Mr. John Andrews
Retired Physical Education Teacher
THOMSON - Mr. John Andrews, of Thomson, entered into rest Nov. 24, 2011. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at the Nichols Funeral Home Chapel, Haleyville, Ala., with the Rev. Jimmy Bohler officiating. Interment followed in Winston Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Andrews was born in Fayette, Ala. and was the son of the late John Grady Andrews and the late Lee Dorothea Roberts Andrews. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and following his military service graduated from the University of Alabama with a masters in physical education. Mr. Andrews taught physical education and coached middle school football, soccer and basketball at Norris Middle School in Thomson, Boddie Middle School and Oak Hill Middle School, both in Baldwin County, Ga. Mr. Andrews was also a Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Lawrence Andrews; son, Heath Patrick Andrews of Warner Robins, Ga.; granddaughter, Olivia Andrews, Augusta; mother-in-law, Eszell Lawrence of Bear Creek, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
Beggs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Zera Morris Bartles
APPLING - Mrs. Zera Morris Bartles, 88, wife of the late Uyles Lee Bill Bartles, is survived by her children, Donald P. ( Martha) Bartles, Ron L. Bartles, Stan W. (Denise) Bartles and Chris D. (Soleta) Bartles; one sister Virginia (Aubrey) Cartledge; her grandchildren Chasity B. Hughes, Shannon B. (Jeff) Moore, Chris (Rachel) Bartles, Jr., Bill Bartles, Michael Shealey, and Amy Lemmons; great-grandchildren, Cody L. Hughes, Alexis P. Hughes, Eva Bartles, Summer Lemmons and Autumn Lemmons.
Her mother, Ethel Turner Morris, and father, Pearl C. Morris, had a farm on White Oak Road in McDuffie County where they raised their family of 10 children. She is a member of Trinity Baptist Church, which she loved dearly and looked forward to her Seniors Bible Study Group and her fellow Red Hats. Besides being a homemaker, she worked at Uniroyal in Thomson and later became an assistant on special needs school buses. She became a licensed practical nurse and cared for the elderly in their homes. After retiring, she enjoyed gardening, especially in her flower beds. She was an expert in rural living, cooking, canning, preserving and all sorts of home remedies.
She recently had been plumming for flight and took flight in great peace on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, and will be missed.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Trinity Baptist Church, Martinez, with the Rev. K.C. Stevens officiating. Interment followed in the Damascus Baptist Cemetery, Leah, Ga.
Starling Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lillian Hardin Carr
WARRENTON - Mrs. Lillian Hardin Carr, age 100, beloved wife of the late Mr. Earl J. Carr Sr. died Monday evening, Nov. 21, 2011, at the Warrenton Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Graveside funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, at Sallie Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Hanna officiating.
Mrs. Carr, a native of Columbia County, was the daughter of the late John and Florence Blanchard Hardin. She was a former school teacher and retired from Wiley Motor Co. as a bookkeeper. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Warrenton.
Survivors include her son, Earl J. (Patricia) Carr Jr. of Thomson; two grandsons, Steven T. (Kimm) Carr and Kevin M. (Tracy) Carr; and three great-grandchildren, Benjamin S. Carr, Wyatt M. Carr, and Maggie Ann Carr.
Mrs. Carr was preceded in death by a son, John Hardin Carr, a grandson, Gary E. Carr, two brothers, Judge John F. Hardin and Lindsay Hardin; two sisters, Martha B. Branch and Elizabeth B. Reese.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church of Warrenton, 412 Main Street, Warrenton, Ga. 30828.
