Mrs. Clara Bell Southerland, age 61, of Trion, Georgia passed away Monday, June 9, 2008 at her residence.

Mrs. Southerland was born May 1, 1947 in Walker County, Georgia, the daughter of the late Aquille and Inez Mann Rape. She was employed with CVS Pharmacy. Mrs. Southerland was member of the New Bethel Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School Treasurer and operated the sound system.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph Southerland; children, Timothy Dewayne Southerland, Lafayette, Robert Brian Southerland and Mark Edward Southerland, both of Trion, Linda Sue Reynolds, Lafayette, and Karen Renee Swafford, Trion; brothers Joseph Rape, Lafayette, David Rape of Trion; sisters, Debbie Railey, Doris Wallin, Shelia Forker, Tammy Leonard, and Anita Rape, all of Lafayette, and Lou Jackson of Summerville; 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, June 12, 2008 at New Bethel Baptist Church with Reverend Buster Fox, Reverend Tommy Brown, and Reverend Robert Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in West Hill Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Burt Reynolds, Andy Williams, J.C. Colbert, Paul Busby, Justin Chamlee, and Dewayne Howard. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of CVS, the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Department, and members of New Bethel Baptist Church.

Mrs. Southerland will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Wednesday, June 11, 2008. She will lie in state at New Bethel Baptist Church from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM on Thursday.

Mason Funeral Home is directing. For guestbook, go online to www.masonfuneralhome.com.