May Smith Funeral Directors

Colonel Theodore McDonald, III, (Retired U.S. Army), born January 9, 1943, departed this world to receive his eternal reward on August 31, 2023 at The Retreat Hospice by SAAD in Mobile, Alabama. A memorial service celebrating his life was held on Saturday, September 16. 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Sandersville United Methodist Church, with military honors. The family received friends following the memorial service in Heritage Hall of the church. Reverend Dr. Stan Littleton will officiate. Theo was a graduate of Dublin High School and North Georgia College, where he received a B.A. in History. Later in life, he pursued a Masters of Public Administration, at Georgia Southern. Colonel McDonald...

Mrs. Patricia Chapman Garner, age 73 of Sandersville, passed away at her residence on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. A funeral service to celebrate her life was held on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Sandersville First Baptist Church. Mrs. Garner was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the daughter of the late Louis Andrew Chapman and the late Thelma Lou Hodges Chapman. She obtained her master's degree in nursing from Georgia College and State University. Mrs. Garner was very passionate about her nursing career and devoted herself to making sure that all nursing homes under her care were run efficiently. She also found opportunities to serve as a nurse in missionary work in Ghana, West Africa, and...

Mary Eleanor Wickersham, 72, died on January 24, 2023, leaving behind an adventure-filled life, a wonderful family, and a tremendous professional and personal legacy. The second child of the late Dr. and Mrs. William Rawlings, Sr., of Sandersville, Georgia, Mary Eleanor was married to David Wickersham for 49 years before his untimely death in 2017. Together they raised two children: Eleanor (Nathaniel) Cates of Atlanta and Dr. Penn (Valerie Reynolds) Wickersham of San Antonio, Texas and were the proud grandparents of Kay and Will Wickersham and Nora and Rawlings Cates. She was a member of Sandersville United Methodist Church and Dunwoody UMC. Over her career, Mary Eleanor broke the...

Bertie Watson Gay, age 79, or 1010 Askew Station Bend, Greensboro, GA, passed away October 6, 2022, at St Mary's hospital in Athens, GA, after a brief illness. A native of Dublin, GA, was born June 3, 1943, the daughter of Jack and Ethel Watson, who preceded her in death. Bertie was a graduate of Dublin High School. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church Americus, GA, where she made her home for 52 years before relocating to Lake Oconee, Greensboro, GA, and becoming a member of Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church. Bertie enjoyed traveling and working in the construction rental and auction businesses with her husband of 52 years, the late Carlus Delmas Gay, Jr. Bertie loved spending...

Mr. Alvin Willis Josey, age 93 of Augusta, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at his residence after an extended illness. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel of May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville. Reverend Wayne Usry and Reverend Kevin Jones will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home. Mr. Josey was born in Sandersville, the son of the late Willis Evans Josey and the late Zelma Price Josey. He was a star basketball player for Riddleville School and Washington County High School. Mr. Josey served his country in the Korean Conflict as a...

Portia Hargrove McDonald died on April 10, 2022 after a forty-year struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. Portia is survived by her husband of fifty-eight years, Theo McDonald of Sandersville, and three sons, Kevin (Melissa) McDonald of Tampa, Florida; Matthew (Dina) McDonald of Macon, Georgia; and Steve (Kellie) McDonald of Canton, Georgia. She is also survived by a brother, William Hargrove of Petoskey, Michigan; and six grandchildren; Rachel Anne McDonald, Alexandra (Dylan) McDonald Bloch, Jacob (Sara) McDonald, Caden McDonald, Edwin McDonald, and Grace McDonald. Portia was a dedicated wife and mother and excelled as an Army wife. May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in...

Keith Allen Strickland, age 60, of Wadley passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family Sunday, October 24, 2021. The family will greet friends from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 12 noon, Saturday, October 30th at May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Mark Jones and Mr. David Harris will officiate. May & Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville, Georgia is in charge of these arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

Arthur C. Yarbrough Jr. ? college professor, Naval officer, church pianist, beloved uncle, generous friend ? died of natural causes Aug. 11 at his home in Washington County. He was 93. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29, at Mineral Springs Baptist Church, Hamburg State Park Road where he will be buried at next to his parents; his older brother, W.J. Yarbrough; and a nephew, Jimmy Yarbrough. (His sister, Janey Yarbrough Auchmutey, is buried in Decatur.) He is survived by six nieces and nephews: Dyann Yarbrough of Gibson, Chuck (Lucy) Auchmutey of Acworth, Tommy (Janice) Yarbrough of Mitchell, Jim (Pam) Auchmutey of Atlanta, Dawn Brooks of Columbus, and...

Mrs. Mary M. Knight, age 74, of Sandersville, died Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Doctors Hospital following a short illness. A graveside service celebrating her life will be held on Thursday, May 27th in Zeta Cemetery in Tennille with Reverend Roy Smith officiating. Pallbearers will include Alan Amerson, Taylor Everett, Steven Lindsey, Lee Malphus, Patrick Phillips, Tracy Rowe, Allen Smith, and Jett Williams. Mrs. Knight was born in Screven County, the daughter of the late Ernest Elliot Malphus and the late Cora Morton Mingledorff. She was reared in Effingham County where she graduated from Effingham County High School in 1965. Most of Mary's working career centered around her talent as a...

