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The ADVANCE, February 3, 2021 /Page 7A
Obituaries
Mrs. Helen Darby
One hundred and two
years old, by itself, is an
exceptional life, but Helen
Threlkeld Darby was a
centenarian matriarch of
enormous generosity to
this community, to her lov
ing family, to her church, to
her triends, and always to
those who were in need and
less fortunate than she. Her
devotion spanned several
generations and touched so
many lives. Although hon
ored as Lady of the Year in
1983, Helen never sought
attention, recognition, or
reward for her actions and,
too numerous to mention,
so many of her actions
were given with joy anony
mously. Over the years,
when people were asked to
describe the kind of woman
she was, the responses were
always consistent - she was
caring, loving, sincere, qui
et, charming, a dedicated
wife, mother, grandmother,
and a devout Christian ser
vant. These qualities are
blessings from God and are
worth more than titles and
public accolades. She was
determined to make the
lives of all the people she
met happier. Helen Darby
died peacefully at home
Wednesday evening Janu
ary 27,2021.
Helen was bom on July
7, 1918, in Zirkle, Geor
gia, and shortly thereaf
ter moved to Vidalia. She
grew up during the Great
Depression and her play
ground was the dirt and
tree lined streets of Vida
lia. Despite the depression,
she always said this little
town was the most wonder
ful place to be a child. She
began piano lessons in the
first grade and the piano
and organ were lifetime
companions. She went to
Brewton-Parker College for
one year and then received
a Working-Scholarship in
Piano at Shorter College in
Rome, Georgia. The mu
sic faculty spoke of her as a
“truly talented” student and
she was recognized for her
work which frequently in
cluded accompanying other
students at their Senior Re
citals. Helen graduated in
1938 and brought her tal
ents home to Vidalia.
Helen Threlkeld mar
ried James Darby in 1940
and joined the Vidalia First
United Methodist Church.
The Pastor immediately
noticed her exceptional tal
ent and that began her 40-
year tenure as the church
organist. There were very
few congregants whose
lives were not personally
touched by her gift. Over
the years she devotedly
played for the choir, ser
vices, weddings, funerals,
baptisms, and special holi
day choral programs. She
would readily admit her job
was made easier by the con
stant musical companion
ship of her longtime friend,
Barron Godbee. In 1986
the Church first recognized
her by dedicating the new
sanctuary organ in her hon
or for her music ministry.
Then again in 2002, in the
newly renovated church,
the congregation honored
Helen by naming the music
facility the Helen T. Darby
Choir Room. Helen’s work
at VFUMC was not limited
to the music programs. She
was responsible for initiat
ing the Chrismon Trees
that still beautifully sit at
the front of the sanctu
ary every Christmas. She
led many fundraising pro
grams, including education
al programs and missions.
She served on the Board
of Trustees and was chair
woman for many commit
tees and boards. She truly
was a matriarch in the life of
the church.
At the time of her
Mrs. Patricia Graham
Mrs. Patricia Anita
Graham, age 64, of Lyons,
died Tuesday, January 26,
2021, at Greenville Memo
rial Hospital after a brief
illness. Patricia was a native
of Florida and lived most
of her life in Lyons. She
worked as a hairdresser and
was also Baptist by Faith.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, Quin
tus & Clara Kirkland; her
stepfather, Howard Lynn;
and her brother, Aaron
Kirkland.
She is survived by her
husband, Charles Danny
Graham of Lyons; five
daughters, Heather Higgs
of Lyons, Carmen Higgs of
Lyons, Haley Higgs of Ly
ons, Kaitlynn Bell (Corey)
of Vidalia, and Anna Bry
ant of Lyons; and one sis
ter, Melissa Green of Turtle
Town, TN. Ten grandchil
dren, Zoey, Kaleigh, Bra-
leigh, Riley, Will, Legend,
Laydon, Kash, Brooklyn,
and Micah also survive.
Memorial services for
Mrs. Patricia Anita Graham
were held Saturday, Janu
ary 30, 2021, at 3:00 p.m.
at Toombs County Funeral
Home of Lyons with Car
men Higgs speaking. The
family received friends for
visitation on Saturday, Jan
uary 30, 2021, from 2:00
p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
ROBERTS - STEWART
FUNERAL HOME
Full Paid Obituary
Clark and Shaw Monument Company
856 Lyons Center Road, Lyons, Georgia 30436
Georgia Marble • Granite • Bronze • Mausoleums
Office 912-526-4444
Fax 912-526-0508
Toll Free: 1-866-839-4563
Owners: Bill Clark and Chuck Shaw
email: clarkshawmonu@att.net
death, Helen was matriarch
to both the Darby fam
ily and the Threlkeld family.
She was stalwart to those
families and to her friends.
Her strength and her loy
alty were tendered by her
humor and fun-loving spir
it. To her daughter, Helen
instilled a love of adventure,
fun, and travel, but primar
ily she was the role model
of devotion and service.
