Earle Rainwater Funeral Home

MRS. SHIRLEY MAXEY, age 88, of Martha Berry Highway, Rome, Georgia, passed away Thursday evening in a Rome hospital, following an unexpected illness. She was born in Summerville, Georgia on November 27, 1933, to the late James Thomas and Della Mae Allen Holt. Mrs. Maxey was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and was retired Teacher for the Floyd Training Center in Rome. In addition to Parents, She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Dewey Jesse Maxey, a son, the late Michael Cavin Maxey, and a brother, the late Tommy Holt. Surviving are Her Children, Dewey Alan and Carol Maxey and Sonya Dawn and Greg Montgomery; grandchildren, Jesse and Justin Montgomery, James Maxey,...

MR. PAUL MARTIN DAVIS, age 82, of Little Sand Mountain, Summerville, Georgia passed away Tuesday at his residence. Mr. Davis was born in Columbia, S. C. on June 5, 1939, to the late Martin Davis and Lottie McDowell Davis. For many years He was an avid member of Gathers Church in Covington, Georgia and was retired Train Conductor for Am Track. In addition to Parents, He was preceded in death by siblings, James R. Davis, John Davis, Rex Davis, and Mary Davis. Surviving are His wife, Carol Davis; daughters and son-in-law, Paula and Jeff Cargle and Elizabeth Davis; grandchildren, Harlen and Sara Zeerip; special family member, Joey Kowalec; several Nieces and Nephews also survive. Funeral...

Mrs. Nancy White McDaniel, 90 of Summerville, passed away January 30, lovingly surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Earl McDaniel and son in law Jimmy Gribble. Survived by 4 daughters, Nancy Gribble, Cynthia Wilson (Eddie), Malinda Tonge (Jay) Laura Lovingood (Kelvin), 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 5th at 1:00pm, receiving friends from 12:00 to 1:00pm in Summerville, at Pennville Community Church with the Reverends Jon Paris & Gary Howell officiating. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, (10355 Commerce St., Summerville) has charge of arrangements. Donations in honor of her life can be made to...

Mrs. Patricia Kaye Hamby, 79, of Summerville, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. She was born on May 22, 1942, daughter of the late Allen and Grace Owens Mahle. She was a member of the Menlo United Methodist Church and Owner/Operator of Country Crossroads Antiques. In addition to Parents She was preceded in death by a brother, the late Eddie Mahle. Surviving are Her husband, Jerry Wayne Hamby; sons, Lee (Susan) Hamby and Lyn Hamby; grandchildren, Callan Hamby of Dunwoody, Georgia and Emma Hamby; brother, Roger Mahle of LaFayette; sister Judy Hall of Douglas, Georgia; special nieces, Beth Wilson and Susan Hegwood; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral...

MS. DEBBIE PLEDGER SANDERS, age 73, of Summerville, Georgia, passed away November 14, 2021, at her residence. A native of Summerville, Georgia, She was born to the late Fay and Mildred Copeland Pledger on July 27, 1948; she was a property Manager. Surviving are Her brother, Col. Jack Pledger of Illinois; several Cousins also survive. A Celebration of Her Life will be held Saturday, November 27th, from 11 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. at Los Maguey Restaurant in downtown Summerville, with Jeff Alexander officiant; Inurnment in Moseley Cemetery. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MRS. RITA DELL ROWE GREER, age 87, of Rome, Georgia, passed away Wednesday evening, September 29, 2021. She was born in Carbon Hill, Alabama on December 2, 1933 to the late Olan Ray and Wilma Gray Rowe; in addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, the late William Preston (Bill) Greer and brother-in-law, the late Hugh Bohannon. Mrs. Greer was raised in Palestine, Arkansas and has always had an affection for Palestine. She moved to Georgia in 1960. Mrs. Greer was a member of the Rome Church of Christ. She was totally devoted to her family, loved to prepare meals, was an excellent seamstress, loved to read, and had an affection for flowers and...

