Ret Air Force TSGT Sammie Durden Sr., 90, of Cameron, N.C., entered into rest on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, at the Womack AMC, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Mr. Durden was born on June 30, 1925, in Sandersville to the late Leo (Pinkie Brown) Durden. He joined the Army in 1945 and later transferred to the Air Force, where he retired after 20 years of service. Following military retirement, Mr. Durden was employed full-time as a barber.
A celebration of life service was held on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Magnolia Baptist Church, Avera, with Rev. Wallace Peeples and Rev. Terry Streeter officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Brown Durden; daughters, Pharalee Patricia Streeter and Sandra Durden; grandson, Wesley Durden Jr.; and siblings, Corine Bigham, Grady Durden, M.B. Durden, Leo Durden Jr., Ernest Durden, Geneva Pinkston, Walter Durden, Willie Albert Durden and Eva Mae Boatwright.
Survivors include his children, Sammie Durden Jr. of Raeford, N.C., Ronald Durden of Atlanta, Wesley Durden Sr. of Jackson, N.C., Robert Durden of Lillington, N.C., and Cheryl Durden of Fayetteville, N.C.; grandchildren, Kelly Durden and Patrina Streeter; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Freeman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Elaine Belk Brinson Evans, 71, entered into rest on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Jefferson Hospital, Louisville, after a lengthy illness and was surrounded by her family.
Born and reared in Twin City, Mrs. Evans was the daughter of the late Pauline Belk and Benjamin Lewis Brinson. She attended Emanuel County Institute and graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1962. She attended Stephens College, Columbia, Mo., and graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens, with a bachelor of arts degree in music. While at the University, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Social Sorority, the Georgia Singers, Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity and Pi Kappa Phi Honorary Society. After her marriage to Wiley Clark Evans III, she moved to Bartow where she resided for the remainder of her life. She worked for the Jefferson County Department of Family and Children’s Services as a social worker and was a homemaker. She was a member of Bartow United Methodist Church, where she directed the choir, served as church music leader and taught Sunday school. She was also a soloist for the church and for special events such as weddings. She worked in the community and schools in numerous capacities and supported local groups and organizations.
Funeral services were held at Bartow United Methodist Church, Bartow, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at 2 p.m., with Rev. David Boggs and Rev. Franklin Sasser officiating. Interment followed at Brinson Family Cemetery, Canoochee.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Benjamin Lewis Brinson Jr. of Alpharetta; and nephew, Lane Edwards Brinson of Perry.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Wiley Clark Evans III; children, Wiley Clark Evans IV “Chip” (Gwen) and Matthew Brinson Evans “Matt” (Terrie), both of Bartow, and Paula Francis Evans Stallings (Randy) of Douglas; grandchildren, Wiley Clark Evans V, Anlee Ray Evans, William Charles Hendricks Jr., Matthew Brinson Evans Jr. and Hampton Wiley Evans, all of Bartow, and Henry Lane Stallings of Douglas; sisters-in-law, Judith P. Brinson of Alpharetta, and Jean Evans Dupree of Swainsboro; cousin, Maryann Brinson Brown of Twin City; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Pallbearers were her cousins, Dolan Edward Brown III and Mark Hendry Brown, both of Garfield, David Brinson Brown of Statesboro; nephews, Benjamin Lewis Brinson III of Dunwoody and Jonathan Belk Brinson of Alpharetta; and grandsons, Wiley Clark Evans V, William Charles Hendricks Jr. and Matthew Brinson Evans Jr., all of Bartow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Brinson Cemetery Association, c/o Martha Ann Wells, 209 Long View Lane, Pickens, SC 29671 or to Bartow United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 216, Bartow, GA 30413.
Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. William Hatcher, 59, of Wrens entered into rest on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, at Georgia Regents Hospital, Augusta.
Mr. Hatcher was born in Thomson to the late Jimmy Hatcher and Marlene Moore.
Memorial services were held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the residence.
