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Obituaries
Maceo A. Johnson
Maceo Alvertha Johnson, 88, died Wednesday (Nov. 12, 2014) at the Satilla Care Center
following an extended illness.
She was a Waycross native and a retired social worker. She graduated from Center High
School and received her undergraduate degree from Albany State University.
She was a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
She volunteered at Satilla Nursing Home for more than 20 years and countless organizations throughout Waycross.
Her parents were the late John Walker and Rosa Lee Gaines Walker. Preceding her in death
were a son, Judah Jah Juffureh (Larry B. Johnson), two sisters, Wilbertine Walker and Lois
Walker, and a brother, John Oris Walker.
Johnson
She is survived by a son, Fleet Johnson Jr. (wife, Sauda Sete), of Waycross; a brother, Price
Whitaker (Felonese), of Odessa, Texas; four grandchildren, Willie Mae Johnson (husband,
Melvin), of Jacksonville, Fla., Odetta Shepherd (husband, Kevin), of Chesapeake, Va., Nigeria Key (husband,
Dean), of Chesapeake, Va., and Kagiso Haney (husband, Jerry), of Stockbridge, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Dorthy
Walker, of Jacksonville, Fla.; a nephew, John Walker (wife, Charlene), of Jacksonville, Fla.; two nieces, Sarah
Rose Butler, of Tampa, Fla., Phelicia Terrel (husband, Kenyon), of Houston, Texas; four great-grandchildren;
cousins, other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends this evening from 5 until 7 o’clock at Welch and Brinkley Mortuary.
A graveside service will take place Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Hazzard Hill Cemetery.
‘Big Gene’ Davis
A celebration of life for Rowling Eugene Davis, better known as “Big Gene,” 73, who died
Saturday (Nov. 8, 2014) at Clinch Care Health Center in Homerville, will be held Saturday
at 1 p.m at Welch & Brinkley Mortuary.
Burial will follow at Barnar Memorial Garden.
Visitation will be held this evening from 6 until 9 at Welch & Brinkley Mortuary.
The family is also receiving friends at the home of his brother, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hunt,
1503 Toomer St., and at the home of his brother-in-law, Edward Copeland, 609 Quarterman St.
He was a Waycross native and attended Ware County public schools. He was of the Baptist faith.
Davis
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Lee Davis and Tom Davis, and one sister, Betty Copeland.
He is survived by a brother, Albert Hunt (wife, Felicia), of Waycross; a sister, Viola Jones (husband, Charles,
of Atlanta; one brother-in-law, Edward Copeland Sr., of Waycross; two aunts, Maggie Orange and Alice Orange,
both of Waycross; an uncle, Bennett Orange; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and
friends.
Funeral arrangements are made by Welch & Brinkley Mortuary.
Leila Faye O’Connell
Leila Faye Pharr O’Connell, 81, of Waycross, died Wednesday evening (Nov. 12, 2014) at
Southeast Georgia Health Systems in Brunswick, after a brief illness.
She was born in Jeff Davis County to the late J.C. Pharr and Adel Stone Pharr and made
Waycross her home for most of her life. She worked as a seamstress for Matt’s Athletic Wear
and attended the Church of the Nazarene on Alice Street. While she was still able, she loved
going to yard sales. She was a passionate NASCAR fan and loved Dale Earnhardt Jr.
She is survived by three children, Deana Chancey Courson, of Waycross, Melissa Chancey
Hendrix (husband, Joe), of Perry, Steven Ransbottom (wife, Mary Ann) of Vero Beach, Fla.;
nine grandchildren, Jessica Smith, Haley Chancey, Joshua Courson, Jacob Courson, Dalton
Gibson, Dillon Hendrix, Steven Ransbottom, Robert Ransbottom, Peter Ransbottom; four
great-grandchildren, Cameron Merck, Kinsley Smith, Brayden Smith, Lilly Ransbottom; a
O’Connell
brother, James B. Pharr (wife, Dottie), of Waycross; a sister, Dorothy McMullen (husband,
Mack) of New Castle, Pa.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 5 until 7 at the funeral home.
The family is gathering at the O’Connell home, 2495 Ambrose St., Lot No. 29, Waycross.
Sympathy may be expressed at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Donald Spradley
Donald “Donnie” Spradley passed away suddenly Thursday morning (Nov. 13, 2014) at his residence in
Waycross.
The funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Music Funeral Home.
Lillie Mae Hersey
She also served as president of the State and District LPN Association and oversaw the Nurses Registry in
Waycross.
She loved her flowers and her family, especially her grandchildren, and any time she was able to spend with
them.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Estelle Wilson, John Henry
Hersey, Ozell Smith, Lonnie Hersey, Oleen Hickson and Earl Hersey.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Barton, of Waycross; three granddaughters, Kristie Lee (husband,
Cary), of Waycross, Helene Westmoreland (husband, Brent), of DuPont, Rhea Minor (husband, Brad), of
Lawrenceville; her great-grandchildren, Forhest Soper (wife, Rhae), Cameron Lynn, Lawton Lee, Morgan
Dukes, Kaitlyn Lee, Logan Dukes, Layna Minor, Clayton Lee, Addison Minor, McKenna Minor, Charlotte
Minor; a niece, Debbie Arnold (husband, Jim), of Waycross; a great-niece, Caitlyn Arnold; and numerous nieces,
nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in
Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends this evening from 5 until 7 at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com
Audrey G. Hooper
Audrey Gardner Hooper, 78, of Blackshear, died early Thursday morning (Nov. 13, 2014) at her residence
following an extended illness.
