Bill M. Whatley

March 15, 1934—Jan. 7, 2013



Bill M. Whatley, 78, passed away Monday, Jan.7, 2013, from respiratory failure in Lakeland. He was born March 15, 1934, in Griffin.

He was the son of the late Sam and Lucille (Dunn) Whatley.

Mr. Whatley was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the 101st Airborne Division. He worked as a funeral home attendant for Pittman and Rawls Funeral Home in Griffin for several years.

He moved to Bartow, Fla., in 1960. Mr. Whatley worked and served his community in many different ways. He was a former member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Bartow First Baptist Church. He also served in the same capacities at the A.R.P. Church of Bartow. Mr. Whatley was past president of the Bartow Lions Club, Bartow High School Athletic Booster Club, and the Bartow Jaycees. He served on the Polk County Health Board for 25 years and was past chairman of the Polk County Zoning Board, Bartow City Commission. He was a proud member of the Republican Party of Polk County. Mr. Whatley previously worked as a sales representative for Nabisco, White’s Men Shop, Till’s Office Equipment, and George Stewart Office Equipment. He owned and operated Whatley’s Pipe and Page in Bartow. He also was an administrator in the Polk County school system. Mr. Whatley was also involved in Polk County prison ministry and education programs.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by two brothers, Esrick and Kenneth Whatley.

He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife of 28 years, Elizabeth (Seay) Whatley of Bartow; three daughters, Dianne Pueschell (Tommy Sr.) of Lakeland, Donna Whatley of Lakeland, Denise Hord of Okeechobee; a stepson, John Maddox of Alturas; a sister, Barbara Ponsela of Griffin; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, where the family will receive friends Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will follow Thursday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 205 E. Stanford St. in Bartow. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be made to the family at http://www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com/



Mrs. Jean Reece

Jan. 16, 1934—Jan. 7, 2013

Griffin resident



Mrs. Carrie Jean Reece, 78, of Griffin, passed away on January 7, 2013 at Southern Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Reece was born on January 16, 1934 in Marietta, Georgia. She is preceded in death by her parents James Moore Black and Gladys Delware Black, Husband Benjamin Clarence Reece, Sr., sons, Billy Reece, Junior Reece, Neil Davenport. Mrs. Reece formerly owned and operated the Reece’s Farmers Market. She was a member of Rock Springs Church.

Survivors include daughters, Marcy Reece, Becky and Bo Rogers, Debbie and Mark Ledford, Cathy and Roy Pack; daughter-in-law, Cathy Reece; grandchildren, Jamie Reece, Jenna Rogers, Justin Rogers, Matt Reece and his wife Brooke, Cliff Reece, Deanna Wimberly, Jessica Goodman and husband, David, Ben Reece and wife, Kristen, Tanya Pack and Robert Pack; sister, Joyce Milam; brothers, Verlon Black and Marcus Phillips; special friends, Susan Carney, Marilyn Jones, Kim Cotter; several nieces and nephews. Visitation for Mrs. Carrie Jean Reece will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Westwood Gardens.

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



Mrs. Farzanna McCord

Died Jan. 6, 2013

Griffin resident



Mrs. Farzanna McCord, 58, of 1109 Green Valley Road, Griffin, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 6. The family may be contacted at her residence.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 10 at 1:30 p.m. from the Mount Zion Baptist Church at 321 E. Taylor St., Griffin. Interment will follow in the Westwood Gardens at 1155 Everee Inn Road, Griffin. The Rev. Cleopatrick Lacy is pastor and the Rev. Eddie Johnson Sr. will be the eulogist. Bentley’s Funeral Home of Thomaston is in charge of all professional services.

Mrs. McCord is survived by five children, Terrencia Neal (Robert), of Zebulon, Haniyyah Allen (Mextier), Tiffany McCord, Rodney McCord (MeQuanta) and Joseph Blalock, all of Griffin; seven grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Lucy Yarbrough, of Fayetteville, Harriet Hollis (Charles), Bernice Phinazee Alexander, Stanley Phinazee and Darrell Phinazee, all of Zebulon; Helen Crowder and Melissa Britt, of Griffin, the Rev. Terry Harper, of Barnesville; devoted nieces and nephews, DeWanda Britt, Wayne Dixon, Anthony Pate and Michelle Pate, all of Zebulon; and a host of other relatives and friends that will miss her dearly.



DEATH NOTICES



Ms. Barbara L. Watts, 53, of 528 E. McIntosh Road, Griffin, died Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at Spalding Regional Hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced by McDowell’s Funeral Home Inc., 305 N. Hill St., Griffin.

Mr. Arthur Eugene Keebler, 86, of Griffin, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at the Westbury Medical Care Home in Jackson. Funeral services will be today at 2 p.m. at East Griffin Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, is in charge of arrangements. www.haistenmccullough.com.

Little Miss Joselle Evannah Williams, 2, of Hampton, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2013, at Southern Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Hampton Heights Fellowship Church. Interment will follow in Westwood Gardens. Friends may visit the family on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Road, is in charge of arrangements. www.haistenmccullough.com.

Mrs. Barbara P. Bailey, 74, of Griffin, died on Jan. 7, 2013, at Brightmoor Nursing Center. Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will be in Senoia City Cemetery. Friends may visit the family following the service. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, was in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Edna M. Pate, 88, of Griffin, died on Jan. 6, 2013, at Brightmoor Nursing Care facility. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Wildwood Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Wildwood Baptist Church Cemetery. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, was in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Lynn Scott Dickey, 66, of Griffin, died on Jan. 7, 2013, at Brightmoor Hospice. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at Providence Cemetery, Batesville. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mr. Tillman Grant “Doc” Ellis, 83, of Griffin, died on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at Spalding Regional Hospital. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Following the visitation funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lamar Memory Gardens with full military honors. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Nina Frances Singletary, 91, of Juliette, formerly of Griffin, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at Heritage Healthcare in Forsyth. Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, in the new section of Oak Hill Cemetery. Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home by 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, was in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Tommie Lee “Ma Tump” Colquitt, 85, of Meansville, died on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at Spalding Regional Hospital. Services will be announced. Community Funeral Home of Pike is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. J. Ralph Akins died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at the age of 87. Friends may visit the family between 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. A memorial service will be conducted at First Baptist Church, Griffin, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013. Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, is in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.