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VOLUME 84.
The Butler Herald
•’KEEPING EVERLASTINGLY AT IT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS”
BUTLER, TAYLOR COUNTY, GEORGIA. THURSDAY. JUNE 2, 1960. ^
NUMBER 35.
Chester A. Burge
Macon Man Charged
With Wife’s Murder
Macon Officers Charge
Burge Slipped Out Of
Hospital To Murder Wife
MACON—Chester Arthur Burge
wealthy Macon real estate investor,
was charged with murder Tuesday
in the strangling of his wife in
their palatial home May 10.
Detective Chief W. L. Bargeron
said he has “definite proof” that
Burge slipped from the Macon
General Hospital, went to his home,
killed Mrs. Mary Burge, then slipp
ed back into the hospital.
HAD SURGERY
Burge was confined to the hos
pital after undergoing surgery for
double hernia about 24 hours be
fore Mrs. Burge was slain.
The 55-year old real estate man
had steadfastly denied his guilt.
A murder charge was filed
against Burge Tuesday afternoon
following an all-day interrogation
at police headquarters. Burge is be
ing held without bond. A possible
motive for the slaying has not
been established, officers said.
Burge was released from the
psychiatric ward of the Macon
hospital early Tuesday morning,
He had been held there for obser
vation since May 24.
Mr. Robert Bethel,
Clerk Superior Court
Upson County, Dies
THOMASTON, Ga., Robert Bethel,
67, lifelong Thomastonian and
clerk of the Upson County Superior
Court for 12 years, died Tuesday in
an Upson County Hospital.
Mr. Bethel was a member of a
widely known Thomastcn family.
He had recently been renominated
for a fourth term as clerk of the
court in his county.
Funeral services were held Wed
nesday at 4 p. m. at the First
Baptist Church of Thomaston, of
which he was a deacon. The Rev.
Ed Cliburn officiated. Burial was
iii Glenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Bethel was treasurer of
Morning Star Lodge, F&AM, a
Shriner, a member of the Thom
aston Kiwanis Club, the Pete
Thurston Chapter of the American
Legion and a veteran of the U. S.
Navy in World War I.
Surviving are his mother, Mrs.
C. E. Bethel; sister, Miss Mary
Kate Bethel, both of Thomaston,
acid a brother, T. B. Bethel of Bir
mingham.
Two Killed Saturday
In Wreck at Talbotton;
Mortuary Burned
Talbotton, Ga. — Two Negro
halfbrothers were killed and a Ne
gro funeral home at Talbotton was
destroyed by flames when an auto
mobile went out of control and
plunged thru the front wall of the
building early Saturday.
Death of the two Negroes brought
to five the number of Georgians
who died on the state highways.
Three persons died within two
and a half hours after the weekend
began — two of them children.
State Troopers identified the vic
tims in the Talbotton accident as
John Dozier, 42, driver, and Ernest
Copeland, 44, both of Manchester.
Interesting Article
Written by Mrs. Bryan
Talbotton Columnist
Will Hodges, colored, is dead.
The bell ringer of the Talbotton
Methodist church is dead. Years
on years, the mellow tones 'of
that beloved church bell chimed in
the early morning hours, long,
long ago they called to class meet
ing where consecrated souls told
their experiences and renewed
vows for another week of dedication.
Then it was Sunday school. The
bell at long last gave way to
chimes. Will’s health failed. He
was a shutin having done all in a
week a day world. He served so
faithful the E. L. Bardwell Drug
Co., odd jobs when needed, repre
senting a good aad substantial
family. Will answered Friday from
the bells of the bearer rang "Weary
soul come home and rest.”
Mrs. Pennington
Dies Suddenly
Of Heart Attack
Mrs. Pearl Gammage Pennington
died suddenly of a heart attack
Saturday night at 9 o’clock at the
home of her son, Mr. Eddie Pen
nington in Butler.
Mrs. Pennington was born in
Sumter County Dec. 23, 1889, the
daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Will Gammage. Her husband, Mr.
John B. Penningtoi, preceded her in
death Aug. 8, 1931.
Mrs. Pennington had made her
home in Butler for the past 27
years. She was a member of the
Butler Baptist church and took an
active interest in church work as
long as her health would permit.
