U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Virginia Tootle Carr, 82
Virginia Tootle Carr, 82, of Statesboro died peacefully at home on May 16, 2007. Born in Tattnall County, she graduated from Reidsville High School in 1939 at age 15. She wanted to become a nurse, but was not yet old enough to enter training, so she stayed home for the next three years in anticipation of nursing school. As the second among two girls and three boys, she had much to do helping to care for family. Her life took a big turn when the US entered World War II. She went to work as a lab technician at Warner Robbins Army Air Base in Georgia, and then transferred to the chemistry labs of the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. There she met and married
Herbert Carswell Carr of MacIntyre, GA, who was working on the uranium production lines.
After the war, they moved to Ohio when Herbert accepted a job as a production manager in a chemical plant. She and Herbert raised a son Thomas, made many friends, participated actively in school and church, and lived happily until Herbert’s death in 1973.
The next year she returned to Georgia. After earning a degree in accounting at Swainsboro Technical College, she spent 20 years managing offices and keeping books for Statesboro businesses ranging from a clothier to a commercial landscaper to a law firm. She was very active in Business and Professional Women and a member of the Bulloch County Historical Society. An avid birdwatcher, she traipsed the woods, riverbanks, and marshes with the Briar Creek Birders. She went with her friends to cultural events at Georgia Southern University and to the symphony in Savannah. She traveled often to East Lansing, MI, to visit her son, his wife Denise, and her grandchildren Michael and Elizabeth. Her warmth and vitality attracted everyone she met - it would be impossible to count the times that Tom and Denise have been asked, “How’s your Mom? When’s she coming to visit?” Church life was important to her. In Ohio she and Herbert attended Perry United Methodist Church and she remained a member her whole life. In Statesboro she joined Langston United Methodist Church, where she served as President of the United Methodist Women for many years. She enjoyed the fellowship of the Carol Carter Circle of another Statesboro church, First United Methodist. She was known for her leadership, her knack of crafting devotionals that cut to the heart of life and faith, and her lemon bars - she thought that good fellowship and good food go hand in hand. As a member of the Friends of Old Shiloh Cemetery, she helped restore to its former beauty a cemetery in Tattnall County where many Tootles are buried.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Robert Hartridge Tootle, Sr. and Veta Ross Tootle; her husband, Herbert, and three brothers, Robert Hartridge Tootle, Jr, Jerry Paul Tootle, and Charles Henry Tootle.
She is survived by her son Tom and his wife Denise, her grandson Michael and his wife Ruth of Montague, MA, her granddaughter Elizabeth of Ithaca, NY, her sister Martha T. Cain of Statesboro with whom she lived for the last 18 months of her life, a sister - in - law, Hilda Baxter Tootle of Reidsville, GA, a brother - in - law Iverson Carr of Rome, GA, and a number of treasured nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends in Georgia, Ohio and Michigan, all of whom she loved dearly.
A memorial service will be held at Langston United Methodist Church on May 24, conducted by the Reverends Fred Maddox and Stephanie Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be the women of the Carol Carter Circle. Virginia will be buried beside Herbert in Perry Township Cemetery, in Perry, OH, on May 25, 2007.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459. Langston United Methodist Church, 104 Langston Chapel Road, Statesboro, GA 30458; or Perry United Methodist Church, 3875 Main Street, Perry, OH 44081.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson. com.
Joiner - Anderson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mattie Lou Crawford, 55
Sister Mattie Lou Crawford was born on October 24, 1951, in Tattnall County, Georgia, to the late Edward and Lucille Hall Kennedy. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Charlie Way and Levi Crawford, who preceded her in death. God saw the necessity to call her home to reward on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.
