Obituaries

   Earnestine Fortner, 76, died Tuesday, August 10, 2010 in the Southeast  Alabama Medical Center. The funeral will be Friday morning , August 13, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. in the Blakely Assembly of God Church with Rev. Dale Hodges officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 until 8 Pm at the funeral home.

   Mrs. Fortner was born September 22, 1933 in Iron City, Ga. to the late Earnest Brockett and Beatrice Key Brockett. She was a member of the Blakely Assembly of God Church and a retired bookkeeper for the Early County Middle School.

   Her survivors include her husband, John E. Fortner of Blakely, Ga., 3 sons, Aubrey Fortner & Lavonia of Plant City, Fl., Michael Fortner of Blakely, Ga. and Clifford Fortner of Phoenix, Arizona. She also has 3 sisters, Betty Shaw of Mobile, Al., Lois Shipley & David of Mexico Beach, Fl. and Josephine Odom of Bainbridge, Ga. and 2 brothers, Jimmy Brockett & B.J. of Mobile, Al. and Winston Brockett of Titusville, Fl. There are also 6 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.

Mr. Hodges, 77, died Sunday, August 8, 2010 at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Al. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 2 PM at the Colomokee Baptist Church. Visitation will be Monday night from 6-8 PM at the funeral home.

Mr. Hodges was born June 8, 1933 to the late Kenneth Jesse Hodges and Eloise Harris Hodges.He was a member of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church  the American Legion and VFW. He served in the U.S. Marines ; Korean Conflict.

He is survived by his wife; Barbara Balkcom Hodges; 2 Daughters, Marcie Justice and Kim and Rocky Freeman – Both of Blakely; 1 Son: Walt Hodges of Panama City Beach, Fl. 3 Sisters: Kay Gutherie and husband Sammy of Eatonton, Ga;  Charlotte Smith of Conyers, Ga. and Laura Stucksbury and husband Ray of Haysville, NC  4 Grandsons and 1 Great-Granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wiregrass Hospice, 432 E. Shotwell, St. Bainbridge, Ga. 39819

Mr. McFay, 72, died Friday, August 6, 2010 at the Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Ga. The funeral service will be held Monday, August 9, 2010 at 11 AM in the chapel of Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home with interment to follow in the Blakely Cemetery. Rev. Fred Odom officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home , Monday from 10 AM to 11 AM, one hour before funeral. Pallbearers will be Shannon Beaver, Allen McFay, David McFay, Jeffrey McFay, Michael McFay & John Paul Powell.

Mr. McFay was born May 6, 1938 to the late Boyd McFay and Naomi Gilley McFay. He was a retired farmer and carpenter and a member of Vincent Methodist Church in Bluffton, Ga.

He is survived by a son ; Greg McFay and wife Terri of Colquitt, 2 Grandchildren, Leigh and Lacie Bond McFay of Colquitt; 2 Sisters, Adele Powell of Pensacola, Fl. and Sylvia Shawver and husband Steve of Bartley, Tn. His extended family includes Mary Stuart, Rose Price and Mike & Ann Boyd.

   John Millard Still, 76, died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010 at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Al. following a lenghthy illness. The funerall will be held Monday, August 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM in the Zion Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. William Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Sowhatchee Cemetery. Visitation will be in the Church Social Hall from 1PM until funeral time at 2 PM Monday. Pallbearers will be Michael Conner, Wes Fincher, John Alexander, Fletcher Thompson, Judson Herrington, Mac Cox, Cannon Moseley and Brent Alderman.

   Mr. Still was born May 28, 1934 in Blakely, Ga. to the late Millard Filmore Still and Ruby Oxford Still. He was a member of Zion Freewill Baptist Church and was retired from the business office of the old Georgia Telephone Corp.

