Mrs. Esther Bowden Gresham, 82, of Manchester, died February 4 at her home. Graveside services were held February 6 at Meriwether Memory Gardens with Reverend W. H. Fancher, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Manchester, assisted by Reverend Steve Quinn, a former pastor.

Honorary pallbearers were Robert W. Gresham, Weyman T. Gresham, Jr., Ben Marcus, Brad Anderson, Bryan Anderson and William Lubelski.

Mrs. Gresham was born December 20, 1918 in Woodbury, daughter of the late Weyman Madison Bowden and the late Susie Kate Long Bowden. She was a member of Raleigh United Methodist Church where she serves as secretary and treasurer for 30 years, was retired from International Playtex Co., and lived in Meriwether County all her life.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Ralph O. Gresham of Manchester; two sons, Weyman (Wayne) T. Gresham of Manchester, Ralph W. Gresham of Garden City; two sisters, Helen Bowden ___ner of Douglas, and Virginia Findley of Warm Springs; three grandchildren, Robert W. Gresham of Garden City, Amanda Michelle Lubelski of Dunwoody and Weyman T. Gresham, Jr. of Manchester.

Cox Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

[See Obit of Ralph Oren Gresham, husband, who passed away the same day.]

SEARCH NAMES: GRESHAM, FANCHER, QUINN, MARCUS, ANDERSON, LUBELSKI, BOWDEN, LONG, FINDLEY

RALPH OREN GRESHAM
July 3, 1912 - February 4, 2001

Ralph Oren Gresham, 88, of Manchester, died February 4 at his home. Graveside services were held February 6 at Meriwether Memory Gardens, officiated by Reverend W. H. Fancher, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Manchester, assisted by Reverend Steve Quinn.

Honorary pallbearers were Robert W. Gresham, Weyman T. Gresham, Jr., Ben Marcus, Brad Anderson, Bryan Anderson and William Lubelski.

Mr. Gresham was born July 3, 1912 in Manchester, son of the late William Travis Gresham and the late Sarah Elizabeth Self Gresham.

He was a retired trainman for CSX Railroad and was a member of the Salem Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Survivors include two sons, Weyman (Wayne) T. Gresham of Manchester, and Ralph W. Gresham of Garden City; one sister, Fannie Gresham Sharp of Jonesboro; three grandchildren, Robert W. Gresham of Garden City, Amanda Michelle Lubelski of Dunwoody and Weyman T. Gresham, Jr. of Manchester. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Esther Bowden Gresham, who died earlier that same day.

Cox Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

[See Obit of Mrs. Esther Bowden Gresham, wife, who passed away the same day.]

SEARCH NAMES: GRESHAM, FANCHER, QUINN, MARCUS, ANDERSON, LUBELSKI, BOWDEN, SHARP

MRS. ROSELLA "ROBY" STATHAM
June 11, 1915 - January 29, 2001

Mrs. Rosella "Roby" Statham, 85, of Vonore, Tennessee, died January 29 at Sweetwater, Tennessee Hospital. Funeral services were conducted February 1 at Banks Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Danny Smith officiating.

Mrs. Statham was born June 11, 1915 in Worth County, daughter of the late James Washington Smith and the late Lula Gray Smith. She had lived in Vonore, Tennessee since August having lived in Manchester the previous 65 years, and was a retired spinner from a textile mill. She was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Manchester and had attended Mt. Pleasant Full Gospel Church in Poulan.

Survivors include one daughter, Betty S. Steele of Vonore, Tennessee; one son, Frank D. Statham of McDonough; two sisters, Nadine S. Piper and Ellie Mae S. Hutchinson, both of Poulan; six grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren. Mrs. Statham was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Tillman Statham and two great grandchildren.

Banks Funeral Home of Sylvester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: STATHAM, SMITH, GRAY, STEELE, PIPER, HUTCHINSON

MRS. MARY HOWARD STANFORD
November 4, 1919 - January 26, 2001

Mrs. Mary Howard Stanford, 81, at Woodland, died January 26 at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. Funeral services were held February 3 at Friendship Baptist Church in Woodland with Reverend J. Trammell officiating.

