Mr. Joel DeWayne Whittle, age 44 of Lyerly, Georgia passed away Wednesday, March 08, 2017 at his residence following an extended illness.

Mr. Whittle was born in Ft. Payne, Alabama on July 3, 1972, son of Joyce Brandon Spraggins and the late Terry Allen Whittle.  He was a member of the Victory Tabernacle in Lafayette.  Mr. Whittle was an ordained minister and was employed as a Truck Driver with Mohawk Industries.  He loved wood working, riding motorcycles, tinkering with antique cars and was an avid Alabama Fan.  In addition to his father, Mr. Whittle was preceded in death by a step-daughter, Mary M. Griggs.

Mr. Whittle is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Whittle; a son, J.D. Whittle; step-children, David Griggs, Jr., Anita Curtis, Donna Byars and Lisa and Michael Kirk; brother, Lamar (Lori) Spraggins; sisters, Michelle (Les) Hall and Becky (Charlie)Eaton; mother and stepfather, Joyce  and Ronnie Spraggins; 17 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Mr. Whittle will be held Friday, March 10, 2017 at 4:00 P.M. in the Redemption Worship Center (Formerly Freedom Tabernacle) with Rev. Ken Westmoreland and Rev. LeBron Long officiating.  Interment will follow in the Johnson Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Gruber, Gary Rape, James Samples, Clayton Pierce, Jeff Martin and Michael Kirk.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Mohawk Truck Drivers and the staff of Hearth Hospice.

Mr. Whittle will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 until 8 P.M.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Joel DeWayne Whittle.  

Willis Bryant (Bill) Smith, 87, passed away March 6, 2017 at Remembrance Village at Riverwood Senior Living Facility.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Victoria Smith, sisters Louise Copeland, Sara Humphries and Myrtle Helms.

His is survived by his wife of 59 years, Clara Faye Smith and daughter, Julie Ann Smith and her fiancé, Craig Cornmesser.

Bill was born in Cloudland, Georgia.  He graduated from the University of Tennessee where he met and married his wife, Faye, who was from Knoxville.  He was in the Army 22 years where he fought in the Vietnam War.  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1977.  After teaching ROTC for 10 years, he owned and operated the Trion Golf Club for 5 years.  Throughout the years he also ran a beef cattle farm in Cloudland.  After working his entire life, at age 80, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which is when he retired.

His funeral service will be held at Lakeside Funeral Home in Woodstock, GA on Thursday, March 9th at 12:30 pm.  Prior to that at 11:00 am, the family will be receiving visitors. Interment will be at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA with full military honors.

The family would like to personally thank Riverwood Senior Living and Homestead Hospice for their continued compassion over the last two years.

The professional staff of Lakeside Funeral Home at 121 Claremore Drive is honored to serve the family.

MRS. SARAH RUTH MOSTILLER BENSON – Age 70, of Summerville, Georgia passed away Monday, February 27, 2017. She was born February 17, 1947 in Summerville, Georgia to the late Lee Forrest and Juanita Richardson Mostiller. She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church and was preceded in death by two brothers, Raulston Mostiller and Earnest Mostiller.

She is survived by her son, Gwynae Shropshire of Dalton, Georgia; daughters, Andrea (Louis) Joseph of Sahuarita, Arizona and Tonia (Derrick) Johnson of Summerville, Georgia; longtime and devoted companion, James Hendrix of Centre, Alabama; grandchildren, Brittney (Atley) Settles of Nashville, Tennessee, Jasmine Joseph of Sahuarita, and Louis Joseph II; great granddaughter, Krimsym Settles; brother, Tommy Dewayne (Gail) Mostiller of Lithonia, Georgia; sister-in-law, Jacki Mostiller of Rome, Georgia; uncle, Jack Mostiller of Summerville; special cousins, Rena Mae Anthony, Sharon Leak, Rochelle Bell, and Clarence Moore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, March 3, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. at New Bethel Baptist Church, 281 Georgia Avenue, Summerville, Georgia, with Apostle Dr. Jennifer London as eulogist and Pastor Kevin Roach, presiding. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. Interment, Summerville Cemetery. Please share your thoughts and memories of Mrs. Sarah Benson at www.willisfuneralhomedalton.com. Arrangements by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia.

MR. JAMES FRANK THURMAN – Age 66, of Rome, Georgia passed away Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Floyd Medical Center. He was a member of Thankful Baptist Church and was preceded in death by his parents, James and Myrtle Thurman, son, Steven Thurman, grandson, Kevin Tyrone Thurman, sister, Nona Adams, and brother, William Steve Thurman.

He is survived by his loving wife, Glenice Elaine Thurman; sons, Brittany (Tabitha Bankston) Thurman and Christian (Michelene) Thurman of Rome, Georgia; daughters, Kira (Kurt Lowrey) Thurman of Cartersville, Georgia and Crystal (Erica Beck) Roberts of North Carolina; grandchildren, Brittavious Thurman and Pharrell Thurman; sisters, Brenda Williamson, Robin Williams, and Pamela (Warren) Albert of Summerville, Georgia; brothers, Michael (Sandra) Allen of Cartersville, Vernon (Sandy) Thurman of Summerville, and Jerry (Bernice) Allen of Atlanta, Georgia; aunts, Frankie Shropshire and Joan Terrell of Rome; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Homegoing Service will be held Friday, March 3, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. at Thankful Baptist Church with Pastor Bernard Young, Sr. and other ministers officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service. Interment, Floyd Memory Gardens. Arrangements by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia.