Elsie Mae Vanhorn, age 77 of Trion died on Saturday, April 2, 2011. 

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, D.F. Vanhorn of Trion, daughter Evelyn (Grady) Brown , Trion; sons David (Lola) Vanhorn, Bobby Vanhorn both of Trion; sister Mary Frances Avins of Summerville; sister-in-law Gussie Vanhorn; two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral from the Wallis Memorial Chapel, Tuesday at 2 PM conducte dby Rev. Henry Hampton.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home all day Monday.

Arrangement by Wallis-Willbanks Funeral Home of LaFayette.

Mr. Charles Terry Ratliff, age 76 of Summerville, GA passed away Thursday, March 31, 2011 at his residence.

Mr. Ratliff was born October 18, 1934, son of the late Eugene White Ratliff and Cleopatra Anderson Kellett Ratliff. He was of the Baptist Faith, formerly attending the Mountain View Baptist Church. Mr. Ratliff enjoyed fishing, riding motorcycles and working on cars, and prior to his retirement, was employed with Salem Carpet Mill in Lafayette. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Gene Ratliff.

Mr. Ratliff is survived by three nieces and their spouses, Belinda and Marshall Cobbs of Houston, Texas, Terrie O’Brian of Irving, Texas and Sherrie and Terry Bigham of Arlington, Texas; 6 great nieces and nephews and 1 great great niece.

Funeral Services for Mr. Ratliff will be held Monday, April 4, 2011 at 4:00 P.M. in the chapel of the Mason Funeral Home with Rev. John Leatherwood officiating. Interment will follow in the West Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Ratliff will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 3 until the funeral hour.

Miss Lillie Dendy, age 96, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Oakview Nursing and Rehab Center where she had been a resident for 16 years.  She was born September 23, 1914 in Berryton, GA daughter of the late Joel Robert and Harriet Gordon Quails Dendy.  She was a member of North Rome Church of God, Rome, GA.  She had lived in Rome for 45 years before returning to Summerville due to ill health.  She was employed with Anchor Rome Cotton Mills many years and retired from Central Supply at Floyd Medical Center.  She was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and did not like to miss a game on television.

She was preceded in death by 4 sisters:  Flora Wesson, Dora Dendy, Arrie Cash, and Mary Thomason; 4 brothers:  Oscar, Daniel, Joe, and Sewell Dendy and a special niece Catherine Stephenson.

Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, great-great nieces  and great-great nephews, great-great-great nieces and great-great-great nephews.  She was affectionately known as "Aunt Widdy" by her special great-great niece, great-great nephews and great-great-great nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm from the chapel of the Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home with Dr. Jerry Mahan and Minister Tommy Broome officiating.  Interment will follow in the Summerville Cemetery.

Pallbearers are requested to meet at the Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm and include Bill Elsberry, Benny Dendy, Sewell Cash, Chuck Petitt, Cass Petitt, Eddie Elsberry, Trent Elsberry, and Bradyn Elsberry.  Honorary Pallbearers will be the staff of Oakview Nursing and Rehab, all Nurses and all CNA"s, Betty Nally, and Dr. Bruce Lee.

At her request no flowers.  Contributions may be made to the Gideons.

A special thank you goes out to the staff of Oakview Nursing Home  for their loving care they gave to her while she was there.  She loved you all.

Aunt Widdy will lie-in-state on Saturday, April 2, 2011 where the family will receive friends from 6 pm until 8 pm.  She will also lie-in-state from 12 noon until the funeral hour at 2 pm on Sunday.

The Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangement for Lillie Dendy.

MS. YVONNE McCULLOUGH THOMPSON, age 78, of Highway #337, Menlo, Georgia passed away Thursday, March 31, 2011, in a Rome health care. Born in Alabama on December 20, 1932, a daughter of the late Jesse R. and Leona Crowe McCullough. Ms. Thompson graduated from Menlo Schools, West Georgia College, and the University of Georgia, was retired Educator teaching for 35 years primarily in Chattooga County at Menlo and North Summerville Elementary Schools.

Surviving are daughters and son-in-law-Ellen Thompson of Rome and Susan Thompson & Don McGukin of Tupelo, Mississippi; son-Coleman Thompson of Menlo; granddaughter-Aurora Thompson of Johns Island, South Carolina; great grandson-Rowen Thompson.

Memorial service will be held Sunday , April 3rd, at 3:00 P.M. from the Menlo Presbyterian Church, interment in Alpine Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday 2 until the hour of service at the Church. Flowers are excepted or contributions may be made to the Menlo Presbyterian Church.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MR. GARY SHUDON (DON) MCCUTCHINS – AGE 43, – Of Cartersville, Georgia and formerly of Summerville, Georgia passed away Monday, March 28, 2011 at Cartersville Medical Center. He was a veteran of the United States Navy.

