B.F. ‘Ben’ Whiddon

ASHBURN — Funeral services for B.F. “Ben” Whiddon, 90, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2006, in the Ashburn First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. An online registry is available at www.perryfuneralchapel.com. Perry Funeral Chapel of Ashburn has charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Whiddon died Thursday, March 16, 2006, in Tift Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness.



Ronnie Croft

VIENNA — Funeral services for Ronnie Croft, 63, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2006, in the Tippettville Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Tippettville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Tippettville Baptist Church. An online registry is available at www.perryfuneralchapel.com. Perry Funeral Chapel of Ashburn has charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Croft died Thursday, March 16, 2006, in Taylor Regional Medical Center in Hawkinsville following a sudden illness.



Mary ‘Lizzie’ Barrett

CORDELE — Funeral services for Mary “Lizzie” Barrett will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, 2006, in the sanctuary of Davis Chapel CME Church in Arabi. Burial will follow in the Davis Chapel Church Cemetery. The Rev. Leon Williams will officiate the services.

Mrs. Barrett died Wednesday, March 15, 2006.

She was a longtime member of the Davis Chapel CME Church under the leadership of the Rev. Leon Williams. She also was a member of Queen of Sheeba Chapter 13 Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson Barrett; her son, Henry Sermon; her sister, Minnie L. Smith; and her brothers, Roosevelt Harrington, Richard Dennard and R.L. Harrington.

Survivors include her children, Joshua Sermon, Willie J. (Karol) Barrett, Stewart Ruby Lee (Allene) Barrett, Stewart Lonnie Barrett and Evelyn Simmons all of Cordele, Nelson (Joann) Barrett of Decatur, Steve (Cathy) Barrett of Stone Mountain, and Gloria (Willie) Span of Albany; sisters-in-law, Annie Lou Barrett, Mattie B. Clark, Lucinda Ray, Addie L. Clark, Levonia Jackson and Ethel Dennard; brothers-in-law, Deacon C.R. Ray and Deacon John L. Clark; a devoted nephew, Albert Smith; 24 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

J.W. Williams Funeral Home of Cordele and Vienna has charge of the arrangements.



Lucy Bell Williams

DESOTO — Funeral services for Lucy Bell Williams will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2006, in the sanctuary of Antioch Baptist Church in Lee County. Burial will follow in the Saddler Cemetery in Lee County. Minister Curtis Berryhill will officiate the services.

Mrs. Williams died Wednesday, March 15, 2006.

The processional will be led by the Revs. Lorenzo Mullins and Curtis Berryhill and Deacon Sampson Wright will sing a hymn. Prayer will be given by Deacon Otis Westbrook and Scripture will be read by the Revs. Eugene Hall and Samuel Stokes. A selection will be performed by the Antioch Church Choir and reflections will be given by Sis. Lillie Smith and Sis. Mamie Bryant. A family tribute will be given by Eddie Larnard Berryhill IV and the family will be presented with an African-American heirloom Bible as a keepsake from the funeral home staff.

Survivors include her husband, Willie Oscar Williams of Desoto; her children, Mercy Williams (Albert) Glover and Lois (Willie James) Daniels both of Albany, Lawrence (Gwen) Williams of Leslie, and Gregory (Velma) Williams of Desoto; sisters, Rose (Gentle) Hamilton and Ossie (Eddie) Rogers both of Miami, Fla., and Mattie Berryhill of Allen Town, Pa.; brothers, Charles (Martha) Berryhill of Miami, Fla., John (Nancy) Berryhill of Desoto, and James Berryhill of St. Mary’s; a devoted niece, Audra Hamilton of Desoto; a devoted nephew, Eddie Berryhill III of Americus; a devoted cousin, Margan Wright of Leesburg; a devoted sister-in-law, Janie Lou Williams of Desoto; special friends, Marie Butts, the Palmyra Nursing Home staff and Hospice; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 11 sisters-in-law; and six brothers-in-law.

J.W. Williams Funeral Home of Cordele and Vienna has charge of the arrangements.



Infant Charles William Hauesler

ARABI — Graveside services for infant Charles William Hauesler will be held at 4 p.m. today, March 17, 2006, at Bay Spring Baptist Church Cemetery in Arabi. The Rev. Charles Kilcrease will officiate the services.

Master Hauesler died Thursday, March 16, 2006, in Crisp Regional Hospital.

Survivors include his father, Kirby Hauesler of Arabi; his mother, Connie Creel Hauesler of Arabi; brothers, Justin and Robbie Hauesler both of Arabi; a step-brother, Chris White of Douglas; a step-sister, Carri Lang of Albany; his paternal grandparents, Lola Hauesler and the late E.C. Hauesler of Arabi; his maternal grandparents, Margaret Creel and the late Gerald Creel of Albany; uncles, Terry Hauesler and Ken Hauesler both of Arabi, and Lee Hauesler of Cordele; and an aunt, Teresa Priest of Albany.

An online registry is available at www.hughesandwright.com.

Hughes & Wright Funeral Home of Cordele has charge of the arrangements.



Willie Mae Harris

CORDELE — Funeral services for Willie Mae Harris will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 20, 2006, in the sanctuary of Piney Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Macedonia Church Cemetery. The Rev. Jessie Watts will officiate the services.

Mrs. Harris died Wednesday, March 15, 2006.

The processional will be led by Rev. Watts and the Piney Grove Church Choir will sing a selection. Prayer will be given by the Rev. Patrick Key and Scripture will be read by Rev. Key and Dr. Bobby G. West. Her niece will perform a solo and reflections will be given by family members and friends. The family will be presented with an African-American heirloom Bible as a keepsake from the funeral home staff.

Survivors include her children, Beatrice Smith of Cordele, Thomas Harris Jr., John C. (Carmelle) Harris and Linda Harris-Johnson all of Rochester, N.Y., and James A. (Mary Ellen) Harris of Carey Ranch; sisters, Sarah Hawkins of Detroit, Mich., Molly Fudge of Rochester, N.Y., and Gussie (Charlie) Daniels of Cordele; brothers, Theodore Key of Vienna, Eddie (Annie Ruth) Key of Unadilla, and Thomas (Shirland) Key of Florida; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; nine sisters-in-law, to include a devoted one, Annie Lou Beal of Cordele; one brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

J.W. Williams Funeral Home of Cordele and Vienna has charge of the arrangements.