Mr. Hillard Leo Tillman, SR, age 79, of Cedar Bluff, AL, passed away Saturday February 4, 2012, in Gadsden Regional Medical Center. Mr. Tillman was born January 13, 1932, in Madison, TN, the son of the late Leon and Loevisa Allen Tillman. He was formerly employed with Mohawk Carpet and served in the U.S. Army, and was preceded in death by a daughter Mitzi Moore. Survivors include his children, Hillard Leo Tillman, Jr, Willard Thomas Tillman, Charles Michael Tillman, Kathy Lynn Holloway, step-children, Marty Rogers, and Patrica Adams, 16 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday February 7, 2012, at the Summerville Cemetery with Rev. Sanford Deberry officiating with interment in the Summerville Cemetery with military rites. Active pallbearers, Donald Filinuk, Donald Crane, Charles Latty, Jimmy Hitchcock, Dean Bailey, Brian Bagley. Mr. Tillman will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Tuesday from 12:00 noon until the service hour.

MRS. BETTY JEAN POWELL, age 78, of Mentone, Alabama passed away Saturday, February 4, 2012, in the local nursing home. A native Chattooga Countian, She was born to the later Dewey Karl and Susie Ann Rodgers Mitchell on October 8, 1933. Mrs. Powell was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, retired from the spinning department of Riegel Textile Corporation, and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by husband the late Lawrence W. Powell, Sr.

Surviving are daughter-Patsy McGarty of Rex, GA; sons-Sam White of Dallas, GA, Dennis White of Odgen, KA, LaVon White, Jr. of Memphis, TN, and Douglas Powell of Mentone; sisters-Orleane Miller of Flint, MI, Ann Brown of Trion; brothers-D.C. Mitchell, Jr. and Malcolm Mitchell both of Menlo, Glenn Mitchell of Trion, and Larry Mitchell of LaFayette; 15 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 5th, at 4:00 P.M. from the J.D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Terry Shores and Greg Ledford officiating, interment in Ami Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 P.M. until the service hour.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge.

MR. JOHN GRADY RODGERS, age 85, of Trion, Ga. Passed away Friday afternoon in the local Nursing Home. Mr. Rodgers was born in Broometown, Alabama March 17, 1926, a son of the late John Newton and Verdie Beatrice Gardner Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers was a Deacon and member of Central Avenue Baptist Church, a veteran of World War II serving in the U. S. Navy, and a retired self-employed Carpenter. He was preceded in death by siblings: Jessie Rodgers, Don Rodgers, Wayne Rodgers, Bill Rodgers, Evelyn White, Winnie Robinson and Susie Mitchell.

Survivors include his wife Willie Bell Rodgers; A sister Luckie Bynum of Chattanooga, TN; A brother J. E. Rodgers of Colonial Heights, VA.

Funeral services will be held Sunday (February 5, 2012) at 2:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. John Leatherhead officiating, interment in Howell Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be deacons of Central Avenue Baptist Church. Visitation will be Saturday from 4 – 6 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
 

MRS. STELLA MAE THOMAS, age 88, of Rome, Georgia, formerly of Summerville, passed away Wednesday evening in a Rome hospital. A native of Walker County, Georgia, She was born to the late William P. and Zora Mae King Oliver on September 5, 1923. Mrs. Thomas was a member of Trinity Baptist Church and was retired from sewing department of Best Mfg., and was preceded in death by her husband the late Rev. Hugh C. Thomas, a daughter the late Sandra Annette Thomas, and a number of Siblings.

Surviving are daughters-Carol Magnusson of Rome and Faye Elrod of Gaylesville, AL.; son-Roger Thomas of Summerville; seven Grandchildren; ten Great Grandchildren; two Great Great Grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 4th, at 2:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Howard Odom officiating, interment in Trinity Cemetery. Active Pallbearers will be Grandsons. Visitation will be Saturday at the Funeral Home from 12 noon until the service hour.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge.
 

Mr. Dale E. Wolke, age 63 of Cloudland, Georgia passed away January 30, 2012 at the M.D. Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Wolke was born in Pontiac, Michigan on February 12, 1948, son of the late Homer Alexander Wolke and Jessica Jo Silvey Wolke. He was a professional Archaeologist and was of the Methodist Faith. Mr. Wolke was an avid outdoorsman and loved hiking, hunting, fishing and photography.

Mr. Wolke is survived by his wife, Roseanne Morgan Wolke; daughters, Ana Wolke and Mara Wolke of Northville, Michigan; step-daughter, Jennifer Shifflett of Atlanta; brother and sister-in-law, Darel and Stephanie Wolke of Manton, Michigan; and a sister and brother-in-law, Danna and George Bowersox of Northville, Michigan.

Funeral Services for Mr. Wolke will be held Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 3:30 P.M. at the Mason Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Cloudland Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be George Bowersox, Darel Wolke, Richard Morgan and Bill “Bo” Morgan.

Mr. Wolke will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Tuesday from 2:30 P.M. until the funeral hour.

In Lieu of flowers, donations honoring the memory of Mr. Dale Wolke can be sent to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Stomach Cancer Research, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486.

Mrs. Dixie Y. Faulkner Brown, age 74, of Summerville, Georgia, Dry Creek Community, formerly of Conyers, Georgia, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Born in Lulu, Georgia on April 29, 1937 She was daughter of the late Mable Jean Faulkner. Mrs. Brown was Mormon by Faith, was retired keypunch operator for Kraft Foods, and an avid gardner. Surviving are her husband-T.O. (Thadys) Brown; daughters-Cheryl Brown of Atlanta, Carol Brown Spring of Huntsville, AL., and Chiara Brown of Mobile, AL.; grandchildren-Cherika Brown, Chris Brown, Travis Lynn, and Desiree’ Spring; great granddaughter-Hazel Lynn. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 7th, from the Ebenezer Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Jackson officiating, interment in Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, GA. Visitation Monday 6 until 8 P.M. at Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, Summerville.

Mr. James Richard Cumbaa, age 66, of Summerville, GA died Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at his residence.

Mr. Cumbaa was born October 25, 1945 in Miami, Florida, the son of the late Arthur and Doris Duke Cumbaa. Mr. Cumbaa was retired from Shaw Industries. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served in Vietnam.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Hix Cumbaa; sister, Dorisetta Soule, Winter Haven, FL; and a brother, Thomas Cumbaa, Macon, GA.

Graveside and interment services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Thursday, February 2, 2012 at Chapel Hill Cemetery with Chaplain Alan Fuller officiating.

Mr. Cumbaa will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:30 on Thursday.

Mrs. Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Black, age 44, of Lyerly, GA died Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Redmond Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Black was born October 16, 1967 in LaFayette, GA, the daughter of Bobby Don and Barbara Jean Styles Edwards. She was employed with the Chattooga County School System where she worked as assistant lunch room manager at Lyerly Elementary School.

Mrs. Black is survived by her husband, Reagan Black; sons, Braden Adarione Black and Bradley Calbert Black; parents, Bobby Don and Barbara Edwards; and a brother, Danny Edwards.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p. m. Friday, February 3, 2012 at Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Weaver and Rev. Jerry Pike officiating. Burial will follow in Lyerly Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Kyle Edwards, Korey Edwards, Damon Black, Braden Black, Bradley Black, and Danny Edwards. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hayes State Prison Corrections Emergency Response Team.

Mrs. Black will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. Thursday, February 2, 2012 .