MR. WILLIAM R. “BILL” SHAMBLIN, age 80, of Highway #337-Summerville, Georgia, Teloga Community, passed away Monday afternoon at his residence following an extended illness, he was born on April 23, 1930, a son of the late Luther A. and Georgia Carver Shamblin. He was preceded in death by brothers Mack A., James L., Guy A., Robert L., and Charles C. Shamblin and sister Annie M. Shamblin. Mr. Shamblin was a member of Beersheba Presbyterian Church, where he served as Trustee, and an ordained Elder. He was presented the honor of Elder Emeritus. He organized a Boy Scout Troop in the Teloga Community and served as Scout Master for a number of years. He retired from Mount Vernon Mills, Trion, GA in 1995.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Joseph Wesley "Joe" Collette, Jr., age 85, of Trion, GA passed away Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Mr. Collette was born March 31, 1925 in LaFayette, GA, son of the late Sally Tillery and Joseph W. Collette, Sr. He was a retired supervisor with Mount Vernon Mills and was a member of the Mount Vernon Quarter Century Club. Mr. Collette was a member of Trion First Baptist Church and was a World War II Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Mr. Collette is survived by his wife, Zalula Ruth Chamlee Collette; sons, John Maurice "Johnny" Collette, James Edward "Jimmy" Collette, Joseph Wesley "Joe" Collette III, and William Joseph "Jody" Collette; daughter, Marcia Ruth Collette Smithson; brother, Donald Collette; sister, Jeannie Cowan; 10 Grandchildren; and 11 Great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2011 from the Chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Rev. Floyd Roebuck officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Jack Richardson Sunday School Class.

Mr. Collette will be in state and the family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Mr. Richard Lewis Helms, age 56, of Trion, GA, passed away Friday March 25, 2011. Mr. Helms was born Jan. 18, 1955, in Trion, GA, the son of Bobby Long Helms and the late Margie Ledford Helms. He was a self-employed painter, veteran of the U.S. Airforce having served in Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margie Ledford Helms, sister, Mary Elaine Witt, twin brothers, Johnny and Donnie Helms, a granddaughter, Cassy Crider. Survivors include a daughter & son-in-law, Cristie Nicole and Casey Crider, father, Bobby L. Helms, granddaughter, Ashlyn Crider, brother, Stephen R. Helms, brother-in-law, Gary Witt, several nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Sunday March 27, 2011 from the Central Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. John Leatherwood and Bro. Terry Shores officiating. Honorary pallbearers, David Herrin, Mike Helms, David Helms, Jimmy McGraw, Eddie Helms, Jeff Helms, Gary Witt, Carlon Cargle, and the Sons of American Legion.

The family will receive friends at the church from 3:00 p.m. until the service hour.

Mr. Jerry Wayne Skelton, Sr, age 66, of Summerville, Georgia, passed away Friday, March 25, 2011 at Redmond Medical Center. Mr. Skelton was born in Birmingham, AL on January 1, 1945, son of the late Chester Herdis Sr & Anna Elizabeth Rice Skelton. He was self-employed and a veteran of the U.S. Army, member of the American Legion Post 129, Grandnoble of the Odd Fellows Unity Lodge #3 and enjoyed coaching recreation league baseball.

Mr. Skelton was preceded in death by a sister, Katherine V. Thomas. Mr. Skelton is survived by his wife of 41 years, Diane Bennett Skelton, sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry Wayne “Bug” and Amber Skelton, Jon and Jennifer Skelton, daughter and son-in-law, Tammie & David Greene, brother& sister-in-law C.H. “Herb” & Cindy Skelton, grandchildren, Kenzlee Skelton, Sarah Skelton, Jerryn Skelton, Josie Skelton, Jayleigh Skelton, nieces, Kathy Ray, Suzanne Pauley, nephew, Trey Skelton.

Funeral Services for Mr. Skelton will be held Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Mason Funeral Home with Rev. Don Knowles officiating. Interment will follow in the Calhoun Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Trey Skelton, Jody Stoner, Casey Veatch, Race Allen, Rickey Moore, David Lindsey, David Greene, Jr., & John W. Everett Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Corbin, Jerry Tucker, Ralph Barnes, all friends of the Chattooga County Senior Citizens Center and the Odd Fellows Lodge #3.

Mr. Skelton will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home where the family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 until 8 P.M.