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Thursday, February 25, 2021
The Upson Beacon
Crystal Hill Monument Co.
Let us help you create a fitting
tribute to a loved one.
706-647-9685
A division of Coggins Funeral Home
Call Ryan Fulghum or Kenny Coggins
FLETCHER-DAY
funeral
Since 1893
Obituary Line
(706) 648-0008
or go to www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com for up-to-date information
24-Hour Obituary Line
Oatt anytime - day nr night
706-648-1111
Coggins Funeral ttoME
321 Hannah's Mill Rd. -Thomaston - 706-647-9681
www.cogginsfuneralhome.com
BARNESVILLE
Marble & Granite Company
Serving Middle Georgia for 112 Years
Designers
& Manufacturers of
SULLIVAN
Marble, Granite
and Bronze
Memorials
Since 1908
Owned and Operated by
George and Janice Moore
770.358.1470
124 Railroad Street • Barnesville
The Upson Beacon (ISSN or USPS 25625)
February 25,2021 - Volume 14, Number 8
Published Weekly by Upson Newspapers, Inc.
108 East Gordon Street, Thomaston, GA 30286
P: 706-646-2382
Subscription Price:
$29 Per Year in Upson County
$39 Per Year in State; $49 Per Year out of State
Periodicals Postage Pending or Paid at Thomaston, GA
Postmaster:
Please send address changes to
The Upson Beacon, 108 East Gordon Street, Thomaston, Ga 30286
Debbie McClain
Publisher & Advertising Director
dlord@upsonbeacon. com
Bridge Turner
General Manager & Managing Editor
bturner@upsonbeacon. com
Luke Haney
Graphics/Photography/Lifestyle Editor
lhaney@upsonbeacon.com
Jacob Stewart
Sports Editor & Photographer
sports@upsonbeacon.com
Jean Render
Office Manager & Human Resources
The Upson Beacon is proudly published for the citizens of Upson County by
Upson Newspapers, Inc., locally owned and operated by Debbie McClain and Bridge
Turner. Our goal is to produce quality, community-oriented publications of which our
readers can be proud. We will attain that goal through diligence, teamwork, and ded
ication to printing the truth in an accurate, fair, balanced, and objective manner.
Policies: Signed letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. We do not
edit for content, only grammar, spelling and punctuation when necessary, as des
ignated by Associated Press style guidelines. Unsigned, libelous, or profane letters
will not be published. Please limit letters to 400 words or less. Liability for errors in
advertising will not exceed the space occupied by the error. We reserve the right to
edit all submitted materials.
Mary Rowell Bennett
Mrs. Mary Rowell Ben
nett, age 96, a resident of
Dothan, formerly of Thom
aston, passed away Wed
nesday, Feb. 17, 2021 at her
residence.
Graveside services were
held Saturday, Feb. 20 at
Upson Memorial Gardens
in Thomaston, with Rev.
Joey Smith officiating and
Glover Funeral Home di
recting. Contributions can
be made to East Thomaston
Baptist Church, P.O. Box
329, Thomaston, GA
30286, or Gideon’s Inter
national North Camp P.O.
Box 5554 Dothan, AL
36301.
Mrs. Bennett was born
June 10,1924 in Thomaston
to Johnny Rowell and Iris
Bussey Rowell. She gradu
ated from R.E. Lee Institute
and she retired after 36
years from Thomaston Mills
as a data entry specialist.
She was a member of East
Thomaston Baptist Church
in Thomaston.
Mary was predeceased
by her parents, husband,
and two brothers, Elbert
Rowell and J.M. Rowell.
Survivors include her
son, Robert Bennett of Do
than; two grandchildren,
Chris Bennett (Lynn) of
Headland, Alecia Bennett
(Alan Hudson) of Madison,
Ala.; nine great-grandchil
dren; and one great-great-
grandchild.
Glover Funeral Home of
Dothan has been entrusted
with the arrangements.
Please sign the guestbook
online at gloverfuneral.com.
Mr. Ronny Howell
Blackstock
Mr. Ronny Howell
Blackstock, age 76, of
Thomaston, died Thursday,
Feb. 18, 2021 at The Medi
cal Center, Navicent Health
in Macon.
Mr. Blackstock was born
in Upson County Nov. 19,
1944, to the late William
“Bill” Hardy Blackstock and
the late Elizabeth “Betty”
Howell Blackstock. He was
a 1962 graduate of R.E. Lee
Institute and a 2016 gradu
ate of Gordon State College.
Mr. Blackstock was a
proud veteran of the United
States Marines. He retired
from the U.S. Postal Service
in 2006 and formerly taught
drafting at Upson Tech. He
was a Past Master and
Emeritus member of Morn
ing Star Masonic Lodge and
a member of the charitable
T Town Toyz Car Club. Be
cause of his faithful com
panions Maggie, Gunner,
and Ada, he was a volunteer
for the Upson Humane So
ciety as recycle director.
