MR. LARRY LANGSTON, age 74, of Trion, Georgia passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2015, in a Rome hospital.  A native of Trion, He was the twelfth of sixteen children of the late J. C. and Bessie Gilreath Langston.  Larry was a Veteran of the U. S. Army, having served during the Berlin airlift; He was a retired electrician and a member of  Trion Lodge #160 F & AM.  Mr. Langston was preceded in death by a daughter, the late Amy Louise Langston; sisters, the late Joyce Mitchell, Jennie Rebecca Langston, & Ruth Grace Langston; brothers, the late David Langston, Sr., Jim Langston, Ronald (Tubby) Langston, Andy Langston, Ralph Langston, and Steve Langston.

Surviving are His wife, Margaret Langston; daughters, Mickie (Kim) Bradley of Trion and Becky (John) Ownby of Gallatin, TN; son, Jeff (Karen) Langston of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Ethan Bradley, Amber Langston, Hunter Bradley, Jimmy Ownby, & Katie Langston; great Grandchildren, Elliot Bradley & Jonah Bradley;  sisters, Sibyl Shields of Smyrna, Ruby Eller of Marietta, and Nell Thomas of Trion;  brothers, Charles Langston of Cartersville, George (Jeep) Langston of Chatsworth, and Joe Langston of Trion; several Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins also survive.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 26th at 2 p.m. from the graveside, in West Hill Cemetery, with David Langston, Jr. officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Earle Rainwater Funeral Home.  Active Pallbearers, David Langston, Jr., Ethan Bradley, Hunter Bradley, Jimmy Ownby, Frankie Wade, and Jay Jones; Honorary Pallbearers, Nieces, Nephews and Charles Wade.

Mrs. Jessie Juanita Allmon, age 70, of LaFayette, GA, died Monday, December 21, 2015, at her residence. 

Mrs. Allmon was born November 15, 1945, in Corbin, KY, daughter of the late Nelson "Buck" and Ruth Wright Painter.  She was a member of the Hall Memorial Baptist Church, and prior to her retirement, was employed with World Carpets.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, David Allmon; 5 sisters; 1 brother; and great-grandchild, George Allmon. 

Mrs. Allmon is survived by her husband, George Allmon; sons, Butch Allmon and Randy Allmon; daughter, Sharon Sanders; brothers, Alford Painter and Mike Painter; 6 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services for Mrs. Allmon will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 23, 2015, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Junior Williams officiating.  Interment will follow in the Bethlehem Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Josh Allmon, Preston Allmon, Josh Sells, James Warren, David Hefner, and Miguel Otero. 

Mrs. Allmon will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 22, 2015. 

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Jessie Juanita Allmon who died on Monday.

Ms. Lillian Wylene Gilmer, age 81, of Summerville, passed away Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Oak View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Ms. Gilmer was born in Summerville, Georgia on July 31, 1934, daughter of the late Obie Lee “Jo” Gilmer and Clara Mills Gilmer. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church and was retired from Riegel Textile. Ms. Gilmer was a loving Aunt, Sister and Honorary Mother and Grandmother to all of her nieces and nephews. She loved to read and never met a stranger. In addition to her parents, Ms. Gilmer was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Joe Gilmer; a sister, Virginia Ruth Stover, and her grandmother, Mama Mills.

Ms. Gilmer is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Emory “Bo” and Martha Gilmer; sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and Bobby Robertson of Murfreesboro, TN; brother-in-law, Virgil Stover of Lyerly; Sister-in-law, Pat Gilmer; special friend, Bobby Housch; 11 nieces and nephews; 20 great nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Funeral Services for Ms. Gilmer will be held Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Petitt Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Decker and Rev. Doyle Watters officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Hills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Mike Stover, Greg Robertson, Philip Robertson, David Messer, Andy Matthews and Lee Copeland. Honorary Pallbearers will be Friends from the High Rise and friends and staff of Oak View.

Ms. Gilmer will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 until 8 P.M.

Flowers will be accepted, however those desiring may make memorial contributions to Gideon’s International.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Ms. Lillian Wylene Gilmer. 

