Rainey Family Funeral Services

John Edward Paquette of Decatur passed away March 7, 2025 at his residence at the age of 59. Born in Barstow, CA, he was the son of Joseph Ronald Paquette and the late Jane Ellen Standley Paquette. John was employed by Target in sales and display. He had a love of art and the theatre, performing in several plays from high school and GSW to community theatre. He enjoyed traveling and in his quiet time he was an avid reader and loved to draw and paint. He also found a lot of joy in helping with Estate Sales and volunteering at various charities. He is survived by his father, Joseph Ronald Paquette of Cordele; three sisters, Paula Paquette of Cordele, Laurie Ault (Jeff ) of Clarmore, OK and...

Elizabeth "Beth" Thompson Curles, 74, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2025, surrounded by her family. Beth was the oldest daughter of the late Billy O. Thompson and Betty P. Ballard. Above all else, she was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a proud grandmother, and a treasured friend to so many. One of Beth's greatest joys in life was being a mother to her daughter, Betsy, and later, a doting grandmother to her three grandsons. Her love for her family was boundless, and she poured her heart into each of them, leaving a legacy of kindness, faith and thoughtfulness. A lifelong educator, Beth taught for 28 years, beginning at Our Lady Queen of Mercy Catholic School and later at...

Charles M. "Buddy" Leger age 93 went to be with the Lord on February 28, 2025. He was born in Knox County, Kentucky to Noah Delbert and Uhla McKeehan Leger. Buddy is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie Batchelor Leger, his daughters, Susan Leger-Boike (Mark), Sherrie L. Leverett (John), Maria L. Coslett (Bill), and his son, James Gregory Leger. His grandsons, Kelly Norton (Stephanie), Morrie Whittington (Ashley), Nick Leger (Evangeline), Cole Leger & granddaughter, Bailey Leger (Hunter), step-grandchildren Jarrett (Savannah) Leverett & Lauren Jones (Trey). Great-grandchildren Rosario, Zoe, & Ali Norton, Averie & Eli Whittington. His siblings Jane L. Smith,...

Peggy Almgren of Cordele passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at her residence at the age of 91. Peggy was born in Cordele to the late Wiley H. Johnston and Irma Varner Johnston. She was preceded in death by her husband, Axel Walter Almgren, Jr. and the father of her children, the former Crisp County Coach Richard Barry. So many people loved Peggy and as all of our hearts ache this day, she will always be remembered as something so rare. She was a true Southern lady with an open heart and a friend to anyone lucky enough to know her. She was a champion of life, kindness, animals and family. This is a sad day but we know she was welcomed into heaven with open arms and a "job well done." A...

On December 12, 2023, William Thomas "Tommy" Crenshaw Jr., AKA "Coach," age 86, passed away at Fellowship Home of Cordele. He was born in Tennessee to the late William Thomas Crenshaw Sr., and Nell Brown Crenshaw. He attended college at Delta State where he graduated and later received his Master's Degree in Education at Albany State University. He played baseball at Delta State and also played Semi-Professionally during these early years of his life. He became a high school baseball coach and loved molding young men's lives through this activity. Tommy enjoyed coaching was later inducted into the Wheeler High School Sports Hall of Fame in Marietta, Georgia. He retired from coaching and...

Patricia Cloud of Warwick passed away Friday, December 1, 2023 at her residence. Patricia, 80, was born in Americus and was the daughter of the late George Perry and Bertha Whiddon Perry. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Cloud, and sisters, Georgia Frances Perry and Louise Nicholson. Patricia loved the beach and enjoyed sewing. She was a retired bookkeeper for Rubos and Wilcox Reality Company. She was of the Methodist faith. Patricia is survived by her daughter, Candy Cloud McLean and her husband, Logan of Moultrie; and her two grandchildren, Ann Elyse Clements and Andrew Clements, both of Moultrie. A private family service will be held at a later date....

