Vera S.

Barfield Ruis

ALBANY— Vera S. Barfield Ruis, 89, of Albany, died May 15, 2008. Funeral services were held Monday, May 19, at Mathews Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mike Deloach officiating. Interment followed at Crown Hill Cemetery.

A native of Worth County, Mrs. Ruis had resided in Albany for the past two years after moving from Anderson City. Early in her life she was an elementary school teacher and along with her late husband, Olon Augustus Ruis, owned and operated Ruis Grocery Store.

Mrs. Ruis was a homemaker and enjoyed growing daylillies. She was a very active member of Union Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

She was preceded in death by her father, Heyward Barfield; her mother, Lola Barfield; and a sister, Flory Barfield Ruis.

Survivors include a brother, Hansel Barfield of Doerun; three daughters, Jan Dalton and her husband Randy of Albany, Charlotte Galloway and her husband David of Naples, Fla., and Diane Womack of Chula; a son and his wife, Larry and Jan Ruis of Albany; a stepson, Olon Ladolphus Ruis and his wife Chris of Tallahassee, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Michael Ford and Penny Ford, both of Sylvester, Shannon Shockley of Key Largo, Fla., Todd Steiner of Americus, Nikki Walker and Trey Womack, both of Tifton, and Tiffany Mills of Jacksonville, Fla.; and six great-grandchildren.

Those desiring may make donations to Albany Community Hospice or The Wilson Hospice House.

The family is at the residence of Larry and Jan Ruis, 2431 Tarva Road, Albany, GA 31721.

Mathews’ Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Lucy Rosala Ellerbee

ENIGMA— Lucy Rosala Ellerbee, 83, of Enigma, died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel of Bowen-Donaldson with the Rev. Ronnie Vice, the Rev. Terrell Roberts and Robert Elder officiating. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.

James Bailey, Clarence Smith, Ronald Norman, Bobby Alberson, Jackie Copeland and Harold Tyson will serve as pallbearers.

Born on Oct. 14, 1924, in Dickinson County, Mrs. Ellerbee was the daughter of Melvin and Delphia O’Quinn Deel, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Thornton Brackett Ellerbee.

Mrs. Ellerbee was a self-employed house cleaner. She attended Grace Baptist Church.

She is survived by her five sons and their wives, Al and Dorothy Ellerbee of Ashburn, Greg and Lisa Ellerbee of Kennesaw, Mark and Peggy Owens of Tifton, Barry and Barbara Owens of Quitman and Johnny and Lois Owens of Enigma; her two sisters, Kathleen Viers of Ohio and Vergie Singleton of Virginia; her 10 grandchildren, Chris Ellerbee, Melissa Fabila, Gregory Ellerbee, Jill Owens, Tim Owens, Christie Owens, Stephanie Owens, Ricky Owens, Wyatt Ellerbee and Ethan Ellerbee; and 14 great-grandchildren.

You may sign the online guest registry at www.bowen-donaldson.com.

Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals are in charge of arrangements.



Aaron Harvey Rice

NASHVILLE— Aaron Harvey Rice, 83, of Nashville, died on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Crestwood Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, in the chapel of Lovein Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mitchell Deems officiating. Interment will be at the Nashville Memorial Gardens with full military honors.

Honorary pallbearers are Wendell Rice, Frankie Rice, LaRue Abbott, Lossie Abbott, Sonny Griner and Billy Crowley.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Lovein Funeral Home.

Mr. Rice was born Oct. 30, 1924, in Cook County and grew up farming with his parents in Berrien County. He graduated from Poplar Springs High School in 1943 and joined the U.S. Army the following year. He was sent to Europe in January 1945 and fought in World War II in France and Germany, serving with the 254th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. He was involved in the initial breach of the German Siegfried Line near Enshein, Germany and was severely wounded on March 17, 1945 causing lifelong disability. For his service he received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Service Stars, the American Theater Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He also received a Bronze Star for his heroics in World War II. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Berrien County to resume farming with his parents.

Mr. Rice was a member of Forest Hill Freewill Baptist Church.

Preceding him in death was his wife of 42 years, Verdie Clanton Rice; his parents, Perry Franklin and Annie Belle Griffis Rice; three brothers, Walter Rice, Carl Rice and Minson Rice; and three sisters, Orlando Rice Abbott, Martha Etta Rice and Mytrice Rice.

Survivors include one sister, Agnes Rice Taylor of Nashville; two brothers, Lankford Rice of Durant, Fla., and Vernon Rice of Nashville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lovein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Harold B. ‘Back’ Joyner

SYCAMORE— Harold B. “Back” Joyner, 92, of Sycamore, died Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Tift Health Care following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Bethel Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Mr. Joyner was the son of the late Rumeal Sanders and Equilla Shirah Joyner. He was born in Carroll County and resided in Turner County most of his life. Mr. Joyner was a retired farmer and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Nora Harris Joyner, who died April 4, 2005; his sister, Angie Young; and his brothers, Noel Joyner, Lowell Joyner, Sharron Joyner and Charles Joyner.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews.