Mrs. Stanford was born November 4, 1919 in Woodland, daughter of the late Reverend Zach and Mandy Holmes Howard.

Survivors include her husband, Sammie Roy Stanford of Woodland; three daughters, Mary R. Carter, Fannie M. Williams of Woodland, Yvonia (Douglas) King of Atlanta; one son, Sammie D. Stanford of Woodland; two stepsisters, Laura Callier of Woodland and Mattie Ruth Howard of Fort Valley; one stepbrother, Reverend Willie James (Alma) Nelson of Columbus; one sister-in-law, Rose Lee Dixon of Manchester; nine grandchildren, Tosha, Tolisa, Mario, Anthony, Kevin, Nakia, Cedric, Termaine and Tavarous; four great grandchildren, Carnesia, Jordan, Kevin Jr., and Kameron; nieces Barbara Harvey, Cynthia (T.L.) Carter, Linda (Eddie) Leonard, and Beverly Harvey of Woodland; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Anderson & Marshall Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: STANFORD, TRAMMELL, HOWARD, CARTER, WILLIAMS, KING, CALLIER, NELSON, DIXON, HARVEY, LEONARD

MRS. DOROTHY LOUISE DOWNS
February 6, 1910 - February 10, 2001

Mrs. Dorothy Louise Downs, 91, of Shiloh, and a former longtime resident of Lee’s Crossing in LaGrange, died February 10 at her home. Graveside services were held February 12 at Shadowlawn Cemetery with Reverend Lamar Truitt officiating.

Mrs. Downs was born February 6, 1910 in Oglethorpe County, daughter of the late Frazier D. and Lillie Melton Worley. She was the widow of Ernest Edward Brown and Bruce Downs. She was also preceded in death by a son, Dr. Edward E. Brown and a sister, Cassie Wright.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Bobby and Joe Durham of Shiloh; sisters, Myrtie Lee of Shiloh, Flossie Denny of Austell, Era Floyd and Ruby Hoxsie, both of Pine Mountain; grandchildren, Rhonda Durham Lipp of Shiloh, Ernest Roy "Bud" Durham of Columbus, Donna Kay Durham Barry of Waverly Hall, John Mark Durham of Dawsonville; and David E. Brown of LaGrange; 12 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Striffler-Hamby Mortuary of LaGrange was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: DOWNS, TRUITT, WORLEY, BROWN, WRIGHT, DURHAM, LEE, DENNY, FLOYD, HOXSIE

MRS. LUCY BUTTS CROWDER
October 6, 1916 - February 9, 2001

Mrs. Lucy Butts Crowder, 84, of Warm Springs (Durand) died February 9 at her home. A private memorial service was held for the family at the Warm Springs City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are asked to be made to the Dura Key Fowler Fund, c/o Trinity United Methodist Church, Warm Springs.

Mrs. Crowder was born October 6, 1916 in Warm Springs, the daughter of the late Annie Mae Leverett Butts and William Burt Butts. She was a homemaker and a member of the Warm Springs Baptist Church. She was a lifelong resident of Meriwether County, and was the widow of Thomas Anderson Crowder, Sr., her husband of 54 years.

Mrs. Crowder is survived by two daughters, Linda Joyce Myers of New Kent, Virginia and Cynthia Crowder Adams of Warm Springs; son, Thomas A. Crowder, Jr., of Warm Springs; eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; one sister, Eunice Butts Conway of LaGrange.

Cox Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: CROWDER, LEVERETT, BUTTS, MYERS, ADAMS, CONWAY

LARRY STANLEY RAINES
April 26, 1941 - February 9, 2001

Larry Stanley Raines, 59, of Manchester, died February 9 at Georgia Baptist Meriwether Hospital . Funeral services were held at the Chapel of Cox Funeral Home February 11 with Reverend Ernest Hinson officiating.

Mr. Raines was born April 26, 1941 in Fulton County, son of the late Mattie and Buford Raines. He was a truck driver and had lived here seven years.

Survivors include his wife, Sharron Raines of Manchester; two sons, Timmy Raines and Denny Raines, both of Manchester; six grandchildren.

