Death Notices

Mr. Harrington Youdon “Don” Gilbert Jr., age 48, of Molena, passed away July 19, 2016, at Upson Regional Medical Center.  He grew up in Pike County and graduated in 1985. He was a musician and a lover all types of music. Don was a great conversationalist, storyteller and friend.  He loved everyone, never met a stranger and always enjoyed making people laugh. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. [Full story »] 

Mrs. Mary Agnes Sawyer, age 80, of Concord, passed away July 17, 2016, at her home. She was born in Guys, TN, daughter of the late Clyde Hooker and Virginia Williams Hooker.  She attended Pike County Assembly of God Church in Zebulon, loved music, singing and flowers. In her younger years she sang at church and with the Terry Skinner Singers and the Sherwood Singers, and worked at a florist in Griffin. For 28 years she was a seamstress at Griffin Industries. [Full story »] 

Mrs. Jewel Dean Campbell, age 78, of The rock, died Monday, July 11, 2016, at her residence. [Full story »] 

Pastor Thomas Eugene (Tim) Thompson age 65, of Williamson, Georgia went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 9, 2016. [Full story »] 

Fay Pilkenton, age 101, of Griffin, passed away June 26, 2016 at her home.

Miss Pilkenton was born on December 8, 1914 in Molena, the daughter of the late John Thomas Pilkenton and Clenda Carriker Pilkenton. She was preceded in death by her two sisters: Elizabeth Pilkenton and Nelle Pilkenton Presley and three brothers: Thomas, Jack and Walter Pilkenton. She was a graduate of Molena High School and Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) in Milledgeville. She received her Master's Degree in Education from Georgia Peabody College in Nashville, TN. Miss Pilkenton devoted her career to the field of education. She taught for over 21 years in four Georgia school systems: Buford, Carrollton, Thomaston and Pike County. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year for Pike County High School and later for the entire Pike County School System. She served for 19 years as the Assistant State Supervisor of Business Education for Georgia and retired in 1977. [Full story »] 

Mrs. Gloria Aliene Overstreet Wheless, age 85, of Williamson, passed away June 19, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Thomaston.  She was born in Savannah, where she spent her childhood.  She lived in Woodstock for 30 years, and worked at K-mart there for 13 years.  She was also a homemaker.  In 2002, she moved to Williamson to be near her daughter. [Full story »] 

Ruth Williams, age 87, passed in the early morning of June 16, 2016, at her home.  Ruth Williams was born March 6, 1929, in Atlanta, to Odell Bartlett and Paul Parker.  After the passing of her father at the age of 3, Ruth, along with her brothers, Lewis, Paul and Richard and sister, Mary spent the majority of their youth at the Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur.  Ruth graduated from Avondale High School and after the end of World War II, worked at the old Conley Depot in Forest Park, where she met her future husband and love of her life, Thomas Nutt Williams Sr.  Ruth and Tom were married on March 12, 1950, at the Steward Ave. Methodist Church in East Point.  To this union, 3 children, Tommy, Teri and David were born and raised in East Point.  In 1972, Ruth and Tom moved to Williamson, where they resided the remainder of their days and where both Ruth and Tom were active members of the Church of Joy.  Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Tom, brothers, Lewis, Paul and Richard Parker and sister Mary Callahan. [Full story »] 

William C. (Bill) Dials II, age 67, died peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2016, surrounded by his loving wife and children.


Bill was a man of integrity, character, and patriotism, spending his life faithfully serving his family, community, and country. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Bill spent his 38-year career with the United States Postal Service, retiring in 2007. He was a long-time and devoted member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, and served his local community through the American Legion Post 197 and the Pike County Volunteer Fire Department for over thirty years, holding many roles. [Full story »] 

Mildred (Mickey) Cox Richards; age 90, passed away on Friday, June 3, 2016 at her home in Weatherford, Texas. Mickey was born Edna Mildred Cox on September 7, 1925 in Molena, Georgia to Henry Arthur (H.A.) Cox and Sally Lena Cox-Cox. Mickey graduated from High School in Molena, Georgia and attended Georgia Business College in Atlanta, Georgia. She worked at Sears-Roebuck in Atlanta, Georgia, before marrying Ted Richards, Sr. in 1945. She and her husband moved to Weatherford, Texas in 1947, after Ted’s overseas duty in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne. Mickey is a long-time member of both North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas and Mount Olive Baptist Church in Molena, Georgia. While living in Brock, Texas for 15 years, she was a member of Brock Baptist Church.Mickey retired from North Side Baptist Church, in Weatherford, Texas in 1986 after working there as a church secretary for 30 years. She worked for 5 different preachers in those 30 years. After she and Ted retired, they moved back to Molena, Georgia in 1986, before returning to live in Weatherford, Texas in 2004.
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Ms. Stephanie Tenney Gedda, age 69, of Fayetteville, GA, passed away June 2, 2016, at her son’s home in Rayville, Missouri surrounded by her family.  She was born on August 26, 1946, to the late Lawrence H. Tenney and Lula Mae Cole Tenney.  She was a stay at home mom for many years while her children were young, and after her children grew older, she became a Real Estate Agent with Coldwell-Banker Bullard Realty and was named to the Million Dollar Club. Ms. Gedda enjoyed traveling, dancing, music, and people.  [Full story »] 

Mr. Charles Edward Statham, age 89, of Meansville passed away May 29, 2016.  He was born in Griffin, April 29, 1927.  He served two years in the Army Corp and retired from the Air Force after 22 years of service.  He was an instructor at Griffin Tech and an overseas project manager for Grey Corporation.  Mr. Statham was an avid golfer, artist and world traveler. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Statham. [Full story »]