MR. LANE PACE, age 57, of Rome Blvd. Summerville, Georgia, passed away Sunday morning, September 5, 2021, in a Rome hospital following a sudden event. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky on November 20, 1963 to the late Jerry Lee Pace and Gail Stover Pace, who survives. Lane was an avid golfer, having taught golf in several institutions; and of late shot the lowest score at LaFayette Golf Club. He was a member of Lyerly First Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Raquel Pace; mother, Gail Pace; daughter, Andi Pace; son, Austin Pace; step children, Laura, Jimmy , and Jessie Gowan; his only sister, Leigh Little; niece, Courtney Little and nephew, Blake Little. Memorial service was held...

MRS. DONNA MORGAN LONG, age 61, of Summerville, Georgia, passed away Friday afternoon, August 20, 2021, in a Rome Hospital. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, she was born on September 6, 1959, to the late George Morgan, Sr. and Edith Morgan. She was a Homemaker and member of Life Purpose Church in Summerville. Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her Parents, and siblings, George Morgan, Jr., Linda Morgan, Jennifer Morgan, Jimmy Morgan, Archie Morgan, Mary Jo Hamilton, and Christine Morgan. Surviving are husband, Charlie Long; children, Morgan Long, Aaron Long, Zadin Long; sister-in-law, Donna Faye Morgan; several Nieces and Nephews also survive. Funeral Service will be...

Thelma Eargle, loving wife and mother of five children, died Friday, July 16, 2021 at the Oakview Nursing Home in Summerville, GA. She was 95 years old. Thelma was born Feb. 7, 1926, to the late B.F. Scott and Ruby Leathers Scott of Powder Springs, GA. She was also pre-deceased by her husband of 43 years, Joseph I. Eargle, Jr.; her grandson, Jae Eargle; and brother, Randy Scott. She is survived by her five children: Melissa Morgan of Summerville, Elizabeth Henderson (Gary) of Carrollton, Joe Eargle of Acworth, Cindy Evans (Rex) of Trion, and Benjie Eargle (Kay) of Powder Springs; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. A sister, Frankie S. Johnson of...

Montyne Brock Payne, wife of the late Dr. W. Marlin Payne and former Chattooga County resident, passed away in Rome, Georgia May 26, 2021 at the age of 94. Mrs. Payne was the daughter of the late Thomas Dow Brock and Ethel Little Brock and was born in LaFayette, Georgia. She spent her early years in LaFayette. She and her mother moved to Rome to live with relatives in 1939 following a house fire which destroyed their home. After graduating from Rome Girls High School in 1944, she was able to attend Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee. Following her graduation there, she taught in the Rome school system. She met her husband, of nearly 72 years, when she was 15 and he was 18. ...

MRS. MARGARET BRINDLEY CHRISTIAN GROOVER, age 76, of Hemphill Road, Summerville, Georgia, passed away Saturday, April 10, 2021, in a Rome hospital. She was born in Dundee, Scotland on February 18, 1945, a daughter of the late Milford Lee and Margaret Milne Brindley Christian. Mrs. Groover was a member of the Dry Valley Baptist Church and formerly worked for St. Paul Insurance Company in customer service. In addition to Her Parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, the late Heather Oliver. Surviving are Her husband, Patrick Groover; daughters, Jamie Richey (Wayne) and Cherie Oliver (Bradley); sisters, Elaine Fanning (Roland) and Eileen Stallard; grandchildren, Christopher...

REV. JOHN L. SHARP, age 93, of Stallion Drive, Summerville, Georgia, passed away Tuesday, morning March 23, 2021, . Born in Decatur, Tennessee on April 2, 1927, He was a son of the late Thomas Taylor Sharpe, Sr. and Docia Viola Turbyfield Sharp. He was ordained as a minister of the gospel His primary ministry was Chaplin U. S. Army. Funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 PM from the Earle Rainwater Funeral Home, interment in Oak Hill United Methodist Cemetery. Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge.

Bobby Lee Cook, one of America's most celebrated lawyers, died peacefully at his mountain home in Cloudland, Georgia, on February 19th, surrounded by family. He was 94. Bobby Lee was born in Chattoogaville, outside the small northwest Georgia town of Lyerly, on February 12, 1927, where he was raised in a home without running water, helping run the family's modest grocery store and keep up with the farm chores. From this rural beginning, however, the son of Paul Cook and Alma Edge Cook embarked on a life's journey that few could have then imagined. He took his first step into the wider world when, as a teenager, he enrolled in Gordon Academy a military school, where he learned the value of...