   His survivors include his wife, Janis Barrentine Still of Blakely, 3 daughters, Stephanie S. Whitehead and Jim, Melanie S. Alexander and Mickey and Teresa S. Hattaway and Jim- all of Blakley, Ga. He has 1 brother, Jimmy O. Still and Cynthia from Eatonton, Ga. and 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

    Mrs. Doris M. Balkcom, 90, died Friday, July 30, 2010 in Snellville, Ga. following a lengthy illness. The funeral will be held Saturday, August 7, 201 0 at 2:00 P. M. in the First Baptist Church of Blakely, Ga. with Rev. Jim Crutchfield officiating. Burial will follow in the Blakely Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening, August 6, 2010 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Joshua Balkcom, Adam Balkcom, David Balkcom, Garrett Balkcom, David McLeroy, Dan McLeroy, Jr., Robin McLeroy and Steve McLeroy.

   Mrs. Balkcom was born July 1, 1920 in Roopville, Ga. to the late Henry McLeroy and Velma Steed McLeroy. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edward Balkcom, Sr. and 3 brothers, Kenneth, Hugh and Dan McLeroy. She was a registered nurse, having received her degree from Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Ga. She attended Peabody College for post graduate work in Public Health Nursing and had her internship in the Public Health Department of Alpharetta, Ga. She was employed as Public Health Nurse in Stewart County, Ga. where she met and married Ed Balkcom. After coming to Blakely, she was associated with Holland Hospital, Great Southern Paper Mill, Calhoun County Hospital and also did a great deal of private duty nursing prior to being employed in 1964 by Early Memorial Hospital. She was Director of Nursing at Early Memorial Hospital in Blakely from 1966 until her retirement in 1980. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Blakely and a member of Chapter # 282, Order of the Eastern Star, a charter member of the Georgia Society of Nursing Service Administrators and served on the By-Laws Committee and the Southwest Georgia Society of Nursing Service Administrators. She was also a member of the American, State and District Nurses Associations.  After retirement from the hospital, she and Mr. Ed enjoyed camping with their many friends.

   Her survivors include 3 sons: R. Edward Balkcom, Jr. & Carrie of Denver, CO., Mac Balkcom & Taunja of Snellville, Ga. and Dr. Jimmy Balkcom & Paula of Grayson, Ga. She also has a sister-in-law, Mary Anne Harper McLeroy of Sarasota, Fl. and 5 grandchildren; Joshua Balkcom and his wife Jaki, Rebekah Balkcom, Adam Balkcom, Garrett Balkcom and David Balkcom.

   Mrs. Sarah Bridges Thompson, 91, died Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Calhoun Nursing Home in Edison, Ga. The funeral will be held Friday morning, July 30, 2010 in the Morgan Baptist Church, Morgan, Ga. with Rev. Andy Glover officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 A. M. and b e held up until funeral time at 10 A. M. The Graveside Service will be at 4:00 P. M. in the Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Dr., S. W., Atlanta, Ga. 30310.

   Mrs. Thompson was born August 10, 1918 in Morgan, Ga. to the late W. H. Bridges and Hulda Nix Bridges. She was a member of the East Point First Baptist Church of East Point, Ga. She was a retired accounting clerk for the L. A. Mosher, Co., a Veterinary Medicine Supply Co.

   Her survivors include 1 sister: Melba B. Becton of Edison, Ga.; 3 nieces: Landra B. Lane & Donna McNair- both of Edison, Ga. and Brenda B. Long of Albany, Ga.; 2 nephews: Harmon B. Oakes of Albany, Ga. and Reginald Oakes of Brunswick, Ga. She was preceded in death by, other than her parents, 2 brothers: Charlie Louis B ridges and Reuben Cole Bridges, a sister: Margaret Oakes Weaver and by a nephew, Lewis Bridges.

   In lieu of flowers, please send contibutions to the American Cancer Society, South Atlantic Division, P. O. Box 1201, Albany, Ga. 31702.

   George Carey “Grody” Knight, 60, of Blakely, Ga., died July 27, 2010 at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Al. The funeral will be held Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 11:00 A. M. in the Chapel of Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home, Inc. with Rev. Andy Glover officiating. Burial will follow in the Centerville Methodist Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be members of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael knight, Scott Sumner, Gerald Stubbs, Tony Etheridge and Shange Morgan.