Mrs. Pennington was of great ser
vice to neighbors and friends and
especially helpful to neighbors in
time of need or sorrow.
Funeral services occurred for
Mrs. Pennington at the Butler
Baptist church Monday, 10 a. M.
at 10 o’clock. Rev. E. H. Dunn,
pastor of Antioch Baptist church
officiated. Interment was in the
family lot, Unadilla cemetery.
Pall bearers were Messrs W. C.
Griggs, Billy Pierce, Paul Clem
ents, Gammage Shivers, Eston
Clements and Earl Gammage.
Survivors include five sons, Mr.
J. L. Pennington, Perry; Messrs Ce
cil, Eddie and John Pennington, of
Butler and Mr. Billy Pennington of
U. S. Army, stationed at Ft. Ben-
ning; one daughter, Mrs. Leon
Theus of Butler; several grand
children; three sisters, Mrs. Mary
Clements and Mrs. A. J. Shivers of
Americus and Mrs. T. H. Cox of
Jacksonville, Fla.; one brother
Mr. Earl Gammage of Americus.
Edwards Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
14 Georgians
Die During
Holiday Weekend
Fourteen persons had lost their
lives in Georgia during the first
two thirds of the Memorial Day
weekend and the State Patrol tagg
ed the holiday just “a regular
weekend.”
Although a national holiday
weekend, most Georgians instead
had observed Southern Memorial
Day earlier this spring.
The 11 deaths which were re
ported on the highway during the
Saturday and Sunday period was
approaching the same number kill
ed during the same period last
year.
The traffic fatalities, based on
incomplete figures, show a total of
381 deaths so far this year, 12 less
than the 1959 deaths during the
same period.
(United Press Internation counted
271 traffic deaths over the country
since the three-day holiday began
at 6 p. m. Friday. In addition, two
persons died in plane crashes, 63
drowned and 51 were killed in fis-
cellaneous accidents for an over
all total of 387.
Tentative Census
Figures Are Released
For Taylor County ..
Figures sent in by Mrs. Halcyon
Bell, Census District Supervisor of
Columbus, for Taylor county, to
taled 8,287. Butler had a count of
1,345 and Reynolds 1,078.
The above figures are believed
to be substantially correct but are
subject to revision after the re
turns for non-residents are credit
ed to their proper locality and
other routine checks have been
made. Altho a significant revis
ion is unlikely, minor revision may
possibly occur after careful exam
ination of the returns. The official
announcement of population will
be made at a later date by the
Director of the Bureau of the Cen
sus.
Texan Drills First
Oil Test Near Americus
Americus, Ga. — Ernest Hill, a
stocky, cigar smoking Texan from
Houston, is drilling his first Ga.
oil test about seven miles from
Americus.
He obtained a permit in Atlanta
and began operations Sunday.
He estimates it will take up to
$100,000 and a month to six weeks
to determine whether the venture
will be his 12th success in 13 years
or just another dry hole.
Reynolds Hi School
Plans Graduation
Exercises June 6
Baccalaureate Sermon
Will Be Held at Reynolds
Next Sunday Morning
Honor’s Day will be held at the
Reynolds High School Auditorium
Friday morning, June 3 at 9:00
o’clock. Mrs. Betty Whatley will be
in charge of the program.
The Baccalaureate Sermon will be
delivered to the Reynolds High
School Seniors by Rev. Charles
Hillis, Pastor, Reynolds Methodist
Church, Sunday morning, June 5,
in the Reynolds Methodist Church.
The public is cordially invited to
attend. The hour is 11 o’clock.
Graduation exercises will be held
in the Reynolds High School Au
ditorium at 8 o’clock P. M., Mon
day, June 6, 1960. The speaker on
this auspicious occasion will be Mr.