You may sign the online guest book and share your special condolences and memories with the family by visiting Perry Funeral Chapel’s Web site at: www.perryfuneralchapel.com.

Perry Funeral Chapel Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.



Martie Lamar Boyd

WEST BERRIEN — Martie Lamar Boyd, 51, of West Berrien, died Monday, June 2, 2008 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Flat Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. Mickey Lindsey and the Rev. Ronnie Lawson officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held after 4 p.m. Wednesday at Lovein Funeral Home in Nashville. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Mr. Boyd was born Nov. 12, 1956, in Cook County, and was the son of Louise Rowan Boyd and the late Abner Boyd. He was a farmer and an active member of Flat Creek Baptist Church.

Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Phyllis Mills Boyd; one son, Levi Boyd of West Berrien; one daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Micheal Jones of West Berrien; two brothers, Donald Boyd of Nashville, and Raymond Boyd of Okinawa, Japan and one sister, Deborah Surface of West Berrien.

Lovein Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.



Sam Hudson Barker

NASHVILLE— Sam Hudson Barker, 88, of Nashville, died Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Nashville First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Stanley Luke and the Rev. Billy Southerland officiating. Burial will follow at Westview Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.

Mr. Barker was born Nov. 25, 1919 in Pulaski County, and was the son of George Barker and Lillian Harwood Barker, both deceased. He was predeceased by his wife and the love of his life, Marjorie Dunbar Barker, who died in 2001, and a daughter, Janice Elayne Barker, who died in 1986. He was also predeceased by five sisters, Louise Whipple, Ina Ellis, Fannie Smith, Edith Key and Margaret Ditmars, and one brother, Leo Barker.

He lived in Colquitt County for several years and graduated from Moutrie High School in 1938. Mr. Barker served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and while stationed in Harlington, Texas, he met and married his wife in 1944.

In 1948 he began a career with the Moultrie Production Credit Association as manager of the Nashville office. Upon retirement he was appointed the Berrien County Magistrate Court Judge and served in that capacity until retirement in 2001.

Mr. Barker was an active member of Nashville First Baptist Church for over 60 years and served as Finance Committee chairman, deacon and a teacher of the Brotherhood Sunday School Class. An avid golfer, he enjoyed memberships with his friends at Circlestone and Valdosta country clubs.

He is survived by one sister, Laura McCorkle of Moultrie, and a brother, Paul Barker of Ellenwood.

Lovein Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.



Ricky Reece

TIFTON— Floyd Stanley “Stan” McKellar Jr., of Tifton, died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today in the chapel of Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors with Kenneth Willis and Lawton Bassett officiating. Burial will follow at Oakridge Cemetery.

Burt McKellar, Lawton Bassett, Dan Matthews, Mark Alexander, Ty Cottle, Dan Rakestraw and Bo Lowrey will serve as pallbearers. Mr. McKellar’s 1983 state football championship Tift County High School Blue Devils coaches and teammates, his 1984 and 1985 Blue Devil football teammates, as well his classmates from the Tift County High School Class of 1986, will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Mr. McKellar was born Oct. 9, 1966 in Coral Gables, Fla., to Floyd Stanley McKellar Sr., and Yvonne Blalock McKellar of Tifton, both of whom survive.

Mr. McKellar was an athlete and a member of the 1983 state football championship team of Tift County High School where he graduated in 1986. He was an avid sports fan, a loving father, son, nephew, uncle, grandson and friend to a large group of family and friends. Mr. McKellar was a member of Victory Baptist Church.

Mr. McKellar is survived by his children, Floyd Stanley “Trey” McKellar III and a daughter, Michelle Leigh “Chelle” McKellar, both of Tifton; his special love, Dawn Elliot of Ashburn; one brother, Paul B. “Burt” McKellar and his fiancé’, Kelly Rakestraw both of Tifton; one sister and brother-in-law, Sandi and Shane Smith of Tifton; special aunts, Vickie Hester of Tifton, Mary Kincaid of Sylvester, Lilly McKellar of Tifton, and Faye Holweger and her husband, Lamar Holweger, of Tifton; his special uncle, Joseph McKellar of Macon and his nieces, McKensey Smith and Marley Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Victory Baptist Church building fund, 3917 Hwy. 319 S., Tifton, GA 31793, or American Cancer Society, Tift County Unit, P.O. Box 7514, Tifton, GA, 31793.

You may sign the online registry at www.albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com

Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.