Mr. James Donald "Don" Collette, age 82, of Trion, GA, died early Saturday morning, December 19, 2015, at Floyd Medical Center.  For the last year, Don was a resident of the Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Summerville, GA, where he continued to battle the progressive muscle-wasting disease that affected the last decade of his life. 

Mr. Collette was born January 6, 1933, son of the late Joseph Wesley Collette, Sr. and Sallie Tillery Collette.  He graduated Trion High School in 1952 and joined the United States Air Force where he proudly served until 1956.  He married Miss Shirley Head on March 12, 1955, and they have been happily married for 60 years.  As a young man, he worked in the Cotton Warehouse at Riegel Textiles, and was then employed for over 32 years by General Electric, where he retired in 1995.  He was an active member of the Pennville Christian Missionary Alliance Church.  Don loved to read his Bible and westerns by Zane Grey and Louis Lamour.  Anyone that knew Don knew of his outgoing and loving personality.  He was fun-loving, a big talker who kept everyone laughing, and he never met a stranger.  His grandchildren were his special buddies, and he was their Gann.  He lived a long, fulfilling life, and his family can rejoice in knowing he is with the Lord.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Collette was preceded in death by his brothers, Joseph Collette, Jr. and Jessie Collette; and his sisters, Brenda Collette, Hazel Scoggins, Helen Thomas, and Dorothy Grimard. 

Mr. Collette is survived by his wife, Shirley Head Collette; his son, Timothy (Robin) Collette; daughter, Donna Collette (Terry) Hurley; sister, Jeannie Cowan; granddaughters, Miranda (Jacob) Reed, Haven Hurley, Bailey Collette, and Maggie Collette.  Several nieces and nephews also survive. 

Funeral services for Mr. Collette will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, December 20, 2015, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Waydell Howell and Mr. Bill Moore officiating.  Interment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens.  Active pallbearers will be John Collette, Jimmy Collette, Johnny Collette, Ricky Sprayberry, Mike Head, and Steve Palmer.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Pennville Christian Missionary Alliance Encouragers Sunday School Class and the C-Hall nurses of Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. 

Mr. Collette will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Sunday. 

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. James Donald "Don" Collette who died on Saturday. 

 Mr. Kelly Lamar Koonce, age 75, of Summerville, GA, died Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at Oxton Place in Rome, GA.

Mr. Koonce was born October, 4, 1940, in Berryton, GA, son of the late George Melvin and Flora Ruth Jones Koonce.  He was retired from GTE Telephone Company.  Mr. Koonce was a member of the Trion Golf Club and the LaFayette Golf Course Club.  He was a veteran of the United States Army and was also a member of the American Legion Post 129.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, G.W. Koonce and Robert "Rip" Koonce; and a sister, Jimmie Koonce Searles.

Mr. Koonce is survived by his wife of 30 years, Teresa Koonce; daughter and son-in-law, Carla and Joey Jennings; sisters, Jean Smith and Joyce Bethune; and a granddaughter, Tessa Jennings.

Funeral services for Mr. Koonce will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 19, 2015, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Casey Bramlett and Bro. Steve Groce officiating.  Interment will follow in the Berryton Cemetery.  Active pallbearers will be Greg Koonce, Kenny Koonce, Jimmy Scruggs, Bill Roach, Stacy Henderson, Randy Henderson, Jimmy Prince, and Bryan Colbert.  Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Groce, Joe Reed, Bobby Brown, Everett "Porky" James, Billy F. "Pig" Mitchell, Donnie Baker, Rusty Dooley, Mike Wilson, Charlie Chamlee, Lefty Norton, Ricky Hammonds, Doug Jones, Dink Willingham, Tom Drummond, all former golf friends, Harry Barnes, Bud Reynolds, Alec Johnson, Farrill Allen, Kenneth Hunter, Charles Hall, all former Telephone Company Employees, the Berryton Cemetery Clean-up Crew, employees and staff of Homestead Hospice, and the employees and staff of Oxton Place.

Mr. Koonce will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday, December 18, 2015.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Kelly Lamar Koonce who died on Wednesday.  

