Georgia health officials have introduced a $1.4 billion, five-year plan aimed at improving health outcomes in rural communities through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, created in this summer’s budget reconciliation law.
Mrs. Edna Ray Wilkerson, age 82, of Summerville, GA, died Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at Advent Health Redmond.
Mrs. Wilkerson was born June 5, 1943, in Cedartown, GA, daughter of the late Floyd Thomas Ray and Ruby Lee McCurry Duggar. She was a member of the Highland Avenue Baptist Church, and prior to her retirement, was employed with Wal-Mart.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Wilkerson was preceded in death by her son, Bobby Ronald Lee, Jr.; brother, Thomas Eugene Ray; sisters, Helen J. Kitts and Polly Ruff O’Neil; and a grandson, Austin Ry Lee.
Survivors include her husband of 48 years, David Wilkerson; son, Billy Wilkerson; daughters, Wendy (Jerome) Murkerson, Davina (Coy) Edwards; a brother, Donald Duggar; sisters, Judy Kubicki, Marilyn Moore, and Mary Saunders; grandchildren, Jessica (Michael) Stallings, Keith Lee, John Lee, Layla (Taylor) Lee, Nakiah (Colin) Hilton, Sarek (Paulina) Siffles, Jayden Siffles, River Wilkerson-Snowball, Stephen (Kezia) Murkerson, Daniel (Savannah) Murkerson, Kristina (Jared) Childers, Samantha Richards, Barbara Carter, Dakota Wilkerson, and Lane Wilkerson; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kevin Jones and Rev. Steve Collins officiating. Interment will follow in Lyerly Cemetery. Pallbearers will include the Masonic Brethren of Trion Lodge # 160, F&AM.
Mrs. Wilkerson will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Tuesday.
To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home-Summerville, GA.
Mrs. Kathy “Granny Shake” Terry, age 60, of Summerville, GA, died Sunday, December 21, 2025, at her residence.
Mrs. Terry was born April 16, 1965, in Lafayette, GA, daughter of the late Billy David Abernathy and Shirley Marie Crane Abernathy. She was Baptist by faith and was a homemaker who loved being a Baseball Granny for the Dirt Devils Baseball team.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Jessica Terry.
Survivors include her husband, Ray Bridges; daughter, Jenna Terry (Darin McGuire); bonus daughter, Anna Hudson; step sons, Jeff Bridges, Corey Bridges; brother, Tim (Tina) Abernathy; sisters, Judy Slaughter, Tonya (Whistle) Dawson, and Melinda Clark; grandchildren, Joshua McGuire, Jayci McGuire. She also had two special friends, Jane Price and Shenia Glass.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, December 29, 2025, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Larry Reynolds and Rev. David Dutton officiating. Interment will follow in Lyerly Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jake Dawson, Billy Abernathy, James Abernathy, Randall Abernathy, Dewayne Clark, and Curtis Cochran.
Mrs. Terry will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is assisting the Walker County Sheriff’s Office with an investigation into a shooting that left a 2-year-old child hospitalized in Rock Spring.
The Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office recently celebrated the Christmas season with its annual Christmas dinner and awards night, recognizing employees for outstanding performance and lifesaving actions.
More information has been released from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office about an Atlanta-area woman who was arrested on December 21st after a report of a package being dropped in the woods near Hays State Prison.
Residents who selected the settlement water benefit connected to the Summerville drinking water lawsuit are being reminded that a critical deadline is approaching. Claimants must call Fontis Water at (678) 494-1981 to schedule a delivery appointment by January 31, 2026. Officials say anyone who fails to schedule by that date will forfeit the water benefit.
Visitors ringing in the New Year at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park are invited to stay for a traditional Southern meal after their hike. The Friends of James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park will host a Black-Eyed Pea Luncheon on January 1, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Picnic Shelter 4.
Residents in the Subligna Community are invited out for the 6th Annual Subligna Christmas Parade Tuesday evening, December 23, a community tradition that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues as a celebration of local spirit and pride.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, December 15, 2025:
