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The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - Page 5
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Dr. James D. Clifton
Dr. James D. Clifton, 70, of Twin City, passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at
Community Hospice in Vidalia, following a brief illness.
Dr. Clifton was born April 29,1954, in Vidalia to Jim Paul Clifton and Norma
Jean King Clifton. He is preceded in death by his parents. He enjoyed deep-sea
fishing, watching NASCAR and Georgia football, and having a love for the ocean's
blue water. Dr. Clifton was a member of The First Baptist Church in Swainsboro.
Dr. Clifton graduated from Montgomery County High School in 1972. He
continued his education at the University of Georgia from 1972 to 1973 and
Valdosta State College from 1973 to 1975, earning a bachelor’s in chemistry. He
later attended West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine from 1977 to 1981,
obtaining his D.O. Degree. He completed his rotating internship at Carson City
Hospital, Carson City, Michigan, from 1981 to 1982. He was Board-Certified in
Family Practice. Dr. Clifton began his private practice in Swainsboro in 1982. During his career in Swainsboro,
he served as Chief of Staff at Emanuel County Hospital from January 1992 to December 1992, and he was a member
of the Board of Directors at Georgia Medical Care Foundation. He also served as Medical Director of Emergency Medical
Service in Swainsboro from 1987 until his passing in 2024.
He also held other significant positions, including serving as a physician at Emanuel County Jail, Emanuel
Women’s Facility, and Emanuel Probation Detention Center. He also spent many years as a Part-Time
Emergency Room physician and was the Medical Examiner for Emanuel County.
Dr. Clifton is survived by his wife, Melissa Archer Clifton of Twin City; sons, Jonathan (Brandi) Clifton,
Chandler (Kelli) Moore, both of Swainsboro; daughter, Mabry (Zach) Paulk of Statesboro; grandsons, Rowan
Clifton, Maddox Clifton, and Everett Clifton; brother, Joe (Kathi) Clifton of Valdosta; sister, Jane (Rick) Davis
of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.; other family members and friends.Services were held at First Baptist Church of
Swainsboro on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., with Reverend Tim Grant officiating.
Velma Sapp Bragg
Velma Sapp Bragg, Lovingly known as “Bae Bae”, entered into rest on Friday,
May 3, 2024, at the age of 81, where she was surrounded by her family. A beloved
wife, sister, and aunt, Bae Bae’s love for her family was her greatest joy. A native of
Millen, she was born in May 21,1942, to the late William Russell “Speedee” Sapp
and Melrose Jackson Sapp. Bae Bae graduated from Jenkins County High School in
i960 and later graduated from Warren Candler Nursing School in 1963. She went on
to achieve her Enterstomal Therapist certification from Emory University. She loved
her church and was an active member of Habersham United Methodist Church
for her entire life. Bae Bae had a God given gift for nursing. She worked her entire
nursing career at Burke County Hospital for 50 years retiring in 2013.Bae Bae was
the undisputed Grand Matron of the Quality Life Association. She Over 39 years ago,
she worked closely with Dr. William O. Barnett where they initiated the organization
and helped to build the foundation of QLA. She was active and dedicated to every
aspect of QLA having served in every office and lending advice and friendship to so
many of its members. Still today, QLA has a reserved seat for Bae Bae as they carry
on the mission of the organization that she devoted her life to.
Bae Bae has been a source of love, guidance, wisdom and support for many in her life, her family and the
medical community. Her legacy will live on in the memories and lessons she shared with those she touched.
Bae Bae was preceded in death by her parents, Speedee and Melrose Sapp, her siblings Jeanette Sapp
Brantley, Gene Sapp, and Melvin Sapp.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Walter Bragg; her sisters, Joyce Joyce Sapp Lanier, Carolyn Sapp
Law, and Marilyn Sapp Welch, and several nieces and nephews that hold a special place in their heart for their
Aunt Bae Bae.
