Newspaper Page Text
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Thursday, June 10, 2021
The Upson Beacon
Funeral Notices
Mr. Bill
"Billy" Chapman
Mr. Bill "Billy" Chapman,
age 78, of Thomaston, passed
away Monday, May 31, 2021
at Upson Regional Medical
Center.
Mr. Chapman was born
March 17, 1943 in Upson
County, to the late, William
Carvis Chapman and the late
Maiy Ellen Harden Chapman.
In addition to his parents, he
was preceded in death by his
sister, Betty Louise Johnson.
He said before he died, the
most influential man in his life
was his daddy, William Carvis
Chapman, who taught him
how to be a man. He said the
most important thing in his
life is our savior Jesus Christ,
who gave up his life to be cru
cified on the cross, giving us
eternal life with our loved
ones in Heaven.
Bill was a charter member
of Trinity Baptist Church and
taught young adults Sunday
school class. He was disc
jockey for many years at
WSFT in Thomaston and
sales manager at WTGA (Fun
101) in Thomaston and sales
manager at WKEU FM in
Griffin. He worked with Rex
King as a disc jockey, also
former Sheriff Don Peacock as
a disc jockey. He was awarded
DJ of the Year at the CMA
Awards show in 1990 and he
was inducted into the Atlanta
Country Music Hall of Fame
in 1994.
Bill had a perfect atten
dance record from first to 12th
grade. He went by the name of
Billy as a child and changed to
Bill in radio. He said if any
body asked and wanted to
speak to Billy, he knows
they’re old friends and he will
always answer because it was
someone who had known him
a long time. He had a tennis
scholarship in college with an
undefeated record. He was a
paratrooper in the Army Air
borne, while attending Army
training at Fort Lee in Vir
ginia. He was appointed act
ing company commander
over trainees. He was
awarded expert with rifle in
the Army, the highest medal
awarded.
Survivors include his wife,
Sylvia Winters Chapman of
Thomaston; daughters,
Sheriy (Lee) Sumner of
Woodland and Michelle (Jim)
Smith of Molena; sons, Clay
(Lacy) Chapman of Thomas
ton and Sandy (Pam Worth)
Chapman of Fruithurst, Ala.;
nine grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Thursday, June 3, from
Trinity Baptist Church. Burial
followed at Upson Memorial
Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memo
rial donations maybe made to
Trinity Baptist Church at 410
S. Church St., Thomaston, GA
30286.
You may sign the online
guest book and share your
own special thoughts with Mr.
Chapman’s family by visiting
the Coggins Funeral Home
website at cogginsfuneral-
home.com. Coggins Funeral
Home in Thomaston had the
privilege of being entrusted
with arrangements.
Ms. Kayla
Middlebrooks
Ms. Kayla Middlebrooks,
more affectionately known as
"Kitty" and "Cookie," age 57,
of Hollis Road, passed Sun
day, May 23, 2021 on Daniel
Street. Funeral services were
held on Sunday, May 30,2021
at Maiy Lizzie Baptist Church.
Pastor McArthur Childs offici
ated, assisted by Pastor Rickey
Wright and Evangelist Sandra
T. Trice. Interment was in
Worthy Cemetery.
Ms. Kayla Middlebrooks
was educated in the public
schools of Upson County and
attended Upson High School.
She was formerly employed as
a homecare nurse and later an
employee at Standard Tex
tiles.
She was survived by one
brother, Mr. Luther (Cass
andra) Middlebrooks; two
sisters, Mrs. Lorraine Rowe
and Mrs. Patricia Davison,
both of Thomaston; a cousin
who was more like a brother,
Mr. Terry (Naomi) Hollis of
Yatesville; a God-sister, Mrs.
Mary (Stanley) Hudson of
Roberta; sister-in-law, Mrs.
Frances Middlebrooks of
Thomaston; aunts and uncles,
Mrs. Clyde Middlebrooks and
Mrs. Mary Kate Middle
brooks, both of Thomaston,
Mrs. Eddie Mae Hollis of Ya
tesville, and Mr. James Mid
dlebrooks of Philadelphia,
Pa.; three devoted friends,
Mrs. Lynn Bickley, Ms. Mae
Owens, and Mrs. Miriam
Elsey all of Thomaston; a host
of nieces, nephews, cousins
and other relatives and
friends.
Trice Funeral Home was
in charge of the arrange
ments.
John L. Gdowik
John L. Gdowik, age 58, of
Deltona, Fla., passed March
27, 2021. He was with his
closest friends Mike and Anne
even when he was preparing
for cancer treatments. He
peacefully passed in his sleep
from throat cancer.
John was a proud polish
American that enjoyed the
simple things in life. He was
passionate about fishing, rid
ing his motorcycle, and sup
porting the troops. John was
born in New Jersey. His
mother was Eleanor and
father was John. He has one
son, John, and a grandson,
Elias, but his family included
friends that had become
family throughout the years.