Bobby Lee Cook, one of America's most celebrated lawyers, died peacefully at his mountain home in Cloudland, Georgia, on February 19th, surrounded by family. He was 94. Bobby Lee was born in Chattoogaville, outside the small northwest Georgia town of Lyerly, on February 12, 1927, where he was raised in a home without running water, helping run the family's modest grocery store and keep up with the farm chores. From this rural beginning, however, the son of Paul Cook and Alma Edge Cook embarked on a life's journey that few could have then imagined. He took his first step into the wider world when, as a teenager, he enrolled in Gordon Academy a military school, where he learned the value of...

MAZIE CROW PURCELL, 102, of Summerville, passed away at home surrounded by family, Monday February 15, 2021. Born in Sandy Cross, Franklin County, Georgia, July 5, 1918, she was the third child of Revie James and Noah Simpson Crow. She attended Habersham College and John Hopkins University. During WWII, she served with Civil Service, first in Baltimore, Maryland, and later in Anniston, Alabama, from 1941-1947 as a corps driver for dignitaries visiting the Munitions Ordinance Depot. She was a member of Summerville First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Purcell worked for Wright Garment Company, Georgia Rug Mill and Jackson's Drug Store as a bookkeeper. She enjoyed genealogy and sponsored...

Jerrell Wynn McCool was born July 18, 1941, in Rome, Georgia. Passed into the loving arms of The Lord on Sept. 2, 2020, in Summerville. Survived by his loving wife, Jane McCollum McCool, whom he first met when she was 11 years old. Also survived by sons, Ben, Jason (Brandy), Joel (Alma). Eleven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, his brother, Jim (Carolyn). Preceded in death by parents, Henry Sanders McCool, Eva May Freeman McCool, brother, Henry Lee McCool, and grandson, Memphis Blu McCool. Jerrell grew up in West Rome and after graduating from West Rome High School he went to work at Fox Manufacturing. JB Dodd was looking for an eagle scout to work in banking. Harry...

MR. DWIGHT L. HARDIN, age 85, of Trion, Georgia, passed away Thursday morning, February 27, 2020. He was born July 7, 1934, in Trion, Georgia, son of the late John W. and Alice E. Chapman Hardin. Dwight served his Country in the Air Force from 1954 through 1958. He retired from Inland Rome paper mill after 38 years, where he was an electrician and past president of IBEW 613. He was a faithful member of the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ. Dwight coached the Indians Dixie Youth baseball team for 12 years; was supporter of the Trion High School and all their sports programs, and was also an avid Georgia football fan and enjoyed playing golf with his friends. Surviving are His loving...

MRS. FRANKIE DAWSON GORDON, age 88, of Gore Community, Summerville, Georgia passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at her residence. A native of Chattooga County, she was born in Gore Community on September 23, 1931 to the late Frank and Elizabeth Floyd Dawson. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, was retired Trion City School Teacher, and was preceded in death by her husband, the late Thomas Harold Gordon; son, the late Barry Gordon; granddaughter, the late Tonya Taylor; great grandsons, Grant Taylor and Cody Fulmer; great, great granddaughter, Paisley Fulmer; brothers, the late George Dawson, Gene Dawson, and David Dawson all died previously. Surviving are daughter...

Jeffrey Gorman Gilley November 27, 1957 - June 2, 2021 Jeffrey Gorman Gilley, 63, formerly of Athens, Georgia, died Wednesday, June 2, 2021 in Cherokee County, Alabama of natural causes. He was born in Rome, Georgia on November 27, 1957, graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1980 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1983. The son of the late Clarence Gorman Gilley and Dorothy Slater Gilley of Summerville, Georgia, he was an accomplished attorney, historian, and outdoorsman. Over the course of his 25-year career as a criminal defense and trial lawyer, he practiced with the deepest respect for his clients as human beings in need of...