Mrs. Leatha Stewart Parker, age 95, of Sandersville, formerly of Columbus, passed away, Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at Heritage Inn Nursing Home in Sandersville following an extended illness. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 30th at 2:00 p.m. in May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel. The family will greet friends from 1-2 p.m prior to the service. A committal service will be held on Monday, May 3rd at 1:00 p.m. in the Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus. Family will greet friends from 12:30-1 p.m. prior to the committal. Elder Kenneth Brantley will officiate. Mrs. Parker was born in Lanett, Alabama. She reared her family in Columbus while her late husband, William T. Parker spent his...

Mr. Roy Colledge Etheridge, age 94 of2417Highway 242, Sandersville, GA passed away Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at his residence. A private graveside service will be held Sunday, March 21, 2021. Mr. Etheridge was the son of the late Minor J. Etheridge and the late Cleo Jenkins Etheridge. He was the husband of the late Hilda Cummings Etheridge. A World War II Veteran, Mr. Etheridge served in the United States Marine Corps. He retired from DuPont with over 36 years of service and also enjoyed several years of working in concessions at The Masters golf tournament. He was a member of Sandersville United Methodist Church, a past member of The Sandersville Lions Club and a member of Twin Cities...

Mrs. Rebecca Marie Baker, age 76, of Warthen died on March 16, 2021 at her residence. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 20 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Warthen. Reverend Anthony C. Baker will officiate. Burial will be at Hamilton Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mrs. Baker was a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Henry Herman Sample and the late Lorene Josephine Hayes Cagle. She was predeceased by her sisters, Phyllis Sample Turner and Sheila Jo Sample Coffey and stepfather, Lee Roy Kagle. She was a medical technologist for Erlanger Hospital for forty-three years. She was a talented alto singer. Survivors...

Mrs. Mary Veal Andrews, age 91, of Deepstep, passed away Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Washington County Extended Care Facility. A graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. in Deepstep Methodist Church Cemetery. Reverend Jimmy Harris will officiate. For family and friends who would like to pay their respects, Mrs. Andrews will lie in state in May and Smith Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday and 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon on Tuesday. Mrs. Andrews was born March 18, 1929 and died just 12 days before her 92nd birthday. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Nathaniel Francis Andrews; her daughter, Barbara Gail Andrews; her parents, James...

Mrs. Lavo H. Todd, of Augusta, age 93, entered into rest on December 9, 2020. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Mrs. Todd was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Brooks Hawkins in Washington County. Mrs. Todd was especially gifted in sewing and started her career working in a sewing factory. Over time, she was able to open and successfully operate her own clothing businesses for over 40 years, Todd's Inc. in Warrenton and The Fashion Gallery in Sandersville. She loved her customers, and most enjoyed helping women choose the perfect dress for their special occasion from prom...

Ms. Ida Williams Brooks, age 86, of Sandersville, died Sunday, November 8, 2020 at the Washington County Regional Medical Center. A mausoleum chapel committal service will be held on Wednesday, November 11th at 1:00 p.m. at Southland Cemetery in Lexington SC. Pastor Weston Williford will officiate. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville. Ms. Brooks was born in Jackson County, the daughter of the late Hoyt Lee Williams and the late Mazelle Bellew Williams. She was reared in Warthen and graduated from Sandersville High School in 1953 where she was a cheerleader. For 30 years, Ms. Brooks lived in Davisboro...

Allen Mountjoy, 71, of Eatonton, GA, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2020 at his residence in the presence of his family. Allen was born in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1949. He was the son of the late Luther Allen Mountjoy and Kathleen Rankin Drummond. He graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Allen was the owner and CEO of Plains Products Inc, and Georgia Building Supply and several other business in Americus, GA. Survivors include his wife Terrie Gay Mountjoy, his daughter Nally Mountjoy, step daughter Nicole Hines and step son Frank Hines. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to: Hospice Compassus First,...

Dr. Glenn Jackson Bridges, Jr. of Tennille, Georgia passed away on September 14, 2020, at the age of 85. Glenn was born October 27,1934, in Augusta Georgia to Dr. Glenn Jackson Bridges, an Atlanta urologist, and Margaret Raymond Bridges, a teacher and education activist. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia in 1956, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1960. He completed his internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He also served in the U.S. Public Health Service overseeing the Clinton Indian Hospital in Clinton, Oklahoma. He completed his residency in Urology at Grady...

On July 25th, 2020, Douglas Sanford Combes stepped out of the fire and into Heaven with a new body. He was born in Macon, Ga. And graduated from Willingham High School in Macon. He served faithfully and honorably in the United States Army and went on to become an industrial electrician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was a member of the former Bloomfield United Methodist Church. Being an avid hunter and fisherman, he was very appreciative of all God's creations. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Corine Combes, his youngest sister, Gail Palmer and his niece, Pamela Lewis Miller. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter,...