Minister Bill Morgan, age 79, Rock Spring, GA, passed away Friday October 16, 2015, at his residence.  Minister Morgan was born April 25, 1936, in Dayton, TN, the son of Daniel and Grace Wheeler Morgan.  He was a member of Subligna Road Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy Mitchell Morgan, children, Adam Morgan, Mark Morgan, Maria Hillis, Monna Okelley, 9 grandchildren. 

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday October 19, 2015, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with interment in the Hall Cemetery. 

Minister Morgan will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements for Minister Bill Morgan who  died on Friday.

Mrs. Margree B. Kirk, age 95, of Trion, GA, passed away Thursday October 15, 2015, in Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mrs. Kirk was born April 17, 1920, in Resaca, GA, the daughter of the late George Melton and Susan Elizabeth Crump Blaylock.  She was retired from Riegel Textile. She was preceded in death by her husband, C B Kirk; daughter, Eula Mae Culpepper Hawkins; grandsons, Aaron Kirk Martin, Justin Cody Kirk, and Dennis Dale Culpepper. 

Survivors include her children, Susan and Carl Middleton, Sandra Martin-Ales and David Ales, Randall and Sheila Kirk; brother, Jimmy Blaylock; sister, Elizabeth Jenkins; sisters-in-law, Lillian Blaylock and Mary Davis; 9 Grandchildren, 21 Great-grandchildren, and 15 Great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p. m. Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Mason Funeral Home Chapel, with Bade Eller officiating.  Burial will follow in New Home Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Nephews and Grandsons, Gene Johnson, Marty Culpepper, Andy Martin, Heath Mann, Kirk Martin, Roy Rhoden, Gary Joe Blaylock, and Teddy Gilreath.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Nursing Staff of Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center F Hall. 

Mrs. Kirk will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. on Saturday, October 17, 2015. Mason Funeral Home is directing.

Mr. Kenneth Michael "Mike" Woodard, age 69, of Menlo, GA, died Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at his residence. 

Mr. Woodard was born September 2, 1946, in Summerville, GA, son of the late James Benjamin "J. B." and Marjorie McElheney Woodard.  He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  Mr. Woodard was a member of the Alpine Community Church, the Rainbow City Coin Club, the Rome Coin Club, and the Lions Club.  He was also a former member of the Board of Directors for the Chattooga County Hospital Authority.  He was owner and operator of Lucky's Supermarkets.  Mr. Woodard was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserves.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, James Sanders; and father-in-law, Bernard Shaw. 

Mr. Woodard is survived by his wife, Brenda Shaw Woodard; a son, Jacob Bronson Woodard and Vanessa Green; daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah "Sally and Larry Reynolds; Katherine "Katie" and Jay Bryan, Nikki and Scott Ballard, Stephanie and Barry Bentley; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Becky Woodard; a sister, Virginia Sanders; 10 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services for Mr. Woodard will be held at 3:00 P.M. Monday, October 19, 2015, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in the Alpine Community Cemetery.  Active pallbearers will be Henry Barrow, Terry Pilgram, Eugene Brown, Freddie Hughes, Randy Rush, Chuck Powell, Tip Young, and Tyler VanHorn.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Employees of Lucky's Supermarket, Danny McGraw, Ronnie Watkins, Butch Self, Guin Ingle, Albert Ingle, members of the Rome Coin Club and the Rainbow City Coin Club, and Hugh Don Hughes. 

Mr. Woodard will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Sunday, October 18, 2015. 

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Kenneth Michael "Mike" Woodard who died on Wednesday.

MRS. JUNE HAYS COOK, age 87, of Summerville, Georgia passed away Thursday evening, October 6, 2015, at her home.  Mrs. Cook was born in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Joe Hill and Grace Berry Hays on February 7, 1928.  Shortly thereafter the Family returned to Chattooga County, where Mrs. Cook continued to live for the duration of her life.  Mrs. Cook attended public schools in Summerville, Georgia as well as Mantreat Preparatory School in Mantreat, North Carolina.  She continued her education at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia and subsequently began her teaching career.

