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Local AKA Chapter 70th Anniversary
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Mayor John Stumbo signed a proclamation in recognition of the 70th anniversary of
the founding of the Gamma Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
With him are sorority sisters Ludell Dinkins, Faye Singh, Gwen Young, Jasmine Ellis
and Jaccquelyn Rumph. Jasmine Ellis chaired the 70th Anniversary Committee. Said
Jackie Rumph: "The committee has worked hard to honor the founders of gamma pi
omega chapter of alpha kappa alpha sorority, inc. Since 1942, the sorority has been
of service to all mankind and will do so in the future." Photo by Victor Kulkosky
Williams-Slocumb Centennial in Byron
The charming Ms. Barbra
Ray hosted the Williams
Slocumb Celebration at her
lovely home.
Barbara Ray must have read
Robin Williams quote; “spring
is nature’s way of saying let’s
party!”
That’s certainly what she did.
She pulled off a hug “Centennial
Celebration.” at the Williams
Slocumb Place entertaining
approximately 200 guests.
Probably the fanciest party the
old prc-Civil War cottage has
ever seen. It was a spectacu¬
lar event done to perfection (as
Barbara always does).
The guests were met in front
of the house and give a program
and a lovely fan with a picture
of the house and a white satin
bow.
The picture gallery hall way
is an exciting entrance, and the
library on the left is chock
full of memorabilia of Richard
Ray’s tenure in Washington as
a public servant. He was our
Congressman for 10 years and
our first and only member of
the House of Representatives
from Peach County. There
are pictures of Richard and
Barbara with many Presidents
and dignitaries. The room is a
history lesson in itself, as is the
remainder of the home, as they
have shared and collected so
many interesting and historical
reminders of their livds together
as well as antiques handed down
from generation to generation.
A short history of the
Williams-Slocumb Place: It
was originally a part of the
Creek Indian Nation. It was
included in the land lottery and
awarded to a Jones County man.
Sion Wheclus and later became
known as Land Lot 114 in the
Sixth l-and District of Houston
County, which became Peach
County, circa 1924. It is one of
the few farms remaining intact
of its size in the County. It is
certainly an impressive example
of Middle Georgia's indepen¬
dent rural farm complexes of
the 1900’s.
Linda Smyth, a prominent
classical ragtime pianist enter-
LETTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
from other sources or drop
projects from the list.
The vast majority of the
projects don't begin until 2016
or beyond for good reason;
there are not enough techni¬
cally skilled people to start all
projects immediately nor have
they collected enough money to
start the projects. So as more
and-more of your county proj¬
ects are unfunded you become
more-and-more of a tax donor
county. The GDOT still gets
their $7,897,754 in program
fees already approved in the
T-SPLOST. but you paid that
money for nothing.
It’s always hard to educate
anyone to believe that there are
some instances in which the
* MARCH 28, 2012
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Linda Smyth playing “ Ragtime"
JBlNNj:t i n
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an
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Wl Brown and Rep Robert Dickey enjoying the event
tained the group with her I Jy
presentation of care free, happy
go-lucky sound that was so
popular it started a musical rev¬
olution in America’s Victoria
scene. It was a sensation for
about 30 years and was cer¬
tainly a hit last Saturday. A not
here, Linda had on old-fash¬
ioned lace up the front boots
reminiscent of the era! A sure
fit with the Scott Joplin classics
she played on the piano.
Fort Valley was well repre¬
sented and our newly-elected
Representative Bobby Dickey
was seen talking with Peach
County’s Tax Commissioner,
W.L. Brown.
The program started at
3:00 PM with son, Charles
Ray serving as Master of
Ceremonies. Barbara welcomed
the group of close friends and
family. Their beloved grand¬
daughters. Sarah. Lauren, and
Catherine Ray sung America
the Beautiful. They are the
great-great granddaughters of
Jeremiah and Sarah Williams.
Alan Thomas Ray talked
about the building of the old
home place and Sandra Lyme
presented a violin selection;
“Beautiful Dreamer.” Then the
Macon Harmony Quartet with
Peach County's Clyde Wilson
Constitution, correctly read,
does not yield the outcome
they’d prefer. - Kevin R. C.
Gutzinan, JD. PhD
Bill Evelyn
Director
State of Georgia Tea Party,
LLC
Thank You
Dear Readers.
