Mr. Steven Sherman Lee

Sept. 10, 1949—Dec. 12, 2012

Hampton resident

Mr. Steven Sherman Lee, 63, of Hampton, passed away Dec. 12, 2012.

Mr. Lee was born in Three Forks, Mont. on Sept. 10, 1949. He is preceded in death by his parents Sherman and Marie Lee. Mr. Lee graduated from Winona High School, Winona, Minn. in 1967 where he lettered in baseball, football, and basketball. He attended Arizona State University on a baseball scholarship.

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force as well as the Navy and served in Vietnam. Mr. Lee had a 30-year career with the US Postal service in Atlanta.

He was a member of McDonough Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary (Mimi) Lee; sons, Robert Parker (Emily) and Charles Parker; grandchildren, Benjamin Parker and Thomas Parker; sister, Vickie Gannon; Chippewa Falls, Wis.; brothers, Donald (Janice) of San Antonio, Texas, and Kirk (Michelle) Sioux Falls, S.D., along with several nephews and a niece.

Visitation for Mr. Steven Lee will be on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 from 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. at McDonough Presbyterian Church, 427 McGarity Road, McDonough, GA 30252. Following the visitation, a memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Pastor Olin McBride will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kindness Fund, McDonough Presbyterian Church, 427 McGarity Road, McDonough, GA 30252.

SouthCare Cremation and Funeral Society, Stockbridge. 770-692-1181

Mrs. Helen Whatley

Oct. 1, 1923—Dec. 16, 2012

Griffin resident

Mrs. Helen Pitts Whatley, 89, passed away Dec.16, 2012 at Brightmoor Nursing Home. She was born in Zebulon to the late William and Mamie Pitts. She lived her entire life in the Pike County area. She and her husband opened Griffin Refrigeration Company in 1948 and worked together for 57 years. Mrs. Whatley was a long-time member of Southside Baptist Church in Griffin. In her younger years, she was active in the Elks Auxiliary.She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Jamie Whatley, and six brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Diane Whatley of Pike County; grandchildren, Melissa Whatley of Bloomington, Ind. and Mark Whatley of Pike County.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m., in the chapel of Moody-Daniel Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Love Grows, P.O. Box 2080, Huntersville, NC 28070 to benefit The Royal School in Uganda, Africa.

Moody-Daniel Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Joe Pershing Petree

May 14, 1920—Dec. 16, 2012

Griffin resident

Mr. Joe Pershing Petree, formerly of Jacksonville, Florida and most recently residing in Griffin, Georgia, in Seasons at The Woods Assisted Living, passed away on December 16, 2012 in Griffin, Georgia. He was born in Rural Hall, Forsyth County, North Carolina, May14, 1920 to Marshall Abner and Beulah Eltha Huffman Petree. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years Annie Mae Dalton Petree, brother, John William Petree, Sr., and sisters, Margaret Louise Petree Gibson, Mary Frances Petree Scroggs, Beulah Rachel Petree Forcum, Dorothy Juanita Petree, Doris Otillia Petree and infant Helen Maude Petree.

Joe was born into a tobacco farming family and worked on their farm until moving to Jacksonville, Florida to marry Annie Mae on February 8, 1954. He became a carpenter and cabinetmaker and was employed by local Jacksonville shipyards. His interests, especially after retirement, were traveling, art classes and playing the piano. He also enjoyed attending Bible classes several times a week with Annie Mae and after class, socializing with fellow members at a local restaurant. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church of Jacksonville.

He is survived by five nieces, Katherine Scroggs Stewart of Fayetteville, Georgia, Sarah Scroggs Freeman and husband, William of Griffin, Georgia, Rebecca Forcum Laws of Swansboro, North Carolina, Julia Petree Bailey and husband, Paul of Tobaccoville, North Carolina and Brenda Pelkey Carter of Rural Hall, North Carolina; six nephews, Frank Gibson and wife, Wanda of Durham, North Carolina, Charles Gibson and wife, Leslie of Port Orange, Florida, James Forcum and wife, Susan of Raleigh, North Carolina, Robert Forcum and wife, Linda of Holly Springs, North Carolina, John William Petree, Jr. and wife, Angela of Rural Hall, North Carolina, David Petree and wife, Sharon Speas of Greensboro, North Carolina; 8 great-nieces, 7 great-great nieces, 12 great-nephews and 9 great-great nephews.