Mr. Blackstock was a
Our staff
is"A"mazing!
We're proud to announce
we scored an A for our
Leapfrog Safety Score.
At Upson, our patients' safety is always a critical component in everything we do.
This dedication to keeping our patients safe has just been recognized with a Leapfrog Score of"A"for safety.
Patient safety and our resulting A Score means protecting our patients from errors, injuries,
accidents, and infections. And to that end, two major accomplishments we've attained are:
No Ventilator Associated Events or Hospital Acquired C.Diff cases.
Receiving such a high score makes us proud. Keeping you safe also makes us very happy.
HOSPITAL
SAFETY
FALL2020 GRADE
Funeral Notices
member of Clark’s Chapel
Baptist Church, where he
served as assistant coordi
nator of the Samaritan’s
Purse Operation Christmas
Child Project.
Survivors include his
wife of 51 years, Brenda B.
Blackstock; a daughter,
Rhonda B. Davis; a sister
and brother-in-law, Barbara
B. and Mark Staples.
He is also survived by
sisters-in-law, Diane B.
Hammond and Debbie B.
Fallin; brother and sister-in
law, Mike and Cindy C.
Bridges; and cousins Mar
sha G. and Bill Lipham. Sev
eral nieces and nephews
also survive.
Funeral services for Mr.
Blackstock were held Sun
day, Feb. 21 at Clark's
Chapel Baptist Church, with
Rev. Dean Hemphill offici
ating. Burial followed at
Southview Cemetery. The
service was live streamed
from Clark’s Chapel Face-
book page.
In lieu of flowers, me
morial donations can be
made to The Upson Hu
mane Society, PO Box 1152,
Thomaston, GA 30286.
You may sign the online
guest book and share your
own special thoughts with
Mr. Blackstock’s family by
visiting the Coggins Funeral
Home website at cogginsfu-
neralhome.com.
Coggins Funeral Home
in Thomaston had the priv
ilege of being entrusted with
the arrangements.
a.
Mrs. Brenda
Lowe Boyt
Mrs. Brenda Lowe Boyt,
age 75, of Meansville,
passed away Saturday, Feb.
20, 2021 at her residence.
Mrs. Boyt was born Dec.
15, 1945 in Thomaston, to
the late Edward Lowe and
the late Lillian Birdsong
Lowe. She was formerly em
ployed with 1888 Mills and
Sherilynn, where she was
the supervisor over the sew
ing department. Mrs. Boyt
was a member of Light
house Pentecostal Church.
In addition to her parents,
she was preceded in death
by her husband Elmo Boyt;
grandson Chais Boyt; and
numerous siblings.
Survivors include her
daughter, Lori (Jeannie)
Boyt of Thomaston; sons
Chris (Cathy) Boyt and Dale
(Kayla) Boyt, all of Thomas
ton; brothers, Ronnie
(Teresa) Lowe of Thomas
ton and Ray (Susie) Lowe of
Thomaston; sisters Sheila
Holtapp of Griffin, Susie
(Jack) Boyt of Thomaston,
Gloria (Conrad) Smith of
Thomaston, Janelle
(Tommy) Howell of Thom
aston, and Juanita Morgan
of Yatesville; eight grand
children; and four great
grandchildren.
Funeral Services were
held Tuesday, Feb. 23 from
the chapel of Coggins Fu
neral Home. Burial followed
in Crystal Hill Cemetery.
You may sign the online
guest book and share your
own special thoughts with
Mrs. Boyt’s family by visit
ing the Coggins Funeral
Home website at cogginsfu-
neralhome.com.
Coggins Funeral Home
in Thomaston had the priv
ilege of being entrusted with
the arrangements.
Roger Eden Bradley
Roger Eden Bradley, age
81, of Thomaston, passed
away Feb. 18, 2021 at River
side Nursing Home. He was
born Oct. 2, 1939 in Bogart,
to the late Guy Bradley and
Doris Wilson. He was pre
ceded in death by his par
ents; his son, Roger “Skip”
Bradley, Jr.; and one great-
granddaughter, Miriam.
He is survived by his
wife of 45 years, Brenda
Bradley; son, Kirk Bradley
(Teri); daughter, Debbie
Bray (Scott); daughter-in-
law, Jan Bradley; five
grandchildren, Matthew,
Mark, Rebekah, Rachel, and
Abbigayle; three great-
granddaughters, Lillian,
Claudia, and Penelope;
brother, Norman Wilson;
and sister, Murrell Cording;
numerous nieces and
nephews; friends; and be
loved pets.
The family will hold a
private memorial service at
a later date.
In lieu of flowers, dona
tions may be made to The
Upson County Humane So
ciety, PO Box 1152, Thomas
ton, GA 30286, or contact
them at upsonhuman-
esociety@gmail.com or
706-647-1881.
Mrs. Mary
Osbolt Brannon
Mrs. Mary Osbolt Bran
non, age 96, of Thomaston,
died Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.
