Upson County  Georgia Obits   Sept 2002  Thomaston Times

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Floozie479185599@aol.com  Jean Harton


Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/upson.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm

Thomaston Times, Upston Co., GA
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002

Funeral services for Mrs. Evelyn Sangster Smith WATSON,
94, of Florida, will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002 at 2
p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Molena with the Rev.
Bob McCombs officiating. Burial will follow in the Molena
Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date
in Fernandina Beach, Fla. Mrs. Watson died Sunday, Sept.
29, 2002 at Baptist Hospital Nassau in Fernandina Beach,
Fla.. Mrs. Watson was born Easter Sunday, April 19, 1908
in Hazlehurst, Ga., the eldest child of Charles Oscar and
Martha Lucretia Cox Smith. Evelyn graduated from high
school in Hazelhurst and attended Bessie Tift College in
Forsyth, Ga. She graduated from Wesleyan College in
Macon, Summa Cum Laude, in 1930. Mrs. Watson was the
beloved wife of the late Rev. C.P. Watson. They began
their lives together in Summerville, Ga. where he was the
pastor of First Baptist Church and she taught school. She
was a gifted and well respected teacher, who touched and
influenced the lives of many thoughout her career. Mrs.
Watson was preceded in death by two sons and one
daughter-in-law, C. P. Watson Jr. and Louise Brewer
Watson of Baxley, Ga. and Earl Ford Watson of San Diego,
Calif.; two sisters, Alice Smith Huffstetler and Hazel
Smith Crickenberger; two brothers, William O. Smith and
Samuel W. Smith; and two older siblings, Edna Smith and
Joseph Delbert Smith, who died in infancy. Survivors:
daughters, and one-son-in-law, Martha J. MacMahon of
Fernandina Beach, Fla., and Susan (Su) Watson and Bob
Vermillion of Atlanta; a son and daughter-in-law, David
M. and Carolyn Dean Watson of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; a
daughter-in-law, Marylin (Mitzi) Watson of San Diego,
Calif.; a sister, Irma Christine Dowis Edwards of
Cartersville; 21 grandchildren, C.P. Watson III, Lonnie
Watson, Inez W. Lane, Myrna W. White, Steve Watson, Glen
Watson, Julie W. Robertson, Jane W. Murray, Michael T.
Watson, Sterling Watson, Llinda Watkins, Jordan Watson,
Merry Geer, Mark MacMahon, Dan MacMahon, Dr. David
MacMahon, Michael Watson, Marie Watson, Carol Hope, Roger
P. Watson and Paul R. Edenfield; 13 nieces and nephews,
28 great-granchildren; and 15 great-great-granchildren.
Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

Funeral services for Mr. William Lewis "Bill" CALLAHAN,
JR., 57, of Meansville, were held Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002
at 3 p.m. at the Meansville Baptist Church with the Rev.
Charles Bennett officiating. Burial followed in the
Fincher Memorial Cemetery in Meansville. Mr. Callahan
died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002. Mr. Callahan was a former
Pike County High School Principal and a Deacon of
Meansville Baptist Church. He was a loving husband,
father and grandfather. Survivors: his wife of 33 years,
Carol Callahan of Meansville; mother, Dorothy Mae
Callahan of Griffin; daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and
Kyle Willoughby of Senoia; son and daughter-in-law, Corey
and Christian Callahan of Williamson; grandchildren,
Hunter Graham Callahan and Audrey Anna Willoughby;
brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Susan Callahan of Rex;
sisters, Melanie Callahan of Griffin and Mary Ellen Mount
of Vinings; and several nieces and nephews. Moody Funeral
Home was in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of
flowers donations may be made to the Children's Health
Care of Atlanta, 1687 Tullie Circle, Atlanta, Ga. 30329,
Gift Processing.

