Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002: Judge Joe B. Newton, 61, (1-1-2002) Macon native (Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross) Funeral services for Joseph B. Newton, Sr. will be held Friday, January 4, 2002 at 11:00 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church in Waycross. Internment will follow at Pine Forest Cemetery in Homerville. Dr. David Comperry, Rev. Mac Goddard, and Rev. Steve Patton will officiate. Newton died January 1, 2002 at his residence in Waycross. He was 61. Judge Newton was born December 5, 1940 in Macon, Georgia to the late Clarence S. and Minerva G. Newton. Two brothers, Rev. Clarence S. Newton, Jr. and David C. Newton, predeceased him. He lived most of his life in Waycross. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and received his J.D. degree from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon. Judge Newton began his law career as a legal aide in the Georgia State Senate in 1969, where he was Director of Legal Research and Drafting of the Georgia Constitution Revision Commission. In 1970, he joined Memory & Thomas law firm in Waycross. He opened his own law firm in 1974 and practiced until 1982. He served for 18 years as Superior Court Judge of the Waycross Judicial Circuit until his retirement last year, at which time Governor Barnes appointed him Senior Judge. Judge Newton was a member of the State Bar of Georgia and served for many years on its Board of Governors. He served on the Council of Superior Court Judges and was past Chairman of the Superior Courts Sentence Review Panel. Judge Newton served on the faculties of the Institute for Continuing Judicial Education in Georgia and the National Judicial College. He was a member of the Superior Court Clerks' Training Council and was a State Board Member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. He served on the Judicial Council of Georgia and was a member of the American Judicature Society and the American Judges Association. Judge Newton was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served in numerous capacities. He was a former District President and Conference President of the United Methodist Men and was an Alternate Delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was founding President of Creative Word Ministries. Judge Newton was also active in the United States Golf Association as well as the Georgia State Golf Association. He served on the Sectional Affairs Committee of the United States Golf Association and was Chairman of the USGA TV Rules Committee. Judge Newton was a former Chairman of the Okefenokee Development Authority and a past president of the Waycross Jaycees. The Georgia Jaycees named him one of Five Outstanding Young Men of Georgia in 1975. He also formerly served on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Survivors include his wife, Kikky Goddard Newton of Waycross; three children, Lucy Newton of New York, New York, Ben Newton of Atlanta, and Lindy Newton of Waycross; and a sister, Nancy Newton Comperry of Bartlett, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Southeast Cancer Unit, 401 Pendleton Street, Waycross, GA 31501, or to Hospice Satilla, 1911 Alice Street, Suite A-1, Waycross, GA 31501. Visitation will be Thursday, January 3, 2002 from 6-8 PM at Miles-Odum Funeral Home in Waycross. The family has requested that Law Enforcement Personnel; Georgia Bar Association; Associates of the United States Golf Association & Georgia State Golf Association serve as Honorary Pallbearers. They are to meet at the church at 10:30 AM Friday. (http://www.milesodumfuneralhome.com) Mrs. Carra O. Persall, 84 (1-2-2002) incomplete Mr. J. D. Davis, 68 (1-1-2002) Ware Co. native (Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross) The funeral for J.D. Davis, 68, of Waycross will be held at 2:00 PM Friday January 4, 2002 in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel, burial will be in Thomas Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends Thursday night from 7-9 PM at the Funeral Home. Mr. Davis was a native of Ware Co. but resided in Brantley Co. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His parents were Elisha Davis and Sally Mae Dale Davis. Also preceding him in death was a brother, Reason Davis, a sister Cora Bell Sweat, a son Thomas F. Davis and a special Aunt Cora J. Smith. He is survived by his wife Anna J. Davis of Waycross, two daughters, JoAnne Brigman and her husband Tony of Waycross, Kathy Davis and her special friend Lany of Waycross, A very special grand-daughter Danielle Brigman, a grandson Thomas A. Davis both of Waycross, another grand-daughter Sherry Strickland of Offerman, and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. http://www.milesodumfuneralhome.com William Cecil Stewart Sr., 80 (1-2-2002) incomplete Chief Johnny Truman Lee, 55 (1-1-2002) Clinch Co. native (Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville) Ethel Hickox Johns Thornton, 92 (1-1-2002) Pierce Co. native (Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home, Blackshear) Mr. Richard Lee Brown, 70 (12-31-2001) Cogdell native (Fluker Funeral Home, Homerville) Ms. Cindy Trueluck (Marshall Funeral Home, Blackshear) Wilton Eldridge Tuten Sr, pallbearers Friday, Jan. 4, 2002: James "Jim" Neal Jr., 54 (1-3-2002) incomplete John Patrick "Pat" Byrne, 53 (1-3-2002) incomplete Earnest E. Murray, 69 (1-3-2002) incomplete Mr. Mel Thompson, 62 (Music Funeral Home, Waycross) Chief J. Truman Lee, 55 (1-1-2002) Clinch Co. native (Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville) Cindy Trueluck, (Marshall Funeral Home, Blackshear) William Cecil Stewart Sr., 80 (1-2-2002) Axson native (Music Funeral Home, Waycross) William Cecil Stewart,Sr. February 13, 1921 - January 02, 2002 Mr. William Cecil Stewart,Sr.,80,died Wednesday afternoon (January 2,2002) at Satilla Regional Medical Center after a short illness. He was a native of Axson but a life long resident of Ware County. He was the son of the late Christopher C. Stewart and Nancy Leona Lewis Stewart,also preceeded death by his first wife Violet Davis Stewart. He was retired with Bethlehem Steel Ship Building Company in Maryland. He was a Veteran of WWII serving in the US Army. