U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Eugene Riddles, 55
SWAINSBORO--Funeral for Eugene Riddles, 55, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at 3 p.m. from the St. Philip Baptist Church. Pastor James Love and the Rev. John Harmon officiating. Interment will follow at Swainsboro City Cemetery.
He died Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, at Emanuel Medical Center after a brief illness.
He was a native of Emanuel County where he attended the public schools and was a member of St. Philip Baptist Church of Swainsboro. He was a member of New Hope Masonic Lodge #115, and was employed with Electrolux Home Products Corporation for over 20 years.
Survivors include one daughter, Kenyotta Riddles; two sons, Kowalski Brooks and Tyquan Wright; one adopted son, Mark Turner all of Swainsboro; three sisters. Jennie Phillips, Minnie Washington, both of Swainsboro and Mrs. Betty Jean Durden of Miami, Fla.; two aunts; four grandsons; one granddaughter; many nieces; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Reno Tapley Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
William M. Black, 57
BARTOW--Funeral for William M. Black, 57, was held Sunday, Aug. 11, 2002, at 2 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home Chapel. The Reverend Vida Mae Josey officiated. Burial followed in the Wadley City Cemetery.
He died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Black was a native of Jefferson County and was retired from the Wayne Battle Lumber Company. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Adell Black of Bartow; three daughters, Dorris Realy of St. Marys, Sandra Meeks of Wrens, and Barbara Tapley of Kite; two sons, William Black, Jr. of Louisville and Scott Black of Bartow; four brothers, Sampson Black of Bartow, Wiley Black of Toomsboro, Julian Black of Hazelhurst, and Roy Black of Swainsboro; one sister, Marian York of Wadley, and seventeen grandchildren.
Smith Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Garffie N. Wilson, 78
SWAINSBORO- Funeral for Garffie N. Wilson, 78, was held Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Tomlinson Funeral Home. The Reverend Louis Pearce officiated.
He died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at Emanuel Medical Center.
Mr. Wilson was a native and lifelong resident of Emanuel County. He was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by one brother, J.B. Wilson of Dade City, Fla., and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Tomlinson Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Alfred F. "Bumpy" Coleman, 83
MACON--Funeral for Alfred F. "Bumpy" Coleman, 83, was held Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at 10 a.m. from the Chapel of Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary. Scott Hudson officiated. Interment followed at Macon Memorial Park Cemetery.
He died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, at the Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville after a brief illness.
A native of Emanuel County, he was a WWII Army veteran and retired from Warner Robins Air Force Base as a painter. He was a Mason, a member of Bellevue Baptist Church and was husband of the late Nell Giddens Coleman.
Survivors include one nephew, J.C. Coleman of Swainsboro.
Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
Olive Esther Donaldson, 90
GARFIELD--Funeral for Olive Esther Donaldson, 90, was held Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, at 11 a.m. from the Chapel of Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary. Elder Tommy Rountree officiated. Burial followed at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetary near Twin City.
She died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002, at the Candler County Hospital in Metter after an extended illness.
A native of North Apollo, Penn. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Vernon T. Donaldson of Garfield; one daugher, Lois Donaldson of Garfiled; one sister, Dorothy Deemer of North Apollo, Penn.; two granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Jason Edenfield, Joshua Black, Jonathan Black, Zachary Hutto, Lamar Hutto and Stephen Rountree.
Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
John D. "J.D." Williamson, 64
OAK PARK--Funeral for John D. "J.D." Williamson, Jr., 64, was held Monday, Aug. 12, 2002, at 2 p.m. at the Ronnie L. Stewart Family Funeral Service Chapel in Vidalia. Reverend Walter Jarriel and Reverend Steve Bryant officiated. Burial followed in the New Hope cemetery in Emanuel County.
He died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at his residence after an extended illness.
Mr. Williamson was a native and lifelong resident of Oak Park.
Survivors include two brothers, Harold Williamson and Jerry W. Williamson of Oak Park; four sisters, Margaret Powell, Betty Wilson and Ora Beasley all of Oak Park and Cora Gardner of Fremont, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Gary Beasley, Greg Powell, Tommy Williamson, Dean Foskey, Larry Wilson, Luke Corbin and Randy Wilson.
Ronnie L. Stewart Family Funeral Service of Vidalia had charge of arrangements.
Lois Harper Donnelly, 87
SWAINSBORO--Funeral for Lois Harper Donnelly, 87, will be held Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002, at 10 a.m. from the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Don Woeltjen and Dr. Bob Blankenship officiating. Interment will follow at Hebron Primitive Baptist Church cemetery in Garfield.
She died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002, at the Emanuel Medical Center after a brief illness.
A native of Emanuel County, Mrs. Donnelly was retired from Jockey International in Millen and was a member of the First Baptist Church. She was also a member of the WMU, the Happy Rovers and the Faithful Workers Sunday School Class.
Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Smith of Swainsboro; one son, Paul Donnelly of Pooler; two sister-in-laws; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Bobby Sasser, Kinny Dorsey, John Claxton, Denny Riner, Kenny Johnson and Dorsey Boatright.
Honorary escorts will be members of the Faithful Workers Sunday School Class and residents of the Presbyterian Apartments.
Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
Curtis J. Armstrong, 85
SWAINSBORO--Funeral for Curtis J. Armstrong, 85, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary with Reverend Jamie Archer and Joe Bedgood officiating. Burial will be in Lamb cemetery near Swainsboro.
He died Monday, Aug. 12, 2002, at the Johnson County Nursing Home in Scott after an extended illness.
