Mr. James Leon Coley, 67 of 1996 Spring Creek Road, Summerville passed away Thursday, December 29, 2011 at Floyd Medical Center. He was born May 18, 1944 in Floyd County son of the late T.J. & Mary Agnes Kilgore Coley. He was self employed, a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the Armuchee Church of God.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Carrie Sue Teal Coley of Summerville; 2 sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff & Marcy Coley & Scott & Amanda Coley all of Summerville; 4 grandchildren, Rachel, Rebecca, Kadie Grace & Kasey Coley all of Summerville; several nieces & nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. from the Chapel of Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Izell & Rev. Ralph Goss officiating. The family will have a private interment service following the funeral.

Pallbearers are requested to meet at the Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and include the following, Tim Pickle, Warren Hall, Gordon Kinsey, Heath Moore, Michael Bean, Ted Edwards, Hubert Stanley & Bill Durham.

Mr. Coley will li-in-state this evening, Friday, at Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m.

Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home has charge of arrangements for Mr. Leon Coley who passed away on Thursday.

MR. E. J. BROWN, age 87, of Wayside Community, Summerville, Georgia passed away Friday (December 16, 2011) morning in a Rome hospital. A life time resident of Chattooga County, Georgia, He was born to the late Henry and Emma Headrick Brown on January 28, 1924.

 Mr. Brown was a member of the Berryton Bible Mission and was retired from Barwick Mills and Riegel Textile Corporation slacher rooms. He served in the U.S. Navy in WW II and was preceded in death by his wife the late Nellie Bell Armstrong Brown and step son the late Ronnie Headrick.

Surviving are grandchildren-Tony Headrick, Kimberly Headrick, Melissa & Kirk Fauscett, Leann & Don McGrath; great grandchildren-Kristen & Dakota Headrick, Lauren Fauscett, Emily & Jonathan McGrath; step children-Douglas & Joann Headrick, Johnny Headrick, and Sharon Headrick; several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 18th, at 1:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Rutledge officiating, interment in Summerville Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 5 until 8 P.M. at the Funeral Home. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MRS. GENEVA SKINNER SHIREMAN, age 89, of Highway #337 Summerville, Georgia passed away Friday, December 16, 2011, morning in a Rome hospital. Born in Chattooga County, Georgia on August 5, 1922, She was a daughter of the late Sam and Ella Broome White.

Mrs. Shireman was a member of New Antioch Baptist Church, retired from the spinning department of Riegel Textile Corporation, and was preceded in death by her husbands the late Earnest Shireman and the late Bill Skinner, and a daughter-the late Jeannette Hill.

Surviving are son-Douglas & Vivian Shireman; daughter-Sharon & Mickey Collins of Carrollton; step daughter-Karen & George Stivers; step son-Darrell & Annette Skinner all of Summerville and Richard & Sandy Skinner of Indiana; 9 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren, 3 Great Great Grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 19th, at 2 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Harold Helton and Rev. David Pettyjohn officiating, interment in Summerville Cemetery. Active Pallbearers George Stivers, Andy Stivers, Eddie Shireman, Gary Hinton, Michael Lee, Glenn Brown; Honorary Pallbearers the Ladies Sunday School Class of New Antioch Baptist Church. Visitation Sunday from 3 until 5 P.M. at the Funeral Home. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Merline H. Ballard, 69, of 8 Saddle Horne Dr, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2011 at her residence.

Mrs. Ballard was born on May 28, 1942, in Brunswick , GA, the daughter of the late Clyde and Alice Mae Johnson Hickox.

Mrs. Ballard formerly owner and operated Herbs for Health in Central Plaza, and was a member of the Second Avenue Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 48 yrs, Don Ballard; daughters, Donna Mincey and Debbie Ballard Moon; son, Bryan E. Ballard, all of Rome, GA. five grandchildren, Danielle Mincey, Jonathan Mincey, Kara Mincey, Bria Moon and Jackson Moon; one brother, David Hickox, and sister-in-law, Jeanette Hickox, Snellville; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, Dec 4, 2011 at 3 PM at the Second Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Monty Stallins officiating.  Interment will follow in the Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Therian Smith, Jim Pinson, Bob Bryant, Mike Bennett, Fred Moore and Terry Crider.

The Family will receive friends at Daniel’s Funeral Home in Rome, GA on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, from 6 until 9pm.

Those wishing may send memorial contributions to The Salvation Army, PO Box 5188, Rome, GA 30162-5188

Mr. Fred Haskell Barbare, age 74, of LaFayette, GA died Monday, November 28,2011 at his residence.

Mr. Barbare was born April 19,1937 in Summerville, GA, the son of the late Cleveland and Lena Mann Barbare. He was a retired security gaurd at Bunge Oils. Mr. Barbare was preceded in death by a son, Fred “Kim” Haskell Barbare, sister, Joyce Ferguson and brother, Buck Barbare.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Ann Reynolds Barbare; son, Shane Barbare;daughter, Tricia “Jody” Gilreath; brothers, Harold Barbare, Vernon Barbare, Mike Barbare,Jeff Barbare; sisters, Bobbie Thompson, Sue Woodard; granddaughter, Breanna Gilreath; grandsons, C.J. Barbare, Stephen Barbare and Alex Barbare.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p. m. Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at Mason Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Chasteen officiating. Interment will take place at Ridgeway Cemetery.

Mr. Barbare will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 2:00 until the time of the service Wednesday

Mr. Carl E. “Jimmy“ Strickland, age 86, of Trion, GA passed away Sunday, November 20, 2011 at Oakview Nursing and Rehab. Mr. Strickland was born August 16, 1925 in LaFayette, GA, son of the late Olin Strickland and Lula Murphy Strickland. He was a self-employed used car dealer and a member of the Central Avenue Baptist Church.

Mr. Strickland is survived by his wife, Joann King Strickland, son, Denny Strickland, daughter, Gayle Brenwald, sister, Barbara Patterson, 3 Grandchildren, 3 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great-grandchild.

Funeral Services for Mr. Strickland will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. David Ray, Rev. Robert Patterson and Rev. John Leatherwood officiating. Burial will follow in Greenhills Memory Garden. Pallbearers will be Wayne Tallent, Bud Willis, John Shankles, Larry Nixon, Donnie Hammond, James Spence, Mark Ballard, Tommy Ballard. Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of the Central Avenue Baptist Church.

Mr. Strickland will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday Evening.