Ms. Nancy Alene “Nanie” Light, age 85 of Summerville, Georgia passed away Saturday, February 22, 2026 in a Rome hospital.

Ms. Light was born in Rome, Georgia on December 18, 1940, daughter of the late Jeddy S. Light and Mildred Frances Ashworth Light. She was a member of the Sonrise Community Church, where she was active in the Nursery and the Fellowship Hall Ministries. She loved God and enjoyed serving her church. Ms. Light was employed with the former Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank, retiring as assistant Vice President after over 35 years of service. Following her retirement, she worked with her brother as a decorator in the wallpaper business. In her down time, she enjoyed working in her yard and reading.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Light was preceded in death by her siblings, Brenda Raynell Wiseman, Faye Neil Duke, Frances Maxine Jones, Patsy Ann Woods, Jerry Maxwell Light, Carole Sue Ash, Deborah Jean Warnock and Michael Lewis Light; and a nephew, Steven Jones.

Ms. Light is survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Liz and Jim Bennett, Fredda McCrickard and Roxie and Larry Weesner; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Debbie Light; her beloved fur baby, Merzedez; and a number of nieces, nephews and additional family members.

Funeral Services for Ms. Light will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Marcus A. McCrickard officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Hills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Larry Weesner, Shannon Bennett, Rhett Bennett, John Critchfield, Zeb Whitehead and Tshombe High. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Women’s Sunday School Class and members of the Sonrise Community Church.

The family will receive friends Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Coffman Funeral Home from 1:00 P.M. until the service hour.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the family of Ms. Nancy ALene “Nanie” Light.

Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and post condolences.

Mr. Gary Nolan Kitterman, age 84, of Summerville, GA, died Saturday, February 21, 2026, at his residence.

Mr. Kitterman was born March 15, 1941. He was retired from the United States Air Force with 28 years of service.

He was preceded in death by several siblings.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Ann Graham Kitterman; daughters, Beth Campbell and Carol Zemlicka; brothers, Leland Kitterman and Bill Kitterman; and several grandchildren.

There will be no formal services and private entombment will be held at Greenhills Memory Gardens.

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. Amy Nicole Sparks, age 49 of Summerville, Georgia passed away Monday, February 16, 2026 at her residence.

Amy was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 22, 1976, daughter of Barbara Jones Sparks and the late Clarence Sparks. She was a member of the Sardis Baptist Church and was a stay at home mom and nanny. Amy was an avid music lover and enjoyed photography and photographs.

Amy is survived by a daughter, Kayla Goudy; “Son”, Justin Sword; mother, Barbara Sparks; boyfriend, Shaun Burleson; brother, Chris Layne; sister, Becky Sparks; former husband, Lloyd Cook; grandchildren, Marleigh Goudy, Shawn Goudy and Thunder Sword; and a number of nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Funeral Services for Amy will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Jamey Maples officiating. Interment will follow in the Johnson Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Chip Cook, Daniel Cook, Shane Sword, Eric Bailey, Johnny Cook and Matthew Cook.

The family will receive friends at the Coffman Funeral Home Saturday from 12:00 Noon until the funeral hour.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Amy Nicole Sparks.

Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and post condolences.

Ms. Bernice “Bonnie” Ward age 73 of Gaylesville, AL passed away Thursday, February 19, 2026 at her residence.

Ms. Ward was born November 11, 1952 in St. Louis Missouri to the late Sandy Howard and Margaret Lea Ward. She was retired from Century Glove and was Baptist by faith. Ms. Ward was a very spirited person who loved caring for her family and especially her grandchildren.

Along with her parents she is preceded in death by Mildred Wilson, Lewis Wilson, Rita Wilson, and Jessica Bond.

Survivors include her spouse, Steve Wilson; children, Timothy Hogue, Beth (Mark) Floyd, and Crystal (Barry) Chandler; siblings, Howard (Linda) Ward, Richard (Pam) Ward, Andrew Ward, Sammy Ward, Marilyn (Ron) Stewart, Terrie Easton, and Mary Dillard; aunts, Glenda (Steve) Eden, Iva Lea, and Carol (Terry) Ramey; grandchildren, Collin Hogue, and Ashleigh Markison; great-grandchild, Aubry Markison, 1 great-grandchild on the way; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Ms. Ward will take place at 12:00 Noon EST at the chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Burns officiating. Interment will follow at Bankhead Cemetery with family members serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 11:00 AM EST until the service hour at the funeral home.

To share you condolences online, please visit www.MasonFuneralHome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home, Summerville, GA.

MRS. FRANCES ARZELLA STAMPER EVANS- Age 84 of Summerville, Georgia passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Mrs. Evans was born on May 31, 1941 to the late Mrs. Belle Stamper. She was preceded by her mother, sisters, Helen Young, Mary Ann Stamper, Helen Powell, and brother, Homer Stamper. She was a member of Prospect Missionary Baptist Church where she served on the Usher Board and was the Sunday School Secretary. She was retired after thirty-six years of service from Mt. Vernon Mills.

Survivors are her loving daughters, Cynthia Lumpkin, and Gail Avent; five grandchildren, Torri Ludy, Cary (Kanisha) Ludy, Rocky (Lynn) Ludy, Carmela Avent, Taylor Avent; seventeen great grandchildren, eighteen great great grandchildren; two brothers, Jeff Stamper, James (Rosie Lee) Stamper; special sister-in-law, Martha Stamper; two special nieces, Patricia Jones, Renee Huskey; other loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, and her church family.