The family would like to express its thanks for the love, care and devotion that Mr. Petree received from Seasons’ staff, especially Ms. Lovon Edwards, Ms. Brenda Braswell, Ms. Cathy Hamby, who cared for him from his first day in Seasons until his death and treated him as one of their own; and Ms. Linda Stinson, Ms. Susie Reid, Ms. Teresa Favors and Ms. Violet Lawrence. No one could ask for more than the entire Seasons staff gave. We will always treasure the friendships of the Seasons residents’ families who became extended family to us.

We would also like to thank the staff at Brightmoor Hospice for their kindnesses and attention to Joe, especially Ms. Mason Erickson, his Hospice Nurse for the last three years. Her prayers, kindnesses and reassurances to Katherine and Sarah during times of concern and grave illnesses will always be remembered with great appreciation and gratitude.

Graveside services for Mr. Joe Pershing Petree will be held Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Jefferson Church of Christ Cemetery in Rural Hall, North Carolina. Those desiring may make contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 3550, Atlanta, Georgia 30346 in memory of Mr. Petree.

Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, Griffin, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. http://www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com

Mr. Sheddrick Lavar Bama

Oct. 12, 1977—Dec. 13, 2012

Hampton resident

Mr. Sheddrick Lavar Bama, age 35 of Hampton, passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Southern Regional Hospital in Riverdale, Georgia.

Mr. Bama was born in Griffin, Georgia on October 12, 1977. He was employed by the Griffin-Spalding County School System as a network administrator.

Survivors include his wife, Ayisha Bama; son, Zachery; daughter, Zaria ; father and mother, Willie and Linda Bama; mother-in-law, Sandra Zachery; brother and sister-in-law, Freddrick and Rachael Bama; niece, April; nephew, Joshua; grandparents, Elgene and Dorothy Gilbert; uncles and aunts, Jimmy and Tina Whitner, Freddie and Deborah Gilbert, Geraldine Thomas; and a host of family and friends.

Visitation for Mr. Sheddrick Lavar Bama will be on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 12:00pm in the Chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Pastor Willie Hinton will officiate. Interment will follow in Griffin Memorial Gardens. Mr. Bama will lie-in-state from 11:00am until the hour of service.

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

DEATH NOTICES

Ms. Meshanda Raglan, 23, of 334 Elizabeth Lane, Griffin, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at Southern Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by McDowell’s Funeral Home, Inc., 305 N. Hill St., Griffin.

Mrs. Eloise B. Dorsey, 82, of Barnesville, died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 in an Upson County health-care facility. Funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 from the chapel of Williams Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Lamar Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends at Williams Funeral Home on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 from noon until the service hour. Williams Funeral Home of Barnesville is in charge arrangements. www.williamsfh.net, 770-358-1678.

Mr. Donny Hughes, 54, of Hampton, died at the Henry Medical Center. Survivors and funeral arrangements will be announced. Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155 Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Leila Mae Rawsaw passed Dec. 13, 2012 in Atlanta. Funeral is Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, 11 a.m. in the Murray Brothers Funeral Home-Cascade Chapel. Interment will be at Mt. Harmony Cemetery in Mableton. Family and friends are asked to assemble at Murray Brothers at 10:30 a.m. on the day of service. Viewing will be Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Murray Brothers, 1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW, Atlanta. 404-349-3000, mbfh.com

Funeral services for Mr. Willie C. Stubbs will be Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 at Miller’s Family Mortuary Chapel at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Miller’s Famly Mortuary, 332 E. Chappell St., Griffin. 770-228-4077.