U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Mary Lou Whitfield, 96
Mrs. Mary Lou Whitfield, 96, noted historian and writer of Perry, Florida, passed away at her home Tuesday morning, January 20, after a long illness. She was descended from the Thomas Lee Carlton pioneer family and was a homemaker, an avid quilter and needleworker, “scrap - craft” person, and a lifelong resident of Taylor County.
Mrs. Whitfield graduated from Taylor County High School in 1929. Later in life she attended the Perry Campus of North Florida Junior College and was awarded an honorary Associate of Arts Degree by that school in December, 2007.
Her lifelong quest for knowledge, her love of words, and an equal fascination with history and genealogy led her to write for the local newspapers as a popular columnist, and she also did two stints for the Tallahassee Democrat as a community columnist. These works were later incorporated into a book, “815 West Bay, ” which set out her views from the end of the street. Her down - home, often humorous, but always factual writing, attracted readers from all walks of life. Proceeds from the book are being directed to a scholarship fund, set up for Taylor County High School students.
In true “wordsmith” fashion she wrote numerous church histories, as well as the history of the Perry Army Air Base, and was instrumental in the “They Were Here” books, published by the Taylor County Historical Society, of which she was a founding member. She received the “Woman of the Year” award from the Perry Women’s Club, and an “Outstanding Achievement” award from the Florida State Genealogical Society, as well as awards from other organizations. She was a past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and also delivered “Meals on Wheels” for many years.
She had been a member of First Baptist Church of Perry since 1935, her faith demonstrated in her daily life, the offices she held, and in the service she gave.
She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother and is survived by a son and two daughters - in - law, Richard and Diane Whitfield, both of Perry, and Adell K. Whitifled, El Dorado, AR; two daughters, Alda Higdon of Reidsville and Penny Dixon of Leesburg, FL, 13 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and three great - great grandchildren.
From 1939 to the present the big old house down at the end of West Bay has been the center of life for family and for any child who needed help with school or 4 - H projects, or just “stuff.” Her home was always a clearing - house for general information from the prodigious storehouse of her mind.
Funeral services were held at First Baptist of Perry, Thursday, Jan. 22, with burial following in the Carlton Family Cemetery.
Local memorials may be sent to Reidsville United Methodist Church.
Joe P. Burns Funeral Home of Perry was in charge of arrangements.
Edra Ann O’Donnell Brown, 58
Edra Ann O’Donnell Brown, 58, passed away, Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Waterman Hospital in Tavares, FL, after a long illness, surrounded by her loving family and friends.
She was born on June 18, 1950, in Reidsville, Ga. and was raised in the Mendes area.
She will be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, wife and mother who loved her family and loved life.
Her friends and the medical staff who attended to her throughout her illness saw her as a blessing in their lives. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her.
She was a Methodist and retired after many years in the banking and real estate lending industry.
She was a graduate of Glennville High School, class of 1968. She graduated from Ga. Southern University with a business degree.
She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Richard Brown Jr. and a daughter Erica Ann Brown of Tavares, FL. Also her parents, Vincent and Ruth O’Donnell; one brother Martin (Sharon) O’Donnell; two nieces, Tracy (Al) Danner and Tammy (David) DeLoach; three great nephews, Thomas DeLoach, Dawson DeLoach, and Colby Danner and one great niece, Aubree Cate Danner, all of Glennville, GA.
One memorial service was held at her home in Tavares, FL, on Tuesday, March 24, at 4:00 p.m.
In celebration of her life a memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 11:00 a.m. at Harmony United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made in her name to The Central Florida Blood Bank, 345 West Michigan Street, Orlando, FL, 32806 or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1601 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL, 32804.
Grace Kennedy DeLoach, 102
Grace Kennedy DeLoach, 102, passed away Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Glenvue Nursing Home. She was born in Tattnall County July 20, 1906, to Shelton H. and Vasti Southwell Kennedy. She was a homemaker and a longtime member of Glennville First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Hicks DeLoach; son, Shelton DeLoach; four sisters and a brother.