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The survivors included his wife, Bobbie Ragan Stewart; a son, William Cecil ''Billy'' Stewart both of Waycross; a daughter, Betty Jean Whittmore of Marino Valley, CA; a sister, Martha Kathleen Ray of Maryland; seven grandchildren; several great grandchildren. A service is planned for 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Burial will be held in Kettle Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 o'clock Friday evening at Music Funeral Home. Mrs. Carra Owens Persall, 84 (1-2-2002) Wheeler Co. native (Music Funeral Home, Waycross) Carra Owens Persall March 07, 1917 - January 02, 2002 Mrs. Carra Owens Persall,84 ,died Wednesday (1-2-2002) at her daughters residence at West Green. She was a native of Wheeler County but had resided in Waycross Emerson Park area most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Owens and Emma Harrelson, and the widow of the late Carlton B. Persall,Sr. also preceeding her in death was a son Robert J. Moon. She was a member of Emerson Park Baptist Church. She was a retired paper route carrier with the Waycross Journal Herald. She is survived by four daughters; Emma Mae Rice husband Byron of Albany, Shirley Herren -Crosby, Alice Musgrove husband Paul both of West Green, Harriet Sands husband Richard of Seffner, FL., two sons; Carl B. Persall,Jr. of Brunswick, Billy Persall of Waynesville, two sisters ;Tinnie Varnadore of Union City, Clara Batchlor of Jersey,GA., 11 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren. A service is planned for 4:30 pm Saturday at Emerson Park Baptist Church . Burial will take place in Kettle Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 o'clock Friday evening at Music Funeral Home. Mrs. Olney Barnhill Parker, 97 (1-2-2002) Clinch Co. native (Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville) Minster Christer Lee Eaddy, 90, Pierce Co. native (Fluker Funeral Home, Waycross) Mr. Owen Spatcher, 82 Charlton Co. native (Fluker Funeral Home, Waycross) Jim B. "Big Jim" Griffin Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002: Mrs. Nettie M. Ellis, 62, Thelma, Ga. native (Fluker Funeral Home, Homerville) Mrs. Evelyn Catherine Howard, 91 (1-4-2002) incomplete Mr. Ernest E. Murray Jr., 69 (1-3-2002) Wayne Co. native (Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross) Ernest E. Murray, Jr., 69, died at his residence Thursday night (01-03-02) after a short illness. He was a native of Wayne County Georgia, son of the late Ernest E. Murray, Sr. and Virginia Manning Murray. He had been making his home in Waycross since 1950 where he retired from the CSX Railroad as a carman in 1989 and attended the Hebardville United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of the Korean War where he served in the U. S. Navy. He is survived by his wife Judy Elaine Crews Murray of Waycross; two daughters Gail Fullard and her husband Wayne and Sheryl Lynn Griffin and her husband Derrick all of Waycross; six grandchildren Cristy Steedley and her husband Darrell of Waycross, Buster Jeffers, Amber Jeffers, Heather Griffin, Shyenne Griffin and Damon Griffin all of Waycross; one great grandson Dalton Steedley of Waycross; a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon (01-06-02) at two o'clock at the Hebardville United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Miles-Odum Funeral Home from six until eight o'clock Saturday night. (http://www.milesodumfuneralhome.com/) Mr. Aaron Dendy Boiter Jr., 69 (1-4-2002) Bellton, SC native (Roundtree Funeral Home, Homerville) Mr. John Patrick "Pat" Byrne, 53, (1-3-2002) Waycross native (Miles-Odum Funeral Home, Waycross) John Patrick "Pat" Byrne, 53, died Thursday (01-03-02) at his residence in Waycross after a short illness. He was a life long resident of Waycross son of Eugene John Byrne and Billie Mae Bowen Byrne. He had served as a life insurance agent and was formerly employed by the B E & K Construction Co. as a pipe fitter. He is survived by one daughter Kelly Skumanick and her husband Tony of Navarre, Fla.; his father and mother Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Byrne of Waycross; three brothers Perry T. Byrne and his wife Diane of Salisbury, N. C., William M. Byrne and his wife Shirley, David G. Byrne and his wife Darlene all of Blackshear, Ga.; five sisters Sherilyn Rigdon and her husband Amon of Hampton, S. C., Larraine Peterson and her husband John, Joyce Troisi and her husband Vincent all of Waycross, Kathy Dixon of Blackshear, Ga., Carol Adams and her husband Jim of Barnesville, Ga.; Numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services will be held Monday morning (01-07-02) at eleven o'clock in the chapel of the Miles-Odum Funeral Home. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from six until eight o'clock Sunday night. (http://www.milesodumfuneralhome.com) Mrs. Ethel Hickox Johns Thornton, pallbearers Mr. James "Jim" Neal Jr., 53 (1-3-2002) (Smith Funeral Home, Blackshear) Mr. Erin W. Pafford Sr., pallbearers Judge Joseph B. Newton, pallbearers Mr. J.D. Davis, pallbearers