Obituaries
Southwest Georgia

Dennis Charles Barnum, Sr.

AMERICUS — Dennis Charles Barnum, Sr. of Allendale, SC. died April 26, 2008. Graveside funeral services will at 6 P.M. Friday in Eastview Cemetery.

Barnum Funeral Home
Americus 229/924-2958

Thomas Howell Bell, Sr.

BLAKELY — Thomas Howell (Tommy) Bell, Sr., 65, of 20267 Hwy. 39 Blakely, died Monday, April 28, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. The funeral services will be 4 P.M. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Blakely with Dr. Charles DeVane and Dr. Alex Howell officiating. Burial will follow in the Blakely Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-3:45 Wednesday in the First Baptist Church Social Hall. Serving as Active pallbearers are; Warren Gilbert, Justin Colie, Harold (Huddy) Hudgens, Jr., Davis Lewis, Steve Singletary, Stanley Houston, Richard (Buck) Grist, Luther Warrick, Jr. and Bobby McLendon. Serving as Honorary pallbearers are; the Bradley Bridges Sunday School Class and the Bank of Early Board of Directors. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Willson Hospice House; % Phoebe Foundation, 410 5th Ave., Albany, Ga. 31701 or to Wernell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia.

Mr. Bell was born July 12, 1942, in Early Co., the son of C.A. (Red) Bell Sr. of Blakely and the late Grey Howell Bell. He was a member of the Blakely First Baptist Church. He was a consultant Forester for T. Bell Consulting Foresters Inc.; On the Board of Directors at Bank of Early, Member of the Blakely Rotary Club and Past President, Will Watt Fellow and Paul Harris Fellow; Past Member of the Early Co. Board of Tax Assessors, Past Member of the Early Co. School Board, Past Member of Blakely Early Co. Chamber of Commerce, 1960 Graduate of Blakely Union High School where he served as the president of Class; 1964 Graduate of UGA with a B.S. in Forestry; 1983 Early Co. Forestry Man of the Year; Worked for Florida Forest Service and Ga. Forestry Commission; Consultant Forester- Registered in GA. and AL.; Licensed Real Estate Agent for Albany Land Co.; Member of Ga. Forestry Association; Member of the Sierra Club; Founding Member Friends of the Chattahoochee; Mr. Bell was adevoted Husband, Father, Grandfather and an avid Outdoorsman.

Surviving other than his father, are his wife, Diane Widener Bell of Blakely, one daughter, Tyla Bell Talley and husband John of Longmont, CO; two sons, Todd Bell and wife Angela and Tom Bell and wife Connie, both of Blakley, two sisters, Carleen Bell Logan and husband Cary and Alita Bell Jones, all of Blakely; two brothers, Claude Bell and wife Rachel of Blakely and Carlie Bell of Ft. Myers, FL., three grandchildren, Giles Talley and Thomas Talley of Longmont, Co. and Banks Bell of Blakely.

Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home
Blakely 229/723-3421

Nell Jeffcoat Godby

DONALSONVILLE — We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Nell Jeffcoat Godby, 86, who passed away on Monday, April 28, 2008 at her residence in Brinson, GA.

Services for Mrs. Godby will be held on Wednesday 4 P.M., April 30, 2008, at the Brinson Methodist Church in Brinson with Rev. Doug Harvey and Rev. Ramon Hernandez officiating. Burial will follow in the Brinson Cemetery Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 from 6-8 P.M. in the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville. You may sign the register book and give your condolences to the family by visiting our website at www.evansskipperfh.com

Mrs. Godby was born September 20, 1921 in Crenshaw Co., AL to the late Glenn Aubrey and Mattie Morrison Jeffcoat. She was married to Charles Wilmer Godby, Sr. who preceded her in death in February 2000. She retired from Georgia Pacific in 1991 as their Guest House manager. She had also worked at Williams House of Flowers in Bainbridge and the Peach Depot in Iron City. “Miss” Nell was always an active lady who was known for her love of flowers and staying busy working. She was a member of the Brinson Cemetery Committee, the Merry Makers of Brinson and the Donalsonville Garden Club.

She leaves to cherish her memory one son, Charles Wilmer (Butch) Godby, Jr. and his wife, Joyce of Iron City; one daughter, Glenna Godby Thornton and her husband, Cecil of Camilla; one brother, George Jeffcoat of Luverne, AL; and three sisters, Mollie Messick of Luverne, Al, Margaret Nichols and her husband, Ed of Luverne, AL; and Erin Williams of Goshen, AL. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jo Ann Godby Lane and her husband Doug of Brinson; Marc Godby and his wife, Melonie of Brinson; Cile Thornton of Bainbridge; Cindy Thornton of Bainbridge; Charla Thornton West and her husband, Jeff of Meigs; Dee English and her husband, Tracy of Greensboro and Jeff Tharpe of Cordele; and ten great grandchildren, Meed Kelley and his wife, Beth of Donalsonville; Kati Godby of Brinson, Drew Thornton of Bainbridge, Taylor Godby of Brinson, Kelly and Morgan Lane of Brinson, Josh and Karsyn West of Meigs and Steven and Marvin Tharpe of Cordele. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Mrs. Godby was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn Aubrey and Mattie Morrison Jeffcoat; her husband, Charles Wilmer Godby, Sr., one sister, Bernie J. Davis, and three brothers, Harry A. Jeffcoat, Fred Alton Jeffcoat, and Brady O’Neal “Skinny” Jeffcoat.

Pallbearers will be Michael Godby, John Emory Trawick, Jerry Godby, Jud Green, Jospeh E. “Tuddy” Alday, Glenn Earnest, Steve Amerison and L.J. Miller.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Brinson Methodist Church P.O. Box 626 Brinson, Ga. 39825.

Evans-Skipper Funeral Home
Donalsonville 229/524-2789

John C. Smith

FT. GAINES — Funeral services for the late John C. Smith, 82 who died Monday, April 21, 2008 at the Calhoun Co. Memorial Hospital in Arlington will be held Thursday at 1 P.M. at the Pleasant Grove AME Church in Blakely. Visitation will be from 12-8:30 P.M. on Wednesday at the mortuary.

Lewis Mortuary
Ft. Gaines 229/768-2014

Shirley Thomas

DONALSONVILLE — Shirley Thomas, 47, died April 21, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. Funeral services will be May 3, 2008 at 11 A.M. at St. Matthew M.B. Church with interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be May 2, 2008 from 2 P.M. until closing at the funeral home.

Moore Funeral Home
Donalsonville 229/524-2465

Ishmael Jenali Faith Walker

MOULTRIE — Ishmael Jenali Faith Walker, 3 months old, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Funeral service will be at 4:30 P.M., Thursday at Mother Easter Baptist Church. Interment will in Westview Cemetery.

Luke Strong & Son Mortuary
Moultrie 229/890-1717

Albany Area Obituaries>>