John always told stories
about how his closest friends
Robert, Anne, and Mike
would take these wild fishing
trips with him. He loved being
on the water, whether it was
in his kayak or on a fishing
boat. He also loved visiting
Tina back in New Jersey and
would often talk about all the
wild things they would get
into in their younger years.
John was a blessing to anyone
that he encountered and was
quick to put a smile on every
one's face. He will always be in
our hearts and prayers.
Thank you to the Ameri
can Cancer Society, and to all
of his family members that
helped him see hope during
his hard times. Mike, Anne,
Robert, and Tina.
Frankie Cain Moore
Frankie Cain Moore, age
85, of Buford, passed away
Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
She was preceded in death by
her husband, Frank W.
Moore; parents, Robert L. and
Ruth McDaniel Cain; and
brothers, Marion Cain and
Bobby Cain.
Mrs. Moore is survived by
son, John (Kathleen) Moore
of Buford; daughter, Marion
(Ricky) Cantrell of Lawrence-
ville; grandchildren, Tyler
Moore and Biyan Cantrell;
step-grandchildren, Rebekah
Boscarino, Carter Schmidt,
Frankie Boscarino, Channelle
and Issac Miller; step-great
granddaughter, Ava Rose
Miller; sisters, Betty Boles of
Tennessee, Jeanette Byrd of
Gray, and Dianne (Larry)
Baker of Andalusa, Ala.; and
several nieces, nephews, and
cousins.
Mrs. Moore was born
June 19, 1935 in Thomston.
She graduated from R.E. Lee
Institute in Thomaston, and
she was a retired real estate
agent. Mrs. Moore attended
Ivy Creek Baptist Church in
Buford.
Frankie loved to gather
her family and friends for food
and fellowship. She had a
heart to serve others with her
hospitality. She was a doer
and supreme organizer. Mrs.
Moore loved to travel and
have fun and laugh. She en
joyed singing and playing the
piano, and provided her
family with many lovely
memories.
Funeral services will be
held Saturday, June 12, at 11
a.m. in the chapel of Flanigan
Funeral Home, with Dr. Craig
Dale officiating. Interment
will be Monday, June 14 at 1
p.m. in Crystal Hill Cemetery,
321 Hannah’s Mill Road, in
Thomaston. The family will
receive friends June 12 from
9:30 a.m. until time for the
service at 11 a.m.
To express condolences,
please sign our online guest
book at flaniganfuneral-
home.com. Arrangements by:
Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan
Funeral Home and Crematory
of Buford.
Mr. Jerry Richards
Mr. Jerry Richards, age
70, of Thomaston, passed
away Friday, June 4, 2021 at
his residence.
Mr. Richards was bom
June 16,1950 in Thomasville,
to the late Merle Richards and
the late Irene Holland Rich
ards. He worked in the bank
ing industry for 43 years. Mr.
Richards served his country in
the U.S. Navy during the Viet
nam War. He attended Fel
lowship Baptist Church and
was a member of several civic
organizations including the
Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife,
Mrs. Gloria Richards of
Thomaston; daughter, Mrs.
Gwyn (Matt) Gordon of
Thomaston; son, Mr. Brett
(Jacqueline) Richards of Ma
rietta; four grandchildren; six
brothers and one sister also
survive.
Memorial services will be
held at a later date.
You may sign the online guest
book and share your own spe
cial thoughts with Mr. Rich
ards’ family by visiting the
Coggins Funeral Home web
site at
cogginsfuneralhome.com.
Coggins Funeral Home in
Thomaston had the privilege
of being entrusted with ar
rangements.
Mr. Curtis Risper, Jr.
Mr. Curtis Risper, Jr., age
71, of Georgia Avenue, passed
Friday, May 21,2021 at Upson
Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services were held
Friday, May 28 at Maiy Lizzie
Baptist Church. Pastor Jimmy
Lyons officiated, assisted by
Pastor McArthur Childs and
Pastor Rickey Wright. Inter
ment was in the Fellowship
Cemeteiy.
Mr. Curtis Risper, Jr. was
educated in the public schools
of Upson County and gradu
ated from R.E. Lee Institute.
He was a member of Mary
Lizzie Baptist Church. He was
employed as a maintenance
worker for Farview Apart
ments for more than 40 years.
He also worked at West Valley
Apartments and Ruthie
Manor.
He is survived by two
brothers, Mr. Bobby Risper of
Griffin and Mr. Aldine King of
Thomaston; one sister, Mrs.
