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Page 6— Wednesday, June 8, 2022 The True Citizen
OBITUARY
Lana Turner Coble
Gloria Mills Saxon
Ondra Michele Branham
Mrs. Lana Turner Coble, 77, of Waynesboro, Ga. went home
to her Savior on June 3, 2022. Funeral services will be held
on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at
3:00 p.m. The family will receive
visitors one hour prior to the
service at First Baptist Church of
Waynesboro. Graveside service
will follow at Burke Memorial
Gardens.
Lana was born on June 25,
1944 to Helen Miller Turner
and James Clifford Turner in
Norfolk, Virginia. Lana grew
up in Walnut Grove, Spartan
burg County, South Carolina.
She was a graduate of Roebuck
High School. She spent summers
working in the family peach-packing business and used her
earnings to pay for her elementary education degree from Win-
throp College. She went on to teach first and second-grades
in Greenville County, SC, while continuing her education,
earning her master’s degree from Western Carolina University.
In 1968, Lana married William Edward Coble, Jr. and
together they began a dairy farm together in Simpsonville,
SC. After the birth of their first child, Lana left working in
the classroom to be a fulltime mom and to work alongside
Edward on their dairy. She milked cows, fed calves, helped
with harvesting, and other day-to-day farm tasks, all while
being lovingly dedicated to their four children.
Lana overcame a brain injury caused by a severe car ac
cident in 1990, and then in 1994 she fought and survived
breast cancer. These two events shaped their family life and
deepened her already strong faith in Christ,realizing that each
day she was given was a gift.
Lana was always kind to everyone the Lord put into her
path. No one left her presence without feeling loved. She
routinely had extra people around the dinner table and always
loved being surrounded by family and friends. Throughout
the years, her children’s’ friends saw Lana as a second mom,
farm employees dubbed her “abuela,” and she even became an
adopted grandmother to many of her grandchildren’s friends.
In 1998, Lana and her family moved to Burke County to
expand their dairy operation to be able to include their children
in the family business. She continued to be a vital part of the
daily operation of the farm and enjoyed welcoming daughter-
in-laws and a son-in-law to the family. She especially found
joy in the 16 grandchildren that have been added to her family
in the last 18 years.
During the time they’ve lived in Burke County, she was
a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesboro, and she
loved her church family. She especially found great joy in
being a member of the choir and the Pairs and Spares Sunday
school class.
Lana was preceded in death by her parents and a brother,
John Turner. She is survived by her loving husband of 54
years, William Edward Coble, Jr. She is also survived by four
children and 16 grandchildren: William Edward Coble, III
(Jen) and their children: Claire, William, Vivienne, Colette,
and Drew of Roswell, NM; James Coble (Shelley) and their
children: Jiles and Sydney; Joel Coble (Hadley) and their
children: Mary Helen, Anna, Daniel, Sarah Beth, and Elijah
all of Waynesboro, GA; Jane Graft (Adam) and their children:
Lee, Reese, Emmie, and James of Americus, GA. She is also
survived by a brother, David Turner (Lee Ann) and a special
sister-in-law, Nancy Turner all of Walnut Grove, SC.
Pallbearers will be: Jiles Coble, Lee Graft, Jim Bob Roberts,
Samuel Lopez, Martin Luna, Alberto Santillan. Honorary
pallbearers will be the “Pairs and Spares” Sunday school
class and Dr. Johnny Christian who has faithfully cared for
her for many years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be
made to Mission 10:14 P.O. Box 539 Millen, GA 30442
or First Baptist Church Missions Funds 853 N. Liberty St.
Waynesboro, GA 30830.
DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation
Service, 220 East 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706-
554-3531). You may sign the
guest book at www.deloachfu- —^DeLoach
neralhomes .com.
McKerley-Prescott
FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATION SERVICE
* . -
DeLoach
McKerley-Prescott
FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATION SERVICE
Frances Faye Grimsley
Frances Faye Grimsley, 83, entered into rest Saturday, June 4,
2022, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Mrs. Grimsley was born in
Loris, S.C., was a longtime resident
of Zephyrhills, Fla. and has been a
resident of Wrens since 2010. She
was a retired school teacher from the
Pinellas County, Fla. school system.