To her grandchildren, she
left remembrances of the
“great times” they always
shared with her. When
they visited, she was never
too busy for them, and she
always had their favorite
things. One remembers the
candy drawer and cooking
together. Another remem
bers “Mema” playing the
organ and everyone singing
Christmas carols around
it. Still another remembers
she was always gracious
and she lived fife to the full
est. They all remember her
roses and blueberries. They
remember the beach and
playing bridge, the lemon
ice box cakes and her witty
comments. They remember
the fun of family reunions.
They saw that she was un
selfish in life and faithful to
God. Helen made sure the
entire family accompanied
her every Christmas Eve to
the Candlelight Service to
gether. She loved her family
and they loved her. Helen
recognized kindness and
she greatly appreciated the
wonderful caregivers who
stayed with her in her latter
years.
Vidalia was also recipi
ent of Helen Darby’s good
work. Implied in the Lady
of the Year honor, Helen
was community minded,
community dedicated, and
community committed.
She was active in organiza
tions of humanity in the
American Cancer Society
and Heart Association, in
activities of community
pride such as the Vidalia
Beautification Commis
sion, the Library Board,
and the Pine Ridge Garden
Club. She participated in
activities benefitting youth
such as the Girl Scouts
and the Vidalia Recreation
Board. She was involved
with activities emphasiz
ing the arts by supporting
the Franklinia Playhouse,
the Altama Gallery, ORCA,
and the original Commu
nity Concert series. Helen
was as visible as she was
generous.
Helen was preceded in
death by her husband of 51
years, James Franklin Darby,
Jr.; her father and mother,
H.A. Threlkeld and Lillian
Brice Threlkeld; stepmoth
er, Tiny Mann Threlkeld;
two brothers, Howard
Threlkeld (Polly), and
Gene Threlkeld (Freddie);
one sister, Joyce Moorman
(Banks). She is survived
by her daughter, Connie
Darby Williams, and her
husband Dick Williams;
three grandchildren, Darby
Williams Sands (Dale), Al
len Williams (Ellen), Helen
Williams Johnson (Ben);
six great-grandchildren,
Helen Sands, Ridley Sands,
Charlotte Williams, Lanier
Williams, Dudley John
son, Warner Johnson; two
brothers, Wade Threlkeld
(Leigh), Reid Threlkeld
(Sheri); and many nieces,
nephews, and cousins.
A Memorial Service to
pay respects to Helen will
be held at a later date when
conditions permit.
In lieu of flowers, dona
tions may be made to the
Music Program Vidalia First
United Methodist Church
(PO Box 150, Vidalia, GA
30475), Serenity Hospice
Care (104 Maple Drive, Vi
dalia, GA 30474), Pinecrest
Perpetual Cemetery Trust
(PO Box 280, Vidalia, GA
30474).
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. Donald Ray
Mr. Donald W. Ray,
age 80, of Lyons, died Sat
urday, January 30, 2021, at
the Dodge County Hospi
tal in Eastman after a brief
illness.
Mr. Ray was a na
tive of Dewey Rose in El
bert County, and in 1962,
served 4 years in the U.S.
Air Force and
2 years in the
Air Force
Reserve. He
moved to
Kennesaw
and worked with Lock
heed Aircraft Company
for 6 years. He started with
Georgia Power in the mid
1970’s and moved to Lyons
in 1979. He retired with
the Southern Company in
2002 as a journeyman elec
trician. He was a member
of Liberty Baptist Church
in Lyons, served as Chil
dren’s Church Director,
and was always available
for any church proj ects. He
was preceded in death by
his wife, Janet Olds Ray; 2
grandchildren, Abby Lau
ren Bowen and Kaleb Ray;
his parents, Steve Snow
Ray and Ilia Vatava Brooks
Ray; 1 sister, Gwen Ray
Maxwell; and 1 brother,
Billy Ray.
Survivors include 2
sons, Ken Ray and wife
Leslie, and Kevin R. Ray
and wife Kayla, all of Ly
ons; 2 daughters, Karen
M. Bowen and husband
Tony of Forest, VA, and
Katie Collins and husband
Charles of Eastman; 1 sis
ter-in-law, Scheryl Ray of
Elbert County; 13 grand
children, Kendra Beasley,
Katheryn Ray, Kelley Har
vey, Kaleigh Ray, Khloe
Ray, Karaline Ray, Kami
Ray, Anna Bowen, Ashley
Bowen, Amy Bowen, Sean
Collins, Alyssa Collins,
and Blake Collins; 4 great
grandchildren, Jake Beas
ley, Kayleb Beasley, Halli
Beasley and June Harvey.