A native of Emanuel County, Mr. Armstrong was a logger and retired from the Swainsboro Police Department. He was a member of the Hebron Baptist Church near Swainsboro.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys Armstrong of Swainsboro; two daughters, Jo Ann Cannon and Hazel Douglas of Swainsboro; one son Curtis K. Armstrong, Sr. of Swainsboro; three stepsons, Don Bedgood and Billy Wayne Bedgood of Swainsboro and Jerry Bedgood of Adrian; 24 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Richard Holder, Randall Holder, Chris Holder, Ronald Wiggins, Danny Peebles, B.J. Bedgood, Phillip Bedgood and Jason Edenfield.
Honorary pallbearers are members of the Swainsboro Police Department.
Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
Dr. H. Wilder Smith, Sr., 87
SWAINSBORO--Funeral for Dr. H. Wilder Smith, Sr., 87, was held Sunday, August 18, 2002, at 4 p.m. at First Methodist Church of Swainsboro. The Rev. Benjy Varnell officiated. Burial was at Swainsboro City Cemetery.
He died Thursday, August 15, 2002, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta after a short illness.
Dr. Henry Wilder Smith was born in Stillmore on Feb. 16, 1915. He was the third child of Dr. De Saussure Dugas Smith and Gladys Wilder Smith. The family moved to Swainsboro in 1917, where Dr. Dessie practiced medicine and surgery from his office in the back of Mason's Pharmacy located on the courthouse square.
Dr. "Wilder", as he was known to his patients, grew up in Swainsboro and graduated from high school in 1932. He attended Georgia Military College in Milledgeville and then transferred to University of Georgia, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and president of his junior class. He graduated in 1938 with a BS in Chemistry. He returned to Swainsboro and after passing the Civil Service exam in 1940 was employed by the post office. During this time, he met and married
Leila Whitehead Williams of Monroe, who was teaching music at Swainsboro High School. They had six children and were married
37 years before her death from cancer in 1978.
Dr. Smith entered medical school in 1942. When he graduated from Medical College of Georgia in 1946, he became the fourth direct generation of Smiths to graduate from that institution. His youngest son, George Leon Smith III became the fifth generation graduate in 1979. Dr. Smith's great-grandfather, Dr. Benjamin D. Smith, was in the class of 1853; his grandfather, Dr. George L. Smith, was in the class of 1881; and his father was in the class of 1908.
After completing his internship at Duval County Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., Dr. Smith moved to Swainsboro in 1947 and with his father he operated Smith Sanitarium until 1953. After his father's death, he formed a partnership with Dr. Ennis Powell and operated Powell-Smith Hospital until 1968, when they were bought out by Emanuel County Hospital. He worked on the staff of Emanuel County Hospital practicing surgery, obstetrics and general medicine until forced to give up surgery and obstetrics in 1986 by insurance regulations. During his 40 years of obstetrics, Dr. Wilder delivered a total of 5,133 babies. During his final month, he delivered 26 babies. The last of these were born Sept. 30, 1986. During one 24-hour period in the early 1980's, he delivered seven babies, all of which were single births and four of the seven were by caesarean section. He was known for his dedication and for always putting the patient first. He was named as Georgia Family Physician of the Year in 1986. He continued to practice family medicine from Smith Rural Health Clinic with his two sons, Wilder Jr. and Mason, who are both physician assistants. He overcame a stroke in January 1993 and continued to practice on a limited basis until his full retirement Dec. 31, 2001.
Dr. Smith was a fellow of American Academy of Family Physicians, recognized to handle high risk pregnancies, was instrumental in the establishment of the physician assistant program at Medical College of Georgia and Nurse Practitioner Program at Georgia Southern University. He served as preceptor for PA students from MCG, nurse practitioners from Georgia Southern and medical students. He served as chief of the OB Department of Emanuel County Hospital from 1971-1986.
His military service included membership in the Georgia Militia, commander of the Medical Detachment of Georgia Army National Guard, Army veteran of World War II and was mobilized with the GaARNG during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of captain.
Dr. Smith was also manager and lifeguard of the city pool for three years in the 1930's and first scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 75 in 1939-1940. He was president of Swainsboro Country Club for two terms in the late 1950's, a charter member of Exchange and Rotary clubs of Swainsboro, a past city physician and chairman of County Board of Health. He was a member of the local school board of Swainsboro High School for 12 years. He was author of the book "Memories" and founder of Smith Medical Museum.
He was father of the late Richard Torbin Smith; grandfather of the late H. Wilder Smith III; and brother of the late De Saussure Dugas Smith II; George L. Smith II, former speaker of Georgia House of Representatives; Magaret Hayes; Sara Nell Price; and Iris Edenfield.
Dr. Smith was also a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Swainsboro.
Survivors include his wife, Oliene Hutcheson Smith of Swainsboro; one daughter, Leila Wilder "Lei" Smith Bragg of Swainsboro; four step-daughters, Sharon Kirby, Wendy Kirby, and Misty Kirby, all of Swainsboro, and Darlene Wommack of Metter; four sons, LTC (Ret.) De Saussure Dugas "Dess" Smith, III and H. Wilder Smith, Jr., both of Swainsboro, Mason W. Smith of Dublin and Dr. George L. Smith, III of Covington; three step-sons, William Kirby of Lyons, Wayne Kirby of Swainsboro and James Kirby of Bartow; 18 grandchildren, ten step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were De Saussure Dugas "Dessie" Smith IV, Richard Torbin Smith, Colby Isaac Smith, Thomas Ennis Bragg, Jr., Ira Washington Bragg, III, Mason Williams Smith, Jr., Benjamin Carl Smith, George L. "Ivey" Smith, IV, Taylor Harris Smith and J. D. Kirby.
Honorary Pallbearers were the staff of Smith Rural Health Clinic and former employees of Dr. Smith.
Peebles-Curry-Durden Mortuary of Swainsboro had charge of arrangements.
