Obituaries
Southwest Georgia

Betty Jean Blackshear

DAWSON — Betty Jean Blackshear, 45, of Dawson, GA, died on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany, GA. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 7 at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Graves, GA. The Rev. Marvin Brown will officiate. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Dawson.

Sis. Betty Jean Lane Blackshear was born October 6, 1962 in Graves, Terrell County, GA to the late Freddie Lee Lane Sr. and Irena P. Robinson Lane.

She received her education in the public schools of Terrell County, GA. Betty was a loving, Christian woman whom at an early age confessed her faith in God and joined Gaines Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church and served faithfully until her death.

On January 27, 1984, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Sgt. David L. Blackshear; four children were born to this union. The most important things in her life were the love of God and her family.

Betty was employed at Proctor and Gamble Paper Company for 12 years and was a hard and dedicated worker. In addition, she was also the owner of BJ’s Fashions, Dawson, GA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Walter Marshall, Johnny B. Marshall and Jimmy C. Lane; two sisters, Mae Lena Pickett and Mamie D. Marshall and a brother-in-law, Rufus Armour.

She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memories, her loving husband, Sgt. David L. Blackshear of Dawson; two sons, Jonathan C. Lane of Dawson and Darius (Amy) Lane of Norfolk, VA; two daughters, Irena L. Blackshear and Jolisa D. Blackshear, both of Dawson; four grandchildren, Zyrese, Lamaara, D‘avion and Jannelle; two sisters, Eula B. (Jerry) Thomas and Mary A. Florida, both of Dawson; two brothers, William C. (Benny Cal) Marshall of Atlanta and Freddie L. (Sandra) Lane Jr. of Griffin; mother-in-law, Aggie Mae Heath of Dawson; a special brother-in-law, Ellis J. Florida; one sister-in-law, Bettye Marshall; special God-brother, Benny Kemp; two special God-sisters, Kim Watson and Mary Castleberry; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends.

You may sign our online guest registry and send condolences at: www.albrittensfuneralservice.com.

Albritten’s Funeral Service
Dawson 229/995-5895

Mary Clark

CORDELE — Mary Clark of Cordele, died Friday, April 4, 2008 at Ashburn Healthcare Center in Ashburn. Funeral arrangements to be announced. The family may be contacted at 314 W. 14th Ave., Apt. D, Cordele.

J.W. Williams Funeral Home
Cordele 229/273-2683

Mark Anthony Gay

CUTHBERT — Mark Anthony Gay, 44, of Cuthbert, died Monday, March 31, 2008. Funeral services were held on Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church, with burial followed in Piney Grove Cemetery.

Perkins Funeral Home
Cuthbert 732-3869

John Curtis Harrell Sr.

PELHAM — John Curtis “Bo” Harrell Sr., 74, of Pavo, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his son’s residence.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home Chapel, with burial in Pinecrest Memory Gardens, both in Pelham. Pastor Jesse Corbitt officiating.

Pallbearers are Derek Brock, Joe Daughtry, Tim Watkins, Irv NeSmith, David Melton, and Jason Carroll; and honorary pallbearers are members of the Pelham Banking Company Coffee Club.

Born on March 23, 1934 in Mitchell County, Mr. Harrell was the son of the late John Green and Idella Willis Harrell and the widow of Frankie Ann Griffin Harrell. He was a retired egg broker and a member of Patten Church of God.

Survivors include a daughter, Melanie Brock and husband, Eddie of Jacksonville, FL; son, Tim Roberts and wife, Shanell of Pavo; a sister, Christine Watts and husband, Marion of Tampa, FL; grandchildren, Derek, Justin and Kristyn Brock, Christopher Gooshaw, and Alicia Roberts.

In addition to Mr. Harrell parents and wife, he is preceded in death by a son, John “Johnny” Curtis Harrell Jr.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 7 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home, Pelham.

To share your deepest sympathies and fondest memories, sign the online register book at www.jamerson-braswell.com.

Jamerson-Braswell Funeral Home
Pelham 229/294-2661

Lois E. Hogan

OCILLA — Lois E. Hogan, 93, of Ocilla, died Thursday, April 3, 2008. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. today (Sunday) at Big Creel Baptist Church, with interment to follow in the church cemetery.

Paulk Funeral Home
Ocilla 229/423-2033

Margaret Hays Maynard

BAINBRIDGE — Mrs. Margaret Hays Maynard, 81, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Friday, April 4, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA.

The memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 7, 2008 at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Robert Baggs officiating. A private graveside service will be held at Hopeful Cemetery in Hopeful, GA.

The family will receive friends today (Sunday, April 6, 2008) from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Ivey Funeral Home and immediately following the memorial service at First Presbyterian Church. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA 39819.

Mrs. Maynard was born August 30, 1926 in Mitchell County, GA, the daughter of W. B. and Ethel Bullard Hays. She graduated from Hopeful High School and received a Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from Florida State University and two specialist degrees from the University of Georgia. As a teacher, coach, and mentor at West Bainbridge and Bainbridge High Schools and later as the district school social worker, Mrs. Maynard played a profound role in the lives of countless Decatur County students and their parents. Following her retirement from education, Mrs. Maynard began a second successful career as a real estate broker.

Equally significant was her role as benefactor and advocate for Bainbridge and Decatur County civic concerns. Mrs. Maynard was a patron of the arts serving for many years on the Board of Directors of the Bainbridge Little Theater and delighting theater goers with years of memorable stage performances. Her numerous social causes include establishing the first county clothing bank to assist families and their children; serving as chairman of the Decatur County Easter Seal Society and on the board of the Kidney Foundation, including the Cathy Harris Kidney Transplant Drive and the Send A Mouse to College initiative. She also played a pivotal role in the fundraising efforts of the Decatur County YMCA. In recent years, her passion for gardening provided her with great happiness and the gratitude of those blessed to walk in her gardens.

A nephew recently described her as the “original conservative feminist.” Mrs. Maynard was the first Decatur County Republican Party female chair and played an important role in the direction of the local party. Those who had the privilege of knowing her agree that she was a great champion in all of her work of just causes and a dedicated advocate of the promise that education and opportunity offered to children.

She is survived by her husband, Tom Maynard; her children, Mike (Linda) Maynard, Mouth-of-Wilson, VA, Peggy (Rick) Corbett, Canton, GA, Charles (Pam) Maynard, Navarre Beach, FL, and Suzanne (Ed) Auerbach, Pike Road, AL; her brother, Donald Hays of Hopeful, GA; her sister, Emmalou H. Lewis of Camilla, GA; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Ellen Hays Parker, Climax, GA.

Ivey Funeral Home
Bainbridge 229/246-3232

Rosie L. McKinnon

TIFTON — Rosie L. McKinnon, 96, of Omega, died Friday, April 4, 2008 at her residence. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Southview Mortuary
Tifton 229/387-7046

Willie Richardson

DAWSON — Willie Richardson, 73, of Bronwood, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his residence. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Albritten’sFuneral Service
Dawson 229/995-5895

Georgia Mae Thomas

ALBANY — Georgia Mae Thomas, 96, of 202 N. Carroll St., died Friday, April 4, 2008. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

J.L. Litman Memorial Services
Albany 229/430-8800

Rose White

ARLINGTON — Rose White, 60, of Arlington, died Thursday, April 3, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 1 p.m. at New Point M.B. Church in Arlington.

Winns Funeral Home
Arlington 229/725-4619

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