Mrs. Lelia Joyce Rickett Williams, age 88, of Berryton, GA, passed away Friday, December 29, 2023, at Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Mrs. Williams was born January 26, 1935, in Menlo, GA, daughter of the late Gordon and Annie Ruth Quail Rickett.
Lelia was a member of Perennial Springs Baptist Church where she attended regularly until her health would not allow her to. Prior to her retirement, she was employed with Mohawk Industries. She was a social butterfly; she loved visiting people and never met a stranger. She loved the Lord, her church family, bluegrass, George Jones, working in her yard and taking care of her flowers, but most importantly, she loved her family. She was affectionately known to her family as “Maw-Maw” or “Grand-Maw.” She loved going anywhere you would take her, especially the Smoky Mountains. She often said her name was “Lelia Go Williams.”

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy A. Williams; sons, Danny Joe Williams and David Williams; her siblings, Helen Norton, Martha Warren, Claude Rickett, Hugh Rickett, Bud Rickett, Joe Rickett, Bobby Rickett, Sarah Thompson, and Jerry Rickett.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Joyce (Frank) Smith, Janice (Glenn) Thompson; daughter-in-law, Brenda Williams; grandchildren, Nick Smith, Dustin (Laura) Thompson, Nathan (Jennifer) Thompson, and Anna (Toby) Morrison; her great-grandchildren, Sara Thompson, Addie Thompson, Coleson Smith, Jack Morrison, John Morrison, Kate Morrison, and Danny Thompson; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Williams will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Alton Stamey officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Nick Smith, Dustin Thompson, Nathan Thompson, Coleson Smith, Toby Morrison, and Matt Veitch.

Mrs. Williams will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service on Wednesday.

The family respectfully requests no food.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA

Mr. Jerry Richard Prince, Sr., age 80, of Summerville, Georgia, died Monday, December 25, 2023 at his residence. Mr. Prince was born October 29, 1943 in Summerville Georgia, son of the late Frank N. Prince, Sr. and Juanita Keith Prince. He was a member of the Summerville United Methodist Church and served on several church boards. The Prince Family owned and operated the Western Auto Associate Store in Summerville for over 40 years. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by PFG Milton’s Food service in Oakwood, GA. He loved boating with friends and woodworking. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Frank N. Prince, Jr., and Ronald K. Prince; two granddaughters, Erin Madison Prince and Jacklyn Elaine Allen.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine Rollins Prince; son, Richard (Kristin) Prince; daughter, Martha (Bryant) Allen; son, John (Jennifer) Prince; grandchildren, J.R. (Angie) Prince, Lauren (Corey) Keith, Elizabeth Allen, Gracee Prince, Lora Prince, Nicholas Prince and four great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 29th at 2:00 p.m. from the J.D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. J. Wesley Privett and Rev. Larry Rollins officiating, interment in Smith Chapel Cemetery, Ringgold, GA. Active Pallbearers J.R. Prince, Nicholas Prince, William Crouch, Randy Pauley, Steve Weaver, and Ben Housch; Honorary Pallbearers, Jim Woodard, Phil Cavin, Carlton Andrews, Jerry Willingham, Ralph Wright, Lefty Norton and Milford Morgan.

The Family will receive friends at the Funeral Home, Friday from 12 p.m. until the hour of service. The family requests no flowers and suggest contributions to the Summerville United Methodist Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mr. Jerry Richard Prince, Sr. who passed away Monday.

Mr. L. Vernon Hayes, age 97 of Summerville, Georgia, passed away Monday, December 25, 2023 at his residence. He was born in Chattooga County on May 26, 1926, son of the late E. Cidney Hayes and Sally Walton Hayes. Mr. Hayes was owner and operator of Hayes Muffler Shop for many years before retirement and Baptist by faith. In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, the late Ruth Davenport Hayes; son, the late James V. Hayes and grandson, the late Matt Hayes.

Surviving are his children, Thelma Hall and David McCullough, Kathy Jarrett and Mike Jarrett, Allen L. Hayes and Troyce Hayes; grandchildren, Jamie Rollins, Amanda Parker, Charlie Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, Chris Jarrett, Jesse Hayes, and Lonnie Hayes; 14 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 28, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, with Rev. Kenneth Jennings officiating; Graveside and interment at 3:00 P.M. in the New Antioch Cemetery, Blue Ridge, Georgia. Active Pallbearers will be Charlie Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, Chris Jarrett, Jesse Hayes, Lonnie Hayes, Ken Rollins, and Derek Parker.

Visitation will be Thursday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Earle Rainwater Funeral Home. The family requests no flowers nor food, contributions may be made to the local food pantry in Mr. Hayes memory.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mr. L. Vernon Hayes.

