MRS. BESSIE IRENE BEARDEN, age 87, of Sunset Lane, ,Summerville, Georgia passed away Sunday (July 26, 2009) evening in the local nursing home. A native of Alabama, she was born to the late Robert Franklin and Dorothy Jane Peppers Williams on July 6, 1922. Mrs. Bearden was a member of North Summerville Baptist Church and retired from retail sales. She was preceded in death by her husband the late Millard Vernon Bearden.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mr. James R. Johnson, age 66, of Summerville, GA passed away Friday evening. He was born on December 27, 1942 to the late James Bethel Johnson and Essie Lee Hale Parker. Mr. Johnson was a member of the South Summerville Baptist Church and for several years was a law enfrocement officer for the Atlanta olice Department, City of Summervile, Chattooga County Shefiff’s Office, Trion Police Department and LaFayette Police Department; later he was a truck driver before retirement. He was preceeded in death by a son the late James Allen Johnson on June 19, 2000.

Surviving are grandsons-James Anthony Johnson and Joseph Dennis Johnson; sisters Virginia Gordy of Gaylesville, AL; Shelia Chthran, Joana Thoreson, and Lynda Carroll all of Summerville. Several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

 Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 1:00pm from the J.D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earls Rainwater Funeral Home with Brother Tom Russell officiating, interment in Summerville Cemetary will follow.

 Active Pallbearers include Jimmy Rickett, Ed Thoreson, Monte Turner, Randy Cothran, Morris Wayne Hughes, and Tony Carroll; Honorary pallbearers include Dennis Stansell, Dewayne Jackson, and all past and present law enforcement officers City of Summerville, Trion and LaFayette Police Department’s and Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 11:00am until the hour of service.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Hazel Lucille Wofford Campbell, age 79, of Cloudland, GA died Thursday, July 23, 2009, at Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Campbell was born December 14, 1929 in Atlanta, GA, the daughter of the late Jacob Lewis Wofford and Hazel Robbins Wofford. She was retired from Greyhound Bus Lines,where she had worked as an office clerk. 

 Mrs. Campbell is survived by her husband, Jim Campbell; daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Dennis Brown, Cloudland, GA; sons, George "Gus" Campbell, Cloudland, GA, and Michael Campbell, Augusta, GA; sister, Maxine Porter, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Kim Brown, Wendy Spillman, Wesley Campbell, Christy Post and Erin Chavez; great-grandchildren, Avery Anne Spillman, Nick Post, Logan Post, Jaslyn Post, and Camden Chavez. 

Graveside services for Mrs. Campbell will be held at 4:00 p. m. Saturday, July 25, 2009 at Mt. Olive Cemetery with Rev. Tommy Pledger officiating. Pallbearers will be Dennis Brown, Mark Porter, Shane Spillman, Chad Creasy, Keeton Alford, Max Tucker. Mrs. Campbell will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:30 p. m. Saturday, July 25, 2009. Mason Funeral Home is directing. For guestbook, please go online to www.masonfuneralhome.com 

Mrs. Hazel Broome Williams, age 84, of 121 Sunset Lane, Trion, GA passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Floyd Medical Center.  Mrs. Williams was born August 22, 1924.  Mrs. Williams, along with her husband co-owned and operated Hoyt’s Super Market and other stores for 40 years.

  She was a member of the Pennville Church of Christ.Preceding Mrs. Williams in death were her daughter, Brenda Faye Williams; father and mother, Homer and Jessie Beatrice Pruitt Broome; 2 brothers and 1 sister.Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband of 67 years, James Hoyt Williams, Sr. of Trion, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Jam Hoyt, Jr. and Lisa Williams of Trion, GA; grandson and wife, Sam and Kim Tripp of Calhoun, GA; grandson, Justin F. Williams of Trion, GA; granddaughter, Allison Lyons of Trion, GA; great-granddaughter, Misty Tripp of Rome, GA; great-granddaughter, Kayla Tripp of Summerville, GA; great-grandson, Blaine Woody of Trion, GA; great-granddaughter, Kiersten Woody of Trion, GA; a very special relative, Shadow Day of Lyerly, GA; several nieces and nephews also survived.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 23, 2009, at 3:00pm at the Pennville Church of Christ with Minister Robbie Eversole officiating.  Internment will be in the Green Hills Memory Gardens.Mrs. Williams will lie-in-state Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at the Erwin-Pettit Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8pm

.Pallbearers will be Carlton Vines, Dr. Richard Compton, Nolan Crisp, Phil Ingle, Kevin Hayes and Johnny Brimer.   Honorary pallbearers will be the Pennville Church of Christ Wednesday Night Bible Class.  They are asked to assemble at the funeral home by 2:15pm on the day of the service.