Surviving are her husband Robert
Grimsley of Wrens; her daughter,
Kathy Miller (Mike) of Tallahassee,
Fla.; her son, Robert Grimsley, Jr.
(Sue) of Odessa, Fla.; her brothers,
James Hardwick (Judi) of Jack
sonville, Fla. and Ralph Hardwick
(Bonnie) of Hoover, Ala.; her grand
children, Andrea Miller, Michele
McAmis (Scott), Michael Miller III, Bryan Miller (Sarah), Paige
Crocus, and Lexi Crocus; and a great grandson, S amuel McAmis.
Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 18 in the
DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home Chapel.
Remembrances may be to The Humane Society.
DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott
Funeral Home & Cremation Ser
vice, 220 East 6th Street, Waynes
boro, GA 30830 (706-554-3531)
You may sign the guest book at
www.deloachfuneralhomes .com.
Mrs. Gloria Mills Saxon, 81, of 114 Lake Bluff Drive,
went home to be with the Lord on June 1,2022, following an
extended illness. Funeral services
were held at 3 p.m. on June 6,
2022, at First Baptist Church in
Waynesboro. The family received
visitors beforehand at 2 p.m. Dr.
G. A1 Wright, Jr., officiated the
service. Following the service, a
private, graveside ceremony for
family only took place at Burke
Memorial Gardens.
The youngest of three children,
Gloria was born on September
15, 1940, to William Herbert
Mills, Sr. and Claudine Tolbert
Mills in Sardis, Georgia. As a former “Miss Sardis,” Gloria
was always proud ofher hometown. At Sardis Baptist Church,
she discovered her incredible gift for music. She could play
almost any song on the piano or organ “by ear” and never
needed a piece of sheet music. Some ofher favorite memories
were working at Wynne’s Drug store where she dished up
banana splits and Coke floats for her neighbors. She never
forgot the influence of working for Dr. Wynne and Mrs. Janie
and later for their son, John Thomas.
On June 28, 1959, she married her life-long sweetheart,
Marvin Saxon. Together, they followed Jesus Christ, mod
eled His love to their family, and served their community for
almost 58 years until Marvin’s passing in 2017. They shared
a love for family and Christmas. Every year, they decorated
their home with up to 20 Christmas trees. The most special
tree was on their gazebo over Jones Lake - a love letter to
the community.
For 34 years, Gloria worked for the Burke County Depart
ment of Family and Children Services until her retirement in
1994. Many ofher co-workers became life-long friends. There,
she supported countless people in the community, provided
foster care placement for endangered children, and helped
ease the transition of people into nursing homes.
Ministry was an essential part of Gloria’s life. For over 60
years, she was a member of First Baptist Church in Waynes
boro. For many of those years, the children’s Sunday school
wing was filled with the joyous sounds of her playing the piano
while she taught the four and five year-olds how to sing songs
about Jesus at the tops of their voices. In more recent years,
she served on the social committee of the “Spares and Pairs”
Sunday school class. In addition to her work at FBC, Marvin
and she would travel to churches around Georgia with their
son, Rob, and their “other sons” as part of two southern gospel
quartets, Fourgiven and Cross Brothers Quartet.
Gloria’s love for God and her community extended beyond
Burke County. For 14 years, she volunteered with United
Cerebral Palsy of the CSRA and served as a member of its
Board of Directors. She loved the CP kids. One year, she re
cruited friends around the community to dress up as various
characters, and with their help, Marvin and she hosted a circus
at their home for all of the kids with cerebral palsy across
the region. Her community service was recognized when the
Saxon family was named Family of the Year for the state of
Georgia in 1997.
Always dressed to the nines, Gloria epitomized southern
grace and style. She could rarely be seen without her co
ordinated outfits, her signature brooches on the back of her
jacket’s right shoulder, her charm bracelet and other jewelry,
her makeup, her bouffant-styled hair, and her beaming smile.
It is no wonder that she earned the nickname “Sunshine” in
her last years. Every stranger that she met was a potential new
friend, and every friend that she encountered was a recipient
of encouragement and God’s love.
Survivors include: daughter, Jeanie Saxon Blackburn,
Waynesboro; son, Robert Marvin “Rob” Saxon, Jr., Macon;
brother, William Herbert “Bill” (Joan) Mills, Jr., Statesboro.