Thc Fort Valley Lions Club
would like to thank all those
people who supported us at our
Saint Patrick’s dance and dinner.
A special thank you to that won¬
derful Ms. Anne who walked
down the street and, brought a
check, just to show her support.
To all the people from Byron ,
Obituaries
HkrN W. Burgess
Funeral services for Hugh
W. Burgess, 86, of Reynolds.
were held last Sunday at 2 p.m
in the chapel of Goddard -
McLeighton Funeral Home.
Burial followed in Oak Lawn
Cemetery. Mr. Burgess passed
away on Wednesday, March 21.
2012 at the Medical Center of
Central Georgia. He was pre
ceded in death by his wife,
Linda Walton Burgess.
Survivors include three sons.
Hugh Martin “Bo Burgess of
Resaca, Ga.; Michael Burgess
of Warner Robins and Evan
Burgess of Carmel, Calif; one
daughter. Linda Leigh Tbrner of
Antioch, Tenn.; two sisters, Jo
Helen Flournoy of Albany and
Virginia Rae Nadeau of Perry;
seven grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held on
Saturday evening at the funeral
home.
You may sign the online reg
i jster at www.goddardmcleigh
ton.com
Goddard-McLeighton
Funeral Home of Reynolds is in
charge of arrangements.
Noble Dee Teal
Warner Robins - Noble Dee
Teal, 76,died Tuesday, March
20, 2012. A memorial service
was held at 11 a m. on Saturday,
March 24, 2012, in the Chapel
of Rooks Funeral Home, 109
West White Road in Byron
with Father Martin Bagay offi
ciating. Bom in Bloomington,
Illinois, to the late Noble
Francis Teal and Irene Jordan
Teal, Mr. Teal graduated from
Mississippi State University
and retired after 47 years of
civil service at Robins Air
Force Base. He was an accom
plished flutist, co-owner of
Paragon Catering, a Mason
and member of the Warner
Robins Concert Association
and Warner Robins Jaycees. He
is preceded in death by his
wife, Marilyn Mitchiner Teal.
Survivors include his daugh
ters, Allison Teal-Bostick and
Andrea N. Parks (Buddy), both
of Warner Robins, and grand
sons, Kodee Bostick, Buddy
Parks Jr., and Adam Parks. In
lieu of flowers, donations may
be made to the Joanna McAfee
Childhood Cancer Foundation,
P.O. Box 9537, Warner Robins,
GA 31095-9537. Please go to
www.rooksfuneralhome.com
to express online condolences,
Rooks Funeral Home in Byron
is in charge of arrangements.
Ryan Allln Keen
Lizella - Ryan Allin Keen,
3-year old son of Brian Keen
and Patricia Diane Allin,
died Sunday, March 18, 2012.
Graveside services were held at
2 p.m. on Thursday, March 22,
2012, at Glen Haven Memorial
Gardens, 7070 Houston Avenue
in Macon with Father Daniel
Varga officiating. Family
greeted friends on Thursday at
Rooks Funeral Home, 109 West
White Road in Byron. Survivors
include his parents, grandpar
ents, Joyce Cowan (Ernest)
of Bonaire and Patsy Allin of
Aiken, S.C., great-grandmother,
Lucile Keen of Richmond Hill,
three aunts, three uncles and
many other family members. In
lieu of flowers, please contact
the family concerning dona
tions. Go to www.rooksfuner
alhome.com to express online
condolences. Rooks Funeral
Home in Byron was in charge
Of arrangements.
SlllliPfigtl “Miller"
U^PPPPT
Covington - Sampson
Miller Culpepper HI passed
away on March 22, 2012, after
a battle with cancer. He was
the 50-year-oW son of Martha
Andrews Culpepper and the
late Sampson Miller Culpepper
«. of Fort Valley. Services
were held at 3 p.m. on Sunday,
March 25,2012, at First Baptist
Church of Fort Valley, 209 S.
Miller Street in Fort Valley
with Rev. Daniel Stubbs and
R pv Ed McQueen officiating
Family greeted friends from
on Saturday,March 24. 2012, at
j .mg in did a special rendi¬
tion especially for Barbara......
“I’ll Fly Away.”
Reverend Sam Lamback gave
the blessing of the day and the
old dinner bell was rung to
summon and announce it was
time for a delicious and beauti¬
fully prepared refreshments.
