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Mrs. Teresa C. Elrod Busbin, age 50, of Lyerly, GA passed away Sunday, December 25, 2016, at her mother’s home in Lyerly.

Mrs. Busbin was born July 11, 1966, in Trion, GA daughter of Betty L. Burrage McNeese and the late William Roy Elrod.  She attended the Redemption Worship Center and was employed with I.H. Services.  In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her step-father, Donald Leon McNeese; and her mother-in-law, Mary “Jackie” Busbin.

Mrs. Busbin is survived by her husband, Terry James Busbin; daughter, Brenna LeeAnn Busbin; mother, Betty L. McNeese; brother and sister-in-law, Nathaniel L. and Tammy J. McNeese; sisters and brother-in-law, Rebecca Louise Edwards, Sherry Lynn and Jon Odell Mitchell, Cleta Marie Farrow; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Mrs. Busbin will be held at 4:30 P.M. Wednesday, December 28, 2016, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jerry Rutledge and Rev. Don Mason officiating.

There will be a gathering of family and friends at Mason Funeral Home from 3:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Wednesday.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Teresa C. Elrod Busbin who passed away on Sunday.  

Mr. Kevin Michael Motley, age 25 of Trion, GA, died Sunday December 25, 2016, at Kindred Hospital with his family by his side.

Mr. Motley was born August 20, 1991, in Chattanooga, TN, son of Donald Howard Motley and Shirley Louise Wooten.

He is survived by his father and step-mother, Donald and Bridget Motley; mother and step-father, Shirley Motley and Royce Jones; brothers, Brandon Wood and Logan Wood; sisters and brothers-in-law, Christina and Jason Owens, Candy and Matt Ingle, Jamie and Tim Reynolds; nieces and nephews, Rhett Owens, Mary Beth Owens, Jacob Owens; and special aunt, Linda Swanson.

Funeral services for Mr. Motley will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 27, 2016, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jason Lee officiating.

Mr. Motley will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Tuesday.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Kevin Michael Motley who died on Sunday.

MISS MARY ELLEN MARTIN, age 64, of Lyerly Street-Summerville, Georgia passed away Saturday, December 24, 2016, in a Rome hospital.  A native of Summerville, Georgia, She was born on April 1, 1952, to the late Holland Martin and the late Beth Smith Martin Barkley.  Ms. Martin was a member of South Summerville Baptist Church and formerly worked for Salmon Butane Gas and Southern Pathology.  She was preceded in death by a niece, the late Laurie Diane Martin.

Surviving are sister & brother-in-law, Dorene & Bobby White of Dalton; brother & sister-in-law, Sid & Marsha Martin of Norwood, North Carolina; several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Memorial service will be held Monday, January 2, 2017, at 1:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, with Rev. Sid Martin and Rev. Bill Grissett officiating.  The Family will receive friends Tuesday, January 2nd, from 11 A.M. until the hour of service at the Funeral Home.  The Family request no flowers and suggest contributions to a charity of choice.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for MISS MARY ELLEN MARTIN, who passed away December 24th.

Mr. Eric Thomas Wood, age 18, of Summerville, GA passed away Monday, December 12, 2016 in Mobile County, Alabama.

Mr. Wood was born in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia on January 26, 1998 son of Anona Melisa Jordan Szymanski and the late Wayne Sims.  He attended the Chattooga High School and attended the Central Avenue Baptist Church.

Mr. Wood is survived by his mother and step-father, Anona and Jimmy Syzmanski; sister, Angel Jordan; brother-in-law, Zach Hamby; grandfather, James T. Jordan; grandmother, Wanda McDonald; aunts and uncles, Marie and Matt Johnston, Shari Cooper, Hazel Cooper and Kenneth Cooper; great uncle, Reese Cooper; cousins, JB Hampton, Melody Galloway, Landon Galloway, Emma Galloway, CJ Parker, Shirley Cooper, Christy Wilson, Jauan Adams, Chelsea and Ethan Fowler, Ceira Tucker, Sam and Josh Johnston, Kenley Cooper, Kenny Cooper, Jade Galloway, and Brandon Galloway and a number of additional nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial Services for Mr. Wood will be held Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. in the Petitt Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Brandon Bishop officiating.  Private Interment will be at a later date.

The family will meet and greet family from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service at Coffman Funeral Home.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Eric Thomas Wood. 

Mr. Ernest “Slim” Alexander, age 88, of Lyerly, GA, died Friday, December 23, 2016, at Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Alexander was born May 12, 1928, in Summerville, GA, son of the late Earl and Belle Tolbert Alexander.  He was a member of the Lyerly First Baptist Church, and prior to his retirement, worked as a carpenter.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marion Virginia Bryant Alexander; sisters, Sara Phillips and Betty Buckalew; and a brother, Emory Alexander.

Mr. Alexander is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Marilyn Alexander; grandchildren, Becky and Richard Brown, Nicki and Danny Guinn; and great grandchildren, Alex Jackson, Andi Jackson, and Taylor Brown.

Funeral services for Mr. Alexander will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 27, 2016, from the Lyerly First Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Christie and Rev. Barry Peppers officiating.  Interment will follow in the Lyerly Cemetery.  Active pallbearers will be Bart Bryant, Hulett Brooks, Richard Brown, Scott Jackson, Alex Jackson, Danny Guinn, and Barry Alexander.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Staff of the Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Alexander will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Monday, December 26, 2016.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Ernest “Slim” Alexander who died on Friday.  

Mr. William Gordon Tapp, age 68, of Crandall, GA, formerly of Summerville, died Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at his residence.

Mr. Tapp was born June 28, 1948, in Summerville, GA, son of the late Everett John Willie B. and Roxie Jewel Timmons Tapp.  Prior to his retirement, he worked as a supervisor with Riegel.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Barnett Tapp.

Mr. Tapp is survived by his brothers, Willie D. Tapp, Willie E. Tapp, and James E. Tapp, all of Summerville, GA; sisters, Ida Kendall of Summerville, GA, and Emma Caylor of Chatsworth, GA.

Funeral services for Mr. Tapp will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, December 24, 2016, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeff Caylor officiating.  Interment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens.  Pallbearers will be Terry Eller, Wayne Venable, Jordan Caylor, Kenny Kendall, Jake Caylor, and Michael Ellenburg.

Mr. Tapp will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of service on Saturday.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. William Gordon Tapp who died on Wednesday.  

MR. JAMES H. BURKHALTER, JR., age 79, of Hair Lake Road, Summerville, Georgia passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at his residence.  A native of Round Mountain, Alabama, He was born October 12, 1937, to the late James H. Burkhalter, Sr. and Nora Belle Ledbetter Burkhalter Davis.  Mr. Burkhalter was retired from Inland of Rome and had served in the U. S. Army.

        Surviving are His wife, Linda Gorham Burkhalter; son-James Grant Burkhalter; grandchildren, Cayla Burkhalter, Trace Burkhalter, and Evan Burkhalter; great granddaughter, Ashlynn Burkhalter; sisters, Ruth (Don) Alexander of Summerville, Joann Derusha of Trion, and Nancy Lambert of Summerville;  several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

        Funeral service will be held Friday, December 23rd, from Graveside in West Hill Cemetery, with Rev. Mickey Shakes officiating, active pallbearers Clifford Hughes, James Hughes, Tommy Hughes, Freddy Hughes, David Ledbetter, and Donald Blackwell; honorary pallbearers Hearth Hospice.  The Family will receive friends Thursday, December 22nd, from 6 until 8 P.M. at the Funeral Home.