Funeral services for Mr. G. B. CHARACTER, 76, of Macon,
formerly of Taylor County, will be held Friday, Oct. 4,
2002 at 2 p.m. at the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Taylor
County with the Rev. J. H. Harden officiating. Burial
will follow in the Walker Cemetery. Mr. Character died
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002 at Macon Medical Center. Bentley
& Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors:sisters, Mrs. Daisy Worthy and Mrs. Martha
(Sam) Price, both of Thomaston and Mrs. Annie Pearl
Maxwell of Macon; three brothers, Mr. Jesse A. Character
and Mr. Gunnie Character, both of Thomaston and Mr.
Glaster (Ola) Character of Macon; a devoted niece, Mrs.
Felicia (Wade) Horton of Macon; a god-son, Mr. Alen
Hudson of Atlanta; a devoted and close friend, Ms. Lelia
Mae Gailes of Macon; and a host of relatives and close
friends who will miss him. The Character family can be
contacted at the home is his sister, Mrs. Martha (Sam)
Price of Pine View Drive in the Potato Creek Heights
Community in Upson County.

Funeral services for Mrs. Grace Elizabeth Ross HOLMES,
65, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., will be held Friday, Oct. 4,
2002 at 2 p.m. at First Assembly of God with the Rev.
Gary Dougherty officiating. Burial will follow in
Southview Cemetery. Mrs. Holmes died Sunday, Sept. 29,
2002 at her residence. Coggins Funeral Home is in charge
of arrangements. Mrs. Holmes was born in Upson County,
Ga. but had lived in Sierra Vista, Ariz. for more than 30
years. She was a devoted wife and loving mother and
worshipped her seven grandchildren. She was a real estate
property manager for over 20 years and was one of Sierra
Vista's most respected agents. Mrs. Holmes was preceded
in death by her son, Steven, her parents and a sister,
Jewel. Survivors:her husband, Mr. Leon Holmes of Sierra
Vista, Ariz.; two sons, Mr. Brent (Karen) Holmes of
Greensboro, N.C. and Mr. Gregory (Renita) Holmes of
Chandler, Ariz.; two brothers, Mr. Bill (Joyce) Ross of
Marietta and Dr. Ralph Ross of Washington, D.C.; three
sisters, Mrs. Linda (James) Hewitt of Thomaston, Mrs.
Betty (Lester) Heard of Thomaston and Mrs. Esther (Art)
Brown of Abilene, Texas; and seven grandchildren, Mary
Beth, Gregory, Margaret, Paige, Sarah, Katie and Alex.
Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6 until 8
p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests that in
lieu of flowers donations be made to The Thomaston-Upson
Humane Society, P.O. Box 1152, Thomaston, GA 30286 or The
American Diabetes Association, Georgia Affiliate, One
Corporate Square, Suite 127, Atlanta, GA 30329. 

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 Mrs. Georgia Bell Richardson PARHAM,
62, of Woodbury, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 at St.
Francis Hospital in Columbus. Funeral arrangements will
be announced at a later date by Bentley & Sons Funeral
Home. Survivors include five children, Mr. Willie Lee
Parham Jr. and Mr. Bobby (D'Wan) Parham, all of Woodbury,
Mrs. Brenda (Robert) Reeves of Greenville, Mrs. Elaine
(Dennis) Benning of Gay and Mrs. Doris (Willie Joe)
MaHone of Columbus; four sisters, Mrs. Sally Richardson
of LaGrange, Mrs. Virginia Harris and Mrs. Mary Mobley,
both of Warm Springs and Mrs. Bessie Richardson of
Atlanta; three brothers, Mr. Hudson (Barbara) Richardson
of Miami, Fla. and Mr. Esau Richardson and Mr. William
Richardson, both of Atlanta; seven grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and
other relatives who will miss her. 

