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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
TSGT FRED L. GARDNER, USAF (RET)
BONAIRE - Fred L. Gardner, 62, passed
away on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at
Portsbridge Hospice, Macon. A memorial serv
ice will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, in
the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home.
Gardner was born in Tulsa, Okla. He was retired from the
United States Air Force. Gardner was a Life Member of
VFW Post 6605, a Moose Legion 128 Member of the Loyal
Order of the Moose Lodge 1688 and a Life Member of the
N.R.A.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Gardner of Bonaire;
daughter and son-in-law, Carrol Ruth Smith and Jimmy
Dale Smith, and son, William Lee Gardner, all from Texas.
Three grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive
him.
Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry
for the family. McCullough Funeral Home has charge of
arrangements.
J. 808 HUMPHRIES
TAMPA, Fla. - J. Bob
Humphries passed away Aug.
18, 2005, after a courageous *- .* v *
five-year fight with ALS (Lou
Gehrig’s disease.) He is sur
vived by his loving wife of 20 years, Dr.
Barbara Bachman Humphries, three devot- -A ~,
ed daughters. Lauren, Sarah and Leigh Ann
of Tampa; his mother, Nita Downey
Rosenburg of Saint Petersburg Beach; his
father Brack (Bud) Humphries and step
mother, Rebecca of Carrabelle, Fla.; stepbrothers William
(Lyn) Avery of Tallahassee and
Justin Tramel of Carrabelle, Fla.; mother-in-law Janet V
Bachman of Wichita, Kansas; brothers-in-law Brad (Kathy)
Bachman and Kurt (Debbie) Bachman of Wichita, Kansas,
and Dr. Greg (Roberta) Bachman, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and
numerous nieces and nephews; godsons John and Sean
McGinty, Tampa, Fla., and goddaughters Meaghan
Campbell of Tampa, Fla., and Jocelyn Coburn of Falmouth,
Mass.
J. Bob was born in Jasper, Ala., and raised in Perry, Ga.
His passion for golf developed early and he served as captain
of a state champion golf team. He was a proud graduate of
Florida State University receiving BS, MBA and JD degrees
and remained a lifelong Seminole “football aficionado.”
Following law school, he joined the Air Force in the Judge
Advocate General Corps (JAG) serving in Thailand at the
close of the Vietnam War. Upon discharge from Mac Dill
AFB in 1976, he joined the Tax Department of Fowler White
Boggs Banker, PA., where he cherished his 29 years of won
derful friendships, camaraderie of a long career, and men
toring of many young lawyers. J. Bob served as chair of the
Florida Bar Tax Section and was selected 2001-2002 Gerald
Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of Florida.
Bob’s most important role in life was that of being a hus
band and dad. In 1985, he married Barbara Bachman and
was blessed with the birth of three much loved daughters,
Lauren, Sarah and Leigh Ann. He will always be remem
bered by his family for his devotion, caring and concern -
even while facing the challenges of paralysis from Lou
Gehrig’s disease. In spite of his many interests and activi
ties, Bob’s highest priority always remained his family with
love of traveling, sporting events and movies with his “four
girls.”
Community activities and membership included founding
member and pro bono General Counsel for 20 years of the
Absentee voting has begun in WR
By TIMOTHY GRAHAM
HHJ Staff Writer
Absentee voting for the
September special election
has already begun at both
Warner Robins City Hall
and the Houston County
Board of Elections.
Voters wishing to cast
absentee votes in the
Warner Robins special elec
tion to fill the unexpired
term of the late City
Councilman Thomas Sims
can do so at Warner Robins
City Hall during regular
business hours.
Voters wishing to cast
Church supporting Bill Alford
By RAY UGHTNRE
HHJ Staff Writer
Would you write a letter
for Bill Alford?
His friends and church
family at Shirley Hills
Baptist Church are asking
for character reference let
ters for the longtime
teacher, band director and
choir director at the church.
“Church members are
writing letters expressing
our love and confidence in
Bill,” said Shirley Hills
Pastor Andy Cook. “It’s the
least we could do.”
He said the church is “lit
erally praying the situation
be reversed and his reputa
tion as a great educator and
gentle man be restored.”
Alford, the former band
director at Northside Middle
School, was suspended for
two weeks after he “struck a
child accidentally,” accord
ing to the church e-mail.
According to school system
spokeswoman Beth Burris,
the superintendent’s inves
tigation found Alford had
absentee votes for the spe
cial purpose local option
sales tax (SPLOST) in the
county can do so at the
Houston County Board of
Elections Office at 801 Main
St. in Perry during regular
business hours.
To request an absentee
ballot you are required to be
absent from your precinct
on election day, be unable to
vote due to a physical dis
ability or giving constant
care to a disabled person, be
an election official, the elec
tion day falls on a special
religious holiday you
observe, be 75 years of age
put his hands on the stu
dent, “but without malice;
he was trying to get the stu
dent’s attention.”
