MR. LAWRENCE D. POWELL, age 82, of Mentone, Alabama passed away Saturday (March 27, 2010) at his residence following an illness. A native of Cherokee County, Alabama He was born to the late Albert Hinton and Mary Jones Powell on July 18, 1927. Mr. Powell was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and was retired from the card room of Mt. Vernon/Riegel Mills. He was preceded in death by six siblings-the late Katherine Cavin, Mary Nell Langston, Lois Boydston, Francis Cavin, Madelyn Downer, and Houston Powell.

Surviving are daughters-Kay Sentell and Margie Saine; son-Dwight Powell all of Mentone; brother-in-law-Owen Langston of Chattanooga; seven Grandchildren, twelve Great Grandchildren, two Great Great Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Earle Rainwater Funeral Home.

MR. LAWRENCE D. POWELL, age 82, of Mentone, Alabama passed away Saturday (March 27, 2010) at his residence following an illness. A native of Cherokee County, Alabama He was born to the late Albert Hinton and Mary Jones Powell on July 18, 1927. Mr. Powell was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and was retired from the card room of Mt. Vernon/Riegel Mills. He was preceded in death by six siblings-the late Katherine Cavin, Mary Nell Langston, Lois Boydston, Francis Cavin, Madelyn Downer, and Houston Powell.

Surviving are daughters-Kay Sentell and Margie Saine; son-Dwight Powell all of Mentone; brother-in-law-Owen Langston of Chattanooga; seven Grandchildren, twelve Great Grandchildren, two Great Great Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Mrs. Shirley Marie Abernathy, age 67, of Summerville, GA died Monday, March 22, 2010 at her residence.

Mrs. Abernathy was born July 9, 1942 in Centre, AL, the daughter of the late Leno and Sue Sandford Crane.  She had worked at Century Glove Mill and Montgomery Knitting Mill.  Mrs. Abernathy was a member of the Berryton Bible Mission.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy David Abernathy; grandson, David Wesley Dawson; Brother, Lester Crane; and sister, Mildred Bright.

Survivors include her children, Judy and Jimbo Slaughter, Kathy Terry and Ray Bridges, Melinda Clark, all of Summerville, GA, Tonya and Wesley Dawson, Trion, GA, Timothy Randall, SR and Tina Abernathy, Summerville, GA; and a chosen child, Tony and Carolyn Prater, Summerville, GA; sister, Kat Black, Centre, AL.; brothers, Roger Crane, Gaylesville, AL, Donald Crane, Cedar Bluff, AL, and Ronald Crane, Centre, AL; 14 Grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren; and several Nieces and Nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3pm Wednesday, March 24, 2010 from the chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Rutledge and Rev. Mickey Skates officiating.  Burial will follow in Lyerly Cemetery.  Active pallbearers will be Barry Williams, Ronny Abernathy, Terry Green, Brian Black, Tony Prater, and Michael Dawson.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Randy Burrage, Chris Burrage, Jason Burrage, Joseph Burrage, and Chris Williams.

Mrs. Abernathy wil be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6pm until 8pm Tuesday, March 23,2010.

Mason Funeral Home is directing.

Mr. Jimmie Ray Williams, age 74, a longtime resident of Summerville and member of South Summerville Baptist Church passed away Saturday, March 20th at his home.  He was born December 22, 1935 in Chattooga County, GA. He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Pearl Williams and brother, Johnnie Fay.

Jimmie was full of life and anyone that knew him can testify to his sense of humor and mischievous nature. He faithfully served in the U.S. Air Force, serving with the 48th air transport squadron as a loadmaster.  He retired as an aircraft engine machanic at the Naval Air Rework Facility in Norfolk, VA.  He was also the retired owner of Williams Lawnmower Repair of Summerville, GA.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carolyn (Keith) Williams of Summerville, GA; daughter, Sherri Hume Simon and husband Dave Simon of Louisville, KY; daughter, Angie Wrenn and husband Ron Wrenn of Kennesaw, GA; grandchildren, Patrick Hume of Louisville, KY, Laura Hume of Tallahassee, FL, and Katy Hume of Murray, KY; step-grandchildren, Mathew Simon and wife Krysi simon and Whitney (Simon) Stotts and husband Bobby Stotts and their children, Beckett and Ainsley Simon and Taylor and Bailey Stotts.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from the Chapel of Erwin-Pettit Funeral Home with the Rev. Doyle Waters officicating.  Visitation will be Monday, March 22, 2010 from 6pm to 9pm.  Interment will follow in West Hill Cemetary.

Mr. J T Copeland, age 92, of Menlo, GA died Thursday, March 18, 2010 in Health Care of Lake City, Lake City, FL. Mr. Copeland was born November 28, 1917 in Lyerly, GA, the son of the late Harvey and Alma Reynolds Copeland. Mr. Copeland was retired from Riegel Textile Corporation, He was a member of the Menlo Methodist Church, a veteran of the United States Army having served in WWII. He was also a member of the VFW post 6688. Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his wife, Mittie Bell Hardwick Copeland June 15, 2001, a son Alvin Copeland and a daughter-in-law, Sue Fuller.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Richard Romine, Lake City, FL, son, Jimmy Copeland, Hanover, AL; sister, Mildred Pledger, Summerville, GA; 3 Grandchildren; 4 Great Grandchildren; and 1 Great Great Grandchild. Funeral services will be held 12:00 Noon Monday March 22, 2010 at the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. J. B. McNeil and Rev. Jody Brock officiating. Burial will follow in Moseley Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bill Kinzy, William Thomas, Pete Vaughn, Lamar Canada, Larry Canada, and Tom Stewart. Mr. Copeland will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Monday March 22, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour.

In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to the Menlo Methodist Church.

 Mrs. Clara Mae Waldrop Parris, age 82, 369 Collier Road, Rome, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2010 in a local hospital.

Mrs. Parris was born in Randolph County, AL on November 9, 1927, daughter of the late Riley and Liza Biddie Overton Waldrop. She was also preceded in death by her husband Joseph R. Parris on June 26, 1989, by a grandson, Robbie Brown, by 2 sisters, Beulah Hardeman and Mae Berry, and by 6 brothers, Hubert, Hoyt, Norman, Dan, James, and Riley Waldrop, Jr.  Prior to her retirement, she was employed with Trend Mills here in Rome for over 7 years. Mrs. Parris was a member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Mrs. Janice Brown, and her husband, David, Summerville, Mrs. Betty Harris, and her husband, Rickey, Rome, and Mrs. Judy Cowart, and her husband, Bobby, Rome; 1 sister, Mrs. Thelma Swords, Albertville, AL; 9 grandchildren, Brad Harris and his wife, Kristin, Rome, Eric Harris, and his wife, Jamie, Rome, Joey Harris, and his wife, Erin, Rome, Mrs. Jennifer Middleton, and her husband, Tommy, Summerville, Mrs. Meagan Hughes, and her husband, Justin, Trion, Brandon Brown, Summerville, Mrs. Lorrie Espy, and her husband, Kevin, Subligna, Jason Costlow, and his wife, Stephanie, Aragon, and Joseph Costlow, and his wife, Starr, Rockmart; 20 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Gethsemane Baptist Church with Rev. Freddie Waldrop, Rev. Bill Dowdy, Rev. Donald Lindsey, and Rev. Rob Miller officiating. Interment will follow in New Armuchee Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home on Saturday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. At other hours, they may be contacted at the residence of a daughter, Mrs. Betty Harris, 369 Collier Road, Rome.

Active and honorary pallbearersare requested to assemble at the Gethsemane Baptist Church on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and are as follows: Active: Grandsons. Honorary: Anthony Segars, Randy Cromer, Eric Barnett, and Dewayne Swords.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home has charge of the funeral arrangements.