Mr. Billy Claude Ivester, age 86, of Summerville, GA, died Monday, December 25, 2023, at his residence.

Mr. Ivester was born May 4, 1937, in Carnesville, GA, son of the late Bruce and Clara Horbin Ivester. He was Baptist by faith, and prior to his retirement, was employed with Black and Meek Milling. Mr. Ivester was also a veteran of the United States Army.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Opal Ivester and Hollis Ivester; adopted daughter, Fairy Zaidia.

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Ivester; sons, Terry Ivester, Billy Ivester, Brian Sage, and Curtis Ragsdale; daughters, Dianne Chapman, Sandra Armistead; a sister, Betty Phillips; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 12:00 Noon Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at West Hill Cemetery with Rev. Kevin J. Norton officiating. Pallbearers will be Austin Kellar, Justice Kellar, Ryan Kellar, Allan McGuire, Joseph Tyler Pearson, and Chase Slater.

Mr. Ivester will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 10:30 until 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA.

Mr. William Wallace “W.J.” Keith, Jr., age 91, of Summerville, GA, died Sunday, December 24, 2023, at Oakview Health and Rehabilitation.

Mr. Keith was born December 23, 1932, in Valley Head, AL, son of the late William Wallace Keith, Sr. and Margaret Mae Dobbs Keith. He was a member of Ridgeway Baptist Church, and prior to his retirement, was employed with General Electric for 25 years.

Mr. Keith began working at Riegel Textile in 1948. He served in the United States Army from 1953-1956 in 75th Headquarters as a Corporal. He then worked at General Electric where he retired in 1992. Mr. Keith was ordained as a Deacon at Ridgeway Baptist Church in 1963, and had also served as a Deacon at Dry Valley Baptist Church, Corinth Baptist Church, and New Bethel Baptist Church. He also taught Adult Sunday School Classes for many years. He was a talented musician and sang in church with his wife, Odella, and with their children.

Mr. Keith was a faithful and devoted servant to the Lord. His testimony and dedication to the Lord’s service touched many lives. He was greatly loved and respected, not only by his family, but also by many others whose lives he touched.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Keith was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Odella Mae Tucker Keith; son, Travis Keith; brothers, Clyde Keith, Glen Earl Keith, Boyce Keith, Seldon Keith, Billy Jack Keith, Melvin Keith, and Roger Keith; a sister, Virginia Keith Cordle; and grandsons, Daniel Keith and Rhyan Keith.

Survivors include his sons, Steve (Annette) Keith, Kelley (Dianne) Keith; daughter, Janet (David) Reece; daughter-in-law, Cindy Keith; a brother, Troy Keith; 10 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 30, 2023, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marty McRae and his son, Bro. Steve Keith officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhills Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be Joseph Keith, Joshua Keith, Warren Reece, Peter Reece, Blake Hughes, and Maverick Powell.

Mr. Keith will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service on Saturday.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA.

Mrs. Gladys “Bea” Floyd Vinyard, age 92, of LaFayette, GA, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2023, at Oakview Health and Rehabilitation.
Mrs. Vinyard was born May 20, 1931, in Centre, AL, daughter of the late Roy and Eunice Luallen Floyd. She was a homemaker and had attended Oak Hill Methodist Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Vinyard was preceded in death by her husband, John Wesley Vinyard, Sr.; a son, John Vinyard, Jr.; a daughter, Eunice Ann Wilhort; and several brothers.

Survivors include her sons, Terry (Gail) Vinyard, Jerry (Cathy) Vinyard, Luther (Diane) Vinyard, and Scott (Sherry) Vinyard; daughters, Linda (David) Connor, Sue (John) Carman; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Vinyard will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, December 28, 2023, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Andy Hutchins officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Heath Vinyard, Jake Vinyard, Jason Vinyard, Wes Vinyard, John Vinyard, and Adam Vinyard.

Mrs. Vinyard will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service on Thursday.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA.

Mr. Robert William Bryant, age 73 of Summerville, Georgia passed away Friday, December 22, 2023 at a Rome Hospital.

Robert was born in Trion, Georgia on August 18, 1950, son of the late Floyd William Bryant and Irene Hunter Bryant. He attended the Lyerly Community Church and prior to retirement, worked as a caterer and food truck operator. Robert was a member of the BCU (Biker Care Unit), loved to ride his motorcycle and enjoyed tinkering and fixing things, but he will be most remembered as being Santa Claus at numerous city and county area events over the last several years. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Brandie Bryant; infant sister, Diane Bryant; brothers, William “Tiger” Bryant and Bobby Bryant; and a granddaughter, Caylin White.

