Martha Collier, age 68, passed on Friday, December 29, 2017 at the Montezuma Health Care Center, 506 Sumter Street, Montezuma, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, January 6, 2018 at First United Holiness Church, 324 Engram Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow at New Hope Baptist Church, Highway 26 East, Montezuma, Georgia.

Martha Ann Collier was born on October 12, 1949 to the union of the late Walter “Sim” Collier and Elberta Lee-Collier in Montezuma, Georgia, where she also attended local schools. She was preceded in death by seven siblings, John Collier, Lewis Collier, Mildred Sanders, Richard Collier, Charlie Collier, Eileen Palmer, and Ceaser Renez. Following the passing of her mother, and although her father was still alive, Martha was raised by her loving and devoted sister Minister Jessie Canady. At an early age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and made her confession of him known by joining the First United Holiness Church, which is under the leadership of Elder Michael Coley, Sr. Martha spent most of her life as a caregiver to many children and was loved by many.

Martha will be most remembered for her big smile, her humorous nature, and her love for children. Among those left to cherish these memories are her two children; who were the loves of her life, and who loved her dearly, Laverne Collier (Laurie) of Hamilton, New Jersey and Trent Collier of Bloomfield, New Jersey; two grandchildren, Sharon “Shanta” Collier of Hamilton, New Jersey and Sean “Quan” Collier of Jersey City, New Jersey; thirteen siblings,  Minister Jessie Mae Canady, Montezuma, Georgia, Doris Curry (James), Miami, Florida, Juanita Zackery, Atlanta, Georgia, Linda Merrell (Wilbert), Corine Cochran (Flobell), Freddie Hannor (Sarah), Jerry Riley (Pearlie), Richard Felton, Marvin Riley, Chris Riley (Tarshea) all of Montezuma, Georgia, Shirley Stephens (Augustus), Lisa Green both of Cordele, Georgia, and Terry Riley (Kenyda) of Americus, Georgia; godchildren, Marissa Merrell of Macon, Georgia and Clodelia Mack of Dooly County; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews.   

Although she has many relatives and she loved them all, these were often there to physically carry her, and do other things, as she needed them to do: LL Curgil, Branden Gibbons, and Dasjah Holmes. Martha also held a special place in her heart for her nephew, Rev Jeffery “Butchie” Canady as she often talked about her love and gratitude for him.

Her medical situation allowed her to meet and be cared for by so many people who were near and dear to her such as Tomeko Prince (TP) of the Davita Dialysis Center, N’kema Cooper, and so many other medical professionals who took care of her.

As this chapter closes, and her eternal chapter begins, we say “thank you” to the countless amount of people who have been a part of Martha’s life.

 A special “Thank you” to the staff/nurses at the Montezuma Health Care Center.

Edward Ronnell McKellar, age 58, passed on December 15, 2017 at Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, December 23, 2017 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Edward was born in Atlanta, Georgia to the late  Otis Sr. and Willie Maude Joseph on August 12, 1959.  He was preceded in death by two brothers, Doyle Bowman and John Henry Joseph. He was educated in the public school system of Macon County. 
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He leaves to cherish his memories: a daughter, Shaconna Renee Loftly, Cordele, Georgia; nine siblings, T.J. McKellar, Atlanta, Georgia, Essie Mae Corbin, Waterbury, Connecticut, Henry Green, Lithonia, Georgia, Otis Joseph, Jr. (Shirlene), Centerville, Georgia, Maebell Joseph, Fort Valley, Georgia, Willie Joe Joseph (Linda), Hawkinsville, Georgia, James Joseph, Perry, Georgia, Ella Stevens, Fort Valley, Georgia, and Robert Joseph, St. Louis, Missouri; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends including a devoted friend, Leonard McKellar.

​Ms. Vannie Howard age 91, 250 Martin Luther King Drive, Ideal, Georgia passed Friday, December 8, 2017 at Miona Geriatric and Dementia Center, 201 Poplar Street, Ideal, Georgia.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Faith Memorial C.M.E. Church, Brooks Road, Ideal, Georgia.  Interment will follow at the Hopewell Independent Church Cemetery, Brooks Mill Road, Rupert, Macon County, Georgia.

Vannie Howard was born August 31, 1926, along with her twin sister, Fannie, who died as an infant, to the late Joe and Fannie Fishe Howard. She is the last of fourteen children.  She was preceded in death by all of her siblings.

Vannie attended Macon County School and went on to graduate from Fort Valley State College. She retired from the Macon County School System as a Teacher. She was never married or had children, but she was a mother and friend to many. Ms. Howard was an educator, entrepreneur and humanitarian.
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She loved and served her fellowman doing what God called her to do. At an early age, she accepted Christ and joined the Pinehill C.M.E. Church, later consolidated with Felton Chapel C.M.E. and the name was changed to Faith Memorial C.M.E. Vannie was an active and faithful member until her health failed. She served as Superintendent of the Sunday School and was an inspiration to many children attending. Ms. Howard was a City Council member for 15 years for the City of Ideal.  She was Mayor of the City of Ideal, Georgia and a woman of great integrity and strong will.