Mary was born in Ben
ton, Ala. Dec. 15, 1924. She
lived on a farm in lower Al
abama, the daughter of a
local farm girl and a hard
working 1907 Croatian im
migrant. Later her family
moved to Thomaston,
where she grew up and lived
the rest of her life.
She was preceded in
death by her husband, Wil
liam Brannon; her son, Billy
Brannon; her grandson,
Travis Brannon; and three
siblings.
She is survived by her
children and daughter-in-
law, Nita Brannon, Tom
(Mary) Brannon of Thomas
ton, Kenny (Eleanor) Bran
non of Wedowee, Ala.,
Donny (Karen) Brannon of
Hoschton; grandchildren,
Wendy (Troy) Brooks, Mi
chelle (Gary) Kilby, Jeff
Brannon, Bill (Stacey) Bran
non, Sam Brannon, Keeley
(Nick) Grow, Scott (Hillary)
Brannon, Rachael (Matt)
Solik, and Mitchell (Jack-
lyn) Brannon.
She was a proud mother
of four boys, a loving
mother-in-law, grand
mother of nine, and great
grandmother of 15. So many
others claim Mimi as their
second mother, an honor
she cherished. Mary was a
devoted Christian who
never wavered in her faith
and love for her church. She
worshiped at Shiloh Baptist
Church for many years,
where she sang in the choir
and supported the soup
kitchen by regularly baking
cornbread.
Mary worked for BF
Goodrich/Martha Mills for
many years. After retire
ment, she shared her many
talents and love for people
as an employee keeping
records and supporting so
cial activities at Providence
Nursing Home until she
once again retired at 80
years old. She then regularly
volunteered at Upson Re
gional Medical Center and
organized class reunions
and Silvertown Community
reunions.
She loved people and
people loved her. She often
hosted bunco and bridge at
her home and is remem
bered by her longtime
friends as a fierce competi
tor. She was an avid fan of
the Georgia Tech Yellow
Jackets and the Atlanta
Braves.
Mary was affectionately
known as Mimi by her
family and by most of those
who knew her. She had a
natural talent for making
everyone she met her
family. She was a gracious
hostess who welcomed all
into her home. Mimi was a
precious gem to all she en
countered, and a true south
ern lady.
She will be laid to rest in
a private, graveside service
of immediate family. Later
this year, all loved ones and
friends will be graciously
asked to a local celebration
of her life and an outpour
ing of love from those who
were so loved by our be
loved Mimi.
While our family is
heartbroken, we know she
impacted so many lives
through her Christ-led ex
ample and take comfort
knowing that she is walking
with and rejoicing in the
presence of the Lord.
The family would like to
express appreciation to the
nurses and staff of Riverside
Health and Rehab for the
love and care given her dur
ing the last 19 months fol
lowing her devastating
stroke in 2019, and Thom
aston Hospice during her
last three weeks of fighting
the good fight before going
home to the Lord.
In lieu of flowers, the
family asks that contrib
utions be made to Silver-
town Baptist Church in her
memory.
You may sign the online
guest book and share your
own special thoughts with
Mrs. Brannon’s family by
visiting the Coggins Funeral
Home website at cogginsfu-
neralhome.com.
Coggins Funeral Home
in Thomaston had the priv
ilege of being entrusted with
the arrangements.
Mr. Kenneth
Donald Hatchett
Mr. Kenneth Donald
Hatchett, age 82, of Thom
aston, died Tuesday, Feb.
16, 2021 at his residence.
Funeral services for Mr.
Hatchett were held Sat
urday, Feb. 20, at East
Thomaston Baptist Church.
Rev. Joey Smith officiated,
and burial followed in
Upson Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Hatchett was born
in Pike County June 27,
1938, to the late Thomas
Hatchett and the late Ida
Bell Morris Hatchett. He
served his country in the
United States Air Force and
later earned an associate's
degree from Gordon Col
lege.
Mr. Hatchett was the
owner of Hatchett Plumb
ing and Heating Company.
He was a member of the
Thomaston Masonic Lodge
and the A1 Shirah Shrine
Temple. Mr. Hatchett was a
member of East Thomaston
Baptist Church, where he
served as a deacon.
Survivors include his
wife, Ruth B. Hatchett; a
daughter, Ann H. Hoard; a
sister, Geneva H. Helms;
two grandchildren, Shan
non Craven and Tim More
land; and four great
granddaughters, Kinslee
Ann Craven, Makenna
Cobb, Brookelyn Rogers,
and Adrianne Morgan, all of
Thomaston. Several nieces
and nephews also survive.
Those desiring may
make memorial contrib
utions to East Thomaston
Baptist Church., PO Box
329, Thomaston, GA
30286.
Fletcher-Day Funeral
Home of Thomaston was in
charge of all arrangements.
Condolences and re
membrances may be ex
pressed at
fletcherdayfuneralhome.co
m.
Funeral Notices
Continued on Page 7A