Guy Atkinson, President, Norman
Park College. Mr. B. W. Hinton, Jr.,
Chairman of the local School Board
will deliver the diplomas to the
following graduates:
Jimirae Brewer
Gene Brunson
Kenneth Childs
Susan Cosey
Ronnie English
Mac Goddard
Hollis Goodroe
Alvina Gordon
Kenneth Hartman
Ray Hartley
Wynona Hartley
Melissa Hinton
Kelma Lashley
Clifton McDaniel
Rebekah Mims
Patricia Montgomery
Yvonne Palmer
Patsy Perkins
Edna Pike
Wayne Poole
Carolyn Riche
Bennie Robinson
Bill Rogers
Emily Smith
Ronnie Swafford
Bryan Slaton
Sonny Underwood
Mary Ann Wainwright
Mike Waller
Faye Whittington
James Wilson
Jimmie Windham
Warren Windham
Arthur Busby
Georgia’s Population
Increases Nearly Half
Million in Ten Years
Atlanta, Ga. — An increase of
almost half a million persons in
Georgia was reported Saturday in
preliminary 1960 Census figures
while the Metropolitan Atlanta area
soared over the million mark.
Figures from all 159 counties
showed a total of 3,922,930 persons
living in the Peach State. This
represented an increase of 48,352
over the 1950 figure of 3,444,578.
The figures are not official but
Census authorities said they did
not anticipate any major changes.
Mr. T. L. Fountain
Displays Peaches
From 1960 Crop
Mr. Tom Fountain displayed two
ripe peaches at the Herald Office,
Tuesday, from his orchard. Here’s
hoping that he will have many,
many, more in the near future now.
Graduation Plans
For Americus College
Georgia Southwestern College —
Dean H. V. Williamson has an
nounced graduation plans for the
class of 1960 at Ga. Southwestern.
Rev. E. J. Garbutt, pastor of the
First Methodist Church, Americus
will preach the baccalaureate ser
mon in the First Methodist church
at 11 a. m. June 5th. At 3 p. m. of
the same day Rev. Lakeman, rec
tor of the First Episcopal Church
Cordele, will deliver thecommence-
ment address in the First Methodist
Church.
Among candidates for gradua
tion are: Gorden Blackston Con
nell of Butler who will receive the
associate degree in nursing and
Carl Parker, Mauk, who will receive
the junior college diploma.
Butler Hi School
Graduation Set
For Friday Night
Rev. C. W. Hancock of Albany
Will Be Guest Speaker At
Butler Graduation Exercises
Twenty-five members of the
local High School senior class will
be awarded diplomas at gradu
ation exercices in the school gym-
natorium Friday (tomorrow) eve
ning at 8:30 o’clock.
“To High Ideals Be True” has
been selected as the theme of the
graduation season.
Rev. C. W. Hancock, pastor of the
Porterfield Methodist Church of
Albany and a former pastor of the
local Methodiist church has been
engaged as guest speaker of the
evening. Rev. Hancock is one of the
outstanding ministers in the South
Georgia Conference and the gradu
ating class of 1960 is indeed for-
tunae to secure him as commence
ment speaker.
Others appearing on the Friday
evening program will be: Invoca
tion by Patsy Dominy; Welcome by
Class President Sonny Miller;
Salutation “Life Is Worth Living"
Helen Bohler; History and Prophecy,
John Locke; Valedictory, ‘T’o High
Ideals Be true,” Earlene Cotney;
Introduction of Speaker, Sandy All-
good; Address, Rev. Hancock; pre
sentation of Gifts, Sonny Miller;
Awarding Diplomas, Mr. II. D.
Jordan; Benediction by Rev. Han
cock.
Members of the Senior Class are:
Sandy Allgood
Earlene Cotney
Joyce Callier
Anne Blackston
Helen Bohler
Patsy Dominy
Dudley Eubanks
Juanita Harbuck
Dorothy Harmon
j Edna Harris
Gertrude Harris
James Harvey
Carolyn Haywood
Mary Jenkins
Beth Kendrick
Peggy Kendrick
John Locke
Milford McKenzie
Sonny Miller
Robert Peacock
Joyce Sams
Yvonne Taunton
Juanita Wainwright
Patsy Watson
Sonny Whitley
Three Appear As
Sure Candidates
In Governor’s Race
COLUMBUS, Ga., May 30—The
appearance of three men at a
Young Democrats of Georgia rally
stirred speculation Monday they
might be considering campaigning
for governor in 1962.
One of them, former Gov. Mar
vin Griffin, apparently made an
unexpected appearance. He sat on
the platform but did not speak.
The other two, Lt. Gov. Garland
Byrd and Peter Zack Geer, execu
tive secretary of Gov. Ernest Van
diver, emphasized the need to
adhere to constitutional government
and criticized the integration move
ment.
