Obituaries
Albany Area

Roy Hall

ALBANY — Roy Hall, 82, of 440 Wadkins Ave., died Saturday, May 17, 2008. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Meadows Funeral Home
Albany 229/439-2262

Albert Leland Merrill

ALBANY — The memorial service of Albert Leland (Lee) Merrill, 86, who died Friday, May 16, 2008 at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center will be conducted today (Sunday) at 3:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home. The Rev. Bobby Moye will officiate.

A native of Chesapeake, Co., VA., Mr. Merrill had resided in Albany since 1969. He was a Navy veteran serving in World War II and was an electrician previously employed with Gordon’s Electric. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Ann Merrill and a daughter, Linda Leigh Merrill.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Terry Merrill and Heather, of Albany, GA; and three grandchildren, Elaina Merrill, Amanda Merrill and Michael Johnston.

The family will receive friends following services at Mathews Funeral Home.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Emma Mae Rice

ALBANY — The memorial service for Emma Mae Rice, 71, who died Thursday, May 15, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital after a prolong illness, will be conducted Monday, May 19, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home.

Mrs. Rice was born Emma Mae Moon in 1937 in Tift County. She was a member of Philema Road Baptist Church as well as various clubs and civic organizations in the Albany area. Mrs. Rice had an extended career with Allstate Insurance Company in Albany for a number of years and was preceded in death by her father, W.T. Moon of Brandon, FL., her mother, Carra O. Persall, of Waycross and a brother, Robert J. Moon, of Waycross, GA.

Survivors include two sons, Darrell Hawkins of Albany, and Michael Bryant of North Bend, WA; a daughter, Patricia Haynes of Albany; two brothers, Carlton Persall, Jr. and his wife, Shirley of Brunswick, Billy Persall and his wife, Brenda of Waynesville, GA; six sisters, Shirley Herren Crosby of Waycross, Alice Musgrove and her husband, Paul of West Green, GA, Harriet “Susie” Sands of Seffner, FL, Beverly Weaver and her husband, Kirby of Brandon, FL, Brenda Milliron her husband, Alan of Orlando, FL, Betty Davis and her husband, Roy of Hattiesburg, MS; three granddaughters, two great-grandsons and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends following the service at Mathews Funeral Home.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Vera S. Barfield Ruis

ALBANY — The funeral service of Vera S. Barfield Ruis, 89, of 2823 Gillionville Rd., Albany, GA, who died Thursday, May 15, 2008, will be conducted Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Mathews Funeral Home. The Rev. Mike DeLoach will officiate. Interment will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.

A native of Worth Co., Mrs. Ruis had resided in Albany for the past two years moving from Anderson City, GA. Early in her life she was an elementary school teacher and along with her late husband, Olon Augustus Ruis, owned and operated Ruis Grocery Store.

Mrs. Ruis was also a homemaker and enjoyed growing daylilies. She was a very active member of Union Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her father Heyward, and mother Lola Barfield and a sister, Flory Barfield Ruis.

Survivors include a brother, Hansel Barfield of Doerun, GA, three daughters, Jan Dalton and her husband, Randy of Albany, GA, Charlotte Galloway and her husband, David of Naples, FL and Diane Womack of Chula, GA; a son and his wife, Larry and Jan Ruis of Albany, GA; a stepson, Olon Ladolphus Ruis and his wife, Chris of Tallahassee, FL; a brother, Hansel Barfield of Doerun, GA; seven grandchildren, Michael Ford, Penny Ford, both of Sylvester, GA, Shannon Shockley of Key Largo, FL, Todd Steiner of Americus, GA, Nikki Walker and Trey Womack, both of Tifton, GA and Tiffany Mills of Jacksonville, FL and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends today (Sunday) from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make donations to Albany Community Hospice or The Wilson Hospice House..

The family is at the residence of Larry and Jan Ruis, 2413 Tarva Road, Albany, GA 31721.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

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