Obituaries
Albany Area

Wesley Reynolds Benford

ALBANY — The memorial service of Wesley (Wes) Reynolds Benford, 22, of Albany, GA, will be conducted Monday at 11:00 A.M. at Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church. Rev. Nathan Godley, Dr. Timothy J. Bagwell, and Rev. Nancy Scarborough will officiate. The family will visit with friends in the parlor following the service.

A native and lifelong resident of Albany, Wes was a 2004 graduate of Deerfield Windsor School. He was a member of the football, track, and baseball teams. Wes was a member of Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church and was a student at Auburn University where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

Survivors include his parents, Laura and Ben Benford of Albany, a sister and her husband, Kelly and Mack Bryson of Woodstock, GA, and his maternal grandparents, Barbara and Ed Copelan of Albany. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jean and Grady Benford.

The family can be contacted and will receive friends at their residence at 2311 Wallington Drive, Albany, GA 31721.

Those desiring may make contributions to Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany, GA, 31707 or to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, P.O. Box 72122, Albany, GA 31708.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit Mathews’ website at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com

Mathews Funeral Home
Albany 229/435-5657

Jacqueline Champion

ALBANY — Jacqueline (Bunny) Champion, 62, of 1017 Pearson Rd., Worth County. died Thursday at her residence.

Funeral service will be held Monday 11 AM at Crown Hill Cemetery with Rev. Michael A. McAfee and Rev. Ann Heinemann officiating.

A native of Virginia, Mrs. Champion had lived in the Albany area for many years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband James P. (Jimmy) Champion, III, a daughter, Fran Sheffield and her husband Tony of Cairo, a son, Chip Champion and his wife Leigh Ann of Tifton, Grandchildren, Fletcher Sheffield, Sarah Sheffield and Claire Champion, 2 sisters, Mrs. Ike (Laura) Latham of Clute, TX and Mrs. Charles R. (Karen) Weber of Olympia, WA. 1 Aunt Mary Underwood of Naples, FL Nieces and nephews also survive.

The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors Sunday from 4 PM to 6 PM.

Those desiring please make memorials to Albany Community Hospice, P. O. Box 1828, Albany, GA 31702 or the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 448, Albany, Georgia , 31701.

You may sign the guestbook and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Mrs. Champion by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Amanda Nottage Isler

ALBANY — Amanda Nottage Isler, 84, 2403 Hemlock Dr., died Thursday, May 8, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements to be announced.

Poteat Funeral Home
Albany 229/436-3615

Ruth G. Jones

ALBANY — Ruth ”Mama” Jones, 87 of Albany died Thursday, May 8, 2008.

Her funeral service will be 11 AM, today, May 10, 2008, graveside at Floral Memory Gardens. Rev. Charles Jones will officiate.

A native of Sylvester and a life long resident of Albany, Mrs. Jones was known as ”Mama Jones” to hundreds of kids and parents attending the activities of the Allison Skating Rink. She was a long time member of the Albany Gospel Chapel, and was an accountant for S&S Chemical and Albany Pool Co. She loved her family and all the children that crossed her paths in life. She loved to read, work crossword puzzles and to attend the flowers in her garden. She was preceded in death by her husband Aubrey Elmo Jones, Sr., and her sister Lenora Mary Garrett.

She is survived by her sons: Aubrey Elmo Jones, Jr. and his wife Tammy of IN; John F. Jones and his wife Susie of Albany; her daughter Lenora J. Askew and her husband Mitch of Wildwood FL; 3 grandchildren: Matthew Jones, Zachary Jones and Lauren Askew.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Albany Humane Society, 1705 W. Oakridge Dr., Albany, GA 31707.

You may sign the online register and share your own thoughts and memories with the family of Mrs. Jones by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Monty Latham

ALBANY — Monty Latham, 55, of Cordele, formerly of Albany, died Thursday at Crisp Regional Hospital.

Funeral service will be held Monday 1 PM at Kimbrell-Stern with Rev. Dorsia Atkinson Officiating. Interment will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.

A native of Albany, Monty was a member of the First United Methodist Church and attended Sunday School at First Baptist Church. He was a cook at McDonalds for several years and attended Happy House School for special needs children.

He was preceded in death by his parents Monroe and Annabelle Latham.

Survivors include a sister Becky Carter and her husband Tommy of Lake Blackshear and nieces and nephews John and Marjorie Carter, Brandi and Clint Ivy, Allyson and Shannon Smallwood and Brooke Bays.

The family will be at the residence of Becky and Tommy Carter 149 Wolf Thick Rd., Cordele and will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors Monday.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Warwick United Methodist Church, 199 Magnolia St. S.W., Warwick, GA 31796 or Albany ARC 2616 Pointe North Blvd.,1.

You may sign the guestbook and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Monty Latham by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Edward Neal

ALBANY — GYSGT Edward Neal, 38, of Albany died April 30, 2008 in Miami, FL. Funeral service will be (Today) Saturday at Rhema Word International Church. Interment Crown Hill Cemetery with full military honors.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Byron Richard Rice

ALBANY — Byron Richard Rice, 82, of Albany, died Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.

His funeral service will be Monday 3 PM at Crown Hill Cemetery.The Revs. Nathan Godley and Nancy Scarbrough will officiate. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern on Monday prior to the service from 1:30-2:30 PM.

A native of Vero Beach, FL, Mr. Rice had lived in Albany since 1965. He was a member of Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church and served in the US Navy during WWII. Mr. Rice was in the dry cleaning business, co-owning and operating Snow White Laundry and 60 Minutes Dry Cleaners in Albany, and Modern Cleaners in Camilla, GA.

Mr. Rice is survived by his daughter: Jo-Eve Benedict, Juno, Alaska; 3 sons: Byron Richard Rice, Jr., Bend, Oregon, Daniel Tipton Rice, Anchorage, Alaska, Charles Drew Rice, Atlanta, GA; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers: Bob Rice, Clearwater, FL, Bill Rice, Vero Beach, FL.

Those desiring may send memorials to Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Rd., Albany, GA 31707.

You may sign the online guestbook and share your memories with the family of Byron Richard Rice by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors
Albany 229/883-4152

Suzette Virginia Rodgers

ALBANY — Suzette Virginia Rodgers, 51, of 2317 Thompkins died, Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be held Sunday, May 11, 2008 at the funeral home at 11 A.M.

Elliott Funeral Home
Albany 229/436-3553

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