William Lester Austin

June 28, 1928 - Feb. 22, 2013

Mr. William Lester Austin, age 84, passed away Friday, February 22, 2013, in Spalding Regional Hospital.

Mr. Austin was born in Winder, GA, on June 21, 1928, to the late Henry Grady and Sunie Ledbetter Austin. He was a retired dispatcher from Transus and a veteran of the United States Navy.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Austin was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn Steed Austin.

Survivors include son and daughter in law, Wayne and Ginger Austin of Jonesboro, daughter and son in law, Vickie and Mike McKneely of Griffin, daughter Belinda Bone of McDonough; two sisters, Joy Worley of Winder and Betty Ewing of Grayson. Other survivors include seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. William Lester Austin will be conducted on Monday February 25, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Haisten McCullough Funeral Home. Rev. Tom Daugherty and Rev. Nelson Grist will officiate. Interment will follow in Westwood Gardens. The family will receive friends on Sunday February 24, 2013, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be directed to Orchard Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 205 Swint Road, Orchard Hill, GA 30266. To pay condolences online to the family, please do so at www.haistenmccullough.com.

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

William Eugene “Gene” Miller

Died Feb. 22, 2013

William Eugene “Gene” Miller, age 82 of Jonesboro, formerly of Griffin, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2013, in Doctor’s Hospice of Riverdale after a two-year battle of lymphoma.

He was born in Griffin, GA, son of the late Lenwood R. and Lovie Hays Miller. Mr. Miller served his country in the U.S. Navy. He later received his A.A. degree from St. Bernard College, B.A. from the University of Georgia and his Master’s Degree from Emory University. Mr. Miller was an educator and librarian at Jonesboro Junior High School for thirty-five years. He was an organist and longtime parishioner at St. Philip Benize Catholic Church in Jonesboro.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Horace Miller, Lawrence Miller and Lenwood Miller; sisters, Dorothy McCowell and Lovie Bishop; sisters in law, Helen R. Miller and Sue K. Miller; brothers in law, Edward Bishop and Frank McCowell.

Survivors include his sister and brother-in-law Ann and Monty Roberts of Knoxville, TN; sisters-in-law, Mary Miller of Griffin and Mildred Miller of Barnesville as well as fifteen nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends also survive.

Graveside services for Mr. William Eugene “Gene” Miller will be conducted on Monday February 25, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the old section of Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro. Father John Koziol and Father Michael Kolodziet will officiate.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be directed to the Organ Fund of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, 591, Flint River Road, Jonesboro, GA 30238. To pay condolences online to the family, please do so at www.haistenmccullough.com.

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

Mr. Rufus Gillian Akins

Oct. 7, 1917 - Feb. 22, 2013

Mr. Rufus Gillian Akins, age 95, passed away on Friday, February 22, 2013 at Westbury Medical Care Home.

Mr. Akins was the son of the late Seaborn Lumpkin Akins and the late Sallie Belle Willis Akins. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having honorably served during World War II in the South Pacific Campaign. Mr. Akins had been self-employed in the farming business for most of his life. He is predeceased by sisters, Alma Akins, Pearl Crowley, Melba Thomas, Edna Payne, Sarah English and Carolyn Bunn; brothers, Haskell Akins, Herbert Akins, Allen Akins, Olen Akins and Franklin Akins.

Survivors include a sister, Alice Sauls; sister-in-law, Lorene Akins; brother-in-law, Millard English; 27 nieces and nephews and numerous others.

Visitation for Mr. Rufus Gillian Akins will be Tuesday, February 26, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow visitation at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Liberty Hill Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.

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

Mrs. Glenda Kay Williams

April 6, 1949 – Feb. 22, 2013



Mrs. Glenda Kay Williams, age 63, Milner, Georgia, passed away Friday, February 22, 2013 at Southern Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Williams was born in Senoia, Georgia, on April 6, 1949. She is preceded in death by her parents, Troy Lee Chambers and Bertha Mae Crook Chambers. Mrs. Williams had been employed by Chick-Fil-A for 16 years.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Williams; children, Mike Williams and his wife, Stephanie, April Bowers and her husband, Ian,; grandchild, Caspian Bowers; brothers, Gary Chambers and his wife, Vicki, Lennis Chambers and his wife, Sandra; sisters, Joann Wheeler, Angie Collins and her husband, Jimmy; several nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Glenda Kay Williams will be on Monday, February 25, 2013 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

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

Mrs. Nellie Leola Smith

Oct. 2, 1915 – Feb. 23, 2013



Mrs. Nellie Leola Smith, age 97, Griffin, Georgia passed away Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Westbury Medical Care Home.

Mrs. Smith was born in Cleburn County, Alabama on October 2, 1915. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lemual Jackson Thompson and Zella Barker Thompson, her husband Lewis Smith. Mrs. Smith worked as a slubber at Crompton-Highland Mill for 35 years. She was a member of Grace Fellowship Church.

Survivors include her sons, Donald Clay and his wife, Bernice, Doug Smith, Durward Smith and his wife, Dianne, daughters, Dianne Walker, Dorothy Geary, 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Hoyt Thompson; sister, Gladys Gillstrap; sister-in-law, Mary Thompson.

Visitation for Mrs. Nellie Leola Smith will be on Sunday, February 24, 2013 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, February 25, 2013 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Reverend Chris Pitts will officiate. Interment will follow in Westwood Gardens.

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

Mrs. Lucile C. Carden, age 94 of Griffin, passed away on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Brightmoor Hospice. Funeral plans and survivors will be announced. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, is in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, age 66 of Griffin, passed away Tuesday February 19, 2013, at her residence. A private family service will be held at a later date. Services by Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, 770-229-4994. www.haistenmccullough.com.

Mrs. Martha Loveland, age 84 of Griffin, passed away Tuesday February 19, 2013, at Westbury Health and Rehab Center of McDonough. A private family service will be held at a later date. Services by Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, 770-229-4994. www.haistenmccullough.com.

Mrs. Mary Frances Collins Vinning, age 93 of Jackson, formerly of Griffin, passed away Friday February 22, 2013, at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted today, Sunday, February 24, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Haisten McCullough Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Griffin Memorial Gardens. Services by Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, 770-229-4994. www.haistenmccullough.com.

Mrs. Willie Mae Warner, age 93, of 790 Vaughn Road in Griffin, passed Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at the Brightmoor Nursing Home. Funeral service for Mrs. Warner will be conducted Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, at Corinth Baptist Church in Rover, Georgia, at 1 p.m., with Pastor John Adams officiating. Interment will follow in Fairfield CME Church Cemetery. Public viewing will be held Monday at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Her remains will lie instate at the church one hour prior to service. The cortege will assemble at t he funeral home at 12 p.m. Sympathetic service rendered by McDowell’s Funeral Home, Inc., 305 N. Hill St. www.mcdowellfuneralhome.org.

Mr. James Lamar Butler, age 77, passed away on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, in a Griffin health care facility. Funeral services for Mr. James Lamar Butler will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, from the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lamar Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Williams Funeral Home on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Those who wish may view the memorial page and sign the guestbook online at www.williamsfh.net. Williams Funeral Home of Barnesville is in charge of arrangements. 770-358-1678.