At all other hours the family will be at the residence, 121 Sunset Lane, Trion.Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements for Mrs. Hazel Broome Williams who passed away on Tuesday.  

Mr. Ralph Taylor Willingham, age 91, of Summerville, GA, died at 12:10 a.m. Friday July 17, 2009, at the Oakview Nursing and Rehab Center. Mr. Willingham was born January 9, 1918, in Menlo, GA, the son of the late William Oscar "Doc" and Tinnie Wofford Willingham. He attended Menlo School, was a farmer before serving as a Technical Sergeant in the Army Medical Administrative Corp during WWII.  Following his service, he worked at Riegel Textile Corp. in Trion, GA, where he met his future wife. He later owned and operated an auto repair business on Harrell Street inTrion until his retirement in 1981.  Ralph Taylor Willingham and Ruby Leola Shamblin were married on October 18, 1946, in the home of the Rev. and Mrs. Floyd Higgins on Mahan Road, near Summerville with Rev. Higgins officiating. For many years Mr. & Mrs. Willingham were actively involved at Midway Baptist Church, later serving as Sunday School Superintendent and church secretary. Ralph & Ruby Willingham always said that their greatest enjoyment in life came from their family.  Since retirement the couple worked for many years in genealogical research, resulting in several published books and articles about their families. They also documented the gravesites of many Civil War veterans, resulting in the placement of numerous official service markers. The couple also placed historical markers at several old cemetery sites in Chattooga, Floyd and Gordon counties.  Mr. Willingham was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Leola Shamblin Willingham; 4 sisters, Ruth Jackson, Clamar DeBerry, Edna Crye, Rose Pickle; 3 brothers, Hugh, Casey and Russell Willingham. Survivors include son & daughter-in-law, Dr. Dale and Joan Willingham, Summerville, GA, daughter & son-in-law, Kay and Farrell Shiver, Woodstock, GA, grandchildren, Sarah Shiver, James Willingham, Taylor Willingham, Kaylor Willingham, as well as several great-grandchildren.  Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday July 19, 2009, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Andy Hutchins, Rev. Joel Smith and Rev. Jim Chastain officiating with interment in the AMI Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be James Willingham, Taylor Willingham, Dennis Amberson, Steve Willingham. David Willingham, Ronnie Campbell. Honorary pallbearer, Mr. Zach Willingham. Mr. Willingham will be in state at the Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Saturday July 18, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m.  For guest book go online to www.masonfuneral.com Mason Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. John “J. H." Willingham, JR, age 90, of Menlo, GA died Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at OakviewNursing & Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Willingham was born April 3, 1919 in Chattooga County, GA, the son of the late John Henry Willingham, SR and Arrie Lasater Willingham. He was retired from Mt. Vernon Millsand was also a farmer. Mr. Willingham was a member of the Chelsea Baptist Church wherehe taught the Men’s Sunday School Class for over 50 years. He was the oldest living memberof Chelsea Baptist Church.  Mr. Willingham was preceded in death by a son, Connie Willingham;two daughters, Jean McGraw and Shirley McCrickard. Surviving is his wife of 69 years, Mozelle Willingham; daughter and son-in-law, Betty Sue and John Marshall; son & daughter-in-law, Lonnie and Sue Willingham; 6 Grandchildren; and 14 Great Grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p. m. Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Mason Funeral HomeChapel with Rev. Mike Odom and Rev. Dean Tapp officiating. Burial will follow in AMI

Cemetery.

  Active pallbearers will be Don McGraw, John Marshall, Buddy McCrickard, BillyEdwards, Donald McGraw, and Labranne Willingham. Honorary pallbearers will be all Nurses and CNA’s from Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Willingham will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from6:00 until 8:00 p. m. Friday, July 17, 2009. Mason Funeral Home is directing. For guestbook, please go online to www.masonfuneralhome.com