OBITUARIES



Mr. J. Ralph Akins

Feb. 17, 1925 - Jan. 8, 2013

Mr. J. Ralph Akins passed away Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at the age of 87. He was born in Bulloch County, Georgia, Feb.17, 1925, to the late Lewis A. and Manona Brannen Akins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Gladys Bowdoin Akins, in January 2012, and his brothers Harold M. Akins, L. Lamar Akins, William B. Akins, and his sister Mary Sue Akins.

He attended Gordon Military College in Barnesville, Ga., until he was called into active military service in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until December 1945, spending about one year of service in France, Belgium and Germany until the war ended in Europe.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Griffin, Kiwanis of Griffin, and the Griffin Area Habitat for Humanity. He was honored by the Griffin Exchange Club as Man of the Year in 2005.

On Jan. 1, 1946, he and his brothers, Harold and Lamar, who were also WWII veterans, each purchased a 25 percent ownership from their father in Akins Feed & Seed Co. in Barnesville. Later they opened branches of the business in Thomaston (1949) and Griffin (1953). The Thomaston Location was later sold, and the Barnesville and Griffin locations are now operated by third and fourth generations of the Akins family. They have been dealers for Ralston-Purina Co. (now Purina Mills) since 1949 and for Snapper Lawn Equipment for about 50 years.

He is survived by his daughters Cheryl (Jim) Matlock and Betty Anne (Billy) Avery and grandchildren Derek (Cathy) George, Jamie (Dana) Matlock, Jill (Stan) Matlock-Carter, Amelia George Alexander. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Chance Matlock-Carter, Jon Elliot Matlock-Carter, Westley Matlock-Carter, Austin Matlock, Bryce Matlock and Chloe Renei George. Mr. Akins also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who enriched his life including his caregivers, Teasa Crawford, Milicent Crawford, Jane Smith, Joyce Cleveland, Adesia Cloud, Patty Harris and Sarina Favors.

Memorial service will be conducted at First Baptist Church, Griffin, on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at 2 p.m. Dr. Bill Hardee will officiate. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Akins requested donations be made to First Baptist Church of Griffin, P.O. Box 908, Griffin, GA 30224, The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 or the Griffin Area Habitat of Humanity, 1386 Carver Road, Griffin, GA 30223.

Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements, www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.



Mr. Noah Leon Chalkley

Died Jan. 10, 2013

Mr. Noah Leon Chalkley, of Fayetteville, passed away on Jan. 10, 2013, at the age of 55. Noah was a kind, compassionate man with a big heart, who loved people and would greet you with a huge smile. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church, north campus where he was a long time teacher of the youth group. Noah was an employee of Stahl Industries and a coach of the junior varsity basketball at Whitewater High School. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Susan Chalkley; daughter Jessica Chalkley; and son Tommy Chalkley of Fayetteville; sisters Ann Ladd of Hogansville and Sherry Hill and husband Tim of Danielsville; nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2013 at 2:00PM at the New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus with Reverend Hugh Kirby, officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Memorial Park, Fayetteville. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville. Those desiring may make donations to the Noah Chalkley’s Scholarship Fund at Wells Fargo Bank. The funds will be used for scholarships for Whitewater High School athletes.

Mowell Funeral Home, 180 N. Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Ga., is in charge of arrangements, www.mowellfuneralhome.com, 770-461-7641.



Mrs. Jessie Stewart

Dec. 20, 1923 – Jan. 12, 2013

Mrs. Jessie Kimble Stewart, age 89, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at Brightmoor Medical Center.

Mrs. Stewart was born in Allen County, Ohio, on Dec. 20, 1923. She is preceded in death by parents, Elra Kimble and Mary Nichols Kimble; her husband, John Stewart. Her ministry was teaching piano in Ohio, Louisiana and Georgia from 1950 until her health declined. She was a member of several gardens club in Louisiana and Ohio. Mrs. Stewart was a member of Griffin Alliance Church and was also a sales representative with Avon.