Ethel Jean (Maynard) White
of Thomaston; two sisters-in-
law, Mrs. Peggy Risper of
Thomaston and Mrs. Jeanette
Risper of Griffin; aunts and
uncles, Mrs. Annie Sue Town
send of Atlanta, Mrs. Jennie
Pearl Gaston of Detroit, Mich.,
Mrs. Christine Little, Mrs. Ida
Little, Mrs. Dorothy Little,
and Mr. Shedrich Risper, all
of Thomaston; four devoted
cousins who were more like
brothers, Mr. Jamie Little,
Mr. Jeff Little, Mr. Joseph Lit
tle, and Mr. Lariy Little, all of
Thomaston; a devoted cousin,
Mr. Patricia Marshall of
Thomaston; five devoted
friends, Mr. Jeffery Middle
brooks, Mr. Kenny Cunning
ham, Mr. Ricky Dallas, Mr.
Jeff Kirk, and Mr. Willie
Sparks; a host of loving nieces,
nephews, cousins and other
relatives and friends.
Trice Funeral Home was
in charge of the arrange
ments.
Mrs. Margie Jean
Murphy Trammell
Mrs. Margie Jean Murphy
Trammell, age 73, of Means-
ville, died, Friday, June 4,
2021 at her residence.
Mrs. Trammell was bom
Sept. 3, 1947, in Hammond,
Ind., to the late George Mur
phy and the late Anita Fergu
son Murphy. She was a
homemaker and of the Baptist
faith. In addition to her par
ents, she was preceded in
death by her sisters, Carol
Graff and Jackie Murphy.
Survivors include her hus
band, Robert Trammell of
Meansville; daughter, Mi
chelle Holcumb of Griffin;
son, Mark (Cindy) Andrade of
The Rock; grandchildren,
Christopher Lowe, Brandon
Andrade, Krystin Andrade,
Nicholas Andrade, Serenity
Holcomb and Trey Holcomb;
and eight great-grandchil
dren.
Memorial services will be
held Saturday, June 12, at 2
p.m. from the chapel of Cog
gins Funeral Home. The
family will receive friends one
hour prior to the service at
Coggins Funeral Home.
You may sign the online
guest book and share your
own special thoughts with
Mrs. Trammell’s family by
visiting the Coggins Funeral
Home website at cogginsfu-
neralhome.com. Coggins Fu
neral Home in Thomaston
had the privilege of being en
trusted with arrangements.
Jefferson Owen
“Jeff’ Waddell, Jr.
Jefferson Owen “Jeff’
Waddell, Jr., age 69, of Wood-
buiy, passed away Thursday,
June 3,2021. Funeral services
were held Sunday, June 6, at
the chapel of Cox Funeral
Home, Manchester. Inter
ment followed in Meriwether
Memoiy Gardens.
Mr. Waddell was bom
Aug. 5, 1951 in Thomaston,
the son of Jefferson Owen
Waddell, Sr. and Maiy Louise
McGraw Waddell. He worked
in construction for 50 years,
including 40 years with Tor
rance Constmction of La-
Grange. Mr. Waddell was a
member of the former Harris
City Baptist Church and had
also attended the Church of
the Nazarene in Manchester.
He and his family enjoyed
gospel music and traveled
frequently to singings in the
area. He also enjoyed garden
ing and maintaining his yard,
especially his flower gardens.
Mr. Waddell was preceded in
death by his parents; a daugh
ter, Denise Cantrell; and a
brother, Ricky Waddell.
Survivors include his wife,
Theresa Hobbs Waddell of
Woodbuiy; two sons, Marcus
“Bo” Waddell of Michigan and
Greg Albritton (Kristen) of
New Greenwich, R.I.; one
brother, Edwin Waddell
(Lisa) of Woodbuiy; one
sister, Debbie Addison (Ron
nie Rollins) of Woodbury;
nine grandchildren and six
great grandchildren; brother-
in-law, Herman Hobbs of
Woodbury; and sisters-in-
law, Margie Hobbs and Joy
Hobbs Corley (Phillip) of
Thomaston.
Cox Funeral Home of
Manchester is assisting the
family with arrangements.
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
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Coggins Funeral Home
321 Hannah's Mill Rd. - Thomaston - 706-647-9681
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BARNESVILLE
Marble & Granite Company
Serving Middle Georgia for 112 Years
Designers
& Manufacturers of
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and Bronze
Memorials
Since 1908
Owned and Operated by
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770.358.1470
124 Railroad Street • Barnesville
The Upson Beacon (ISSN or USPS 25625)
June 10, 2021 - Volume 14, Number 23
Published Weekly by Upson Newspapers, Inc.
219 Thomas Street, Thomaston, GA 30286
P: 706-646-2382
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The Upson Beacon is proudly published for the citizens of Upson County
by Upson Newspapers, Inc., locally owned and operated by Debbie McClain
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/
The Family of Mrs. Leslie Stevens
would like to thank all who have so
graciously supported our family
during this time of loss.
Sincerely,
Her mother Elaine Scott,
husband David Stevens,
sons Derrick and Jeremy,
and daughter Jorden Thomas.
Mrs. Leslie Stevens
February 26, 1971 - May 6, 2021.
❖