Cox Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: RAINES, HINSON

MRS. AMY KATE MONCRIEF
April 7, 1907 - February 6, 2001

Mrs. Amy Kate Moncrief, 93, of Manchester, died February 6 at Georgia Baptist Meriwether Hospital. Funeral services were held February 8 at Macedonia Baptist Church with Reverend J. D. Templeton officiating, assisted by Reverend Jimmie Chapman. Burial was at Meriwether Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers were Maxon Moncrief, Robert Spears, Johnny McDowell, Alton Murphy, Ben Mann, Marion Dunn, Joe Canales, and Terry Wingard.

Mrs. Moncrief was born April 7, 1907 in Harris County, daughter of the late Joseph Mathey Murphy and the late Alice Eugenia Folds Murphy. She was a homemaker, was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and was a past active member of Callaway Senior Center.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Collier of Columbus; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Leonard and Jeanette Moncrief of Pine Mountain, Billy and Joy Moncrief of Fort Gaines, Harvey Moncrief of Manchester, and Jerry and Linda Moncrief, also of Manchester; ten grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Moncrief and a son, Joe Moncrief.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: MONCRIEF, TEMPLETON, CHAPMAN, SPEARS, MCDOWELL, MURPHY, MANN, DUNN, CANALES, WINGARD, FOLDS, COLLIER

MICHELLE ELLERBEE PATTILLO
November 28, 1970 - February 18, 2001

Michelle Ellerbee Pattillo, 30, of Manchester, died Sunday, February 18, 2001 in Woodland. Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 21, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Section Catholic Church in Manchester with Father Niese officiating.

Mrs. Pattillo was born November 28, 1970 in Warm Springs. She had lived in Warm Springs all her life and was a homemaker.

Survivors include her parents, James and Anne Ellerbee, of Manchester; two sisters, Virginia Samiratedu of Stateboro, and Kay Ellerbee of Norcross; one brother, John Ellerbee of Thomaston. She was preceded in death by a son, Cory Pattillo.

Cox Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: PATTILLO, NIESE, ELLERBEE, SAMIRATEDU

BOBBY ROYCE COCHRAN
February 12, 1933 - February 18, 2001

Bobby Royce Cochran, 68, of Toccoa, Georgia, died Friday, February 16, at Alvasta Health Care in Greenville, Georgia. Funeral services were held Sunday, February 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home in Manchester with Reverend Cary Hicks officiating. Burial was in the Crouch Cemetery in Gay.

Mr. Cochran was born February 12, 1933 in Meriwether County. The son of the late Royce and Runette Cochran, he was retired from law enforcement, a Baptist and a member of Georgia Peace Officers Association.

He is survived by his wife, Melba Cochran of Toccoa; a son, Lee Cochran of Lizella; a daughter, Cathy Maxwell of Hogansville; one sister, Kay Ward of Warm Springs; two brothers, Kenneth Cochran of Sanderson, Florida and Jake Cochran of Manchester.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: COCHRAN, HICKS, MAXWELL, WARD

STEPHEN DAVID CLEMENTS, SR.
May 3, 1907 - February 12, 2001

Stephen David Clements, Sr., 93, of Woodbury, died February 13 at his residence. Funeral services were conducted February 15 at Woodbury United Methodist Church with Reverend Herschel Phillips officiating. Interment followed at Woodbury City Cemetery.

Mr. Clements was born May 3, 1907 in Meriwether County, son of the late Holmes Watkins Clements, MD and the late Mary Elizabeth Watson Clements. He was the retired owner/operator of Clements Oil Company, was a member of Woodbury United Methodist Church and served on the church’s Board of Stewards, Trustees. Mr. Clements had served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a former member of Woodbury Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Catherine Elrod Clements of Woodbury; two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen David Clements, Jr., MD and Helen Sullivan Clements of Atlanta, and David Ellis Clements, Sr. and Dorothy Rogers Clements of Griffin; five grandchildren, David Ellis Clements, Jr., Richard Coleman Clements, Stephen David Clements, III, Jennifer Lynn Clements and Julie Elizabeth Clements; one great grandson, Leighton Coleman Clements.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Woodbury was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: CLEMENTS, PHILLIPS, WATSON, ELROD

MRS. ANITA BROWN STRIBLING
May 8, 1927 - February 14, 2001

Mrs. Anita Brown Stribling, 73, of Woodbury, died February 14 at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston. Funeral services were conducted February 17 at Jones Chapel in Woodbury with Reverend James Schwarzlose officiating, assisted by Reverend Wade Washburn. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers were Clark Brown, Huel Brown, Jr., Dale Brown, Jerry Brown, Tony McCrary, and Jeff Stribling.

