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Mrs. Mae Dorthene “Dot” Phillips, age 81, of Menlo, GA, died Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at her residence.
Mrs. Phillips was born May 12, 1944, in Trion, GA, daughter of the late Paul Judson Brown and Hester Ann Elizabeth Stancil Brown. Prior to her retirement, she was employed with Mount Vernon Mills. Mrs. Phillips was a member of the Teloga Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Christmas Play Director, and Children’s Activity Leader since 1973. She was also considered the “mother of the church.” Mrs. Phillips was a wonderful cook, an avid canner, and a great seamstress.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie Edward Phillips; brothers, Hoyt Brown, J.W. Brown, James Brown, Alvin Brown, Sammy Brown, Gerald Brown, Dennis Brown, and Stevie Brown; sisters, Grace Ingle, Glenda Ann Wood; 2 grandsons; and 2 granddaughters.
Survivors include her sons, Eddie (Ginger) Phillips, Rickey (Lisa) Phillips; daughters, Karen (Robert) Garrett, Barbie (Tommy) Strawn, and Sandy Phillips; sisters, Patricia (Ives) Harris and Tammy Brown; grandchildren, Kristy McCullars, Craig Garrett, Brian (Kimber) Garrett, Timothy (Raphaela) Garrett, Marie Garrett, Lawson Garrett, Ashley Nelson, Jenna (Keith) James, Lauren Lough, Patrick (Alyssa) Strawn, Kristin (Ryan) Wilson, and Kolby (Larrisa) Smith; and 12 great-grandchildren
Funeral services for Mrs. Phillips will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 2, 2026, from the Teloga Baptist Church with Rev. Ives Harris, Rev. Tony Weaver, and Rev. Jake Morrison officiating. Interment will follow in Garrett Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Lawson Garrett, Timothy Garrett, Ryan Wilson, Kolby Smith, Michael Lough, Mason Lough, and Brian Garrett. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Teloga Baptist Church as well as all of her other grandchildren.
Mrs. Phillips will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday, May 1, 2026. She will also be in state at Teloga Baptist Church from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service on
Saturday.
UPDATE (4:10 PM)
Update regarding the threat earlier today involving the Chattooga High School campus. Following a thorough investigation conducted in coordination with the Sheriff’s office, the FBI, and GEMA Homeland Security, the reported threat has been deemed non-credible. Authorities have also determined that it is connected to similar false threats reported at schools on a wide scale. At all times, the safety of our students and staff remained our top priority, and we appreciate the cooperation and patience shown by our school community as safety protocols were followed.
We are grateful for the swift response and continued support of our law enforcement partners. If any additional information becomes necessary to share, we will provide further updates.
Thank you,
Dr. Michelle Helie
Chattooga High School was placed on lockdown today after administrators received a threat involving the high school campus, according to Chattooga County School Superintendent Dr. Michelle Helie.
School officials say the threat was taken seriously, and immediate safety protocols were put into place. Law enforcement responded to the campus and remains on site while the matter is investigated.
Dr. Helie said students and staff are safe, and there is no confirmed immediate danger on campus at this time. Instruction is continuing, and regular school operations are proceeding as scheduled.
Out of an abundance of caution, the campus will remain on lockdown for the rest of the school day. Student dismissal is expected to take place at the regular time using normal procedures unless school officials announce otherwise.
Parents and community members are being asked not to come to campus unless necessary for regular operations or unless specifically directed to do so, as extra traffic could interfere with law enforcement and school safety procedures.
Additional updates will be released as more information becomes available.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Thursday, April 30, 2026:
ELIZABETH MONTRAY RAGLAND, age 27, of Sturdivant Drive, Summerville, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 23, 2026, in an Augusta, Georgia hospital. She was born July 23, 1998 in Rome, Georgia.
Surviving are mother, Tina Beth Ragland; step father, Jay (Lola) Ledford; children, William Ragland, Jeremy Padgett, Elizabeth Ruelas, Chase Padgett, and Casey Marie Rowan; companion, Loyle Rowan; sisters, Maryssa Freeman and Kayla Day; brothers, Dakota Bain and Michael Ledford; several Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11 a.m. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Caldwell officiating. Interment will be in Johnson Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Nathan Fincher, Teddy Freeman, Jayden Ledford, Cody Bain, Simon Ruelas and Levi Naillion. Visitation will be Friday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home.
Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangments.
Residents across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia are waking up to rounds of showers and a few embedded thunderstorms early Thursday, but conditions are expected to steadily improve as the day goes on.
Health officials are raising concerns as new data shows tick bites are sending more people to emergency rooms at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is offering a free GED Accelerated Academy this summer at the Floyd County Campus in Rome.
The three-day program is scheduled for June 4th through June 6th, 2026, and is designed to help eligible students earn their GED at no cost.
Participants will receive free GED instruction, practice tests, GED testing, meals, and snacks. Space is limited, and registration is required by May 12th.
Those who register must also attend one of two assessment dates: May 16th or May 21st.
The program is open to adults age 18 and older, and a government-issued ID is required.