Survivors include his wife, Mary L. Gibbons Hatcher; twins, Brittany Gibbons and Brierra Gibbons; stepson, Jamil Gibbons; sisters, Mae Kelly of Louisville, Martha (Ray) Hatcher of Philadelphia, Pa., and Joyce Arrington of Wrens; uncle, Henry Hatcher of Louisville; aunts, Sarah Walker of Thomson, and Betty Jean (Walter) Hannah, Mary Lois Jackson and Brenda (Nathaniel) Hales, all of Wrens; one sister-in-law and five brothers-in law, all of New Jersey; one goddaughter; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Freeman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fletcher B. Jones of Avera entered into rest on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at 3 p.m. at Gethsemane Baptist Church, Avera, with Rev. Jimmy Davis officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Survivors include his daughter, Elizabeth (John) Adams, Augusta; sons, Eric Jones of Avera, and Fletcher (Judy) Jones of Augusta; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Burnett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. William Walker “Pete” Lockhart Jr., 60, entered into rest on Dec. 29, 2015.
Mr. Lockhart was a native of Louisville, and had lived in Sandersville for 24 years before moving to Milledgeville this past year. He was the son of the late William Walker Lockhart Sr. and Dorothy Dixon Lockhart. Mr. Lockhart had worked at Ace Hardware, Sandersville, and was a member of Deepstep United Methodist Church.
Memorial services will be held on Jan. 17, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Deepstep United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Cathy Hudson Lockhart; sons, Justin (Lilly) Lockhart and Travis Lockhart; grandchildren, Cayden, Walker and Chloe Lockhart, all of Milledgeville; and sister, Cathy (Jimmy) Raines of Harrison.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Deepstep United Methodist Church.
Williams Funeral Home and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Daniel Felton “Dano” Odom, 60, of Lizella, formerly of Sandersville, entered into rest on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015.
Mr. Odom was born in Macon to the late Dee Odom and the late Lucy Smith Odom Bedwell. He was retired from the Georgia State Prison System as a correctional officer.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at 11 a.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Paul Harris and Rev. Jason McClendon officiating. Burial was in Washington County Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include his son, Josh Odom (Tish) of Lizella; grandchildren, Zoey and Allyson, both of Lizella; sisters, Faye Odom Lewis and Kaye Odom McClendon, both of Sandersville, Sandra Odom Thompson (Van) of Tennille, and Judy Odom Harris (Paul) of Bartow; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pallbearers were Mike Thompson, Curt Thompson, Keith Thompson, Brian McClendon, Roger Forrester, and Clay McClendon.
May and Smith Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brenda Faye Robertson, 50, of Augusta entered into rest on Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, at University Hospital.
Mrs. Robertson was born in Augusta to the late Roy and Betty Kitchens Silas.
Memorial services were held on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Thomas L. King Chapel, with Rev. Wayne Usry officiating.
Survivors include her daughter, Tiffany Gardenhire of Augusta; brothers, David Silas of Wilkes County, Allen Silas of Evans, and Robbie Silas of Augusta; sisters, Glenda Silas of North Augusta, S.C., and Patti Strength of Wrens; grandchildren, Jasmine Gardenhire, Jordan Gardenhire and Jadan Gardenhire; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Child Advocacy Center/Child Enrichment, 2322 Walden Dr., Augusta, GA 30904 or Kids Restart, P.O. Box 1001, Augusta, GA 30903.
Thomas L. King Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.
Miss Joanne E. Whaley, 83, of Mayfield entered into rest on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at Gibson Health and Rehab, Gibson, following an extended illness.
Miss Whaley was born in Hancock County to the late Emory Northern Whaley Sr. and the late Estelle Carr Whaley. She was the valedictorian of her high school class and a seamstress. Miss Whaley was a homemaker and a member of Horeb Baptist Church.
Memorial services were held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Horeb Baptist Church, Mayfield.
Survivors include many nieces and nephews.
May and Smith Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.