Obituaries
Albany Area

Martha Ford Abrams

ALBANY — Mrs. Martha Ford Abrams, 95 of Albany, GA formerly of Dadeville, AL died Tuesday August 5, 2008 at Palmyra Nursing Home in Albany, GA.

Her funeral service will be Friday, 11 AM at Langley Funeral Home in Camp Hill, AL with interment in Dadeville City Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 10 to 11 AM at Langley Funeral Home.

Born in Tallapoosa County, AL May 31, 1913 to James Irving Ford and Maude Peterson Ford she lived in Dadeville from 1936 to 2007 when she moved to Albany to be near family.

Survivors include her daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Ford Abrams Dean and her husband William Farrell Dean, Albany, GA; sister Mary Elizabeth MacNair and her husband Rev. Archibald L. MacNair, Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Nancy Elizabeth Ordway and fianc{‘e} Bob Bennett, Seattle, WA, John Philip Ordway and his wife Susanna Wong Ordway, San Ramon, CA, Frank Kneeland Ordway and his wife Rachel Akins, Bellingham, WA; great grandchildren, Natalie Hope and Chloe Elise Ordway, San Ramon, CA and Dylan Robert and Olivia Mary Ordway, Bellingham, WA and 8 nieces and nephews.

You may sign the guestbook and share your thoughts with the family of Mrs. Abrams by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Kimbrell-Stern
Albany 229/883-4152

Rosa Kennedy Crosby

ALBANY — Rosa Kennedy Crosby, 57, of Albany passed away Sunday, August 3 2008 at her home in Albany. Funeral Services will be conducted (today) Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 12:00 Noon in the chapel of Hall and Hall Funeral Home. The Revered Chris E. Turner will officiate with Interment to follow in the Leesburg Cemetery.

Hall & Hall Funeral Home
Albany 229/883-3864

Jonathan Fitzgerald Hamilton

ALBANY — Jonathan Fitzgerald Hamilton, 43, of Newport News, VA, died on July 28, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Promise Land Church of God in Christ. Elder Willie Dawson will officiate. Interment will follow in the Floral Memory Gardens.

Mr. Hamilton was born on April 29, 1965 in Dade County, FL. He attended Sougherty County School System.

Survivors include three sons, Kevin Jones, Jonathan Jones, and Michael Moses, all of Albany; one daughter, Tajah Hamilton, Virginia; five sisters, Tangy (Gregory) Wright, Carla Hall, Patricia (Victor) Mott, Benita Lockard all of Albany and Elizabeth Price of Atlanta; one brother Robert James (Lorraine) Smith, Jr., Atlanta; three aunts, Eloise Hall, Mary Gay Hamilton both of Albany and Elanor Britton, of Portmouth, VA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Elliot Funeral Home
Albany 229/436-3553

Shirley L. Holley

ALBANY — The funeral service of Shirley L. Holley, 66, of Leesburg, GA who died Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at her residence after an extended illness will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at Leesburg United Methodist Church. Rev. Mike Lyons will officiate. Interment will follow in Leesburg Cemetery.

A native of Worth County, GA, Ms. Holley was the daughter of, Paul and Leah Nelson and had resided in Leesburg for twenty five years. She was employed with Cash Mart Auto Sales and Title Pawn of Albany. She was an active member of Leesburg United Methodist Church and the New Life Sunday School Class. Ms. Holley was also a member of the Moose Club and enjoyed playing bingo.

Survivors include a daughter, Denise Watson and her husband, Eddie, two sons, Tim Krake and his wife, Beth and William (Billy) Krake all of Leesburg, GA and a daughter, Hayley Holley Hagan of Albany, GA, four grandsons, Timothy Krake of Festus, MO, Michael Paul Ruffin of Baton Rouge, LA, John Krake, USMC, Camp Lejeune, NC and Brady Brannon of Albany, GA, four granddaughters, Elizabeth Krake Hunter, Leesburg, GA and her husband, Scott, U.S. Army, Iraq, Christina Krake of Leesburg, GA, Alexandria Brannon of Leesburg, GA and Holly Hagan of Woodstock, GA, two great-grandchildren, Mattie and Jeffery Hunter both of Leesburg, GA, two brothers, Troy Nelson of Albany, GA and James Nelson and his wife, Mary of Gaines, MI, two sisters, Anita Pannell and her husband, Gordon Albany, GA and Jean Lewis and her husband, Robert of Americus, GA, a sister-in-law, Christine Nelson of Cordele, GA, numerous nephews and nieces, her and faithful companion, grand-dog, Romeo and two caring physicians, Dr. Charles Medenhall and Dr. Chirag Jani.

