Obituaries
Mary Belle Aldridge
Mary Belle “Betty” Aldridge, a lifelong resident of Charlton County, passed away peacefully Tuesday (Nov. 11, 2014) surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on July 10, 1921 and grew up with five brothers and two sisters. Her family lived in the Sardis area of Charlton County at Hopkins in the Okefenokee Swamp and at
Colerane where her father, Hamp Colson, worked for the Hubbards.
She worked for Gilman Bag Company for 10 years and for South Georgia Telephone Company for 15 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Folkston, a
member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Garden Club and the Swinging Swampers Square Dance Club.
As a charter member of the Folkston Historical Preservation Society, she worked tireAldridge
lessly in an effort to save the old Folkston High School building.
She enjoyed gardening, sewing and baking desserts for her family. A true Southern lady with a soft spoken
voice, a bright smile and a core of strength, she will be remembered by all who knew her for her gentle, loving
spirit and eternally positive outlook on life.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years and love of her life, Loyce C. Aldridge, and her daughter, Gayle Conner.
She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Aldridge (Rod Stearns); son-in-law, Chris Conner; four grandchildren, September Carter (Sherwood), Scott Conner, Shannon Carter (Steve), Dylan Stearns; seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Carter (Karen), Autumn Harvell (Charles), Brandon Carter, Melissa Fonzo (Freddy), Amelia
Huntsinger, Derek Carter (Brittany Taylor) and Savannah Conner; four great-great grandchildren, Jackson
Fonzo, C.J. Harvell, Hannah Carter and Alexander Fonzo; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives
and friends.
The family will receive friends today at Shepard Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.
The funeral will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Folkston United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jack Varnell officiating.
Burial will be in Pineview Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at www.shepardfh.com
Arrangements are under the direction of Shepard Funeral Home in Folkston.
Ethel Mae Carter
HOMERVILLE — A celebration of life service for Ethel Mae Carter, 68, of Homerville,
will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, Forest Avenue, with the church pastor, the Rev. Jackie Harris, bringing words of comfort.
She was born Jan. 25, 1946 in Homerville to the late Burton Raymond and Lucy Bell Morris Raymond. She received her formal education from the public school system of Clinch
County. She later received her license in childcare and worked in that field for a number of
years.
She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and became a member of Antioch Baptist Church.
She departed this life Wednesday (Nov, 5, 2014) in Clinch Health Care Center after an illCarter
ness.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by three sons, Clay Carter, Junior Carter, Dominique Raymond, and three brothers, Paul Raymond, Albert Raymond and Owen Horne.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband. Dillil Carter Sr., of Homerville; her children, Dillil
Carter Jr., Willie Davis, Rome Carter, Ayana Slappy (Howard), Lorenzo Burkes, Isaiah Thomas, all of Homerville, and Alfonsa Burkes, of Indiana; four sisters, Mamie Jones (Andrew), of Plant City, Fla., Bertha Raymond,
Katherine Raymond, Jennie Ponder (John), all of Homerville; a brother, Abdullaah Haggan, of Chiefland, Fla.;
sister-in-law, Lucille Horne, of Homerville; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews,
cousins other relatives and friends.
The body will lie in repose at the church Saturday from 9 a.m. until the hour of the service. Interment will
be in Pine Forest Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fluker Funeral Home of Homerville.
She was a daughter of the late Clyde Rexford Bennett and Ruby O’Berry Brannen and step-father, William
Penn “Dub” Brannen.
She is survived by her husband, Charles J. Mobley, of Lake City, Fla.; a daughter, Michelle Palmer, of Lake
City, Fla.; a son, Anthony Mobley (wife, Charlotte), of Lake City, Fla.; five grandchildren, Caitlin Palmer, Carson Palmer, Logan Mobley, Jessica Boyette (husband, Barrett) and Jamie Widomski (husband, Paul); one greatgranddaughter, Aubree Stalter; a sister, Susan Thomas (husband, Clifford), of Lake City, Fla.; a brother, William
Penn “Bot” Brannen Jr., of Lake City, Fla.; numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Indian Mound Baptist Church. Burial will be held in Hargraves
Chapel Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday at the church from 12 until 1 p.m.
Music Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com
Audrey Hooper
BLACKSHEAR — Audrey Hooper, 78, of Blackshear, died early Thursday morning (Nov. 13, 2014) at her
residence following an extended illness.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear.
Leila P. O’Connell
Leila Pharr O’Connell, 81, died Wednesday evening (Nov. 12, 2014) at Southeast Georgia Health System in
Brunswick.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Miles-Odum Funeral Home.
Regina Crews Finch
Regina Kay Crews Finch, 52, of St. George, passed away Monday (Nov. 10, 2014).
She was born June 30, 1962 in Folkston. She was a member of New Life Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Earl Crews Sr.
She is survived by her children, Kevin Lloyd and Josh (Brandi) Lloyd; her mother, Betty Crews; her sister,
Remona (Earl) Johnson; her brother, Pastor Joe (Michelle) Crews; two grandchildren, Anleigh Lloyd and
Alexis Thurston; six nieces and nephews, Autumn Johnson, Andrew Crews, Adam Crews, Aaron (Kaitlyn)
Crews, Alex Crews and Ayden Crews; and two great nieces, Makayla Crews and Ansley Crews.
The family will receive friends Saturday at New Life Baptist Church in St. George from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The funeral will begin at the church at noon.
Burial will follow in Boones Creek Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at www.shepardfh.com
Arrangements are under the direction of Shepard Funeral Home in Folkston.
Darren Leon Jenkins
Darren Leon Jenkins, of 908 Quarterman St., passed away Friday night (Nov. 7, 2014) at South Georgia
Medical Center in Valdosta. A busy life came to a close when he was called to his heavenly home.
He was the youngest son of the late Elsie Jenkins. He was born July 20, 1970 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“It is said that there are three words in the English vocabulary that are more solemn than all others: life, death
and eternity. Life is more solemn than death and life is more serious than to die. The object of Christ’s death
was life. A Christian’s death gives them more abundant life. Death is a joyful messenger of peace whose kind
hand opens to the weary pilgrim that gave of immortality and lets the oppressed go free,” said a family member.
The legacy of his life lives on in the cherished memories of his aunt (as a mother), Nettie Williams, Waycross;
a brother, Willie Jenkins, Fort Lauderdale, Fla; an uncle, Vonnell Young, Waycross; two great-uncles, Russell
Lewis, Cairo, and George Lewis (Kate), Tallahassee, Fla; special cousins, Lovetta Thomas, Tamara Bell, Kimberly Young and Ramon Williams; two very special cousins, Trinity Williams and Hannah Williams; and a host
of other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 505 Ware St.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the chapel of Rainge Memorial Funeral Home. The Rev. Jackie
Hooper, pastor of New Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Waycross, will bring words of comfort.
Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
LaWanda Stinson
The family is currently receiving friends at the home of his aunt, Nettie Williams, 908 Quarterman St.
LaWanda Johnson Stinson, the daughter of Bernice Tisby Johnson and the late Freddie Lee Johnson, passed
The cortege will assemble at 1:15 p.m. Saturday at 908 Quarterman St.
away Tuesday (Nov. 11, 2014) in Augusta after a very brief illness.
Rainge Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
She was also preceded in death by her brother, Byron Joseph Johnson.
Friends are being received at her mother’s home, 1706 Thomas St.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Perry Brothers Funeral Home, 1100 Donna D. Tillman
Ossie Davis Parkway.
A funeral for Donna Estelle Davis Tillman was held Wednesday afternoon at Waycross Christian Fellowship
with the Rev. Jerry Mullaly, the Rev. R.B. Gaskins, the Rev. Jerry Brown and the Rev. Kenneth Cook officiating.
Linda Paulina Mobley
Linda Paulina Mobley, 64, died Tuesday (Nov. 11, 2014) at her residence in Lake City, Fla., from ill health
Burial followed in Kettle Creek Cemetery.
over the last several months.
Pallbearers were Joel Austin Davis, Ronnie Duncan Davis, Zac Kiser, Hayden Robert Bristow, A.J. Harris
She was born in Homerville and lived most of her life in Lake City, Fla. She was a retired school bus driver and Justin Harris.
for the Columbia County School Board.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.