Monday, Oct. 7, 2002 Funeral services for Mr. Thomas
Jefferson "Sonny" LITTLE, 67, of Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002 at 2 p.m in
the Fellowship Baptist Church with the Rev. Leroy Britt
officiating, assisted by the Revs., R.L. Hodo, William
Hicks, Michael Davis and Otis King Sr. Burial will follow
in the Fellowship Cemetery. Mr. Little died Friday, Oct.
4, 2002 at his residence. Trice Funeral Home is in charge
of arrangments. Mr. Little was born in Taylor County but
has been a resident of Upson County for 62 years. He was
a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church. Mr. Little was
a founding member of the Dixieaires Gospel Singers where
he sung for over 37 years. One of his favorite sports was
basketball. He always supported his nephews and the local
teams in Thomaston and Upson County. He also enjoyed the
sport of wrestling. Survivors:his wife, Mrs. Ida Ruth
Little of Thomaston; two sisters, Mrs. Annie Mae Risper
and Ms. Daisy Pearl Little, both of Thomaston; two
brothers, Mr. Homer James (Christine) Little and Mr. Joe
Lewis (Dorothy) Little, all of Thomaston; two nephews he
raised as his own, Mr. Jamie Little and Mr. Jeffery
Little, both of Thomaston; two aunts, Mrs. Trudie Hodo of
Thomaston and Mrs. Pearl Seals of Detroit, Mich.;
sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mrs. Mary Ann Seay, Mrs.
Winnie Draine, Mr. Walter James Seay, Mr. Edward Seay and
Mrs. Annie Kate Seay, all of Thomaston, Mrs. Johnnie Lue
Coggins of Griffin and Mrs. Janie (Rev. Leroy) Britt of
Wrens; a devoted cousin, Rev. R.L. (Mary) Hodo; and a
host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and
friends. The family is receiving friends at the
residence. The family requests that all food be brought
to the church where the family will be served following
the service.

Funeral services for Mrs. Georgia Bell Richardson PARHAM,
62, of Woodbury, were held Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at 2:30
p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Woodbury with the
Rev. J.D. Walker officiating. Burial followed in Walker
Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Parham died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002
at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. Bentley & Sons
Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Survivors
include five children, Mr. Willie Lee Parham Jr. and Mr.
Bobby (Dawn) Parham, all of Woodbury, Mrs. Brenda
(Robert) Reeves of Greenville, Mrs. Elaine (Dennis)
Benning of Gay and Mrs. Doris (Willie Joe) MaHone of
Columbus; four sisters, Mrs. Sally Richardson of
LaGrange, Mrs. Virginia Harris and Mrs. Mary Mobley, both
of Warm Springs and Mrs. Bessie Richardson of Atlanta;
three brothers, Mr. Hudson (Barbara) Richardson of Miami,
Fla. and Mr. Esau Richardson and Mr. William Richardson,
both of Atlanta; seven grandchildren; three great-
grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other
relatives who will miss her.

Graveside services for Mr. Thomaston Sidney OLIVER, 83,
of Jeff Davis Road, were held Monday, Oct. 7, 2002 at 2
p.m. in the Mt. Olive Church Cemetery in Potterville with
the Rev. James A. Coogler officiating. Mr. Oliver died
Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 at the Veterans Administration
Hospital in Decatur. Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements. Mr. Oliver was born in
Potterville, Taylor County, Ga. in 1919. HE SERVED AS A
HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER IN THE U.S. ARMY DURING WWII. DURING
THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN UNDER GENERAL PATTON HE WAS WOUNDED
IN GERMANY AND RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. HE ALSO
RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND COMBAT INFANTRYMAN
BADGE. Mr. Oliver was the former owner of Safety Cab
Company in Thomaston. He was preceded in death by his
wife, Ester E. Oliver in 1993. Survivors;daughters, Mrs.
Patricia E. Salter of Thomaston, Tracy (Billy) Ellington
of Macon, Emily Gage of Brownwood, Texas, and Ellen
Lawrence of Fort Worth, Texas; sisters, Lena Peterman of
Thomaston and Lillian Poole of Newport News, Va.; a
brother, Clarence Oliver of Hampton; and grandchildren,
Michael and Brittney Riggins of Thomaston and Alexis and
Shayla Ellington of Macon.