Mrs. Stribling was born May 8, 1927 in Fulton County, daughter of the late Roy and Tommie Chunn Brown. She was a homemaker and was a member of Jones Chapel.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Tim Huff of Woodbury; three brothers, Huel Brown and Bill Brown, both of Woodbury, and Terrell Brown of Thomaston; one sister, Jean McCrary of Molena; one granddaughter, Lanie Huff. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Stribling.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Woodbury in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: STRIBLING, SCHWARZLOSE, WASHBURN, BROWN, MCCRARY, CHUNN, HUFF

JESSIE LEE CHILDS
November 4, 1933 - February 11, 2001

Jessie Lee Childs, 67, of Manchester died February 11 at Georgia Baptist Meriwether Hospital in Warm Springs. Funeral services were held February 15 at Greentown Heights Church of Christ in Manchester with Brother Roger Brawner officiating. Interment was in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Woodland.

Mr. Childs, know as "Duddie Sack" was born November 4, 1933 in Talbot County to the late Jess and Annie Liza Childs. He became a member of Concord Baptist Church at an early age.

Survivors include four sons, Lester Childs of Milledgeville, Stanley (Trudie) Childs, Ronnie (Patissia) Childs and Paul (Shirian) Childs, all of Manchester; two daughters, Patricia Daniel of Orlando, Florida and Gloria Jones of New Jersey; four brothers, Earnest Childs of Manchester, Willie Ester Childs, Freddie Lee Childs and Melvin Childs, all of Atlanta; six sisters, Louise Gamble of Warm Sprigs, Lizzie Mae Gamble, Lina Mae Childs, Jewell Boon, Martha Childs, all of Manchester, and Annie Ruth Maddox of Warm Springs; one sister-in-law, Betty Jean Brown of Atlanta; 11 grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Anderson & Marshall Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: CHILDS, BRAWNER, DANIEL, JONES, GAMBLE, BOON, MADDOX, BROWN

MRS. FLORRIE LANELL BROOKS

November 13, 1912 - February 13, 2001

Mrs. Florrie Lanell Brooks, 88, of Manchester, died February 13 at Georgia Baptist Meriwether Hospital in Warm Springs. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Mrs. Brooks was born November 13, 1912 in Walton County, daughter of the late Ansel and Hattie Kidd Melton. She was a homemaker and a member of Manchester First Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, John Brooks of Davie, Florida and Charles Brooks of Tucker; one sister, Thelma Sexton of Rockdale, Texas; two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Sanders Brooks.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Manchester was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: BROOKS, MELTON, KIDD SEXTON

WILBUR KEITH HOWARD, JR.

August 2, 1915 - February 17, 2001

Wilbur Keith Howard, Jr., 85, of Woodbury, died February 17 at Hospice LaGrange. Funeral services were held February 19 at Jones Chapel in Woodbury with Reverend James Schwarzlose and Reverend William Priester officiating. Burial was at Manchester City Cemetery.

Mr. Howard was born August 2, 1915 in Meriwether County, son of the late Wilbur Keith Howard, Sr., and the late Vera Bowles Howard. He was a retired truck driver for Railway Express and a member of Jones Chapel.

Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Howard Hammett of Miami, Florida, Mary Ellen Crockett of Greenville, and Sharon Boykin of Peachtree City; three sons, Billy Adcock of Senoia, Buddy Adcock of Wedowee, Alabama, Bruce Cooke of LaGrange; one sister, Marion Howard Tidwell of Manchester; 19 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wives, Gladys Hall Howard, and Kathryn Stubbs Howard; and sons, Bill Howard and Harry Adcock.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Woodbury was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: HOWARD, SCHWARZLOSE, PRIESTER, BOWLES, HAMMETT, CROCKETT, BOYKIN, ADCOCK, COOKE, TIDWELL, STUBBS, HALL

ED WOLF, JR.
1953 - 2001

Ed Wolf, Jr., 48, of Lawrenceville, died February 22 after a long illness. Funeral services were held February 24 at Cannon United Methodist Church with Dr. Terry Walton, Reverend Ralph Devereaux and Reverend Walter Jones officiating.