Celebration Of Life for Mrs. Frances Evans will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 12:00 noon at Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, 194 Prospect Church Road, LaFayette, Georgia 30728 with Pastor Jeffrey Scott Copeland as Eulogist. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 A.M. until the funeral hour. Interment at Summerville City Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia.

Mrs. Mary Ruth Bryant, age 61 of Summerville, Georgia passed away Monday, February 16, 2026 at her residence.

Mrs. Bryant was born in Cartersville, Georgia on March 22, 1964, daughter of the late David Harold Lowe and Pauline Patterson Lowe. She had been employed in the packing department of Mt. Vernon Mills.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bryant was preceded in death by a grandson, Austin Jarrell.

Mrs. Bryant is survived by her husband, Ricky Bryant; children, Wesley(Holly) Bryant, Ricky Bryant(Heather Jacobs), Misty Bryant, and Mary Ann Jacobs(Daniel Jarrell); brothers, Johnny Lowe and Jimmy Lowe; sisters, Glenda Sellers, Linda Fuller, Kathy Ivey, Vickey Moore, Barbara Ann Ward and Julia Smith; grandchildren, Ashley Jarrell, Nicholas Jacobs, Jessica Jacobs, Elizabeth Jacobs, Terri Jacobs, Zyler Jarrell, Carmen Jarrell, Avery Fillers, Mackenzie Bryant, Caleb Bryant, Cadin Sanchez, Wesley Bryant, Jr. and Tristian Bryant; great grandchildren, Cali Brown, Timothy Jarrell, Casen Strickland, Braxton Mathison, Carlye Mathison, Zayden Mathison, Jocelynn Cornejo, Laura Cornejo, Heaven Gonzalez and Armando Gonzales; and a number of nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Funeral Service for Mrs. Bryant will be held Friday, February 20, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Summerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Coffman Funeral Home Thursday evening from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Mary Ruth Bryant. Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook, post condolences or make memorial contributions for her funeral services.

Master Waylon Spencer Dodge, age 7 months passed away unexpectedly Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Born in Macon, Georgia on June 30, 2025, Master Waylon is the son of Christian Dwayne Warren Dodge and Christian Victoria Wells; brother of Rafe Christian Dodge, grandson of Philip and Danielle Wells, Ashley and Clifford Cook and Justin Dodge; great grandson of Terry and Lucy Adams and Tammy Christy; and great nephew to Barda and Travis Swinford.

Master Waylon was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Angela Rae “Angie” Wells; uncles, John Wells and Eric Bell; and an Aunt, Gretchen Lynn Dodge.

Funeral Services for Master Waylon will be held Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Todd Dover officiating. Interment will follow in the West Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Thursday afternoon from 1:00 P.M. until the funeral hour.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the family of Master Waylon Spencer Dodge.

Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and post condolences.

MRS. CRESENTIA LYNEIL CHANEY BLACK – Age 65, of Summerville, GA passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026. She was born on October 26, 1960 to the late James Oliver Chaney and Evelyn Shepard, and stepfather, Wilbur Starr. She was a member of West Fifth Street Church of Christ and was employed at the Chattooga County School.

Survivors ae her loving husband of forty-six years, Zachary Jerome Black; three children, Antoan Black, Damon Black, Niielea (Shannon) Walker; nine grandchildren, one great grandchild; sister, Paula Wiggins; two brothers, Gerald Adams, Michael Chaney; mother-in-law, Annie Black; sister-in-law, Adrienne Black; brothers-in-law, Reagan Black and Wendell (Trudi) Black; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other extended family, friends, and her church family.

Homegoing Service will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 2:00 P. M. at the West Fifth Street Church of Christ with Brother John Lewis and other Ministers officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service. Interment, Summerville Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Georgia

RACHEL SOUTHERLAND TAYLOR, age 94, of Trion, Georgia passed away Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at her residence. She was born November 8, 1931 in Ellijay, Georgia a daughter of the late Pola and Lola Holt Southerland. In addition to her parents, Rachel was preceded in death by her first husband, the late J. C. Fletcher; second husband, the late Bill Taylor; daughter, the late Rebecca Fletcher; son-Joel Fletcher; brothers, the late Robert Southerland, the late Wayne Southerland, and the late Lowell (Sonny) Southerland; sisters, the late Betty Denmark and the late Elaine Adams. She was retired from Riegel Textile Corp. rebeaming department and was a member of Pleasant Grove Church of Christ.

Surviving include her sons and daughters in law, Tim (Carol) Fletcher, David (Linda) Fletcher, Steve (Becky) Fletcher, daughters and sons in law, Donna Fletcher and Gayle (Todd) VanEtten; nine grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 1 p.m. from the J.D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Minister Hugh Glaze officiating, interment in Berea Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Jeremy Fletcher, Matt Fletcher, Zack Fletcher, Clayton Fletcher, Parker Fletcher, Jake Singletary and James Martin. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center in Pennville and Members of Pleasant Grove Church of Christ.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Rachel Southerland Taylor.

Mr. Frederick Malcolm Bankston age 69 of Pasadena, CA (formerly of Summerville, GA) passed away December 20, 2025.

Mr. Bankston was born August 17, 1956 in Summerville, GA to Jessie and the late Betty Bankston. He enjoyed tennis & traveling.

Along with his mother is preceded in death by his brother, James Morris Bankston; and niece Cijivea Bankston Mitchell.

Those left to cherish his memory include his father, Jessie J. Bankston; sisters, Gwendolyn (John) Nichols, Valerie Thompson, Karen Price, and Belinda Bankston; Aunts, Doris Shepherd and Jean Bankston; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mr. Bankston will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, February 12 at the chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Min. John Lewis officiating.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit www.MasonFuneralHome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home, Summerville, GA.