Robert is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Bobby Bryant and his fiancé, Trish Kaplan and Marvin and Trisha Johnson; daughters, Cheyenne Bryant, Kristi Pena and Rebecca Bryant; his fiancé, Cherie Osborne; brothers and sisters-in-law, Stoney and Doris Bryant and Terry and Joyce Bryant; sisters and brother-in-law, Brenda Johnson, Ann Corbit, Shirley and Jackie Morgan and Linda Mauldin; grandchildren, Aiden Radford, Amelie Radford, Madison Shaw, Mila Shaw, Autumn Pena, Ashlee Pena, Anthony Walker, Corey Walker and Isaiah Johnson; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Robert will be held Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Pastor Marshall Bryan officiating. Private Interment will be held at a later date.

Robert will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 Noon until the funeral hour.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Robert William Bryant.

Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and post condolences.

MRS. CAROLYN JEAN HURLEY, age 75, of Hunter Street, Summerville, Georgia, passed away Friday, December 22, 2023, at her residence. She was born on August 16, 1948, a daughter of the late Henry Milton “Milt” Jones, Sr. and Foye R. Jones. She was employed by Oakview Nursing & Rehab Center and Jim’s Restaurant for many years. In addition to Parents, She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Billy Hurley, and brothers, the late Milton “J.R.” Jones and Billy Glenn Jones.

Surviving are daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Gorham & Adam Gorham; grandson & granddaughter-in-law, Vincent Hix and Emily Jones Hix; granddaughter, Kinsley Gorham & Brier Carter; grand fur babies, Quinn, Amora, Rosco, and Sadie.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 3:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Mr. Stacey Evans officiating, interment in Perennial Springs Cemetery, Active Pallbearers, Adam Gorham, Brier Carter, Preston Carter, Ashton Goodson, Troy Oehlson; Honorary Pallbearers Lois Reed, Brittany Pressnell, Beverly Pair, Wendy Ash, Diane Mountain, Chera Allison, Grant Burkhalter, Penny Ammons, Tammy Cantrell, Pam Henderson, Chad Campbell, Spencer Dial, Riley Jackson, Carmon Rich, Terri Young, Crystal Smith Ely, Angie Hughes, Stacy Dial, and Stacy Herod.

Visitation will be Thursday from 1 P.M. until the hour of service.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Carolyn Jean Hurley.

Mrs. Betty Sue Hurley Brooks, age 91 of the Perennial Springs Community, Summerville, passed away Thursday, December 21, 2023 at the Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mrs. Brooks was born in Summerville, Georgia on June 3, 1932, daughter of the late James Robert Hurley and Trixie Hartline Hurley. She was a member of the Perennial Springs Baptist Church. She had worked for a short time with the FBI as a voucher clerk, but came back home to Summerville, and worked for Mohawk Industries for over 40 years. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Brooks was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Robert Brooks and two brothers, James William Hurley and Charles Wayne Hurley.

Mrs. Brooks is survived by her daughter, Susan Brooks; sisters-in-law, Irene Bishop, Wilene Bishop and Shirley Willingham; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and additional family members.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Brooks will be held Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Smith and Rev. Alton Stamey officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Hills Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will include Greg Hurley, Garrett Hurley, Chad Teems, Rodney Bishop, Joey Brewster and Jacob Reed.

Mrs. Brooks will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Wednesday morning from 11:00 A.M. until the funeral hour.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care given to Mrs. Brooks during the time she was there.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Betty Sue Hurley Brooks.

Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and post condolences.

Mr. Paul Monroe Ward, Jr., age 87, of Summerville, GA, died Thursday, December 21, 2023, at his residence.

Mr. Ward was born April 19, 1936, in Trion, GA, son of the late Paul Monroe Ward, Sr. and Rosa Dell Hester Ward. He was a member of Beersheba Presbyterian Church and prior to his retirement, was employed as a millwright with Local Union 1263. Mr. Ward had previously worked with Georgia Forestry and had served as a game warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He loved fishing, hunting, camping, and dealing in campers, cars, and trucks.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Shelby Jean Keen Ward; brothers, David Ward, Ralph Ward, and Harold Ward.

Survivors include his son, Mike Ward; daughter, Paula (Roger) Bryant; sister-in-law, Ortha Ward; grandchildren, Phillip Bryant, Justin Ward, Misty Ward, and Dusty Ward; great-grandchildren, Skyler Ward, Connor Ward, Gage Fulton, and Aylassa Fulton; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Ward will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Beersheba Presbyterian Church with Rev. Justin Ward officiating. Interment will follow in Garrett Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Mike Ward, Justin Ward, Skyler Ward, Connor Ward, Roger Bryant, and Phillip Bryant. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Local Union 1263.

Mr. Ward will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday. He will also be in state at Beersheba Presbyterian Church from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Wednesday.

To share your condolences with the family online, please visit our website at www.masonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are provided by Mason Funeral Home- Summerville, GA.