Active Pallbearers will be Trey Black, Jason Williams, Ernest Lanier, Thomas Kelly, Jack Welch, Dr. Larry
Jackson and John Cl eve Newton.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Junior Joyner, Jamie Newton, Chris Hawes, Jake Newton, Drew Newton, and
Eddie Dickey.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm Monday, May 7, at Habersham United Methodist Church with burial
following in the Millen Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Habersham United Methodist Church, P O Box 82, Millen, GA 30442.
Eloise Melvin
Eloise Melvin was born May 19,1947, to the Hamp Golphin, Jr., and Madella Marshall
Golphin in Millen, GA; she departed this life on April 24, 2024.
At an early age she joined the Williams Grove Baptist Church and served on the usher
board for many years.
Eloise received an education from Burgess Landing School; she was employed at Crider
Poultry for many years. She united in holy matrimony to Willie Melvin on January 27,1996.
Eloise was preceded in death by her parents, her elder sister, Marinda McNair,
three grandchildren, Rhamunda Kelly, Monica Evans, and Christopher Wimberly.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband, Willie Melvin; five children,
Elnora (Samuel) McGriff, Johnnie Mae (Thomas) Whitfield, Willie Albert (Dee
Dee) Evans, all of Millen, GA, Robert (Sylvia) Evans of Richmond Hill, GA, Teresa
(William) Colbert of Triangle, VA; nine siblings, Carrie (Willie) Collins of New
York, NY, Bernice (Harrison) Morris, Arlener Golphin, Susie Wimberly, Dorethea
Golphin, all of Millen, GA, Leroy (Ruby) Goffer, St. Petersburg, FL, Robert Golphin, Midville, GA, Robert
(Sarah) Johnson, Millen, GA, and James (Jennifer) Williams, Fort Lauderdale, FL; twenty-three grandchildren,
twenty-two great-grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild; one surviving uncle, Mitch Holmes, Millen,
GA and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Sunday,
May 5 at Wiliams Grove Baptist Church, Millen.
Lula Mae Goodman
Lula was born on February 9,1927, in Jenkins County to James Eugene and Rosie Lee Goodman. She received her formal
education at Scull Creek #1. At an early age Lula’s spiritual journey began after rendering her life to Christ. She was baptized
and became a member of Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.
Years later she relocated to Miami, FL where she united with New Resurrection Community Church under the leadership of
Reverend Dr. Anthony Tate and Evangelist Stephen Tate. She also served as Mother of the Church. Mother Goodman lived in
Miami for sixty-one years.
During her time in Florida, she was employed by Dr. and Mrs. Rand as their house manager. After her health started failing,
she relocated back to Georgia.
Mother Goodman was preceded in death by her parents, and two daughters, Minister Marvelyn Reese, and Lorie Lammons.
She leaves a legacy of love and memories to: daughters, Glenora Hicks and Ernestine (Ellis) Miller; two
grandchildren she raised as daughters, Shanika Evans and Tia Wallace; two goddaughters,
Willimena Ford and Brenda Worlds; two godsons, Ravis Ford and Milton Biggham; one remaining first
cousin, Louise (Lewis) Davis; special and devoted friend, Janie Hill; twelve grandchildren,
twenty-three great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren, and a host of other loving relatives and
friends to cherish her memories.
A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. from Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Millen.
Stevie Roberson, Jr.
Stevie Roberson, Jr. was born on December 23,1990, to Susie Matthews and Stevie Roberson, Sr. He accepted
Christ at an early age and joined Williams Grove Baptist Church. He was a 2010 graduate of Jenkins County High
School; he also attended Augusta Technical College in Waynesboro, GA for welding and commercial Driving
School in Savannah, GA for his commercial driver’s license.