Alford will be allowed to
return to the classroom, but
not at Northside Middle and
not as a band director.
Alford had been band direc
tor at Northside Middle
since 1994, Burris said, and
a teacher for 29 years with
no complaints on his record.
Cook said the church has
been contacted “by families
on base to families we never
dreamed of, including some
overseas,” with support for
Alford.
The letters may be pre
sented at his pre-warrant
hearing before a Magistrate
Court judge on Tuesday at 3
p.m. or any place where
decisions might be made
about his future.
“Even if never used, the
letters would be a great gift
to a great man who happens
to have a great need right
now,” Cook said.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Chairman
Hillsborough County Library System, Ye Mystic Krewe of
Gasparilla, Tampa Yacht & Country Club and many happy
hours golfing with his friends at Avila Golf & Country Club
and Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club.
His resilience, humor and dignity over the last five years
as he mounted the increased challenges of ALS taught us
much about the important qualities of life. He will be great
ly missed by all who had the great privilege and honor to
know and love him.
His legacy will be his integrity, giving spirit, keen sense of
humor and solid devotion to family and his many friends -
“a life well lived.”
The Family would like to thank Dr. Mike Schwartz, Karen
Pingel, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital Spinal Cord
Injury Unit for their excellent and compassionate care.
Visitation will be at Blount & Curry, 605 South Mac Dill
Ave., Tampa, Fla., from 5-8 p.m.,
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005. Funeral Service will be at Palma
Ceia Presbyterian Church,
3501 San Jose, at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22, 2005.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the J. Bob
Humphries Student of Excellence Scholarship Fund, PO.
Box 13425, Tampa, FL 33681.
ADELE G. RIGSBY
UNADILLA - Adele G. Rigsby, 83, of Unadilla, died
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, in a Warner Robins hospital.
Born in Dooly County, she was the daughter of the late
Thomas Wesley Goodroe and Artie Kimsey Goodroe. She
was a homemaker, a member of First Baptist Church of
Unadilla and the widow of Clarence Daniel Rigsby.
Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Jones (Bo) of
Unadilla; sons, Steve Rigsby (Felicia) of Byromville;
Clarence Rigsby (Peggy) of Unadilla; Tommy Rigsby (Patti)
of Riverside, Calif.; seven grandchildren; five great-grand
children; three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in First
Baptist Church of Unadilla with interment in Walnut
Cemetery.
The family greeted friends at the funeral home from 7-9
p.m. Friday.
Those who wish may sign the online registry at www.
brannen-nesmith.com
Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Unadilla has charge
of arrangements.
JOE HARTWELL SMITH
Joe Hartwell Smith, a native of Mobile, Ala.,
former resident of Perry, Ga., and resident of
the Fowl River Community, Ala., for over 50
years, passed away at his residence on
Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005, at the age of 81. After
graduating from Murphy High School in 1942, he joined the
United States Navy where he served aboard the sub-chaser
CV-34 in the South Pacific during World War 11. Smith was
recalled to service during the Korean War serving aboard
the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Oriskany. He retired from the
civil service after 31 years, and retired as judge for the
Mobile County Racing Commission at Mobile County
Greyhound Park after 17 years of service. Smith was an
active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Abba
Temple Shrine Center,
Greeters Unit, the South
Mobile County Shrine Club,
Howard Masonic Lodge, the
Scottish Rite, life member of
or older, reside outside the
United States, be a public
safety officer and on duty at
the time of the election, or
be are a member of the
Armed Forces.
Early voting for both the
city and SPLOST election
will be held the week of
Sept. 12-16 at Warner
Robins City Hall or the
Houston County Board of
Elections.
That week is also the week
to qualify for the Warner
Robins’ city elections in
November when two council
seats and the mayor’s office
will be up for grabs.
The hearing is to deter
mine if a warrant should be
issued for the simple battery
charge the boy’s mother
filed against Alford.
Houston County Magistrate
Court building is on Cohen
Walker Drive, between Lake
Joy Road and Houston Lake
Road, south of Ga. 96.
Local attorneys Jay
Walker and Fred Graham
are representing Alford, and
could not comment on the
case at this time, Walker
said Friday.
Cook said Alford has been
advised not to speak out, but
his friends and supporters
can.
Former students, friends,
church members and any
one wishing to drop off a let
ter can bring them by the
church office, 615 Corder
Road anytime before
Monday afternoon. Letters
can also be brought to
church on Sunday or e
mailed to Cook at
acook@shirleyhills.com.
LOCAL
OBITUARIES
ft, MACON REGIONAL
Jr Help so(ve A Crime
742-2330 • 1-877-68 CRIME
(27463)
Rewards of up to $ 1,000 - Remain Anonymous!