Mattie Lou was a happy person who loved her family. She loved to cook and fish. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter and son - in - law, Charlotte and Carter McDonald of Glennville; sons and daughter - in - law, Anthony Wilkenson and Randy and Donna Kennedy of Hinesville; two sisters, Betty McMillian of Glennville and Lillian Talley of Fayetteville, NC; three brothers, Mr. John (Karen) Kennedy and Mr. Eddie Kennedy of Glennville and Mr. Samuel Kennedy of NJ; 15 grandchildren and 12 great - grandchildren; special friends, Richard Lane and Beautine Mincey and Becky Ann Jones and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrow friends.
The funeral service was held on Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the Greater Zachariah Missionary Baptist Church in Glennville, with the Reverend Dr. C.L. Anderson officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers were nephews, Norman Kennedy, Terreal Slaughter, Dawayne Kennedy, Derreick Smith, Marshall Broadhurst, Timothy Slaughter and Quan Bradley. Honorary pallbearers were Tellas Kennedy and Perez Kennedy.
King and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements, www.kingbrothersfh.com.
Paul A. Davis, 66
Paul A. Davis, 66, passed away Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Community Hospice in Vidalia. The Toombs County native had lived in the Collins and Reidsville area most of his life.
He is survived by his daughter, Michelle Wear of Reidsville; son, Greg Davis of Collins; stepson, Cecil Cary Reynolds of Jesup; sisters, Mary Boyette of Alabama and Edna Sharpe of Uvalda; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside Funeral Services were held on Monday, May 21, 2007, at Reidsville City cemetery with Reverend Danny Autry officiating.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home of Reidsville was in charge of the arrangements.
Janice Iddins Grimes, 58
Janice Iddins Grimes, 58, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah. The Toombs County native had lived in this area all of her life and was a retired agricultural representative with the U.S. Department of Labor. She attended Northside Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Ollie Kate Iddins.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Grimes of Glennville; daughters and sons - in - law, Sonia and Tony Kooser of Virginia Beach, VA and Jessica and Adam Foy of Claxton; son, Jerry Grimes, Jr. of Glennville; sister, Vivian Howard of Glennville; three grandchildren, Jayden Grimes and Michelle and Megan Foy; nephew, Stacy Howard of Glennville; and several cousins and other relatives also survive.
Funeral services were held on Friday, May 18, 2007, at the chapel of Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home with Reverend Oscar Rowe, Jr. officiating. Burial followed in the Glennville City Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jimmy Howard, Retus Iddins, Mike Howard, Adam Foy, Bernice Iddins and Tony Kooser.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home, Glennville Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.
Guy Mitchell Mercer, 52
Guy Mitchell Mercer, 52, died Monday at the Candler County Hospital. The Tattnall County native and lifelong resident was owner and operator of Mercer Farms Trucking, Inc. for 35 years. Guy loved fishing and staying at the coast, and his latest passion was his racecar, “Lick ET Split.” He never met a stranger and after meeting him once, you would remember him forever. Guy was a member of the Cobbtown Baptist Church and was preceded in death by his father, Louie Mitchell Mercer.
He is survived by his wife, Tina Wright Mercer of Cobbtown; his mother, Gloria C. Mercer of Cobbtown; a son, Trey Scars of Gainsville; a daughter, Marna Brooks of North Augusta, SC; two sisters, Kim Vacula of Milledgeville and Louisa Hensley of Metter; two grandchildren, Jadie Mercer Brooks and Easton Brooks; two nephews, J.B. Hensley and John Mitchell Hensley.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, with Reverend Gary Page officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunlight Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Randy Brown, Tim Edgar, Jim Avery, Mike Monroe, David Thompson and Danny Humphrey.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Tattnall County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, c/o Jeanette DeLoach, P.O. Box 188, Reidsville, GA 30453.
Kennedy Funeral Home, Cobbtown Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.
Vera Dell Sikes, 88
Mrs. Vera Dell Sikes, 88, died Saturday at Candler County Hospital. The Tattnall County native and lifelong resident was a homemaker and an avid gardener who enjoyed her roses. She was the widow of Barney Sikes.
