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The ADVANCE, March 17, 2021/Page 7A
Obituaries
Mrs. Jo Beckham
Mrs. Ruby “Jo” Brown
Beckham passed away
March 9, 2021, at Oxley
Park and Rehab in Lyons
after an extended illness.
She was born in Higgston,
Georgia, on July 14, 1928.
She grew up in Vidalia and
graduated from Vidalia
High School in 1945. She
attended the University
of Georgia and Jackson
ville University, receiv
ing degrees in Music and
Education. She later added
certification in Library Sci
ence from the University of
Florida. She was certified
to teach in public schools in
both Georgia and Florida.
She retired from the Du
val County School System
after the opening of two
new school libraries, and
serving as Head Librar
ian. She used her degree
in piano and organ perfor
mance by serving as pianist
and organist in churches in
Georgia and Florida from
1950 until 2007, playing
for church services, Bible
classes, church orchestras,
special events, including
weddings, funerals, plays,
and revivals. In 1980, she
and her husband moved to
Vidalia, GA, to take over
management of the family
business, Brown’s Jewelry,
which they managed until
1996.
She is preceded in
death by her husband of 50
years, Dr. Otto F. Beckham,
Jr.; her eldest son, James
Otto “Jim” Beckham; her
parents, James Orrin and
Jennie Lee Brown; her
brother, Dr. Lamar Al
len Brown; and her sister,
Dorothy Mae Brown Mc-
Corkle.
Survivors include one
son, Robert H. Beckham
and wife Lilia; daughter-in-
law, Cindy Beckham; four
grandchildren, Silke, Na
dine, Nicole, and Jennie;
ten great-grandchildren,
Jamie, Kaylin, Ruby, Kiron,
Kiana, Eason, Lexi, Cash,
Gatson, and Gensen.
A graveside funer
al service was held at
Pinecrest Cemetery on Fri
day, March 12, at 3:00 p.m.
with Reverend Scott Mor
rison officiating.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial contributions may
be made to Lymphoma
and Leukemia and Lym
phoma Society by visiting
their website at donatedls.
org.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Nell Hodges
Mrs. Nell H. Hodges,
age 94, of Vidalia, died on
Monday, March 8, 2021, at
The Oaks Bethany in Vida
lia after an extended illness.
Mrs. Hodges was
a native of Hardeeville,
SC, and lived in Toombs
County since 1939. She
was a homemaker and vol
unteered at the Paul An
derson Youth Home since
it was founded in 1961.
She was a member of First
United Methodist Church
of Vidalia, where she vol
unteered in the children’s
nursery. She was preceded
in death by her husband,
William Maxwell “Bill”
Hodges; her son, William
Hodges, Jr.; her parents
Richard Hiers and Pauline
Pritcher Hiers; 1 sister,
Margaret Willbanks; and 1
brother, Richard “Buddy”
Hiers.
Survivors include 1
daughter, Bikie Hodges
Randall, and 1 grandson,
Carson Randall, both of
Lyons; 1 great-grandson,
Brody Randall; and several
nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral ser
vice was held on Wednes
day, March 10, 2021, at
3:00 p.m., in Pinecrest
Cemetery, with Rev. David
Blalock officiating.
In lieu flowers, memo
rial contributions may be
made to the Paul Anderson
Youth Home, P.O. Box 525,
Vidalia, GA 30475.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Carol Fulford
Mrs. Carol Gunter
Fulford, age 69, of Uvalda,
died on Wednesday, March
10, 2021, surrounded by
her family.
Mrs. Fulford was born
in Richmond County,
grew up in Savannah, and
was a graduate of Groves
High School. She lived in
Toombs County for sev
eral years before moving
to Montgomery County in
1984. She attended Uvalda
Church of God. She was
preceded in death by her
parents, Carl Gunter, Sr.,
and Betty Snellings Gunter
Claxton; her stepfather,
James “Man” Claxton; and
1 brother, Carl Gunter, Jr.
Survivors include her
husband of 46 years, Em
mett Fulford of Uvalda;
2 sons, Dustin Fulford of
Uvalda, and Derrick Ful
ford and special daughter-
in-law, Lacy of Lyons; 1
stepson, Chuck Fulford of
Indiana; grandchildren,
Justin, Tommy, Donnie,
Gage, Rocky, Alexis, and
Kameron; 4 sisters, Gail
White and husband Tom
my of Smyrna, Carleen Ai-
kens and husband Hubert
of Powder Springs, Angie
Tanner and husband Doyle
of Dublin, and Becky Right
of Lyons; 1 brother, Gary
Claxton and wife Leann
of Byron; 1 sister-in-law,
Dawn Carey and husband
Eric of Vidalia; and several
nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral
service was held on Friday,
March 12, 2021, at 11:00
a.m., in the Cedar Crossing
Church of God Cemetery,
with Pastor Alvin Merritt
and Rev. Tommy White of
ficiating.
