John Lee “Big John” Brassell
Mr. John Lee “Big John” Brassell, 80, of Augusta died Saturday, April 7, 2007, at Burke County Medical Center.

Mr. Brassell had lived in the Augusta area since 1961.

He retired from E.I. Dupont as an operator. He was a member of Fleming Baptist Church and the Brothers Sunday School class. He was preceded in death by his parents, John B. and Rosa Stanley Brassell; his son, Jerry Brassell; and by his sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Horace Milburn.

The funeral was April 10 at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Chance and Hydrick Funeral Directors with the Rev. Billy Atkins and the Rev. Marion Jay officiating.

Burial was in Westover Memorial Park.

Survivors include his wife, Betty W. Brassell; a son, Johnny L. and Sharon Brassell, Augusta; a daughter, Janice Gault, Augusta; one brother, Lamar Brassell, Thomson; one sister, Joan Johnson, Mitchell; and two grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Steve Cawthon, Bob Lane, L.R. Newman, Bobby Maddox, Steve Crislip, Bob Moore and Donald Norris.

Memorials may be made to Fleming Baptist Church Building fund, 3027 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta, GA 30906.

Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, Augusta, was in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Purks Clay
Ms. Mary Purks Clay, 75, of Louisville died Friday, April 6, 2007, at Jefferson Hospital.

Mrs. Clay, formerly of Fredericksburg, Va., was a homemaker and a Baptist by faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis L. Clay Sr.

A memorial service will be held on April 12 at 2 p.m. at Fredericksburg Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sons, Curtis L. Clay Jr., Louisville, and Charles Calvin Clay, Fredericksburg, Va.; one daughter, Connie Clay Hodges, Glenn Allen, Va.; two sisters, Arlene Frazier, Fredericksburg, and Christine Berry, Madison County, Va.; one brother, Ernest Purks, Fredricksburg; and three grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Lloyd Moss Clinic, 435 Hunter St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

Southern Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Willie Palmer
Mr. Willie Palmer of Twin City died Saturday, April 7, 2007, at Twin City Health Center.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Survivors include five sisters, Betty Palmer, Hephzibah, Hattie Curry, Louisville, Catherine Padilla, Atlanta, Daisy Ferguson, Charlotte, NC, and Ida Hamilton, Philadelphia, Pa.; two brothers, William Palmer, Augusta, and Larry Palmer, Philadelphia; three aunts, Hazel Brown, Augusta, Eddie Stone, Wrens, and Lola Mae Roberts, Avera.

Williams Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Byron C. Taylor
Mr. Byron C. Taylor of Wrens died Monday, April 2, 2007, at the VA Medical Center in Augusta.

Mr. Taylor, a native of Marietta, lived in Wrens the past two years.

He was retired from the U.S. Marines where he served in Vietnam.

Interment will be held at a later date.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce W. Taylor; one daughter, Mandy Alice Michael, Marietta; and one sister, Margaret Taylor, Wrens.

Southern Funeral Service, Martinez, is in charge of the arrangements.

Judson Lamar Kitchens
Mr. Judson Lamar Kitchens, 60, of Avera died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at MCG Hospital.

Mr. Kitchens was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and a member of the adult men Sunday school class.

He was retired from Georgia Tennessee Mine Company, retired as a fire chief with the Avera Fire Department, and a member of Woodmen of the World.

The funeral was April 8 at 3 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Roy Smith and Donald Lumpkin and Gary Hutchins officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Kitchens; a son, Gary (Kristi) Kitchens; two sisters, Betty Ann Kitchens, Avera, and Alice K. Reynolds, Warthen; a brother, William P. Kitchens, Thomson; and five nieces and three nephews.

Pallbearers were Dr. Chris Sheppard, William Reynolds, Russell Clark, Lonnie Ledger, Anthony Clark and Julian Kitchens.

Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Celellatin Ustun, Brent Limbaugh, Dr. Anand Jillela, Deacons of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and Jefferson County firemen.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, P.O. Box 4, Avera, GA 30803.

James Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Jane “Sweet Mary” Huntley
Mrs. Mary Jane “Sweet Mary” Huntley, 103, of Louisville Died Thursday, April 5, 2007, at Heritage of Old Capital.

Mrs. Huntley was a native of Jefferson County and a member of the Canaan Galilee Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir, missionary board and served as Mother of the Church.

She was also a member of the Lone Star Society, A S and B Society and the Jefferson County Senior Citizens.

The funeral was April 10 at 3 p.m. at the Canaan Galilee Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Stokes officiating. Burial was in Lone Star Society Cemetery.

Survivors include three children, Narcissus McBride, Fannie Houston and Ben Huntley Sr., Louisville; 28 grandchildren; 68 great-grandchildren; 77 great-great-grandchildren; nine great-great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Canaan Galilee Building Fund, c/o Narcissus McBride, 403 E. 7th St., Louisville, GA 30434.

Davis Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Carlton “Sugg” Danford
Mr. Carlton “Sugg” Danford of Wadley died Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

The funeral was April 6 at Hudson Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. James Jenkins officiating.

Burial was in the Braddy Family Cemetery in Bartow.

Survivors include two daughters, Rosezinnie (Larry) Tarver, Augusta, and Latrice Jenkins, Wadley; a sister, Lenora (C’Lester) Tooks, Wadley; three brothers, Johnny (Sallie) Danford Jr., and Clarence Danford, Wadley, and David Allen (Wylene) Danford, Louisville; three grandchildren; two aunts; and a special friend, Cora White. Pallbearers were Joe Johnson, Horace Nicey, Curtis Danford Jr., Kenny Danford, James Hall, Alonzo McIntosh and James “Chuck” Wilcher.

Hudson Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.