She leaves to cherish her memories: four nephews, Raymond Duncan, Ernest Howard (Polly) Charlie Howard, Jr., Leonard Byse; nine nieces, Fannie Jewel Grant just like a daughter, Mary Nell Tookes, Pearlie Mae Williams, Bessie Nelson (J.C.), Oris Duncan, Tina Marshall (Charlie Jr.), Melissa Joiner, Regina Joiner and Rosa Joiner; one sister-in-law, Ruthie Mae Howard; special friends and nieces, Betty Duncan, Shirley Byse, Eve Duncan, and Pearl Byse; and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The funeral service for baby girl Madison Jenelle Jones will be held at 12:00 P.M., Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc., 607 Kaigler Street, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Burial will follow at the Hopewell Cemetery, Hopewell Road, Ideal, Georgia.

Madison made her earthly entrance on December 4, 2017, alongside her twin sister MaKenzie  Janae  Jones,  at the Medical Center of Navicent Health in Macon, Georgia. On that same day, she found comfort in the arms of angel. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Rodney Haslem, and her paternal great grandmother, Catherine Thomas.  

She leaves her tiny precious footprints on the hearts of her parents, Nyeshia Haslem and Jacques Jones; brother, Karter Isaiah Adkinson and twin sister MaKenzie Janae Jones; maternal grandmother, Kebrasha Ogburn; paternal grandparents, Dianne Thomas Bailey, Andre Bailey, Ellery Price, and Roosevelt Mills Jr.;  great grandparents, Oris Duncan (Ellis Johnson), Bishop Ogburn (Mary), Betty Haslem, Lawrence Haslem Jr. (Sharon), Fannie Bailey, and Essie Price; a great great grandmother, Annie B Haslem; a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

​Ms. Charlene Treon Woolfolk passed on December 5, 2017.

The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 16, 2017, at the Magnolia Baptist Church, 415 Hosie Waters Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow at the Spring Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, 48 Winchester Road, Marshallville, Georgia.

Charlene (Treon) was born on January 11, 1968 to the parents of the late Alice Mae Woolfolk Harris and Johnny Harvey in Montezuma, GA.  She was then moved to Newark, NJ by her mother and late Stepfather George Harris where she was raised with her siblings.

She graduated with High Honors in 1986 from Vailsburg High School in Newark, NJ then went on to attend Essex County College where she majored in Business Management.

Charlene (Treon) worked in many different branches of banking for nearly 30 years and held her last position as a Platform Manager at M&T Bank in Orange, NJ.

Charlene (Treon) leaves behind a legacy of love to her loving siblings, Walter J. Woolfork (Maya), McDonough, GA, John L. Woolfolk, Newark, NJ, Antoinette Harris, Newark, NJ, and half brother, Maurice Golphin (Brandy), Atlanta, GA; her nieces and nephews: Da’Shawn Woolfolk, Tajh Woolfolk, ArtiaWoolfork, Terrell Woolfork, Taliyah Woolfork, Saleem Woolfolk, Jaylen Woolfork, Keonna Golphin, Kyla Golphin, Kira Golphin; her Aunts, Parthenia Boston, Annie Mae Franklin, Louise Greene and late Uncle, Ernest West; her great nephews, Prince, Romeo, Royal and Keori, and a host of cousins, friends and her Love, Kevin (Haazir) Harris.

​Deacon Harry Turner, age 69, passed on December 4, 2017.

The funeral service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Zion Grove Baptist Church, Whitehouse Road, Montezuma, Georgia. Burial will follow at the Andersonville National Cemetery, 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, Georgia.

Deacon Harry James Turner was October 24,1948 in Montezuma, Georgia to the late John Turner and Idalene Harris Turner. He was preceded in death by all of his siblings: Bobby Turner, Johnny Turner, and Joanne Collier Hubbard. He was educated in the public school system of Macon County and was a graduate of the historic D.F. Douglas High School in 1967.  Following graduation, he entered in the United States Army. Deacon Turner served his country proudly in the Vietnam War receiving a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

 Deacon Turner was employed with the Macon County Sheriff Department as an Officer.  He was also employed with Mulcoa and the Concrete Company of Montezuma, Georgia as a Truck Driver. He was a member of the Zion Grove Baptist Church where he served on the Deacon Ministry and Choir. He was joined in holy matrimony to the late Ola Mae King.
 
He leaves to cherish his memories: a daughter, LaTonya Ivory (Rodricus) Montezuma, Georgia; two grandchildren, Jaylan Asberry and Jamal Asberry; four stepchildren, Sharonda West, Karlos Duncan (Monshannon), all of Montezuma, Georgia, Anthony Duncan (Mae), Reynolds, Georgia, Cedric Duncan, Hephzibah, Georgia; a host of step grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends including devoted friend, Gene Turner.