MRS. BETTY MITCHELL STEPHENSON, age 95, of HWY #114, Summerville, Georgia, passed away Monday morning, October 24, 2023, in the local nursing home. She was born on September 16, 1928 in Gwinnett County, Georgia, to the late Doyle and Lily B. Youngblood Mitchell.

Betty taught at Chattooga High School for 31 years. She loved seeing former students and took great pride in remembering most of her students’ names and hearing about their lives. After retirement she was asked if she would like to substitute but she politely declined. She had a new adventure awaiting her that June in the form of her first grandchild and three years later her second grand. Many years later she became a great grandmother to two and they were the light of her life. Betty had a loving community in her school family and long lasting friendships with many of her fellow teachers. One of their favorite pastimes for many years was playing bridge, whether it was a get together with a table of four or the more serious bridge party of three tables with snacks served on china and tea served in crystal goblets. Betty loved visiting with family and having family visit her, including her granddog. In her later years, with declining health, Betty was lovingly cared for in her home by Laura and Mike who saw to all her needs. Special thanks to Sharon Timmons for her loving care to mother for many years. Thank you to the RN’s and CNA’s on C Hall at Oakview for the kindness and care shown to mother the past 8 months. In addition to Parents, She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Joe Kellett Stephenson on November 17, 1967.

Surviving are daughters, Laura J. Stephenson (Mike Head) and Lynn (Richard) Thigpen; sister, Ann (Jack) Bagwell; brother-in-law, Bill (Carolyn) Stephenson; grandchildren, Joseph (Bre) Thigpen and Kelly Thigpen; great grandchildren, Eil Thigpen and Lila Thigpen; several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 28th, at 2:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Pepper officiating, interment in the Family plot of Summerville Cemetery. The Family will receive friends Saturday from 12 noon until 2 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Betty Mitchell Stephenson who passed away Monday.

Mrs. Ella Elizabeth Bowman age 90 of Cloudland, GA passed away Friday, October 20, 2023 at a local healthcare facility.

Mrs. Bowman was born January 15, 1933 to the late Obie and Nellie Kirkland Walker. She was a homemaker and of the Church of God faith.

Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Bowman, Sr.; and brothers, Willie, Wilson, and Milton Walker.

Survivors include her children, Frank (Carol) Bowman, Jr, William Bowman, and Susan Rogers; siblings, Obie (Carol) Walker Jr., and Celia (Harold) Fussell; 6 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Bowman will take place at 1:00 PM Sunday, October 29 at the Chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Mr. Obie Walker officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery with the grandsons serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 12:00 noon until the service hour at Mason Funeral Home.

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 Franklin Kirk age 82 of the Holland Community passed away Monday, October 23 at a Rome, GA hospital.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Mason Funeral Home.

Mr. Jerrel “Jerry” Glenn Hogg, age 90 of LaFayette passed away Sunday, October 22, 2023 at the residence of his son.

Mr. Hogg was born September 15, 1933 in Lyerly, GA to the late Issac and Willie Mae Carter Hogg. He was retired from Blue Ridge Tube and Combustion Engineering and was a member of the LaFayette Church of Christ. He was a veteran of the United States Army and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and woodworking.

Along with his parents he is preceded in death by his son, Michael Hogg ; grandson, Jeremy Crabtree; and sister, Winfred Hogg.

Survivors include his children, Kenneth (Teresa) Hogg, Stacie Hogg, and Jessica Hogg; brother, Loran (Nancy) Hogg; grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) Paradise, Sam Parker, Hannah Parker, Isaiah Crawford, Isaac Crawford, Isabella Crawford; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mr. Hogg will take place at 2:00 PM Wednesday at the chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Ministers Reid Perry and Chris Paradise officiating. Interment will follow at Alpine Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers will be Tommy Mullis, Chris Paradise, Jason Eldridge, Marty Hullagun, and Glen Sharrock.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until the service hour at the funeral home.

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.

Dennis L. Sparks, age 63, of Trion passed away Thursday, October 19, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jenny Sparks; and brother, Anthony Sparks.

Dennis is survived by his son, Zachary (Deb) Sparks; grandchildren, Logan, Lauren , and Ella Sparks; parents, Garlis and Shirley Sparks; brothers, Terry, Michael, and Brian Sparks; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel.  Interment will be at the LaFayette City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.

Mr. Terry Lee Johnson, age 72 of Summerville, Georgia passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at his residence.

Mr. Johnson was born in Trion, Georgia on August 22, 1951, son of the late Robert A. Johnson and Clara Hammitt Smith. He was a member of the Trion Heights Baptist Church, and was retired from Reichhold Chemicals, where he was a Production Superintendent. Mr. Johnson enjoyed coaching Recreational League Football and Baseball and when he was able, loved to hunt; but his favorite activity was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Todd; brother, Alvin Johnson and a nephew, Danny Johnson.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Debbie Johnson; son and daughter-in-law, Terry Lee Johnson, Jr. and his wife, Ann; brother and sister-in-law, Tony and Darlene Johnson; sisters and brother-in-law, Jackie and Wayne Cain and Rita Brown; grandchildren, Kayla (Billy) Cotter, Krista Johnson and Haley Johnson; great grandchildren, Kayson Koonce, Jamesen Wright, Khalil Nettles, Kourtney Nettles and Arrow Cotton; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Graveside and Interment Services for Mr. Johnson will be held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:30 P.M. in the West Hill Cemetery with Rev. Vernon Johnson officiating.