Born July 23, 1936, in Blackshear, she was the daughter of the late John Slaton and Marlene Thornton Gardner. She moved to Utah where she lived many years and was the owner and administrator of Mt. Pleasant Nursing Home in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. She moved back to Blackshear in 1998 and was a member of First Baptist
Church of Blackshear.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wade H. Hooper.
Survivors include her three daughters, Kathleen Michelle Collins (husband, Patrick), of Orcutt, Calif., Kelly
Ann Dixon (husband, Mickey) and Linda Joy Roach (husband, Walt), both of Blackshear; her son, James Monroe Slaton Hooper (wife, Maria), of Santa Rosa, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Christopher Collins, of Orcutt,
Calif., David Dean Dixon and Jordan Dixon, both of Blackshear, Kellie Maureen Hooper, of Ludowici, Travis
James Heath (Tiffany Wagner), of Blackshear, Matthew Ryan Hooper, of Springville, Utah, and Chrystina
Michele Ferreira, of Orcutt, Calif.; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ida Mae Stevens (husband, Curtis) and
Kathy Vess (husband, Don), both of Dallas, Texas; two brothers, Butch Laughlin, of Dallas, Texas, and Father
James Thornton, of Anaheim, Calif.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock in the chapel of Hart Funeral Home with Dr. Bill
Young officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackshear City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southeast Cancer Unit, 401 Pendleton St., Waycross, Ga. 31501 or to Heartland Hospice, 664 Scranton Road, Suite 103, Brunswick, Ga. 31520.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.hartfh.com
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Sue Wright
A memorial service for Betty Sue Wright will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Mason Temple COGIC, 800
Daniel St., Waycross, where the pastor is Elder Crandon Horne. Apostle Janice M. W. Thomas will officiate.
On Monday (Nov. 3, 2014), she transitioned from this life into eternal rest at her home in Brunswick.
She was born Aug. 20, 1955, in Attapulgus, the daughter of the late Alfred Wright and Mary Gaines. She was
educated in the Waycross School System, graduating from Waycross High School in 1973. She furthered her
education at Waycross-Ware Technical School (currently Coastal Pines Technical College) obtaining her license as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Affectionately known as “Betty Sue” or “Betty Wright,” she grew
up in Waycross, but in later years made her home in Brunswick.
Her employment included Riverside Nursing Home as a CNA for 17 years and King and Prince Seafood
Company for 10 years in Brunswick.
Her Christian experience began at an early age being saved and filled with the Holy Ghost as a member of
Mason Temple Church of God in Christ. She served on the junior usher board, sang in the local, district, state
as well as the national junior and senior choirs.
She worked briefly as a member of New Life Baptist Church in Brunswick, with the women’s department.
She became a faithful member of Born Free Ministries, Inc. until her health began to fail.
Her hobbies included collecting music, singing, traveling when she could, caring for and helping others, and
in addition, comic entertainment. Always fun to be around, she was friendly, compassionate, trustworthy, loyal
and honest, with an amazing sense of humor. In addition, she was passionate about her music, food and friends.
Her memories will be cherished by her family, a cousin, Elaine Pharmes (Elder James Pharmes), Church
family and Pastor Janice M.W. Thomas and Born Free Ministries, Inc., Mason Temple COGIC, Inc. and sorrowing friends.
Memorialization if by cremation.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guest book at www.perrybrothersfuneralhome.com
Service to the family is being rendered by Perry Brothers Funeral Home, 1100 Ossie Davis Parkway, Waycross.
Lillie Mae Hersey, 82, of Waycross, died early Thursday morning (Nov. 13, 2014) at Satilla Care Center after Scarlet Jane Hollaway
an extended illness.
A funeral for Scarlet Jane Johnson Hollaway, 74, of Blackshear, was held Thursday at noon in the chapel of
She was born in Coffee County to the late Willie E. Hersey and Minnie Bell Carver Hersey.
Hart Funeral Home with the Rev. Teke Dixon officiating.
After graduating from Nicholls High School in Coffee County she moved to Waycross where she spent the
Burial followed in Bristol Baptist Church Cemetery.
rest of her life. She worked as a LPN in Waycross for Dr. Knight, Dr. Wexler, Satilla Regional Medical Center
Serving as pallbearers were Tony Johnson, Timmy Johnson, Nicholas Huggins, John Guy, Chance Strickland
and Baptist Village Retirement Communities.
and Jerry Kicklighter.
She was appointed by Georgia Gov. Zell Miller to serve on the Board of Certifications for LPN Licensing.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.