He was a benevolent and compassionate man who loved helping anyone in need. He genuinely loved and
adored his family, taking extra effort to make each relative feel like the most important person on earth.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: his parents, Susie Matthews and Stevie Roberson; one sister,
Santwonetta Matthews, one brother, Ryan Shondai Roberson, all of Millen, GA; his maternal grandparents,
Mr. Harrison and Mrs. Bernice Morris of Millen, Ga; his parental grandparents, Mr. Lloyd & Mrs. Catherine
Roberts of Waynesboro, GA; his paternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Virginia Jackson, Millen, GA; aunts &
uncles, Mr. Randy Morris (LaRhonda) of Augusta, GA, Mr. Tracy Bynes (Necola) of Millen, GA, Mrs. Aletha
Kelly (Keith) of Millen, Ms. Jennifer Roberts, Fairburn, GA; a special god-son, Darren Sherpard; niece &
nephew, Shondai Foster and Serenity Foster, and a host of cousins, other relatives, and friends.
A celebration of life was held Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. from Williams Grove Baptist Church, Millen.
Letters to the editor of The Jenkins County Times are welcomed and encouraged. These are pages of opinion, yours and ours. Letters to the editor
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Wednesday. Email Letters to the Editor to: news@jenkinscountytimes.com
Sam Eades Publisher
All that thrills
my soul, is Jesus
As many of you know, I sang with my family. "The
five M's." I have to say, it is one of my fondest
memories. We sang every popular song at the time
and one of my favorites was "All that thrills my soul,
is Jesus." The family always sang it with enthusiasm
and very joyful.
At the end of one of our concerts, as we gave the
invitation, a little old man came forward with a big
smile and asked to be saved. He said to the pastor, "I
was moved by the song, All that thrills my soul, is
Jesus...I want my soul to be thrilled."
What a joyful time that was. It is always a joy to see
folks come to the Lord and accept him as Lord and Savior.
Most of us have expereinced the thrill of going to
a ball game and getting excited about a home run, or
going to a football game and feeling excitment over a
touch down. We even get really excited over the birth
of a new child or grand-child. These do our hearts
good and we are so happy over all of them.
However, all these events and experiences pale
to the thrill or excitment of knowing Jesus as our
personal Savior and Lord. Just experiencing his daily
presence and his place in our lives.
For the awards we win, the achievements we
earn and all the possessions we own seem exciting,
however these things will pass away. Scripture does
tell us that the things here on earth will rust and be
stolen, so we are to lay up our treasures in heaven.
The writer of "All that thrills my soul", Thoro
Harris, must have known this truth in the early
1900's when he wrote this great hymn of testimony.
Harris was born in Washington, D.C. in March of
1874 to a father who was a black doctor and a mother
who was white. Harris was a producer of hymnals
and wrote many himself. Throughout his life he
composed and compiled numerous works and became
known for walking around Chicago, where he lived at
one time, to sell books & hymnals from canvas bags he
carried around. He was a man of profound faith.
Thoro was one of the most prolific African-
American hymn writers of the early 20th century.
He moved seamlessly in both white and black
circles, as well as in both Holiness and Pentecostal
churches. He also owned a boarding house for a time,
which is still in operation today as a bed-and-breakfast.
Mr. Harris died in Eureka Springs on March 27,
1955 at the age of 80.
I sure hope that this hymn is or can be your
testimony as you sing along with me or just read
the words. While many exciting things happen to
us through this life, all that should thrill our soul
is Jesus and the reality of his daily and wonderful
presence.
Thoro Harris
Who can cheer the heart like Jesus,
By His presence all divine?
True and tender, pure and precious,
O how blest to call Him mine!
All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest often thousand
in my blessed Lord I see.
(2) Love of Christ so freely given,
Grace of God beyond degree,
Mercy higher than the heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea!
(3) What a wonderful redemption!
Never can a mortal know
How mu sin, tho red like crimson,
Can be whiter than the snow.
(4) Every need His hand supplying,
Every good in Him I see;
On His strength divine relying,
He is all in all to me.
(5) Bu the crystal flowing river,
With the ransomed I wul sing,
And forever and forever,
Praise and glorify the King.
All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest often thousand
in my blessed Lord I see.
THE
COTTON GIN
" Millen's Florist"
478.982.2153
717 Cotton Ave.
Millen, GA
Since 1987
Mothers Day
May 12th
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflowwith hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.