Entombment service was Saturday in the Chapel of The Pines Mausoleum in Park Hill Cemetery in Columbus.

Mr. Wolf was born in Columbus and graduated from Marietta High School in 1971. He graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1975, receiving a B.S. in Accounting. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and treasurer of Student Government. He received his Master’s degree from Georgia State University in Finance and retired from Southern Company after 20 years of service.

Survivors include his wife, Saralyn Wolf; son Michael Edwin Wolf of Lawrenceville; mother, Dorothy C. Wolf of Columbus; brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Cindy Wolf of Lilburn; nephews, Britt Wolf, K.J. Wolf; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mr. Wolf attended grade school in Manchester while his father was principal at Manchester High School.

SEARCH NAMES: WOLF, WALTON, DEVEREAUX, JONES

TROY CARLTON WIMMER
August 29, 1914 - February 22, 2001

Troy Carlton Wimmer, 86, of Princeton, West Virginia died February 22 at Princeton Community Hospital following a long illness.

Funeral services were held February 24 at the Burns-Wornal Chapel of the Memorial Funeral Directory in Princeton with the Reverend Wallace Smith and Reverend Rick Setser officiating. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Nephews serves as pallbearers.

Born August 29, 1914 at Kegley, West Virginia, he was the son of the late James and Lina Worrell Wimmer.

He was a coal miner, last working at Deerfield and was a member of the UMWA, Local Union 8784 of Lashmeet, West Virginia for 60 years.

He was a member of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Princeton, and was also one of the founders of Kegley Baptist Church in Kegley, West Virginia. Mr. Wimmer was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Alta Genetta Wimmer; one son, Carlton Gene Wimmer of Manchester; one grandson, Carlton Gene Wimmer, Jr. and wife Kristi of Manchester; two great granddaughters, Rachel and Rebecca; sisters, Loucile Blankenship and Beulah Keaton, both of Princeton; one half sister, Ruth Dunham of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Ruby Howell; two brothers, Elbert and George Wimmer, and one half brothers, Randall Wimmer.

Memorial Funeral Directory of Princeton, West Virginia was in charge of arrangements.

SEARCH NAMES: WIMMER, SMITH, SETSER, WORRELL, BLANKENSHIP, KEATON, DUNHAM, HOWELL

MRS. LILLIE P. SEAY
April 6, 1926 - February 19, 2001

Mrs. Lillie P. Seay, 74, of Woodbury, died February 19 at the residence of her daughter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Funeral services were conducted February 22 at Jones Chapel in Woodbury with Reverend James Schwarzlose officiating, assisted by Reverend Wade Washburn. Burial followed at Woodbury City Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Stan Waller, Guy Dawson, Jimmy Evans, Bobby Russell, Jimmy Poulson, Sammy Phillips, Mike Reynolds and Bruce Smith. Honorary pallbearers were Huel Brown, Dan Stribling, Willis Eppinger, A. T. Stephens, Johnny Barker, Alfred Mosley and Charles Lovvorn.

Mrs. Seay was born April 6, 1926 in Meriwether County, daughter of the late James Larkey Pearson and the late Nannie Brown Pearson. She was retired from Nabisco Co., Laboratory Dept. and was a member of Jones Chapel.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Hilda Waller and Ken Waller of Baton Rouge; one grandson, Robert Nelson Waller of Dallas, Georgia; one granddaughter, Kasey Elizabeth Waller, also of Baton Rouge; one great granddaughter, Hailey Madison Waller; one sister, Lila Evans in Woodbury. Mrs. Seay was predeceased by her husband, Johnnie "Buck" Seay.

Smith-Steele-Meadows Funeral Home of Woodbury was in charge of arrangements.