Obituaries
Albany Area

Geneva Bailey

SYLVESTER — Geneva Bailey, 68, of 1305 Colquitt Ave., Albany died May 2, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be Saturday 11 A.M. at St. Paul Baptist Church Isabella, Sylvester with interment in Shepard Garden. Visitation will be Friday 12-9 P.M. at the funeral home.

Fields & Terry Funeral Home
Sylvester 229/776-5649

Wesley R. Benford

ALBANY — Wesley (Wes) R. Benford, a student at Auburn University, formerly of Albany, died May 7, 2007. Family at the residence of Ben and Laura Benford, 2311 Wallington Drive, Albany. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Lorene Daniel Birdsong

DAWSON — Lorene Daniel Birdsong, 86, died Thursday, May 8, 2008 at Palmyra Medical Centers. The funeral service will be held 2 P.M. Saturday at the graveside in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Birdsong was born in Terrell Co. on December 1, 1921, daughter of the late J.C. Daniel and Tommie Wishard Daniel. She lived in Dawson all of her life and was a retired bookkeeper with Southern Cotton Oil Company and Dawson Motor Company for many years.

She was a member of the Dawson United Methodist Church and Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society and worked with the memorials and the Christmas “Love Lights A Tree”.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, the late William Birdsong of Dawson and a brother, J.C. Daniel, Jr.

Survivors include a brother, Bill Daniel and wife Glynn of Dawson; cousins, Don Daniel, Patsy Speir both of Dawson, and James Forrest of Montgomery, AL; nieces and nephews, Rene Roberts of Cartersville; Pam Wynn of Oxford; Debra Crawford of Bronwood; J.C. Daniel, III of Macon; Laura Radcliff of Richmond Hill; care giver, Dora Davis of Dawson; sixteen great-nieces and nephews; four great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, Terrell Co. Unit, P.O. Box 503, Dawson, GA 39842.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 9, from 6-7:30 at Harvey Funeral Home.

Harvey Funeral Home
Dawson 229/995-2104

John Davis Jr

ALBANY — John Davis, Jr., 79, of 1802 Wildfair Road died May 1, 2008 at his residence. The funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 4527 Blue Springs Road. Interment will follow at Wilson Cemetery. The Rev. Silas Jackson, Pastor and the Rev. Eunice Washington will officiate.

Mr. Davis attended Dougherty County Public Schools and is a retired farmer from Blue Springs Plantation. He was a member of the Deacon Board and Finance Committee at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include six sons, Mr. Willard Davis (Maggie), Mr. Freddie Lee Davis (Jessica), Mr. Johnny Lee Davis, Mrs. Walter Lee Davis (Edna, Mr. Calvin Davis, Sr. and Mr. Benjamin Harris Davis all of Albany. Two Daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson of Franklin, Tennessee and Mrs. Eleanor Clyde of Albany. One Brother, Mr. Charlie Davis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a very devoted granddaughter and caregiver, Ms. Tomeka Clyde of Albany, a great granddaughter, Latrice K.L. King of Albany, four sister-in-laws, Mattie M. Slater, Waycross, Lorraine Hargrow, Albany, Jerraine Parks, Franklin, TN, Geneva Hobley, Tampa, FL, two brothers-in-law, Rev. Willie Ellis, Salibuey, NC, John Ellis of Tampa, FL. 24 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

The remains of Mr. Davis will be in the church Saturday morning from 10 A.M. until the funeral hour.

Meadows Funeral Home
Albany 229/439-2262

Calvin Warren Getz

ALBANY — Calvin Warren Getz of Albany died Saturday, May 3, 2008 at his residence following an illness. His memorial service will be 11 AM Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors and the family will receive friends following the service. A sea burial is planned for a later date.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Ruth Jones

ALBANY — Ruth Jones of Albany died Thursday, May 8, 2008. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Lydia Elizabeth Ware Moore

ALBANY — Lydia Elizabeth Ware Moore, 67, of 6118 Popular Rd., Sylvester died May 7, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Meadows Funeral Home
Albany 229/439-2262

Edward Neal

ALBANY — GYSGT, Edward Neal, 38, of Albany died April 30, 2008 in Miami, FL.

His funeral service will be held Saturday May 10, 2008 3:00PM at Rhema Word International Church. Bishop Victor Powell will be officiating. Interment will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery with full military honors.

A native of Torrence, CA, Mr. Neal joined the United States Marine Corp. in 1991 where he was in Military Police and Physical Security. He served two tours in Iraq, and was stationed in Arizona, Georgia, California, Florida, and North Carolina. He was a graduate of Yuba Community College in Marysville, CA. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, playing football, weight lifting, spending time with family, and Oakland Raiders.

Survivors include his wife Cynthia Johnson Neal of Albany; two sons Trevon ”Tre” Neal and Tyshon ”Ty” Neal both of Albany; a daughter Evelyn Neal Hiatt of Los Angeles, CA; his father Larry Charles Neal, Los Angeles, CA; his mother Claudia L. Marshall of San Bernardino, CA; two brothers Scott L. Neal of Texas; Ronald F. Neal of Arizona; a sister Angela Neal Wharry of Yuba City, CA; Host of nieces, nephews and close friends.

The family will receive friends Friday from 5:00 to 8:00PM at Kimbrell-Stern.

You may sign the online guestbook and share your own special thoughts with the family of Mr. Neal by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Mattie Adair Pearson

SYLVESTER — Mattie Adair Pearson, 90, of Sylvester died May 8, 2008 at her residence. Funeral services will be held May 10, 2008 2 P.M. at First Baptist Church of Acree with interment in Oakfield Cemetery. Rev. Mark Sickling will officiate.

Mattie was born August 1, 1917 in Dougherty Co. to the late Arthur Adair and Eunie McDonald Adair. She has lived in Worth Co. since 1934 and she was a homemaker. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Acree and the Reba Wilder Sunday School Class, the Keenagers of Acree and the Mommocco Club, a member of the Lula Johnson Sewing class and the Silver Saints of Salem Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Janice P. Gosnel and her husband Pete of Simpsonville, SC, Betty J. McDonald and her husband Jimmy, Faye P. Stephens both of Sylvester, one son, David Pearson and wife, Linda of Sylvester, a sister, Thelma A. Hancock of Acree, nine grandchildren, Craig and Wesley McDonald, Darrell Stephens, Margo Sanders, Kristi Hartley, Rena Hensley, Shannon Kent, John Freeman, and Gail Humphrey, thirteen great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Marion Pearson in January 19, 1949 and a son, Lamar Pearson, July 14, 1942.

The family will receive friends Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Acree from 12:45 until the hour of the service.

Banks Funeral Home
Sylvester 229/776-2055

Byron Richard Rice

ALBANY — Byron Richard Rice, 82, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Funeral arrangements will be announced.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Charles E. Wallace

ALBANY — Charles E. Wallace, 49 of 625 Willis Dr., died Wednesday at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

J.L. Litman Memorial Funeral Service
Albany 229/430-8800

Gernarius J. Wooden

ALBANY — Gernarius J. Wooden, 28, of 2304 W. Gordon Ave. Apt. 252 died Sunday, May 4, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held 1 P.M. Saturday, May 10, 2008 at County Line Missionary Baptist Church in Sasser. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

M.L. King Funeral Directors
Albany 229/435-4813

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