MR. HERMAN LEE “SPANKY” POLLARD, JR. – Age 57, of Summerville, Georgia passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Redmond Regional Medical Center. Before his retirement, Herman was employed for 25 years at Mohawk Industries. He served in the United States Army Reserve and was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine Price Pollard.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Hudgins Pollard; daughters, Tamara Cameron and Ashley Pollard; sons, Michael Farmer and Allen Wyatt, all of Summerville, Georgia; father, Herman Lee Pollard, Sr.; sister, Marilyn Pollard (Stephen) Jones of Cartersville, Georgia; aunts, Sara Ann Harris, Classie Evans, Linda Morgan and Faye Martin; uncles, Noah Harris, Billy Morgan; brother-in-law, Jarvis (Angela) Hudgins; nephews, Emanuel, Titus, Caleb, Tomareo, and Sigmund White; special cousins, Homer Price, John John Martin, Lopez Evans; a host of other dear cousins and friends.

Funeral Service will be held Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at New Bethel Baptist Church, 281 Georgia Avenue, Summerville, Georgia with Pastor Kevin Roach officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. Interment, Summerville Cemetery. Please share your thoughts and memories of Herman Lee “Spanky” Pollard, Jr. at www.willisfuneralhomedalton.com. Arrangements by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia. 

Mr. Russell Dewey Smith, age 81 of Summerville, GA passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Oak View Nursing and Rehab Center. 

Mr. Smith was born December 30, 1934 in Summerville, GA, son of the late Jim Smith and Mattie Hamby Smith. Mr. Smith was self-employed in the Tree Service business.He loved eating breakfast at Henry’s, working in his yard and riding around in his truck.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by brothers, James Smith and John Smith; sisters, Bonnie Teems and Charlsie Lowrey, and One of his best friends, “Poot” Ragland.  

Mr. Smith is survived by his sons, Rusty Smith and Daniel (Nancy) Hunt; daughter, Kristy (David) King; grandchildren, Jerred and Jaden King, Harley D. Smith, Daniel and Stephanie Hunt; great-grandchildren, Knox Barnes, Garrett and Conner Hensley; special friend, Kenneth Flood.
  

Funeral Services for Mr. Smith will be held Friday, September 16, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. from the Petitt Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Smith officiating.

Mr. Smith will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Friday from 11:00 A.M. until the funeral hour.

Coffman Funeral Home-Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Russell Dewey Smith. Please visitwww.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and to post condolences.

MR. BENJAMIN JOSEPH GEETER – Age 61 – of Summerville, Georgia passed away Monday, September 12, 2016. He was a member  of West Fifth Street Church of Christ, retired from Georgia Power Plant Hammond of Rome, Georgia, worked at Batesman Senior Mills, and Riegel Textile.  He was preceded in death by his father, Bro. Fred A. Geeter, two brothers, Cleo Jeremiah Geeter, and Fred Ralph Geeter.

Survivors are his daughter, Shawnterri (Brent) Geeter; granddaughter, Jamya Plummer of Rome, Georgia; mother, Euna Bella Geeter; sister, Freda (James) Watkins; brother, John Geeter, devoted friend, Hattie Geeter, all of Summerville, Georgia; uncle, Tommy Geeter of Phoenix, Arizona; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, September 17, 2016 at West Fifth Street Church of Christ, Summerville, Georgia at 11:00 A. M. with Bro. John Lewis as Eulogist and Bro. J. J. Bankston, officiating.  The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service.  Interment, Summerville Cemetery.  Please share your thoughts and memories of Benjamin Joseph Geeter at www.willisfuneralhomedalton.com.  Arrangements  by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia.

Joseph Franklin Abernathy, age 70 of Leesburg, passed away Sunday, September 11^th at his residence.

Funeral services will be 8:PM Tuesday, September 13^th at Perry Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Billy Wright officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 until 8:PM Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Chastain Abernathy; sons, Robbie (Teresa) Abernathy of Summerville, GA, Tim (Stephanie) Crowe of Chatsworth, GA; daughters, Annette (David) Hemm of Summerville, GA, Denese (Willy) Culberson of Summerville, GA, Teresa (Terry) Ray of Trion, GA, Teresa (Randy) Rush of Summerville; brother, Thomas Lamar Abernathy of Ft Payne; 14 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Joseph Preston LaDon Ray.

Mr. Abernathy was a native of Summerville, GA, the son of the late Joseph Preston and Anna I.V. Jones Abernathy and was a retired truck driver.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Living Water Ministry Building Fund.

Perry Funeral Home Directing.

MRS. ROBBIE LEE MCGRAW, age 88, of Back Berryton Road, Summerville, Georgia passed away Thursday, September 8, 2016, surrounded by her Family.  Mrs. McGraw was born in Gore, Georgia on May 9, 1928, a daughter of the late Bence and Maggie Reed Ward.  Mrs. McGraw was a member of Little Sand Mt. Baptist Church, a retired Emergency Room Nurse at Chattooga County Hospital.  She was a member of the Silverados Line Dancing Group.  She was a Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Great Great Grandmother, and loved spending time with her Family and friends.  Preceded in death by her husband, the late Ralph Walker McGraw, Sr., daughter-in-law, Shelby Jean McGraw, son-in-law, Jackie Bruce Burrage, Sr., sisters, the late Gladys Walker, Eula Lewis, Mary Keith, Helen Mann, and Frances Ward; brothers, the late Robert Ward and Berry Ward and a great grandson, the late Blake Young.

        Surviving are daughter, Sherry Lee McGraw Burrage; son, Ralph Donald McGraw, Sr.; brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Muriel Ward, grandchildren, Rhonda Jean McGraw Young, Ralph Donald McGraw, Jr., Kristie Lee McGraw Hunter, Jackie Bruce Burrage, Jr., Robbie Angela Burrage, and Tiffany Lee Burrage Kellett; thirteen Great Grandchildren; six Great Great Grandchildren; several Nieces and Nephews; special friends Susie McGraw, Juanita Battles, Lilia Williams, Billy Locklear, Doris Bowman, Bob and Diane Blackwell, and the late Mozelle Willingham.

        Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 10th, at 5:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Odom officiating, interment in Greenhills Memory Garden.  Active Pallbearers Eddie Young, Donald McGraw, Jr., Clint Hunter, Jackie Burrage, Angie Burrage, and Tiffany Burrage; Honorary Pallbearers, John Hunter, Colby Young, Austin McGraw, and Robert Kellett.  The Family will receive friends Saturday from 4 until the hour of service at the Funeral Home.

        Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for MRS. ROBBIE LEE MCGRAW.

MRS. ROBBIE LEE MCGRAW, age 88, of Back Berryton Road, Summerville, Georgia passed away Thursday, September 8, 2016, in a Rome hospital.  Mrs. McGraw was born in Chattooga County, Georgia on May 9, 1928, a daughter of the late Bence and Maggie Reed Ward.  Mrs. McGraw was a member of Little Sand Mt. Baptist Church, a retired nurse, and was preceded in death by her husband, the late Ralph Walker McGraw; sisters, the late Gladys Walker, Eula Lewis, Mary Keith, Helen Mann, and Frances Ward;  brothers, the late Robert Ward and Berry Ward and a great grandson, the late Blake Young.

        Surviving are daughter, Sherry McGraw Burrage; son, Ralph Donald McGraw; six Grandchildren, seven Great Grandchildren; several Nieces and Nephews.

        Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Earle Rainwater Funeral Home.