OBITUARIES
Published 10:45 am Friday, December 9, 2005
Verdine Gurley
Services for Verdine Gurley, Cairo, are at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004 at Greater New Corinth M.B. Church. The Rev. Sylvester Williams, officiating and the Rev. W.R. Jenkins pastor with interment in Pallbearer Cemetery. Active pallbearers are Terry Gurley, Alonzo Kelly, Terry Willis, Steve Miller, David Parker, Robert Willis, Isaac Daniels and Jerry Hampton. Mrs. Gurley died Dec. 2 at Grady General Hospital. Born in Grady County, she was a daughter of the late Rosa Gordon and Johnson Bryant. She was married to Thomas Gurley who preceded her in death. She attended Grady County Schools and was a member of Greater New Corinth M.B. Church. Survivors include daughter, Daisy Parker of Cairo; sons, Jimmy Gurley, Palmaroy Gurley, Willie (Gladys) Gurley all of Cairo; daughters, Bernice Gurley, Ida Gurley Bell of Cairo; son, Bobby Lee (Myra) Gurley of Calvary; daughter, Jacqueline (Alfonza) Mills of Cairo; sisters, Jessie (M.C.) Gordon of Cairo, Mildred Hammonds of Whigham; brothers, Leroy Rosebud of Cairo, Lonnie (Gladys) Rosebud of Lakeland, Fla., Johnson Bryant of Cairo; 11 devoted grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of caring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. — Weston’s Funeral Home
Billy ‘Bill’ Hayward Long
Memorial services for Billy (Bill) Hayward Long are at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004 at Midway Baptist Church in Meigs. The Rev. Billy Perez will officiate and the Rev. Billy Majors will assist. Mr. Long died Monday, Nov. 22 at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur. Born June 26, 1949 in Pelham, he was a son of the late Eldon T. Long and Gladys Golden Long of Ochlocknee. He was a member of Midway Baptist Church and a graduate of Central High School in Thomasville and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He lived in the Atlanta area all of his adult life with the exception of five years when he returned to the Ochlocknee area to help care for his mother after his father’s death. He was self-employed as a building contractor in the Atlanta area. Survivors include two brothers and their wives, Jimmy and Martha Long of Ochlocknee, Wendel and Helen Long of Dahlonega; three nephews; a niece; and his friend and former wife, Eda Long of Atlanta. — Banister Funeral Home
Annie Lee Mitchell
Graveside services for Annie Lee Mitchell, 70, are at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 at Peaceful Rest Cemetery on Pinetree Boulevard. The Rev. T.C. Mitchell will officiate. Mrs. Mitchell died Dec. 3 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Born Dec. 30, 1933 in Thomas County, Ga., she was a daughter of Clifford Little and Sallie Jo Graham. She was married to Charlie Mitchell who preceded her in death. A 1951 graduate of Douglass High School, she was a member of Beulah Hill Baptist Church and worked for many years at the Ritz Theater and the train station. Survivors include daughters, Michelle Parson of Thomasville, Charlene Mason of Macon; son, Kevin Mitchell of Whigham; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several cousins; other relatives; and friends including Lillie Smith of Thomasville. — Grooms Funeral Home
Sherry Lynn Owens
Services for Sherry Lynn Owens, 44, were at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 at Long Branch Baptist Church in Cairo. The Rev. A.C. Gilliard officiated and interment was in Long Branch Cemetery. Active pallbearers are John Myrick, Chris Myrick, Kale Owens, Dusty Johnson, Zane Owens and Art Brock. Mrs. Owens died Friday, Dec. 3 in Cairo. Born June 19, 1960 in Tampa, Fla., she was a daughter of the late Jerry Edgar Johnson and Sara Pauline Thomas. She was a convenience store manager. Survivors include her husband, Arthur Dewey Owens III of Cairo; daughter and son-in-law, Carin and John Johnson of Cairo; a son, John Myrick of Thomasville; stepchildren, Samantha Owens, Dylan Owens both of Cairo; grandchildren, Daphanie Johnson, Sarah Johnson both of Cairo; aunt, Rosa Thomas of Cairo; and a special friend, Donna Sheffield of Cairo. — Clark Funeral Home
Local Deaths
l Teresa Annell Kiser, 47, Cairo, died Sunday at Grady General Hospital in Cairo. Local survivors include a daughter, Piper Heath; grandchildren, Logan and Landon Heath; husband, Ricky Kiser; and her mother, Ruby Barrett all of Cairo. — Clark Funeral Home
l Vinia Lawyer, 70, Atlanta died Thursday at Southwest Community Hospital in Atlanta. Local survivors include brothers, Richard Lawyer Jr. and James Lawyer; and a sister, Mattie Andrews all of Thomasville. — Hatcher-Peoples Funeral Home
l Annie Mitchell, 70, died Friday at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville. Local survivors include her daughters, Michelle Parson, Charlene Mason both of Thomasville; and a son, Kevin Mitchell of Whigham. — Grooms Funeral Home
l Celesta Simpson of Cairo died Sunday at Archbold Memorial Hospital. — Williford’s Funeral Home