Pallbearers were Dale
Ward, Dustin Coley, Matt
Powell, Jason Claxton,
Mark Claxton, Tillis Jack-
son, Justin Brown and Jody
Sweat.
Those desiring may
make memorial contribu
tions to Regency South-
ernCare Hospice, 2311
East First St., Vidalia, GA
30474.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Dennis Hale, Jr.
Mr. E. Dennis Hale, Jr.,
age 46, of Johnson Corner,
died on Wednesday, March
10, 2021, in the Augusta
University Medical Center
after a brief illness.
Mr. Hale was a native
of Callahan, FL, a 1993
graduate of West Nassau
County High School and
a 1995 graduate of ITT
Technical Institute. He
worked for several years as
an information technology
specialist, traveling across
the country. After mov
ing to Toombs County, he
worked with Pop’s General
Store, Taylor’s Grocery,
and Farmer’s Fertilizer,
with various software ap
plications for their busi
ness. He was preceded in
death by his father, Eugene
Dennis Hale, Sr.; his ma
ternal grandparents, Payne
and Eula Denmark; and his
paternal grandparents, Wil
lard Hale and Merdis Hale
Hallmark.
Survivors include his
mother, Nellie Denmark
Dees Hale of Johnson Cor
ner; 3 sisters, Rhonda Hale
of Lake City, FL, Mandy
Dees Williamson and hus
band Scott of Johnson
Corner, and Kathy Smith
of Hemphill, TX; 1 broth
er, Ryan Dees of Johnson
Corner; nieces and neph
ews, Wayne O. Hygena II
and wife Gina, Sarah Dees,
Lyndi Nahabetian and hus
band Gus, Cassie Ham
mond and husband Dan
iel; and several great-nieces
and great-nephews.
A graveside funeral
service was held on Sun
day, March 14, 2021, at
3:00 p.m., at the Edmond
Chapel Church of God
Cemetery, with Pastor
Mark Griffis officiating.
Pallbearers were Mike
Smith, Chuck McLendon,
Mann Denmark, Jermaine
Denmark, Partin Porras
and Rodrigo Porras.
Memorial contribu
tions may be made to the
Edmond Chapel Church of
God, 2380 Hwy. 56, East,
Lyons, GA 30436, or the
American Kidney Associa
tion by visiting their web
site at kidney.org.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mr. Curtis Mathis, Sr.
Mr. Curtis Mathis Sr.,
age 79, of Adrian, died on
Wednesday, March 10,
2021, at the Carl Vinson
VA Medical Center in
Dublin.
Mr. Mathis was born in
Meeks and was a graduate
of Adrian High School. Af
ter high school he worked
with his fa
ther for a
short time
before enlist
ing in the U.S.
Army, where
he served in the Berlin
conflict. He was honorably
discharged in 1962 and
returned home and began
a long career in the family
business as a brick mason.
He worked in Georgia,
South Carolina and Ten
nessee before settling in the
Rincon and Richmond Hill
area for a number of years
building Walmart stores.
He retired in 1993 and re
turned to Adrian in the late
1990s. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Hu
bert Guy Mathis and Al-
bertice Smith Mathis, and
1 sister, Doris Sumner.
Survivors include his
wife of 59 years, Annie Jo
Hutcheson Mathis; his
children, Terri Lynn Saenz,
Floresville, TX, William
Craig Mathis (Carol),
Bloomingdale, Darlene
McDaniel, Adrian, and
Hugh Curtis Mathis, Jr.
(Sylvia), Cedar Crossing;
1 brother, Guy Mathis,
Americus; 1 sister, Mar
garet Turner, Cochran;
14 grandchildren; 4 great
grandchildren; and several
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were
conducted on Monday,
March 15, 2021, at 1:00
p.m., in the Williams Cha
pel of Sammons Funeral
Home, with Rev. Allen
Wiggins officiating. Inter
ment followed on his prop
erty in Johnson County.
Sammons Funeral
Home in Soperton was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. James Ely, Sr.
Mr. James Carlton Ely,
Sr., age 96 of Soperton,
died on Wednesday, March
10, 2021, under the care of
Community Hospice in Vi
dalia.