On June 8, 1948 June Hays and Bobby Lee Cook were married in the Summerville Presbyterian Church.  Mrs. Cook devoted the time and energy to help her husband and open his law office.  Over the years She gave birth to and raised three children and assisted her husband in the establishment of his legal career.  Mrs. Cook was predeceased by her sister, Martha Jo Adams, and her son, Bobby Lee Cook, Jr.

She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Bobby Lee Cook; her daughters, Kristina Cook Graham and Sara Cook Williams; her grandchildren, Sarah Holston O’Reagan, Jessica Cook Hale, Christopher Sutton Connelly, Jeffery Scott Connelly, Elizabeth Connelly Turner, and Anna Lee Williams; great grandchildren, Patrick Aidan Fell, Morgan Aeron Hale, Lillian Grace Connelly, and Fiana Bess- Connelly; one nephew, James and Brenda Cordle Adams, also survive.

The funeral services will be held at the Summerville First United Methodist Church, at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, with Dr. Roger Kvam officiating, interment will be immediately following at the Cloudland Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mrs. Cook’s two grandsons Sutton and Jeffrey Connelly, and Richard Lindsey, Mac Myers, Gary McConnell, and Eddie Hurley.  The Family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 3 until 5 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Mrs. Rachel Ozella Dillard, age 81, of Summerville, GA died Friday, October

9, 2015 at Redmond Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Dillard was born September 4, 1934 in Little Sand Mtn., GA, the daughter

of the late Zera Monique “Buck” Cooper and Martha Evelyn Bohannon Cooper.

She was a retired lab technician.  Mrs. Dillard was a member of Summerville

First Baptist Church.  Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by

her husband, Norman Lee Dillard.

Mrs. Dillard is survived by two daughters, Sandra Ford and Gwenith Battles;

three grandchildren , Corey Hunter, Janet Battles, and Lamar and Lacey Battles;

granddaughter-in-law, Tiffany Romine; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p. m. on Monday, October 12, 2015 at

Summerville First Baptist Church.  Dr. David Hunter and Dr. Paul Mason

will officiate, with burial to follow in Little Sand Mtn. Cemetery.  Active

pallbearers will be Corey Hunter, Lamar Battles, Gage Reece, Brandon

Battles, Coby Battles, Austin Battles, Bradley Hunter.  Honorary pallbearers will

be all members of the Dorcus Sunday School Class, Redmond Family Care

Employees, and all personal friends.

Mrs. Dillard will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive

friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. on Sunday.   Mrs. Dillard will also lie in state at the church from 12:00 until the service hour.

Mason Funeral Home is directing.

Harold Milton Skates, 88, of LaFayette, passed away on October 5, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga following an extended illness.   

Harold was born February 7, 1927, in the Halls Valley community of southern Walker County.  He was preceded in death by his parents James Harvey Skates and Grace Dover Skates along with two brothers, Luther Skates and Roland Skates.  Harold served his country in the United States Army at the end of World War II as a guard for German prisoners of war.  Soon after returning home, he married Edna Louise Pegg and began farming.  Later he became a carpenter, building houses and owning his own lumber and hardware business.  In his later years, he built swings, cedar chests, and cabinets for many people throughout Walker and surrounding counties.

Mr. Skates was an active member of Waterville Baptist Church in LaFayette, Georgia, where he served as a deacon for many years. 

 He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Louise Skates, and seven children, Gene and Jean Skates of LaFayette, Georgia; Glenn and Idalia Skates of Houston, Texas; Danny and Debbie Skates of Ringgold, Georgia; Mickey and Billie Skates of LaFayette, Georgia; Rickey and Gayla Skates of Cypress, Texas; Freda and James Buffington of Palatka, Florida; and Teresa and BJ Holliday of Douglas, Georgia; fourteen grandchildren, many great –grandchildren, and several great-great grandchildren.  Mr. Skates is also survived by three sisters, Evelyn Jackson, and Lula Avenell Gamble of LaFayette, Georgia, and Janice Hartline from Calhoun, Georgia. 