The gorgeous yellow center
cake held a replica of the old
home made new. and six regular
sized pound cakes, each had a
historical token sitting on top.
One was a fine linen handker¬
chief with the letter, S initialed
and an antique pin. Many guests
were in period costumes as was
Susan Ray who was dressed in
a vintage green taffeta, when
she spoke of her aunt Nellie, a
secretarial pioneer.
Barbara Ray was the elegant
hostess she has always been,
and made sure all the guests
were entertained while sharing
her love for her wonderful
family. She said, “I love this
place because I had such a
happy life here!”
And everybody in attendance
understood why, as this place
gave the feeling of serenity.
gentility, and happiness.
And we all felt blessed to
share in this aura if only for an
afternoon!
Warner Robins and Crawford
County, thank you! Their sup
port was much appreciated.
it is sad that we had no support
from City Hall. City Council.
Peach County Commissioners
and Peach County Officials.
The Lion’s Club has worked
very hard to support our com
mumty and i, is with heavy
hearts we announce, due to lack
of support we probably will not
be in a position to sponsor thc
Fall Festival or the Christmas
Parade.
We will continue to service
our eye care needs few as long
as we can.
Thank you again to all those
who have supported our orga
nization.
Helen Shaw
THE LEADER-TRIBUNE
Rooks Funeral Home. 213 West
Church Street in Fort Valley.
Survivors include a sister, Susan
Culpepper Johnston (Karl)
0 f Jonesboro, nieces, Kerri
Johnston and Amy Johnston,
Wallace Rose, his cousin who
was |j^ e a brother to him and
helped care for him in his last
days, two aunts.Dorothy Perkins
am j Marilena Andrews and
many cousins. Miller ioved his
family and friends from the
Valley area and Covington
and Conyers area. His friends
and neighbors in Covington
were ^ family to him.Miller
| ovec | nalure outdoors, fishing,
wildlife, the ocean, art, music.
g U j ta r playing and singing, and
coo kjng, but his priority was his
friends and family. He was kind,
compassionate and a friend to
all who knew him. He was a
real estale appraiser with Kevin
Little and Associates. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made
to the American Cancer Society,
“Together We Grow Fund” at
First Baptist Church of Fort
Valley. or Longleaf Hospice.
Please go to www.rooksfuner
alhome.com to express online
C0n( i 0 lences. Rooks Funeral
Home in Fort Valley was in
charge of arrangements.
lames Jones
Powersville - James Jones,
78, died Friday, March 23,
2012. Family greeted friends
on Monday, March 26, 2012.
at Rooks Funeral Home. 109
West White Road in Byron,
Graveside services with mili
tary honors were held at 3 p.
m Monday, March 26, 2012, in
Cliett Cemetery, GA Hwy 247
Conn, in Byron. Rev.Richard
Lanning, pastor of Powersville
United Methodist Church, con
ducted services. Born in Dodge
County to the late Nell Moye
and Lemmie Jones, Mr.Jones
graduated from Fort Valley
High School. He served in the
U.S. Air Force during both the
Korean and Vietnam Wars and
was retired from civil service,
Survivors include his wife,
Joi of the home, two children,
five stepchildren, two sisters
and brothers-in-law, Ruth
and Johnnie Barker of Byron
and Helen and Ron Preston
of Byron, one brother-in-law,
Wilburn Hartman of Bonaire,
several nieces and nephews and
special neighbors, Brent and
Shelley Gunter and girls, Elley.
Brenley, Sally, and Addie.He
was preceded in death by a
brother and sister-in-law, Ed and
Betty Jones .and a sister.Betty
Jean Hartman. Please go to
www.rooksfuneralhome.com
to express online condolences.
Rooks Funeral Home in Byron
was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Raydaan
McGlamry
sr*
Byron - On Sunday, March
25, 2012, Mary Raydean
McGlamry Hightower, entered
her eternal home peacefully and
with the comfort and support of
family, friends and staff at Pine
Point Hospice. Services were
held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
March 27. 2012, in the Chapel
of Rooks Funeral Home. 109
West White Road in Byron with
Rev. Alan Fennell officiating.
Family greetrf friends before
service time at the funeral home.
Graveside services followed at
4:30 p.m. in Walnut Cemetery
in Unadilla. Flowers are wel
corned or donations to Pine
pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Rd.