Lowe Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Norman "Bulldog" Dent
THOMSON - Mr. Norman “Bulldog” Dent, 71, beloved husband of Mrs. Janelle N. Dent, died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, in the McDuffie Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, in the Mesena United Methodist Church, with Dr. Leonard Dupree and the Rev. Lynda Allen officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mr. Dent was born in Wilkes County, but had lived in McDuffie County most of his life. He was a retired insurance salesman, a retired farmer and a retired constable of The McDuffie County Magistrate Court. He was a member of the Mesena United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Thomson Moose Club, where he held all offices. He was a Big Dog member of the Thomson Booster Club and served as head of the Chain Crew at Thomson football games for over 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hunt and Leona Cheely Dent and his sister, Miss Barbara Jo Dent.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Janelle Dent, Thomson; his three sons, Scotty (Gwynn) Dent, Thomson, Tommy (Debbie) Dent, Lincolnton, and Doug (Mimi) Dent, Thomson; his sister, Ms. Bertie Dent, Burnsville, N.C.; his brother, William H. Dent, Hawkinsville, Ga.; five grandchildren, Bryan Dent, Dawn Dent, Clay Dent, Adam Dent, and Lisa Land; and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Richard Cheely, David Cheely, David Russell, Tony Colvin, Jerry Randolph, and Wayne Cheely.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Foundation, The Mesena United Methodist Church C/O Rita Johnson, 299 Jimmy Johnson Rd., Warrenton, Ga. 30828, or the Thomson Booster Club, P.O. Box 2004, Thomson, Ga. 30824.
Curtis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ollen Columbus Rhodes
GROVETOWN - Funeral services for Mr. Ollen Columbus Rhodes, 89, of Grovetown, were conducted Monday morning, at 11 a.m. from the Posey Funeral chapel with the Rev. John Meyer and the Rev. J. Lloyd Prince officiating. Burial was in Bellevue Memorial Gardens with Veterans Honors. He died November 25, 2011, at University Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center in Augusta, Ga., due to medical complications.
Born on June 14, 1922, in Cotton, Ga., near Moultrie, Mr. Rhodes was a Gideon, a Mason and a member of the First Baptist Church of Belvedere, S.C. He was a veteran of World War II training in Army Air Corps flight schools and becoming a gunnery instructor. He graduated from the University of Georgia after the war and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He was the first president of the UGA Dairy Science Club and a member of AGHON, agriculture major’s honor society. In the 1980s his hobby was competitive running, often racing with his son, daughter and grandchildren. He became the fastest male runner 70 and older in the Southeast in 1992 through the Running Journal’s Grand Prix series of 15 races. He was a very active member at the Euchee Creek Senior Center in Grovetown and occasionally presented the devotional at the Young At Heart senior organization located at Lewis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Harlem. He was an avid fisherman and loved spending time with his family.
the local companies he worked for were Marbut Milling Co., Osbon Tire Co., the city of North Augusta as a housing rehab specialist, the county of Aiken as one of four county-wide building inspectors (retiring in 1998) and the Remnant and Rug Shop in Thomson (retiring again in 2003 at 81). Mr. Rhodes was preceded in death by his parents, John William Whitfield Rhodes and Lucy Ida Todd Rhodes; two brothers, Leonard and Reuben Rhodes, and a sister, Trellas Rhodes.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Jean Swann Rhodes; sons, Don Rhodes (Eddie Smith) of North Augusta, S.C., Dr. Larry Rhodes (Teresa) of Charleston, S.C.; Mike Spence (Kathy) of Graniteville, S.C., and Doug Spence (Bobbi) of Grovetown, Ga.; daughters Linda Groover (Sammy) of Statesboro, Ga.; Ann Holland (George) of Cobbtown, Ga.; and Jan Jarriel (Jerry Jarriel, Jr.) of Collins, Ga.; sister Lorene Rhodes Collins of Troy, Ala.; brother-in-law Jack Swan (Marjorie) of Martinez; 24 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Honorary Pallbearers were nephews. Active pallbearers were grandsons, Ben Harris, Jon Harris, Anthony Holland, Nick Holland, Bryan Rhodes, Brian Spence and Richard Spence.
Memorials may be made to the Forward In Faith fund in care of Belvedere First Baptist Church, 421 Edgefield Road, Belvedere, S.C. 29841.
Posey Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Martha Mills Rolling
HARLEM - Funeral service for Ms. Martha Mills Rolling, 86, of Harlem, was held on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at 1 p.m. at New Holt Baptist Church, Harlem, with Interim Pastor, the Rev. Milton Smith, eulogist, and the Rev. Johnny Few presiding. Interment was in the Second Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Harlem.