Both said Georgia must remain in
the national Democratic party al
though the presidential candidate
this year might not be to the liking
of a majority of persons in the
state.
James H. Gray, chairman of the
Georgia Democratic Executive Com
mittee, called for support of this
country’s government in it fight
against the Russians.
At the sgme time the Albany
newspaper publisher said this does
not mean the government cannot
be criticized.
Butler Lions Club
Sponsors Chicken-que
The Butler Lions Club is sponsor
ing a Chicken-que on Tuesday,
June 7th on the local court house
law during the hours of 6 to 8 p.
m. The proceeds are to go to the
County Health Center for the pur
chase of equipment to test hearing.
The price of the Chicken-Q is
$1.25 per plate. The public is urged
to attend and help purchase this
valuable equipment for the Health
Center.
Mr. J. F. Peterman
Dies At Hospital
Thursday Morning
Mr. John Franklin Peterman Sr.,
77 years of age, died at the
Montgomery hospital at 10 o’clock
Thursday morning. He had been in
ill health for about two years but
had been critically ill for only a
few days.
Mr. Peterman was born in this
county June 10, 1882, the son of
the late Mr. W. F. (Dock Peter
man and Savannah S. Peter
man. He spent his entire life in
this county and was a faithful
member of Midway church. During
his active years Mr. Peterman was
engaged in farming, however he
retired from business some time
ago due to declining health. ,
Mr. Peterman served as a dea
con of Midway Baptist church for
41 years.
Funeral for Mr. Peterman was
conducted at Midway Church at 11
a. m. Friday. Rev. E. H. Dunn,
pastor of the church and a personal
friend of the deceased, officiated.
Interment was in the Antioch
cemetery. z
Pall bearers were Messrs Ken
neth Peterman, Eugene Dawson,
Eli Peterman, Lester J. Peterman
Jr. Jack Dawson and Bernard
Peterman
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Eva Jarrell Peterman; Five sons:
Messrs Dennis Peterman, Ft. Val
ley; Ralph Peterman, Jacksonville
Fla.; Lester Peterman, Jackson,
Miss; William Peterman, Butler;
and John F. Peterman of Winder;
also four daughters, Mrs. Nellie
Dawson of The Rock; Mrs. Vera
Morris of Thomaston; Mrs. Sara
Parker and Mrs. Virginia Wilson of
Butler.
Edwards Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Marcus L. Parks
Died at His Home
Mr. Marcus L. Parks died at his
home near Howard on the after
noon of May 19th. He had been in
ill health for 21 years.
Mr. Parks was born in Talbot
County May 22, 1881 the son of
the late Mr. George Y. and Mrs.
Sara Jane C. Parks. Most of his
life was spent in Taylor County.
During active life he was a car
penter and farmer.
He had been a member of the
Junction City Baptist Church for 51
years.
Funeral for Mr. Parks was con
ducted at the Howard Methodist
church on the afternoon of May 21
3:00 o’clock. Rev. B. E. Donehoo of
the Woodbuhy Baptist church, a
former pastor, officiated. Assisting
Rev. Donehoo were Rev. Norman
Hall, his pastor of Geneva, and Rev.
Tegler Greer of Howard. Interment
was in Howard cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Nettie Brown Parks, and one
daughter, Miss Louise Parks of
Howard; one brother, Mr. Matt
Parks, Columbus; and a host of
nieces and nephews.
Active pallbearers were Messrs
Sam, Jim, and John Edwards, Rich
ard Barnes, Bobby Pams and Carl
Rutland.
Honorary pall bearers included
Messrs Cecil Cox, Henry and Clin
ton Cosby, Leonard Morgan Sr. and
Jr. Marvin Hesters, Billy Parks, G.
D. Locke, Thelmon Jarrell, Dale
Parks, John Franklin, E. L. Field
er, L. H. Vanlandingham, John
Pennington, Herman Elliston, Clem
ents Parks. Mack Marchman, Prof.
Jordan, Will Turner and Charles
Benns, Jr.