Funeral services for Mr. David PATTON, 65, of Zebulon,
were held Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at 3 p.m. in the Mt.
Gilead Baptist Church with Dr. Ted Moody officiating.
Burial followed in the church cemetery. Mr. Patton died
Friday, Oct. 4, 2002. Moody Funeral Home was in charge of
arrangements. Mr. Patton was born in Pike County on July
4, 1937. He worked for the United States Postal service
for 38 years before retiring as the Thomaston Postmaster.
Six of those years were spent working at the Postal
Headquarters in Washington, D.C. MR. PATTON WAS A PROUD
VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY and was preceded in
death by his son, David Allen Patton IV and his father,
David Allen Patton Jr. Survivors include his wife of 28
years, Susan D. Patton; his daughter and son-in-law,
Cathy and Jack Dixon of Tucker; his mother, Elizabeth
Reeves Poole of Zebulon; a sister, Diane Curphey of
Stockbridge and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gene
and Robin Dawkins of Dawsonville. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the David A. Patton IV
Sholarship Fund at United Bank, P.O. Box 945, Zebulon, GA
30295.

Funeral services for Mrs. Nellie Inez DORSEY, 91, of
Cherry Street, were held Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at 2 p.m.
in the chapel of Coggins Funeral Home with Dr. Al Simmons
officiating. Burial followed in Crystal Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Dorsey died Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 at Thomaston Health
& Rehab. Coggins Funeral Home was in charge of
arrangements. Mrs. Dorsey was born in Meriwether County
but lived most of her life in Thomaston. She worked as a
weaver at Thomaston Mills Peerless Division for over 30
years. Mrs. Dorsey was a member of First Presbyterian
Church of Thomaston and was a volunteer with the Ladies
Hosptial Auxilliary. Survivors include her son, Mr. Gene
(Janice) Dorsey of Thomaston; a sister, Mrs. Eunice
Sistrunk of Milliton, Tenn.; three grandchildren; and
four great-grandchildren. The family requests that
donations be made to Thomaston Hospice, 310-D North
Church Street, Thomaston, GA 30286.

Funeral services for Mr. Merrell Edward "Smitty" SMITH,
85, of Sanders Street, were held Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at
4 p.m. in the chapel of Coggins Funeral Home with the
Rev. Drew Stephens officiating. Burial followed in
Crystal Hill Cemetery. Mr. Smith died Friday, Oct. 4,
2002 at Upson Regional Medical Center. Coggins Funeral
Home was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Smith was born in
Mitchell County, Ga. but lived most of his life in
Thomaston. HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY and retired from Thomaston Mills after 37 years of
service as a grader in the cloth room. Mr. Smith attended
Shiloh Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by one
brother, Mr. Roy Smith. Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Mary McCard Smith of Thomaston; a son, Mr. Russell Smith
of Americus; daughters, Mrs. Diane Ward and Mrs. Elaine
Scott, both of Thomaston; a brother, Mr. Carroll Smith of
Pelham; sisters, Mrs. Lois Mimms of Hartsfield and Mrs.
Willie Pearl Griffin of Jackson, Miss.; seven
grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Graveside services For Mrs. Clyde Gray HAWKINS, 68, of
Fallin Street, were held Monday, Oct. 7, 2002 at 2 p.m.
in Southview Cemetery with the Rev. Mary Jo Willoughby
officiating. Mrs. Hawkins died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002 at
her residence. Coggins Funeral Home was in charge of
arrangements. Mrs. Hawkins was a native of Upson County.
She was retired from the William Carter Company where she
worked for over 44 years as a sewing supervisor. Mrs.
Hawkins attended Emory's Chapel Baptist Church. She was
preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Talmadge Boyt.
Survivors include her sons, Mr. Stanley Boyt of Zebulon
and Mr. Tony Boyt of Yatesville; daughters, Mrs. Kathy
Teal of Thomaston and Mrs. Diane Keller of Milledgeville;
a sister-in-law, Mrs. Nancy Gray of Thomaston; a brother-
in-law, Mr. L.G. Tucker of Thomaston; nine grandchildren;
and eight great-grandchildren. 

October 9, 2002 The Thomaston Times is no longer an
affiliate of PowerOne Media and its Web site is
unavailable to the public. Please consider utilizing your
browser search tools to locate other local news,
classifieds and content for your area.

Thank You,
PowerOne Media