Pallbearers will include Terry Lee Johnson, Jr., Tony Johnson, Bo Jones, Jacob Hammitt, Lane Bridges and David Reese. Honorary Pallbearers will include Kayson Koonce, Jamesen Wright, Arrow Cotton, Khalil Nettles, Kourtney Nettles, Wayne Cain, Jo-Anne Campbell, Joe Henry, Mickey Jones, Butch Camp and Leon Tucker.

Mr. Johnson will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 P.M.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Terry Lee Johnson.

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

Mr. Stacy Lee Nixon, age 53, of Summerville, GA, died Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at Atrium Health Floyd.

Mr. Nixon was born September 20, 1970, in Rome, GA, son of Patricia Lynn Edgeworth Vaughn and Robert Lee “Bobby” Nixon. He was employed with Labrie and had attended Berryton Faith Temple. Stacy loved to play golf, fish, and hunt, and he was a true life-long fan of the Florida State Seminoles.

Mr. Nixon was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ellis and Viola Edgeworth, Curtis and Elsie Nixon; and sister-in-law, Beth Nixon.

Survivors include his son, Matt Nixon; daughter, Gracie Nixon; companion, Melissa Page Light Johnson; step-son, Tanner Leming; parents, Lynn (Kenneth) Vaughn, Bobby (Shelia) Nixon; brothers, Daniel Nixon, Chris Nixon; nephews, Austin Money, Dillion Nixon, and Lucas Nixon; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services for Mr. Nixon will be held at 4:00 P.M. Saturday, October 21, 2023, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kevin J. Norton and Rev. Steve Burns officiating. Interment will follow in Lyerly Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Daniel Nixon, Chris Nixon, Olin Woody, Hunter Woody, Kevin Vaughn, Josh Vaughn, Tanner Leming, and Justin Blackmon. Honorary pallbearers will be Greg Martin, Brian Flippo, Dustin Veatch, Kenneth Adams, Billy Blackmon, Jr., Mark Nixon, Blake Campbell, and Tony Cook.

Mr. Nixon will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday.

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. Ruby Jewel Tinney, age 97 of Shepherdsville, KY passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at a Louisville, KY hospital.

Mrs. Tinney was born December 17, 1925 in Esom Hill, GA to the late Alvin and Lula Brazier Malone. Ahe was a member of Northside Church of Christ and was a loving homemaker.

Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Tinney; and siblings, Donald Malone, Mary Teal, and Alline Lockridge.
Survivors include her daughter, Carol (Charles) Lowry; brothers, Charles Malone and James Malone; 1 grandchild; 2 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Tinney will take place at 1:00 Saturday, October 21 at the chapel of Mason Funeral Home with Minister Hugh Glaze officiating. Interment will follow at Howell Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until the service hour on Saturday at the funeral home.

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

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

MR. ROBERT BLANE (BAMA) REECE, age 61, of Virginia Drive, Summerville, Georgia, passed away Monday, October 16, 2023, following an illness. Mr. Reece was born on October 1, 1962 in Fort Payne, Alabama to the late Robert Lee Reece and Linda Ruth Blake Reece. He was a member of the 1980 Graduating Class of Chattooga High School, a member of the Just Us Band, and a very devoted ALABAMA Fan. He was the Property Manager for Martin Reality.

Surviving are daughter, Mackenzie Reece; son and daughter-in-law, Cory and Jessica Reece; companion, Susan Reece; grandchildren, Easton Reece, Brylee Reece, Colt Reece; sister and brother-in-law, Marty and Jimmy Lowery; several Aunts and Cousins also survive.

In keeping with Robert’s wishes, he will be cremated, there will be no formal service.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Mr. Robert Blane “Bama” Reece.

Mr. George W. Stivers, age 82 of the Teloga Community, Summerville, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at his residence.

Mr. Stivers was born in Jackson County, Indiana on September 21, 1941, son of the late Herman Andrew Stivers and Blanche Albin Stivers. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and the Army National Guard, serving during the Vietnam War, earning the Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Stivers retired from ANL Shielding, where he worked as a supervisor. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and woodworking. In addition to his parents, Mr. Stivers was preceded in death by sisters, Doris Johson, Genevieve Stivers, Laura Ann Corbin and Patricia Ann Stivers; and brothers, Herman Andrew Stivers, Jr., Raymond Victor Stivers, and Danny Joe Stivers.

Mr. Stivers is survived by his wife, Karen B. Stivers; children, Tonya Stivers, Shawn Fellars and Andy (Amy) Stivers; brother and sister-in-law, Rene and Janie Stivers; sister, Jeanette Hackman; grandchildren, Gavin Stivers, Finley Stivers and Tylee Stivers; and a number of nieces, nephews and additional family and friends.

Funeral Services for Mr. Stivers will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 4:00 P.M. in the Chapel of the Coffman Funeral Home with Rev. Bobby Lemons officiating. Interment will follow in the West Hill Cemetery with the Shanklin-Attaway Post 5 of the American Legion Honor Guard in charge of full Miltary Honors.

Pallbearers will include Dustin Webb, Casey Ramey, Jonathon Stout, Joe Bachelor, Josh Allmond and Toby Morrison. Honorary Pallbearers will be grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Mr. Stivers will be in state at the Coffman Funeral Home and the family will receive friends Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. until the funeral hour.

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel is honored to be serving the family of Mr. George W. Stivers.

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