Survivors include son, James Stewart and wife, Glenna of Griffin; grandchildren, James Stewart Jr., and wife, Meredith of Massachusetts, Sarah Quick and husband, Johnny, and Andrew Stewart all of Georgia; great grandchildren, Alexandria Rose Quick, Johnny Walter Quick III, Jeremiah Stewart, Isaac Stewart; sister, Eleanor Baxter of Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Jessie K. Stewart will be on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, from 5 until 7 p.m., at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Following the visitation, a memorial service will be conducted in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Marty Poulin will officiate.

Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, was in charge of arrangements, www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.



Mr. Joshua Brandon Lively

Oct. 28, 1995 – Jan. 10, 2013

Williamson resident

Mr. Joshua Brandon Lively, age 17 of Williamson, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Atlanta Medical Center. He was born in Fulton County, on Oct. 28, 1995, to Amy S. Johnson. Josh was an excellent student and attended Pike County High School, and was a member of the class of 2014. Josh attended Christ Chapel Community Church in Zebulon as well as Oak Hill Baptist Church in Griffin. He was active in the youth groups at both churches. Josh is preceded in death by his great grandparents Buddy and Mildred Savage, Nannie M. Buchanan, and Robert M. Smith.

He is survived by his mother Amy S. Johnson of Williamson; grandparents Phillip and Sue Smith of LaGrange; uncle and aunt Phillip Smith and Amber Klein of Atlanta; aunt Sandy Seigler of McDonough; cousin Allie Seigler of Conyers; numerous second cousins; and lastly, a multitude of friends that he considered his brothers and sisters. In his last selfless act, Josh is saving multiple lives through organ donation.

Funeral service for Mr. Joshua Brandon Lively will be conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Moody-Daniel Funeral Home. Pastors Billy Smith and Clay Chasteen will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, 797 Memorial Drive, Griffin. Friends may visit the family on Monday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Moody-Daniel Funeral Home, 10170 Hwy. 19 N. Zebulon Road, Zebulon, is in charge of the arrangements. www.moodydaniel.com.



Mrs. Elaine Fox Schaffer

April 23, 1947 – Jan. 11, 2013

Senoia resident

Mrs. Elaine Fox Schaffer age 65 of Senoia, passed away Friday Jan. 11, 2013, in Piedmont-Newnan Hospital.

She was born in Griffin, April 23, 1947, to the late Thomas A. and Emily M. Fox. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Schaffer was also preceded in death by her husband, Mack Schaffer. She was a registered nurse with Care South.

Survivors include her son, Hal Schaffer of Senoia; daughter, Heather Van Devender and husband Ben also of Senoia; granddaughter, Emily Hope Van Devender; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Louise and Gene Turner, George and Roxanne Schaffer all of Barnesville and Susan S. Pass of McDonough.

Funeral services for Mrs. Elaine Fox Schaffer will be conducted on Tuesday, Jan, 15, 2013, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Haisten McCullough Funeral Home. Brother Winston Skinner will officiate. Interment will follow in Senoia City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. To pay condolences online to the family, please do so at www.haistenmccullough.com.

The Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements.



DEATH NOTICES

Mrs. Vivian Nichols Turner, age 91 passed away on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Christian Ministries Hospice.

Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Rev. Ed Lynch will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, was in charge of arrangements. Www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Virginia Louise Haynie Brannon, age 75, passed away on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Tranquility Hospice.

Visitation for Mrs. Virginia Brannon will be on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, from 4 until 6 p.m., at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin was in charge of arrangements, www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Stanley C. Watson, age 73 of Griffin, passed away Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. at his residence. Funeral services will be held today, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church. Dr. David Hill and Dr. S. Ed Hoard will officiate. Interment will follow at the Smyrna Baptist Church in Pike County. The Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Joan Marie DelHomme Montgomery, age 81 of Griffin, passed away Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. in Brightmoor Hospice. Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Haisten McCullough Funeral Home. Rev. Earl Stewart will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday one hour prior to the service. The Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Leroy Spriggs passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2013. A complete list of survivors and service arrangements will be announced later. The Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements.