OBITUARIES
Published 10:18 am Friday, December 9, 2005
Betty Searcy Atkinson
Sevices for Betty Searcy Atkinson of Thomasville are at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at Gatlin Creek Baptist Church. The Rev. Don Prevatt will officiate and interment is in Ocholocknee City Cemetery. Pallbearers are J.J. Atkinson, Chris White, Chris Hayes, Stacey Thomas, Jerry Searcy and Jim Searcy. Mrs. Atkinson died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004. Born April 14, 1940 in Thomas County, she was the daughter of the late Rhett Groover and Jewel Lewis Searcy. She was a homemaker, a loving mama, granny and friend to many, and a loving wife for 47 years. Survivors include her husband, Alton Atkinson; sons and daughters in law Mike and Julie Atkinson, Don and Penny Atkinson; daughter and son in law Brenda and Don Johnson; grandsons Donnie Atkinson, Stephen Atkinson, Jack Atkinson, Brad Johnson; granddaughters Holly Atkinson, Laura Atkinson, Emily Johnson; brother and sister in law Jimmy and Hazel Searcy; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and close family friends Ronnie and Bobbie Timms and their daughter Tammy Wilkins of Ellijay. Mrs. Atkinson was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Searcy Bryant. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will be gathering at 100 Northwoods Drive, Thomasville. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com. — Allen and Allen Funeral Home
Douglas Crawford Bearden
Services for Douglas Crawford Bearden, 84, of Cairo are at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2004 at Reno Baptist Church. The Rev. Charles Neely, Rev. George Stacy Williams, Rev. John Paul Hasick and Rev. Alan Hartsfield will officiate, and interment is in Broome Cemetery in Reno. Active pallbearers are Robert Bearden, Jr., Johnny Booth, Philip Palmer, Curtis Cofer, Tracy Bennett and Lee Wilkes. Honorary pallbearers are Neil Holton, Royal Cook, Duane Hopkins, Ronald Sellars, Dan Lewis, Rayford Bell, William Holton, Ralph Hammett and Walter Maxwell. Bearden died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Born Jan. 30, 1919 in Bedford County, Tenn., he was the son of the late Crawford Berry and Mary Trollinger Bearden. Bearden was a retired automobile parts manager and a member of Reno Baptist Church. He served in the US Air Force’s 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter group in the Pacific Theater during WWII. On Dec. 21, 1946, Bearden married Nell Holton who preceded him in death Jan. 3, 1976. He was also preceded in death by brothers Bill Bearden, Mark Bearden, Bobby Bearden and Jimmie Bearden On July 29, 1978, he married Dollie Watkins Sanders, who survives. Other survivors include sons and daughters in law Larry and Barbara Bearden, Carson and Annette Bearden, all of Cairo; daughter and son in law Elaine and Dave Bearden Fowler of Palm Bay, Fla.; Stepson and wife, Jake and Deborah Sanders of Cairo; grandchildren Sharon B. Thompson, Jody Bearden, Leanna Bearden, all of Cairo, Stephen Fowler, Christopher Fowler, both of Palm Bay, Casey Sanders of Athens, Shena Sanders of Cairo, Clint Whitfield of Ochlocknee, Melissa Glave of New Orleans, Michelle Celeya and Brandon Snipes of Cairo; great grandchildren Shelby Thompson, David Thompson, both of Cairo; brothers Johnny Bearden, Freddie Bearden, Rell Bearden, all of Cairo, Winston (Sonny) Bearden of Shelbyville, Tenn.; a sister, Marianne Henderson of Dalton. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Clark Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Reno Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Alice Dodson, 3855 Ga. Hwy. 111 S., Cairo, Ga. 39828. — Clark Funeral Home
Mary Ruth Leak
Graveside services for Mary Ruth Leak of Boston are at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 at Boston Cemetery. The Rev. Don West and the Rev. Keith Hill will officiate. A lifetime resident of Boston, Ms. Leak died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 at Archbold Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Born Feb. 8, 1929 in Boston, she was the daughter of the late John McLeod and Florence Walcott Leak. Ms. Leak graduated from Boston High School and attended what is now Valdosta State University and was retired from the banking business in Boston and Pavo with Farmers and Merchants Bank. She was a lifelong member of Boston Presbyterian Church and served as church deacon and elder. Survivors include nieces Barbara Leak of Atlanta, Dayna Leak Hardy and her husband Jim of Thomasville, Donna Leak Darty and husband Alan, and great neices Julie Darty and Jennifer Darty of Oviedo, Fla. Catherine Hardy, Sarah Hardy and Elizabeth Hardy; great nephew, Garrison Hardy, all of Thomasville; brother John McLeod (Jack) Leak, Jr. and sister in law Sarah Anne Garrison Leak preceded her in death. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at her home at 420 W. Jefferson St. in Boston. Donations may be made to Boston Presbyterian Church and visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com. — Allen and Allen
Local Deaths
l Laura Jean Sanders, 65, Pelham, died Friday at Pelham Parkway Nursing Home. — Robert Jester Mortuary