Macon. GA 31210, are suggest
^ for thosc who wish to make a
mcmona | contribution.
Born j n Unadilia to the late
££££ N £* and p- rrv £
Mary ^
^ |jfc jn Maco<1 and Byron
$hc waA retjrcd from The
K Company. Mary was
^ K deceased ^ her husband
of 51 years, James, her sister
Evelyn Prater, as well as an
infant brother. She will be
missed greatly by her daughter.
Lin A. Hightower of Atlanta,
her son, Richard Hightower
(Janice) of Lizella, grandsons,
Brad Hightower (Hannah) of
Birmingham, AL. Wesley Heath
of Washington, DC, her grand¬
daughter, Kelli Brown (Mike)
of Germantown, Tenn., and her
two great granddaughters. Ella
and Mariey Brown.
Mary was a devoted wife,
mother, and grandmother. She
is a former member of Pine
Forest Baptist Church where
she taught Sunday School . As
a young woman she was an
accomplished high school bas¬
ketball player, played neighbor¬
hood softball and bicycled as a
young mother.
The family deeply appreci¬
ates the loving and comforting
care provided by the staff and
doctors of Pine Pointe Hospice
Inpatient Facility of Macon.The
family also wishes to thank the
family of Mavaneene Bennett,
who was Mary’s roommate and
best friend, for their comfort
and support. We express our
thanks to God for being allowed
to witness the miracle of Mary’s
and Mavaneene’s bond of
friendship.
Please go to www. rooks
funeralhome.com to express
online condolences. Rooks
Funeral Home in Byron was in
charge of arrangements.
Day Loyd Campbell
Byron - “Go Rest High On
That Mountain, Son Your Work
On Earth Is Done.” In the early
morning hours of March 23,
2012, in the arms of an angel,
Guy Loyd Campbell Sr. was
carried on his final journey
home. Guy leaves many memo¬
ries behind in the hearts and
minds of the many lives he
touched in the 31 too short
years of his life. Visitation was
Monday, March 26. 2012, at
Rooks Funeral Home, 109 West
White Road in Byron. Services
to celebrate Guy’s life were held
at II a.ni. on Tuesday, March
27,2012, in the Chapel of Rooks
Funeral Home in Byron. Burial
was private. Guy is survived
by his loving wife and best
friend, Tina Mason Campbell,
five children, Nathan, Guy Jr.,
Chloc, Savannah and Lelan,
stepdaughter, Taylor Maddox,
a loving mother who loved
her only child with her entire
being, Terry Loyd Campbell
Rainey and stepfather, Eddie
Rainey, his father, friend, and
confidant, Henry Campbell
and stepmother, Carolyn
Campbell, both of Arley,
Alabama,grandmother,Shelby
Loyd of Byron, greatgrand¬
mother, Icie Coley of Lineville,
Alabama, two brothers, Chris
(Toby) and Shane (Geneva), a
sister, Angie (Wesley) Waldrip,
three stepsisters, Stephanie
(Mike) Wall. Misha (David)
Raynor, Samantha (Kenny)
May, stepbrother, Chris
(Stacey), three uncles, Mike
l^pyd, Leonard Donaldson and
Billy Campbell, two aunts,
Brandi Loyd Boatwright and
Delilah Martin, many cousins
whom he loved very much.
Bryan (Anna), Hut, Devin.
Marissa, Cheyenne. Keith,
Kirby, Jason, Chad and Brad,
nieces, Samantha. Ashley, Kylie
and Maddi, nephews. Devan,
Cody and Seth, two sisters-in
law, Allanah and Billie, broth¬
er-in-law, Chase, father-in-law,
Rick and mother-in-law, Karen
Parker, and a wonderful neigh¬
bor and friend. Luci Dudley.
Guy was preceded in death by
one child, Hey ward Guy Loyd
Campbell and a wonderful
grandfatherwho taught him how
to enjoy the many pleasures in
life, Guy Loyd, and paternal
grandparents, Jerlenc Tapley
and Flenry Ford Campbell of
Alabama. Oh how we will miss
that sweet sweet crooked smile,
eyes that danced and were full
of life and the face of an angel
.We know he is in a better place
”1 Love You Baby!”
Obituaries Continued
to page 13__