She is survived by her son, Vernon Sikes of Cobbtown; a daughter, Christine S. Nace of Cobbtown; three brothers, Carl Sikes of Cobbtown, James Sikes of Lyons and Penuel Sikes of Normantown; two sisters, Carolyn Collins of Metter and Janie Sizemore of Burnett Town, SC; a granddaughter, Beth Sikes and great - granddaughter, Skyler B. Sikes, both of Cobbtown.
Funeral services were conducted Monday at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, with Reverend Ronald Warren presiding. Burial followed in the Sunlight Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Sean Collins, Earl Sikes, Dwayne Sikes, Raymond Brown, Jackey Brown and Greg Sikes.
Kennedy Funeral Home, Cobbtown Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.
Ronald Ernest James Beck, 70
Ronald Ernest James Beck, 70, passed away Friday, May 11, 2007, at his residence under the care of Hospice of South Georgia. The Michigan native had lived in Tattnall and Long County for many years. He was retired from the U.S. Army after 19 years of service and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was a member of Poplar Head Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Carol B. Beck of Ludowici; children, Emmalynn Beck and Robert E. Beck both of Puerto Rico; step - children, Eric Bacon of Ludowici, Marie Todd of Statesboro, Sara Bragg, Jeff Stanfield, Martha Cranford and Laurie Barnard, all of Glennville; sisters, Beatrice Akins and Geri Mackin both of Sterling Heights, MI; brother, Clayton Beck of Hazel Park, MI; 16 grandchildren, 11 great - grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 14, 2007, at Poplar Head Baptist Church with Reverend Tommy Ray and Reverend Neil Stich officiating. Burial followed in the Church cemetery with full Military Honors.
Brannen - Kennedy Funeral Home of Glennville was in charge of the arrangements.
George “Bet” Brown, 88
George “Bet” Brown, 88, died Saturday at Azalea Health and Rehab in Metter. The Tattnall County native and lifelong resident was a retired farmer, carpenter and an avid gardener. He was an Army veteran serving in the Korean Conflict. Mr. “Bet” was a member of Hillside Church of God and was preceded in death by his wife, Rosie Lee Monroe Brown.
He is survived by a son and daughter - in - law, Danny and Patricia Brown of Cobbtown; daughter, Betty B. Lucas of Winterpark, FL; brother, Tommy Brown of Cobbtown; two grandchildren and spouses, Lisa and Matthew Rigdon of Metter and Heath and Laura Brown of Cobbtown and four great - grandchildren, Rylan, Randan and Rustan Rigdon and Miles Brown.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 14, 2007, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, with Reverend Ronald Warren officiating. Burial followed in the Sunlight Cemetery.
Pallbearers were heath Brown, Matthew Rigdon, Raymond Brown, Ray Brown, Charles “Bonnie” Monroe, Al Sikes and Jacky Brown.
Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.
Terrell Elders, 94
Terrell Elders, 94, Maywood, New Jersey, died on Wednesday, November 15, 2006. He had been a resident of Maywood for 56 years. He was the son of the late honorable Hershel Hopkins Elders and the late Viola Sikes Elders of Reidsville, GA.
Prior to retirement, he had been an engineer for the Torsion Balance Manufacturing Company in Clifton. In November, a private funeral service was held in Maywood.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Anne Lloyd Elders; two sisters, Grace Elders Bootle - Long and Gladys Elders Thomas, and three brothers, Ted Elders, Telford Elders and Tennyson Elders.
He is survived by two daughters, Grace (Gae) Elders Gregor of Massachusetts and Kathy (Kate) Elders Wiesner of Maine, and one son, Terrell D. Elders of New York and seven cherished grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and one special sister - in - law, Betty B. Elders of Reidsville, Georgia.
A family memorial and burial service is planned for May 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the Reidsville Cemetery. Arrangements are to be provided by the Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home in Reidsville, GA. Donations in Terrell’s Memory may be made to the Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601.