Ms. Holley was preceded in death by four brothers, Roger Nelson, Paul Nelson, Sammie Nelson and Billy Nelson.

The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Mathews Funeral Home.

The family will be at the residence of Eddie and Denise Watson, 1302 Smithville Road, Leesburg, GA 31763.

Those desiring may make donations to Leesburg United Methodist Church, 117 Starksville Ave., Leesburg, GA 31763.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Janet Lynn Murray

ALBANY — The funeral service of Janet Lynn Murray, 47, of Leesburg, GA who died Monday, August 4, 2008 at her residence will be conducted Thursday, at 10:00 A.M. at Mathews Funeral Home. Ross Powell will officiate. Interment will follow in Thundering Springs Cemetery.

A native of Albany, GA, Ms. Murray had resided in Lee Co. for the last twenty five years moving from Dougherty County. She was a 1979 graduate of Dougherty High School and was employed with Lee County Mental Health Department for seven years before being employed with the Lee County Health Department. Ms. Murray was a loving mother and sister, loved gardening and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include, two daughters, Lacy Wilson and her husband, John and Kalynn Murray, a son, Dalton Murray and one grandson, Hunter Wilson all of Lee Co., GA, a boyfriend, Curtis Taylor of Lee Co., GA, two brothers, Karl Avant and his wife, Tracy of Lee Co., GA and Frank Avant and his wife, Debbie of Worth Co., GA, a sister, Kay White of Lee Co., GA and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family received friends Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Mathews Funeral Home.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Junior Lee Nelms

ALBANY — Junior Lee Nelms of 1509 Avalon Ave., Albany, GA, died Wednesday, August 6, 2008. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Priscilla Thomas

ALBANY — Mrs. Priscilla Thomas, 94, of 1913 Sussex Court died Monday, August 4, 2008 at Phoebe Memorial Hospital.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2008 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Daniel Simmons officiating Interment will follow in Union Memorial Cemetery.

Mrs. Thomas was born on August 14, 1913, in Camilla to the late Ed and Rosetta Thomas. She is the last of 14 siblings.

Survivors include one son, John Gaines, Jr. of ALBANY; one daughter, Gloria (Wallace) Miller of Albany; three grandchildren, Erica Miller, Rodney (Keisha) Miller and John (Annette Gaines, III; three great grandchildren, Ethan Miller, Leila Gaines and Aurora Gaines.

The family will receive friends at her daughter’s home, Mrs. Gloria Miller, 1609 Gardenia Avenue.

Poteat Funeral Home
Albany 229/436-3615

DJ Vinson

ALBANY — DJ Vinson, 23, of Sylvester passed away Sunday, August 3, 2008 while attempting to save the life of another.

Funeral Services will be conducted (today) August 7, 2008 at 3:00 PM at Sunnyside Baptist Church on Mock Road. DJ will be placed in the church one hour before the service. Reverend Chris E. Turner will officiate with burial to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. Jake Nunn, Chris Harvey, Logan Hatcher, Ricky Porter, Marc Layer, Daniel Hammon, Johnny Pittman and Jason Blackstock will serve as active pallbearers. Many other close friends will serve as honorary pallbearers

Gary DeWayne Vinson, Jr. was born October 17, 1984 in Albany, to Gary DeWayne and Elizabeth Osborne Vinson. He was a 2003 graduate of Albany High School and earned an associate degree from Darton College in Physical Ed and Health. DJ always had a special way of treating others with kindness regardless of race. DJ enjoyed baseball, fishing and loved animals.

DJ was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Rudolph Vinson; maternal great-grandfather, Andrew Turner and maternal Great-grandmother, Lillie Mae Osborne.

Survivors include his loving parents, Gary DeWayne and Elizabeth Osborne Vinson of Sylvester; sister and brother-in-law, LeeAnn Hynes and her husband, Allen of Albany; niece, Paisley Hynes of Albany; Maternal grandparents, Annie Osborne of Albany and Donald Osborne and his wife Charlotte of Loganville; maternal great-grandmother, Matrid Turner; Paternal grandparents, Eva Burtz of Sylvester; Several Uncles and Aunts, Cousins and close friends.

Hall & Hall Funeral Home
Albany 229/883-3864

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