The funeral service
will be held on Wednes
day, February 3, 2021, at
11:00 a.m., in Liberty Bap
tist Church, with Pastor
Michael Plowman officiat
ing. Burial will follow in
Pinecrest Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial donations may be
made to the Liberty Bap
tist Church Building Fund,
P.O. Box 410, Lyons, GA
30436.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Claire Johnson
Claire Walters Johnson
passed away January 27,
2021, after a struggle with
the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Claire was born May 14,
1938, to Hazel Rogers
Walters and Willis Rutland
Walters in her hometown
ofReidsville, Georgia.
Claire was a star bas
ketball player at Reidsville
High School and enjoyed
playing piano and singing
in the choir. She attended
Mercer University, where
she met many lifelong
friends and her future hus
band, Sid Johnson. She
graduated from Georgia
Southern University.
Claire and Sid were
married August 30, 1959,
and soon moved to DeKalb
County, where Claire in
vested her energies in their
family, friends, and com
munity.
Claire spent many
hours supporting Lakeside
High School and served
in leadership positions for
the DeKalb Historical So
ciety, DeKalb Council for
the Arts, and the Junior
League of DeKalb County.
She put her fingerprints on
the community through
her leadership of projects
such as the Callenwolde
Fine Arts Center restora
tion, DeKalb Courthouse
reconstruction, and the
Mary Gay House reloca
tion. She also served on the
Emory University Board of
Visitors.
Claire and Sid were
very active in the DeKalb
Democratic Party. They
spent many hours togeth
er on numerous political
campaigns throwing par
ties, delivering yard signs
and raising money. She was
appointed to the Georgia
Health Planning Review
Board and the Governor’s
Conference on Volun-
teerism.
Claire and Sid enjoyed
many friendships in the
community. They were
members of the Seekers
Class at Oak Grove United
Methodist Church. They
had many fond memories
of traveling and boating
with friends. And they es
pecially enjoyed time with
their dear neighbors Pat
and Don Minor and Paul
and Beverly Rohrabaugh.
They also enjoyed annual
reunions and visits with
the Johnson Clan at the Pe
ter Johnson House in Long
Pond, Georgia.
Claire demonstrated a
servant’s heart and a sacri
ficial love for her children
and grandchildren. After
moving to Vidalia, “Camp
Gaga” usually consisted of
hosting extravagant teas
while wearing fashion
able hats, swimming in the
pool, directing plays and
made-up dramas, and host
ing meals with wonderful
conversation around the
dinner table.
She was an elegant
southern lady whose bright
and engaging personality
lit up the room. She had
the gift of hospitality, ex
tending a warm welcome
to everyone who came
into her home. She and Sid
were a great team and had
a lasting impact on many
people.
Claire is preceded in
death by her husband, Al
bert Sidney Johnson, and
her son, Andrew Johnson
(Theresa). She is survived
by her son, Sid Johnson
III (Leslie), and daughter,
Ginny Sorenson (Eric),
and grandchildren, Maggie
Blow (Caleb), Ryan John
son, Christopher Johnson,
Valerie Johnson, and Ra
chel Johnson.
A graveside service
was held Tuesday, Febru
ary 2, at 2:00 p.m. at the
Long Pond Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, do
nations may be made to the
Vidalia First United Meth
odist Church.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
_
Mr. Louis Polk
Mr. Louis Dudley
“Lou” Polk, age 72, of
Cobbtown, died on Thurs
day, January 28, 2021, at
Meadows Health in Vidalia
after a brief illness.
Mr. Polk was born in
Jacksonville, FL, and lived
in Haines City, FL, until
he moved to Cobbtown
in 2017. He .
entered the
U.S. Army in
1965, and was
honorably
discharged as
a sergeant in 1976 after 4
tours of duty in Vietnam.
He was the recipient of
the Purple Heart. He was
a retired truck driver. He
was preceded in death by
his parents, Myrle Kayton
Polk and Grace Naomi Gill
Polk; and 2 brothers, Ray
Kayton Polk and Myrle
Knox Polk.
Survivors include
his wife, Eva Polk of
Cobbtown; 3 daughters,
Katie Robin Warady and
husband David, Kristy
Rose Maves and husband
Darrell, and Lynn Demko
and husband George; 3
sons, Joel Louis Polk, Dale
Dudley Polk, and Herbert
Charles Miller; 1 brother,
Vince Stevenson Polk; 11
grandchildren, Cheyenne
Polk, Lily Polk, Ashley
Gleason, Aaron Gleason,
Isaac Maves, Ian Maves,
Kansas Polk, Tina Mackin-
tosk, Bill Mackintosh and
wife Denise, Jessica Riggan
and husband Chad, and
Andrea Soots and husband
Matt; 8 great-grandchil
dren, Dean, Kendyl, Kylee,
Kinsley, Tabatha, Savan
nah, Hunter, and Spencer;
3 great-great-grandkids,
Emily, Robbie and Nova
Lynn; and several nieces
and nephews.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"