Grandchildren are Jason (Caroline) Blackburn, Ben (Leigh)
Blackburn, and Jan (Brad) Mobley. Great-grandchildren are:
Sadie Chance, John Luke Chance, Mills Blackburn, Carson
Blackburn, and Bennett Blackburn. In addition to her husband,
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, William Herbert
and Claudine Mills; sister, Malona Dixon; and son-in-law,
Rickie Blackburn.
Pallbearers will be: Jason Blackburn, Ben Blackburn, Brad
Mobley, Brad Lofton, Scott Townsend, and Clay Young.
Honorary pallbearers will be the “Spares and Pairs” Sunday
school class at First Baptist Church. The family would like to
recognize and thank Vickey Bates, Christine Walker, Gwen
Jackson, and Jill Posey for the love and care they contributed
in the past year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that
memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro
Children’s Ministries or the Community Betterment Council
(P.O. Box 682 Waynesboro, GA 30830).
DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation
Service, 220 East 6th Street,
Waynesboro, GA 30830(706-
554-3531). You may sign the
guest book at www.deloachfu
neralhomes .com.
- * . -
DeLoach
McKerley-Prescott
FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATION SERVICE
Searles
Continued from 4
everyone wants to live in our
nation? We are given that
impression by the number of
migrants who come to our
southern border hoping to gain
admission. The lives of many
people who live in the southern
hemisphere are desperate, but
that does not mean the United
States has the level of health
and prosperity that we should
have as a leading western na
tion. We in America live in
a world of our own making
where we believe our country
is the best the world has to
offer. We, like the proverbial
three monkeys, refuse to see,
speak or hear any evil and turn
a blind eye to social inequities.
As we live our lives from day
to day, we should remember
not to think too highly of our
selves and that “Pride goeth be
fore destruction and a haughty
spirit before a fall.”
Ondra Michele Branham, age 51 of Augusta, GA, passed
away on Tuesday, June 1,2022, at the home of her parents,
James and Rachel Ross. She was born in Waynesboro, GA,
June 29,1970. She graduated from Waynesboro High School
in 1988 and went on to attend college at the University of
Georgia. She continued her education to earn her MBA. She
worked at Automatic Data Processing in Augusta, GA.
While she had been sick for some time, Ondra persevered
and never complained to anyone about her troubles. She always
looked to the future and her homegoing with the Lord. Ondra
enjoyed a variety of activities and events. She loved decorating
for Christmas, her favorite time of the year, as well as collect
ing miniatures for all occasions. She often made sweet holiday
treats for her friends and colleagues. She always had a zest
for life and looked forward to spending time with family and
friends, from Waynesboro to Columbia and back again. She
treasured spending time with her mom perusing specialty shops
for trinkets. She was especially fond of her fur baby, Sassy,
and they often took to the open road together for adventures
big and small. She was a tremendous giver to all she knew.
She is survived by her mother, Rachel (Quick) Ross; father,
James (Bud) Ross; brother, Ryan Ross; and sister-in-law,
Michele Ross.
There will be a Memorial Service at the Waynesboro Church
of God, located at 427 GA-56, Waynesboro, GA 30830 on
Tuesday, June 14 at 11:00 am with Rev. Matt Wigley offici
ating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the
service.
Remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/, American Heart Associa
tion at https://www.heart.org/, or Waynesboro Church of God
at https://www.waynesborochurchofgod.org/
DeLoach-McKerley-Prescott Funeral Home & Cremation
Service, 220 East 6th Street,
Waynesboro, GA 30830 (706-
554-3531)
You may sign the guest book
at www.deloachfuneralhomes.
* . -
DeLoach
McKerley-Prescott
FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATION SERVICE
com.
“A Family Tradition Since 1919”
Q a 0 0 Q o £ *
PHINAZEE & SON
FUNERAL HOME
Phinazee and Son Funeral Home
Funeral Director\Embalmer
Kelsey M. Phinazee
Manager- Crystal M. Preston
Funeral Director\Embalmer
Almari K. Phinazee
404 W 8th St,
Waynesboro, GA 30830
www.Phinazeesonfh.com
Burke Memorial Funeral Home
www.burkememorial.com
“A Home of Dependable Service”
842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA
Jane and George DeLoach
706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100