Survivors include seven children, Mildred Rolland, Martha Evans, Lonnie (Diane) Rolland, Ann Rolland, Bruce Rolling, Randy (Paulette) Rolling, and Janice (Willie) Tankersley; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a twin sister, Mary Adams; a host of other relatives and friends.
Thomson Funeral System was in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Ruby D. Martin Sjolie
AUGUSTA - Ms. Ruby D. Martin Sjolie, 90, of Augusta, wife of the late Ernest Martin and John M. Sjolie, entered into rest Sunday, Nov. 20, at her residence.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m., from Bellevue Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Sjolie was born in Thomson, and retired from Gracewood State School and Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her sons, Ernest A. Martin and his wife, Ramona, of Waynesboro, Dean M. Sjolie, of Augusta, and Fritz A. Sjolie, of North Augusta, S.C.; three grandchildren, Frederick A. Martin, Dana M. Briefed, and Brandon L. Sjolie; and one great-grandchild, Ashleigh M. Barefield.
Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Helen Wrightman Stone
THOMSON - Mrs. Helen Wrightman Stone, 67, wife of the late Owen V. Stone, entered into rest Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at the University Hospital. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Augusta, with The Most Reverend Archbishop Gregory A. Francisco officiating.
Mrs. Stone was born in Canada to the late Edgar Wightman and Blanche Parrish Wightman. She was a longtime resident of Augusta. Mrs. Stone was a Navy veteran and a retired licensed practical nurse. She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Church of Our Savior.
Survivors include two sons, Daniel E. (Dianne) McGowon, Atlanta and Edgar (Donna) Matthews, Harlem; two daughters, Lonie ( Percy) Boubgoin, Thomson and Blanche (Warren) Colgrove, Grovetown; one brother, Edgar Richard (Shirley) Wightman, Centerville, Ohio; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd, Suite 1010, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Starling Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jason W. Walker
THOMSON – Mr. Jason W. Walker, 31, son of Tracy Martin Bohler, entered into rest, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, at his residence.
Memorial services were held 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Starling Funeral Home.
Mr. Walker was a native of Richmond County and a resident of McDuffie County. He attended Thomson High School and was employed by Kirklands Flooring. Jason was a multi-talented individual. Skilled in wood-working, his life’s passion was music and art. As an accomplished guitarist and vocalist, Jason wrote music and lyrics. He was an artist with an extraordinary ability to express ideas through pencil and color sketches. His presence will be greatly missed, but his spirit will remain with all who knew him.
Survivors include his mother, Tracy Martin Bohler (Jeff Jordon); his father, Sid Bohler; son, Dylan Walker, Thomson; brother, Cody Bohler, Grovetown; maternal grandparents, Ruel and Glenda Martin, Grovetown; paternal grandparents, Louise and Ronnie Bohler, Thomson; maternal great-grandmother, Inez Wren and Jason’s girlfriend, Miss Crystal Clary.
Starling Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. William Lucious "W.L." Whitaker
HARLEM - Mr. William Lucious “W.L.” Whitaker, 79, husband of Mrs. Helen Kelley Whitaker, entered into rest Nov. 23, 2011, at the University Hospital.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, in the Bellevue Memorial Gardens Chapel, Grovetown. Interment was in the Bellevue Memorial Gardens.
Mr. W.L. was born in McDuffie County to the late Lucious Whitaker and Cora Fitzgerald Whitaker. He was a Civil Service retiree and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. He was also a member of Silver Run Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Helen K. Whitaker; two sons, James W. (Kathy) Whitaker, Loganville and Doug (Penny) Whitaker, Thomson; one daughter, Kathi Freeman, Marietta; one sister, Bernice Sweatman, Gibson; six grandchildren, Wes Whitaker, Ashton Whitaker, Kelley Freeman, Zachary Freeman, Laura Valiani, and Caitlin Downing; and one great-grandson, Zane Valiani.
Starling Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