Eddie Meguel Davis
Wanted for violation of probation [for pos
session of cocaine with intent to distribute,
selling/delivering/dispensing marijuana,
selling/delivering/dispensing cocaine
LKA: 100 block of Northwind Court,
WR
Stephanie Denson
Wanted for violation of probation (for VGCSA
possesston of cocaine with intent to distribute.
VGCSA-possession of marijuana, VGCSA-sale of
cocaine, possession of a firearm by convicted felon)
LKA: 100 block of Angela Avenue, WR
_i_
Terrell Raheeb Dye
Wanted for theft by taking
LKA: 700 block of Walnul Street,
WR
Amy Faircloth
Wanted for forgery (first degree)
LKA: 100 block of Robins West Parkway,
WR
IF YOU DON’T LIKE SEEING YOUR PICTURE ON THIS PAGE,
CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AND TURN YOURSELF IN!
VFW Post 49, American Legion Post 250, and the Mobile
Power and Sail Squadron.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Phyllis Foley Smith;
son, Gregory H. (Margaret Walden) Smith, both of the Fowl
River Community; daughter, Gwendolyn (the Rev. Neil)
Kaminski of Navarre, Fla.; two sisters, Henrietta S. Woolley
of Orange, Texas, and Margaret Ellen Rutherford of
Fredericksburg, Va.; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Kate
“Katie” Walter, Garrett Hartwell Smith and Nicholas Blake
Kaminski; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
Memorial services will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church in Mobile on Saturday, August 20, 2005, beginning
at 11 a.m. The family will receive visitors at the church
prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers,
the family requests that donations be made to the Abba
Shrine Temple Hospital Transportation Fund, 7701 Hitt
Road, Mobile, AL 36695; or the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Organ Fund, 1050 Azalea Road, Mobile, AL 36693.
Arrangements by Ascension Funeral Service, 1016
Hillcrest Road, Mobile, Ala.
JONATHAN CHRISTOPHER TAUNTON
KATHLEEN - Jonathan Christopher Taunton, 18, went
to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday,
Aug. 18, 2005, in Macon. Services will be at
3 p.m. Sunday at Second Baptist Church I.
with burial in Parkway Memorial Gardens. If y
The body will be placed in the church at 4 W
p.m. Saturday for viewing, with family visi- A j|HI
tation from 6 until 8 p.m. An additional Bk
praise service will be held at Second Baptist I
Church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday followed by a
celebration of his life in the church family
life center for all youth who may want to attend.
Jonathan was born in Houston County and has lived here
all of his life. He was a very active member of Second
Baptist Church where he was involved in many activities
such as the drummer for the Praise Band (Six Piece Suit),
member of the young men’s llth-grade Sunday School
Class, the high school Area Bible Study Group, the puppet
ministry and children’s ministry. He was involved in the
church Upward Basketball program and he played on sev
eral of the church’s softball and volleyball teams. Jonathan
also played and worshipped with the praise and worship
group from Crosspoint Baptist Church on different occa
sions. He was an llth-grader at Houston County High
School where he was a member of FCA, the Prayer Club,
Cross Country Running Team. Jonathan was awarded the
runner of the Year in 2004 for all of Houston County.
Survivors include his parents, Valeria and Russell
Taunton of Kathleen; sister, Ashleigh Taunton of Kathleen;
two brothers, Matthew and Kaleb Taunton, both of
Alabama; maternal grandparents, Charles and Carolyn
Kirby Sr. of Warner Robins; paternal grandfather, Wallace
Taunton of Montgomery, Ala.; four aunts, two uncles and 17
cousins.
Contributions may be made to the Second Baptist Youth
Scholarship Fund at 2405 Moody Road, Warner Robins, GA
31088.
Heritage Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrange
ments.
Alex Dawson
Wanted for violation of probation (for statutory
rape)
LKA: 300 block of Oklahoma Avenue,
WR
Bennie Dinkins Jr.
Wanted for failure to pay child support
LKA: unknown
WB
Fernando Echeverria
Wanted for aggravated assault, posses
sion of a firearm or knife during a crime,
failure to appear
LKA: 300 block of King Forest Drive,
WR
[®
Andrew Fanis
Wanted far failure to appear/contempt, giving false
name/birthdate/address. driving without license, seat
belt violation
LKA: 100 block of Galan Way,
WR '
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005
Freddy De La Cruz
Wanted for violation of probation (for OVD
LKA: 100 block of Sandy Run,
Bonaire
Leroy Jason Dickerson
Wanted for simple battery
LKA: 200 block of Myrtle Street,
WR
Jay David Emerson
Wanted for theft by taking, forgery (two
counts), failure to appear.'contempt of court
LKA: 100 block of Port Terrace,
WR
Sharaafamer
Wanted for violation of probation (for
PUI)
LKA: 100 block of Sandy Run,
Bonaire
7A