 Visitation for Harold Skates will be held at Wallis- Wilbanks in LaFayette, Georgia, on Thursday October 8, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  The funeral service for Mr. Skates will be Friday, October 9, 2015, at Waterville Baptist Church on Hwy. 151 South at 11:00 a.m. and will be conducted by Rev. Sam Barrett.  Interment will be at LaFayette Memory Gardens.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Waterville Baptist Church 11815 Highway 151, Trion, GA 30753.

Arrangements by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.

Mr. Roy Deloss Mitchell, age 78, of Gaylesville, AL, died Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at his residence.

Mr. Mitchell was born October 21, 1936, in Jamestown, AL, son of the late Doyle Deloss and Bertha Ingle Mitchell.  He was a member of the Faith Baptist Church, and prior to his retirement, was employed with Inland Container.  He was also a veteran of the United States Army.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia E. Mitchell; brother, Donald Mitchell; sister, Ester Lynn Thompson; and a grandson, Payton Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Gregory D. and Cindy Mitchell; brother and sister-in-law, J. W. and Linda Mitchell; sisters and brother-in-law, Evelyn Burleson, Betty Sue and D. C. Sanford; and a grandchild, Hayden Mitchell.

Funeral services for Mr. Mitchell will be held at 2:00 P.M. (E.S.T.) Thursday, October 8, 2015, from the Faith Baptist Church with Rev. Stanley Koonce officiating.  Interment will follow in the Faith Baptist Church Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Billy Mitchell, Tracey Mitchell, Michael Thompson, Kerry Crane, Noah Dean, and Darrell Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell will be in state at Faith Baptist Church and the family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. (E.S.T.) until the hour of service on Thursday.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Roy Deloss Mitchell who died on Tuesday.

MR. SIDNEY A. “BUDDY” LANIER, SR., age 81, of Summerville, Georgia passed away Friday morning, October 2, 2015,  at his residence.  A native of Chattooga County, he was born to the late Wallace C. and Martha Kellett Lanier on August 6, 1934.  He was a graduate of the Summerville High School Class of 1952 and a member of the Summerville High State Champion basketball team.  Mr. Lanier was a member of the Summerville Fire Department, with 25 years of service retiring from the City of Summerville in 1992.  He was preceded in death by a sister, the late Barbara Lanier McGraw.

        Surviving are wife, Dora Ann Lanier; daughter and son-in-law, Joanna and Steve Lively; sons & daughters-in-law, Sidney A., Jr. and Suzann Lanier, Stephen and Ginger Lanier, and Scott and Missy Lanier; granddaughters, Alexandra Sandeford, Laci Lanier, Alanna Lanier, grandsons, Drew Lanier, Brett Lively, Patrick Lively, Sid Lanier III, Wade Lanier, Scotty Lively; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Brenda Lanier. Several Nieces and 1 Nephew also survive.

The funeral services will be held Sunday, October 4, at 3 p.m. from the J.D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Greg King officiating, Interment will be in the Summerville Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be grandsons, Honorary Pallbearers will be Active and Retired members of the Summerville Fire Department and Billie Joe Lee.  The Family will receive friends Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service, at the Funeral Home.

   Dennis Cain Ayers, age 46 of Summerville, GA passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at is residence.

Mr. Ayers was born in Rome, Georgia on September 10, 1969, son of James Edward Ayers and Betty Jean Atkins Ayers. He was self-employed in carpentry and construction industry. He loved to fish, hunt arrowheads and do anything outdoors. Mr. Ayers was an uplifting person and always made people smile.

Mr. Ayers is survived by his sons, Spencer Ayers, Cody Ayers, and Jonathan Key; father and mother, James and Betty Ayers; brothers, David Ayers, Danny Ayers, Doug Ayers, Terry Ayers, and Stanley Ayers; grandchildren, Ariah Ayers, Ryland Hughes-Ayers, and Hunter Ayers; and good friend, LaWayne Price.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Petitt Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home.  Interment will follow in the Johnson Cemetery.  

Pallbearers will include Spencer Ayers, LaWayne Price, and Thomas Hulse.

Mr. Ayers will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Sunday from 12:00 Noon until the funeral hour.