She is survived by her children, Nell Keppley and William “Bill” DeLoach; grandchildren, Linda (David) Oliver, Janet (Jim) Rice, Pat (Kim) Keppley, Danny (Kathy) Kicklighter and Debbie (Bruce) Tuten; great grandchildren, Seth (Donna) Oliver, Kyle Saud, Matthew Keppley, Stephanie Kipta, Jacob and Rebecca Rice, Thomas and William Tuten, Ryland and Kirk Kicklighter; several great - great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 23, 2009, from the chapel of Brannen - Kennedy Funeral with Reverend Rick Brown officiating. Burial followed in the Glennville City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Gerald Strickland, David Holland, Danny Durrence, Jim Tootle, Bruce Tuten and Jimmy McCurdy.
Remembrances may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home of Glennville was in charge of the arrangements.
Thelma Harper Edenfield, 90
Mrs. Thelma Harper Edenfield, 90, died Thursday, March 19, 2009, at Candler County Hospital. The Candler County native was a homemaker and a member of the Excelsior Baptist Church. Mrs. Edenfield was an avid gardener and seamstress who loved taking care of her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Edenfield, a son - in - law, Andrew Smith and a great grandson, Tristan Odom.
She is survived by two daughters and a son - in - law, Elaine E. Smith of Statesboro and Sandra E. and Gene Odom of Metter; a brother, Earl Harper of Pulaski; three sisters, Lexie Coston of Metter, Willene Duggan of Savannah and
Mildred Bragg of Pooler; two grandsons, Gene Odom Jr. and Greg Odom; three step - grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, with Rev. Grady Collins officiating. Burial followed in the Lake Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Rhett Harper, Harper Bragg Jr., Jimmy Wolling, Gene Odom Jr., Greg Odom and B.C. McCollum. Remembrances may be made to the Excelsior Baptist Church Building Fund, 30792 Dutchford Rd., Metter, GA 30439.
Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel of Metter, was in charge of the arrangements.
Betty Wilkes Haynes, 63
Betty Wilkes Haynes, 63, of Cobbtown died Sunday, March 22, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah. She was born in Dade County, FL, and moved to Cobbtown ten years ago from Vidalia. She was a seamstress at Lyons Manufacturing Co. for many years and was a member of the Lyons Holiness Church.
“Nana” loved spending time with her grandchildren and talking about the Bible.
She is survived by a daughter and son - in - law, Angela and Johnny McClung of Cobbtown; three brothers, Clayton Wilkes, Jimmy Wilkes and Earl Wilkes all of Florida; two sisters, Janice Hooker and Carol Lawrence both of Vidalia; four
grandchildren, Jonathan, Joshua, Jacey and Jennifer McClung; and a great grandchild, Chloe Hooks.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, with Rev. Henry Dowd officiating. Burial followed in the Wilkes cemetery in Toombs County. Pallbearers were Jonathan McClung, Eric King, Trevor Hutto, Eli Lively, Chris Daly and Ray Driggers.
Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.
Kathleen K. Kirkland, 87
Kathleen K. Kirkland, 87, passed away, Friday, March 20, 2009, at Evans Memorial Hospital. The Tattnall County native had lived in this area most of her life. She was a homemaker and a lifelong member of Beards Creek Primitive Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest J. and Minnie Lee Kicklighter; husband of 32 years, Noah (Kirk) Kirkland and son, Edwin R. Odom.