Edwards Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Women Of Woodcraft
Butler Court 1605
To Receive Charter
Butler Court 1605, Women of
Woodcraft will observe its official
Presentation of Charter night, on
the evening of June 9th beginning
at 8 p. m. This program will be
at the Masonic Lodge.
Miss Ernestine Adams, National
Fraternal Organizer will be present
for the occasion. Also State Manag
er Paul Jones of Macon will be
present .
This will be a family night pro
gram and it is requested that all
members be present for the occa
sion.
The public is cordially invited to
attend.
Two Young Ladies
Crowned Queen
Beauty Pageant
Miss Elaine Posey Named
“Miss Butler” Miss Tippie
Minor, “Little Miss Butler”’
An overflowing crowd jammed,
the Butler School Gym last Thurs
day evening to witness 60 young
ladies parade with beauty and
grace as candidates for the crown
of “Miss Butler” and “Junior Miss
Butler” for 1960. It was indeed the
loveliest night of the year in this
city as Elaine Posey was crowned
"Miss Butler" and Tippie Minor
“Junior Miss Butler.”
Miss Posey is 16 years old and Is
a member of the Junior Class at
the local school. She is a daughter
of Mrs. F. E. Posey. Tippie, is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
Minor Jr., 12 years of age and is
in the 7th grade.
Juanita Harbuck, daughter, of Mr;
and Mrs. Dave Harbuck, was select
ed first runner-up in the finals of
Miss Butler contest and Jbhnsoiene
Blackston, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. G. L. Blackston, was second
runner up.
First runner-up in the Junior
group was Ellen Parks, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Park6. Little
Kathy Guinn, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Austin Guinn Jr., was judged,
second runner-up. -
Buddy Dunn, master off. cere
monies throughout the three hours
pageant, presented the lovely con
testants to the audience. Little
Douglas Taunton served as an as
sistant to Mr. Dunn.
Mrs. Jim Gi.bson was mistress
of ceremonies during the entertain
ment. Donald Whatley, Reynolds,
was guest vocalist, assisted at the
piano by his mother, Mrs. Clifford!
Whatley Sr. Pre-school agers frorro
Butler and Reynolds presented
dance skits, accompanied at the
piano by Mis. Ann Marshall. Mrs.
Mercer Smith furnished music dur
ing the parade of contestants.
Escorts for the pageant were;
Sammy Almgren, Stan Manus,
Ronny Locke, Gary Hobbs, Sonny
Miller, Sandy Harris, Dudley Eu
banks and Ben Manus.
Brady Humber, Jimmy Cosey,
Ralph Lawhonne and Jimmy Locke -
served as ushers for the evening.
Miss Georgia of 1959, Kayanne
Shoffner was special guest for the -
pageant. Miss Shoffner appeared on
stage at the close of pageant to
crown and present trophies to both
Miss Butler and Junior Miss Butler.
She also presented first and second
place winners with gifts.
Out-of-town judges for the oc
casion were: Abit Massey, Director
of the Department of Commerce;
Col. Lowell Conner, Deputy Direc
tor of the Department of Public
Safety; Miss Yvonne Redding, Sec.
to Lt. Gov. Garland Byrd and Miss
Shoffner.
The gymnatorium was beautiful
ly decorated by Mrs. Robert Coch
ran with Mrs. Edgar McGee as
assistan.
Buddy Dunn served as chairmarr
for the pageant and Billie Ed^
wards was co-chairman.
There is abundant praise for a
number of persons for the beauty
and success of this pageant but
without 60 lovely ladies, there
could never have been a “Miss
Butler Beauty Pageant Contest.” -
Congratulations to each of you as
contestants for looking like Miss
America on this elaborate evening.
Baccalaureate Sermon
Heard by Large Crowd
The Baccalaureate sermon which;
was presented by Rev. Bert Wheel
er, pastor of the local Church of!
the Nazarene, was heard and! en
joyed by a large audience Sunday.
The processional and recessional
music was rendered cn the piams
by Mrs. C. E. Marshall.
Invocation by Rev. Ted Grirrer
pastor of the local Methodist
church.
The choir made up of high scbi»*l
students sang “Show Us the Way"
very beautifully.
Classes of 1932-33-34
To Stage Reunion
The annual class reunion of the -
1932-33-34 school is planned for
Sunday, June 12, at the Butler,
school lunch room.