   Mr. Knight was born September 25, 1949 in Donalsonville, Ga. to the late Myrtice Buckhalter Johnson and his step-father Billy Johnson. He was of the Baptist Faith and was  retired Civil Service from the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany. He was a Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Other than his mother and step-father, he was preceded in death by his only daughter, Dana Maria Knight Norris.

   His survivors include his wife, Judy Gowan Knight of Blakely, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Chuck & Gina Norris of Statesboro, Ga., a brother, Raymond Tilley of Albany, Ga. and 3 grandchildren, Caden Maddox Norris, Elizabeth Grace Norris and Rebecca Carey Norris, all of Statesboro, Ga. Other family members include Ollie Gowan, Janice and Walter Floyd, Jane Worthy, June & Don Kimbrell and several aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

   Belinda Wiley Gordon, 53, died Friday, July 23, 2010 in Blakely, Ga. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at 11:00 A.M. at the Zion Freewill Baptist Church. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 PM at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Brandon DeVaughn, Rocky Davis, Kelly Wiley, Jason Wiley, Brock Wiley and Shane Wiley.

   Ms. Gordan was born October 8, 1956 in Blakely, Ga. to the late Lester Ray Wiley, Jr. and Marlene Rentz of Blakely, Ga. She was a member of  Zion Freewill Baptist Church and a retired office clerk for Wasdin Construction Co.

  Her survivors, other than her Mother, are 2 sons: Nick Gordon of Blakely and Chris Gordon of Savannah, Ga.; 1 sister, Mary Jean DeVaughn of Blakely and 3 brothers; Emmett Wiley of Clearwater, Fl., Danny Ray Wiley of Blakely and Ronnie Wiley of Dayton, Ohio.

    Garrett Lanier Justice, 14, died Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, Al. His funeral will also be Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Richard Newton officiating. Pallbearers will be Chandler Sumner, Cody Giles, K.J. Wynn, Logan Bertrand, Brent Bowie , Jason Brackin and Antonio Jackson. Visitation will also be Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 PM in the Social Hall of First United Methodist Church.

   Garrett was born October 9, 1995 in Athens, Ga. to the late Matthew Lowell Justice and Amy Lyn Beggs Justice. He was a rising 9th grader at Early County High School and a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a sister, Emily Louise Justice of Blakely, his Paternal Grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Lowell Justice of Blakely, Ga.; his Maternal Grandparents, Michael and Lola Beggs of Tifton, Ga., his Maternal Great Grandmother, Doris McGill Jones of Tifton, Ga. and his Maternal Great Grandfather, William Jackson Causey of Musella, Ga.  He also has Uncles and Aunts: Jack and Anna Gail Justice of Macon and Brent and Maria Bowie of Athens, Ga.

   In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideon International P.O. Box 109 Blakely, Ga. 39823 or to the First United Methodist Church Kingdom Kida/Xtreme Children Ministry, P.O. Box 265, Blakely, Ga. 39823 or to the Emily Louise Justice Memorial Fund, First Sate Bank, P.O. 587, Blakely, Ga. 39823

   Amy Lyn Beggs Justice, 36, died Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Early Memorial Hospital ER. Her funeral will be Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Blakely, Ga., with Rev. Richard Newton officiating. Burial will follow in the Blakely Cemetery. Pallbearers will be  Brent, Bowie, Eddie McRay, Chuck Cowart, Brian Smith, Ronnie Wheeler, Keith Rhodes and Jeremy Jones.  Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 PM in the Social Hall of the First United Methodist Church.

   Amy was born July 22, 1973 in Tifton Ga. to Micheal Willis Beggs and Lola Jones Beggs of Tifton, Ga. She was a School Teacher at the Early County Elementary School and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Blakely.

   Survivors, other than her parents, are a daughter, Emily Louise Justice of Blakely, a sister, Maria Beggs Bowie & her husband Brent of Athens, Ga., her Maternal Grandmother, Doris McGill Jones of Tifton, Ga.

   In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Gideon International, P,O, Box 109, Blakely, Ga. 39823 or tjo the First United Methodist Church Kingdom Kida/Xtreme Children Ministry, P.O. Box 265, Blakely, Ga. 39823 or to Emily Louise Justice Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 587 Blakely, Ga. 39823