She is survived by her son, Barry Odom, of Glennville; daughter and son - in - law, Gail O. and Leighton Dasher of Glennville; grandchildren, Lee Durrence (Renee), Lew Durrence (Holly), Kathi Durrence, Shawn Odom (Vicky), Shane Odom (Stephanie), Debra Odom (Wayne) and Donna Odom, all of Glennville; April Nail (Kelly) of Brunswick, Billy Dasher (Robbie), Ronda Pelmmons, all of Atlanta; sister, Gwineth Spier of Glennville and several great - grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday, March 22, 2009, at 2 p.m., at Beards Creek Primitive Baptist Church with Elder David Summerford officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Lee Durrence, Lew Durrence, Shawn Odom, Glen Kicklighter, Shane Odom and Dennis Odom.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home of Glennville was in charge of the arrangements.
Clotele Weitman Lewis, 90
Clotele Weitman Lewis, 90, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2009. She was born November 24, 1918, in Tattnall County. She was a member of Mendes Baptist Church and a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Attis A. Lewis; parents, Rufus and Molly Kicklighter Weitman; sisters, Nell Tootle and Joyce Dasher and brothers, Bryce and Rudolph Weitman.
She is survived by her daughter and son - in - law, Deweese and Richard Dasher of Glennville; son and daughter - in - law, Allen and Jane Lewis of Key West, FL; grandsons, Lee Dasher of Glennville and George Lewis of Orlando, FL; granddaughters, Kayla Pedrick of Glennville and Brandi Gabay of Key West, FL; great - granddaughters, Alex and Reagan Pedrick and Marlee and Jenna Dasher, all of Glennville; great - grandson, Ryan Gabay of Key West, FL, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 20, 2009, from the chapel of Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home, with Reverend Carl Ledbetter officiating. Burial followed in Glennville City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Lee Dasher, George Lewis, Kent Pedrick, Terry Waters, Kenneth Waters, Mark Dasher and Barry Tootle.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home, Glennville Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.
Patrick McMurtry, 65
Patrick McMurtry, age 65, passed away Saturday March 21, 2009, at the Community Hospice Inpatient Center in Vidalia. The California native had lived in Reidsville for the past 21 years. He was a member of the Pine Grove Baptist Church and was recently preceded in death by his sister, Donna McMurtry.
He is survived by: four brothers and sisters - in - law, Charlie McMurtry of AZ, Jim and Brenda McMurtry of CA, Cecil and Linda McMurtry of Collins, Doug and Ann McMurtry of Reidsville; four sisters, Chris Laird, Lucille McMurtry, Marie McMurtry and Judy Clarke, all of California. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
In keeping with Patrick’s wishes there will be no services.
Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home is serving the McMurtry family.
Violet E. Olson, 101
Violet E. Olson, age 101, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday morning March 24, 2009 at the Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Center in Statesboro, GA. She was born in Rockford, IL, on January 15, 1908, to Axel and Judith Nelson. She was married
on November 4, 1933, to Clarence “Kelly” Olson. They made a wonderful home for their only child, Connie. Violet was a long time member of First Free Evangelical Church. She raised her family according to scripture and prayed everyday. She was an exceedingly loving person and cared for her husband and three of her sisters for years when they were ill. She went to live with her daughter and son - in - law in Florida, then moved with them to Collins, GA, three years ago. Violet is home in heaven now with her beloved husband with whom she had 46 years here on earth. She was also preceded in death by five sisters, Peggy Hendricks, Astrid Peterson, Dagmar Nelson, Gertrude Boren and Gerdie Olin.
She is survived by: her daughter and son - in - law, Connie and Curtis Collins of Collins; three grandchildren, Kimberly (Livingston) Hackett, Todd (Tara) Nelson, Nicole (Steven) Blasadese; five great grandchildren, Theodore (Erin) Blount, Jasmine Smith, Constance Nelson, Mackenzie Nelson, Todd Nelson Jr.; three great - great grandchildren, Aaliyah Vega, Skyonna Blount, Judah Blount; two nephews, Roger Peterson and Eugene Henricks both of Rockford, IL; two nieces, Karen Boren of Polo, IL, and Gertrude McGhee of Rockford, IL.
Graveside Funeral Services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2009, from the Arlington Memorial Park in Rockford, IL.
Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home is serving the Olson Family.