Mr. Ely was born in
Johnson County. His first
employment was at the
Adrian Saw Mill, followed
by working with Ivey Wil
son as a mechanic at the
Service Station. In the
1960s he joined Adrian
Housing as a mechanic,
where he worked for over
35 years until he retired
in the late 1990s. He was
a member of Blackville
Church of God, where he
was a Deacon and for many
years played his guitar at
the church. He was pre
ceded in death by his par
ents, Henry Lee and Lilly
Mae Johnson Ely; his wife,
Mavel Dean Dickens Ely;
and his siblings, Ruby Can-
nady, H.B. Ely, Barnett Ely,
Jimmy Ely, Doris Thigpen
and Leland Ely.
Survivors include 2
sons, Carlton Ely (Con
nie) and Bruce Ely, both of
Soperton; 2 grandchildren,
Kimberly Ely, Soperton,
and Kenneth Ely (Brandy),
Dublin; 4 great-grandchil
dren, Gage Mitchell, Char-
lee Ely, Cole Mitchell, and
Jonah Ely; and numerous
nieces, nephews and great-
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were
conducted on Sunday,
March 14, 2021, at 2:00
p.m., at Blackville Church
of God, with Pastor Kip
Boswell and Pastor Gor
don Statum officiating.
Interment followed in Har
mony Baptist Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Rick
Dickens, Chris Dick
ens, Craig Dickens, Brad
Hanson, Jamey Toler and
Wayne Williams.
Sammons Funeral
Home in Soperton was in
charge of arrangements.
Ms. Allison McArthur
Ms. Allison Jeanelle
McArthur of Vidalia died
on March 3, 2021, at
Meadows Regional Medi
cal Center in Vidalia.
Ms. McArthur was a
native of Toombs County.
Survivors include her
parents, Allen and Henri
etta McArthur, Sr., Vida
lia; 3 sons, Jaden Bennet,
Jamari McArthur, and Jo-
siah Waller, all of Vidalia; 2
brothers, Allen McArthur,
Jr., and Romie Morris (Tif
fany), both of Lyons; 2 sis
ters, Ashley McArthur and
Angie (Josh) Troupe, both
of Vidalia; her grandmoth
er, Evelyn McRae, Lyons,
and many other relatives.
A graveside funeral
service was held on Sat
urday, March 13, 2021,
at 1:00 p.m., in East Park
Cemetery i Vidalia.
Tliiialta
Shuteral Home
106 Pine St., Vidalia
537-8887
Nitty
continued from page 6A
What’s happening?
Why aren’t Americans
making babies?
According to Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
it’s because the times are so
hard and stressful.
“(E)ntire generations
are sunk w/inhumane
levels of student debt, low
incomes, high rent, no
guarantee of healthcare &
little action on climate
change,” she tweeted out to
explain our baby bust.
Are things really so
uniquely hard today
compared with times gone
by that couples no longer
want to bring children into
the world?
Are we not procreating
because young couples are
stressed out that economies
are spewing too much
carbon into the
atmosphere, which will
supposedly cause
temperatures to rise?
In 1935, at the height
of the Great Depression,
when the nation’s
unemployment rate stood
at 20%, the fertility rate
was 2.17 — above the
replacement rate and well
above today’s 1.78.
The U.S. fertility rate
in 1900 was almost 4, more
than double today’s rate.
Please don’t tell me it was
because times were so
much more safe and
certain over a century ago.
In a 2019 Pew
Research survey, 16% said
having children is essential
for a man to have a fulfilling
life. Twenty-two percent
said it is essential for a
woman to have a fulfilling
life.
In the same survey,
57% said that “having a job
or a career they enjoy” is
essential for a man to have
a fulfilling life. Forty-six
percent said “having a job
or career they enjoy” is
essential for a woman to
have a fulfilling life.
Regarding being
married, 16% said it is
essential for a man to have
a fulfilling life, and 17%
said it is essential for a
woman to have one.
This data, I think,
sheds light on why
Americans are not having
children. It’s not because
times are so hard. Every
time is challenging, and
Americans are more
comfortable and
prosperous today than ever
in history.
Maybe the Brookings
scholars will be right about
having 300,000 fewer
births in the U.S. in 2021
because of COVID. But
consider that in Planned
Parenthood’s most recent
fiscal year, it performed
354,871 abortions.
Having children is
about life, and life is about
caring for more than just
yourself. Calling abortion
women’s health care and
thinking that your job is
three times more
important than bringing
new life into the world is
not a sign of a healthy
culture with a healthy soul.
If we want insight into
our baby bust, this is what
we should be thinking
about.
Star Parker is president of
the Center for Urban Renewal
and Education and host of
the new weekly news talk
show "Cure America with Star
Parker."
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: darkshawmonu@att.net