman, Willie Beal Jr., and George Beal.

Mrs. Hubbard was educated in the public school system of Macon County where as she was an alumni of The Flint River Farm School. She was married to the late Anias Hubbard, Sr., and to this union they were blessed with four children. Two sons, Willie B. Hubbard and John Thomas Hubbard, preceded her in death. She was a dedicated member of the Mt. Pleasant/Travelers Rest Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She was employed with Southern Frozen Food, Inc. of Montezuma, Georgia, and after many years of dedicated services she retired as a line technician.

Survivors are her mother, Beatrice Roberts, Montezuma, Georgia; two sons, Anias Hubbard Jr., (Laura) Montezuma, Georgia, Darrow Hubbard, Montezuma, Georgia; a daughter she helped reared, Brenda Ellis, Montezuma, Georgia; stepmother, Dorothy Beal, Montezuma, Georgia; daughter-in-law, Joann Hubbard, Montezuma, Georgia; eight grandchildren, Tammie Collier, Janet Johnson (Jermaine, Sr.), Jacinta Haigler, DeMarcus, Jamila and Jalil Hubbard all of Montezuma, Georgia; Evita Glover (Kelvin) Lawton, Oklahoma and Kyndall Harrison, Oglethorpe, Georgia; twelve great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Robert Beal, Miller Beal (Jamie), Annie Lou Beal, Ernestine Chatfield, Beverly Sanders, Willie Sanders, Raymond Beal and Obie Beal (Brenda), all of Montezuma, Georgia, Tommie Beal (Cynthia), Warner Robins, Georgia; brothers–in-law and sisters-in-law, Myra Oliver, Annie Thomas (S.J.), Linda Johnson, Vera Solomon, Lena Mae Hillman (John), Frank Hubbard (Hattie) all of Montezuma, Georgia, Mary Louise Collier, Perry, Georgia, Jett Hubbard (Barbara) and Thomas Hubbard all of Columbus, Ohio; devoted nieces and nephews, Minister Clarence and Joann Witchard, Cussetta Journey, Helen Walters, Dorothy Brown, Gary and Jackie Roberts, Willie Frank and Helen Roberts, Anthony, Johnny, Jackie and Joel Brown, Eugene Hubbard, Joseph Journey, Marvin Joiner and Cynthia Journey; devoted friends, Nettie M. Melvin, Linda Quinn, Gladys Burnam and Pearl Collier, United Hospice Family, Tyechia Hall, RN, Onethia Felton, CNA, Maryline Wilson, LMSW, and Will Archibald, Chaplain and a host of other nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.