MR. WILLARD O. BROWN, age 90, longtime resident of Menlo, Georgia passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015, in a Macon, Georgia hospital.  Born in Chattooga County, Georgia on November 15, 1925, He was a son of the late Clifford and Etta Hartline Brown.  Mr. Brown was member of the Menlo First Baptist Church, a Veteran of WW II having served in the U. S. Navy, and a member of Alpine Lodge # 211 F & AM.  He was retired from Bagley’s Standard Oil and Georgia Rug Mill.  Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife, the late Sarah Louise Cook Brown in 2007 and son-in-law the late Danny Powers in 2015.

Surviving are daughter, Stephanie Powers; grandchildren, Becky & John Crowe and Andy & Leslie Powers; great grandchildren, Cade Cooper, Weston Crowe, Avaleigh Powers, Christian Powers; sister, Vera Hughes; several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 19th, at 11:00 A.M. from the Menlo First Baptist Church with Rev. Matt Hall and Rev. Jimmy Black officiating, interment in West Hill Cemetery.  Active Pallbearers Wayne Pritchett, Derrick Martin, Tim Willingham, Clayton Berry, Andy Powers, and Bret Martin; Honorary Pallbearers members of Menlo First Baptist Church.  The Family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 until 8 P.M. at the Earle Rainwater Funeral Home; Mr. Brown will also be in state at the Church, Saturday, from 10 A.M. until the hour of service.  Flowers are accepted or contributions may be made to the Menlo First Baptist Church.
Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MRS. MARION J. PEPPERS, age 80, of West Springcreek Road, Trion, Georgia passed away Saturday, December 12, 2015, at her residence.  A native of Trion, She was born on May 1, 1935; a daughter of the late James Harper and Lillian Dover Ingram Blackmon.  Mrs. Peppers was retired from the spinning department of Candlewick Yarns, and was preceded in death by her husband, the late Charles W. Peppers in October, 1999.

        Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MRS. MARION J. PEPPERS, age 80, of West Springcreek Road, Trion, Georgia passed away Saturday, December 12, 2015, at her residence.  A native of Trion, She was born on May 1, 1935; a daughter of the late James Harper and Lillian Dover Ingram Blackmon.  Mrs. Peppers was retired from the spinning department of Candlewick Yarns, and was preceded in death by her husband, the late Charles W. Peppers in October, 1999.

Surviving are sons and daughter-in-law, Walter L. Peppers of Trion and Larry & Debra Peppers of LaFayette; sisters, Bonnie Blackmon of Trion and Shirley Kiser of Summerville; brothers, James Blackmon of Trion, Johnny Blackmon of Summerville, and Ricky Blackmon of Trion; step sister, Betty Blackmon of Atlanta; step brothers, Donnie Blackmon of Trion, Buddy Blackmon, and Rufus Blackmon both of Atlanta; seven Grandchildren, twelve Great Grandchildren, several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 15th, at 2 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Billy Wright and Rev. John Mann officiating, interment in Lyerly Cemetery.  The Family will receive friends Monday evening from 7 until 9 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Franklin "Frank" Eugene Pickle, age 82, of Trion, GA, died Monday, December 14, 2015, at his residence. 

Mr. Pickle was born April 21, 1933, in Berryton, GA, son of the late Henry Guy and Vera Cox Pickle.  He was a member of the Sonrise Community Church, and prior to his retirement, was employed with Harriet and Henderson.  Mr. Pickle was also a veteran of the United States Air Force.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Farmer Pickle. 

Mr. Pickle is survived by his sons, Frankie Pickle and Tina Rogers, Alan Pickle; step-sons, Randy Finster and Michael Finster; 4 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.  

Graveside and interment services for Mr. Pickle will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 16, 2015, from the Summerville Cemetery with Rev. Mike Odom officiating.  Active pallbearers will be Adam Jenkins, Tom Touchstone, Chris Gwynn, Tiny Scroggins, Ewell Price, and John Jenkins.  Cody Mathis will serve as honorary pallbearer. 

Mr. Pickle will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 15, 2015. 

The family would like to say a special thanks to North Georgia Home Health and also to Hearth Hospice. 

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Franklin "Frank" Eugene Pickle who died on Monday.