Harry Lee Keen, 82, of Cordele passed away Sunday, November 26, 2023, at his residence. Born in TyTy, he was the son of the late Preston Keen and Hulda Hanchy Keen. He was also preceded in death by seven siblings. Harry was the General Superintendent (RET) for Oxford Construction Company. He served his country honorably in the United States Army and was a member and Past Master Mason of Warwick Lodge #395 F&AM. He was presently a member of Worth Lodge #194 F&AM. Harry enjoyed fishing and was an avid Georgia Tech Fan. He could always be found playing a game of checkers or cards with family and friends. His most enjoyable time though was spent with family, especially his...

Rebecca 'Becky' Murphy Flanigan died on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Willson Hospice House in Albany, Georgia after a short illness. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday November 25, 2023, at Porterfield Methodist Church. To honor Becky's wishes, the service will be short and to the point and followed by a celebration at 120 White Column Drive for family to gather with her friends, former students, and "adopted family" to laugh, cry, tell stories about Becky and hear ones they haven't heard before. Becky was born on October 18, 1945, in Montezuma, Georgia to Lee Lasseter Sheppard Murphy and Oliver Webster Murphy. After her father's death, her mother married Frederick...

JoAnne Elizabeth Hargrove Powers, born on December 26, 1946, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Hargrove of Vienna, GA. She peacefully passed away surrounded by family on October 9, 2023. Known by her family and friends as Jana, this larger-than-life woman lived every day to the fullest. Her deep adoration of close friends, passion for adventure, and unending devotion to her family were surpassed only by her unshakeable faith in her Lord and Savior. As a respected nurse anesthetist at Crisp Regional Hospital and Sumter Regional Hospital, she served the only profession she ever wanted. Jana was an active member of Cordele First United Methodist Church. She was an accomplished...

Carolyn Haynes Hammack of Oakfield passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at her residence at the age of 77. She was preceded in death by her husband Gary Hammack. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 13, 2021 at Oakfield Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will greet friends and have a time of fellowship in the social hall of the church immediately following the service. Carolyn was born in Albany to the late George B. and Ida Bell Willis Haynes. She was a dietician (RET) in the Dougherty County School System and a member of Oakfield Baptist Church. She loved her family and working in her yards. Spending time and playing with her furbaby Abigail also brought a lot of...

Funeral services for Howard Hendrix Rainey, 93 of Cordele will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2021 at Third Street Baptist Church with burial following in Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service Thursday at the church beginning at 2:00 p.m. Howard passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, May 11, 2021. He was born in Crisp County, the son of the late Dallas Rainey and Essie Mae Lewis Rainey. He was a 1945 graduate of Cordele High School and attended Georgia Southwestern College where he studied Journalism. For several years after college, he was a sports columnist covering local high school events for the Cordele Dispatch. He served honorably in the...

Burt Allen Ussery, III, 75 of Arabi, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Crisp Regional Hospital in Cordele, GA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Vienna Church of God. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Burt was born in Jacksonville, FL, the son of the late Burt Allen Ussery, II and Carolyn Williams Ussery. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Randy Ussery. A veteran of the United States Marines, and in the words of his brother, "he was tough and fought hand to hand during the Vietnam Tet offensive in '68, was sprayed with agent orange by...

William Robert Hooper, Jr., 68, of Cordele passed away Sunday, January 3, 2021 at Crisp Regional Hospital. Born in Macon, he was the son of the late William Robert Hooper, Sr. and Doris Shellnutt Hooper. Chief Hooper was a retired Law Enforcement Officer and an active member of St. Theresa's Catholic Church. He was a past president of Metter Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Chief Hooper was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Blue Knights. He served as past president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Albany and was a member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Hooper retired as a Major from the Albany Police Department. He also...

A graveside service for George Washington Avery, Jr. of Cordele will be held at 2:00 PM. Saturday, December 26, 2020 at Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday prior to the service from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Rainey Family Funeral Services. George, 94, passed away Thursday, December 23, 2020 at his residence. Born in Cordele, he was the son of the late George Washington Avery, Sr. and Mary Schofield Avery. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 73 years Mary Frances Avery, a granddaughter Cristi Campbell and a son-in-law, John W. Campbell. George was a veteran of the United States Navy. He served his country during WWII and the Korean Conflict. He owned Avery auto...

Dora Christine Matkin of Cordele passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Crisp Regional Hospital at the age of 90. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 27, 2020 at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will greet friends prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dora was born in Waelder, TX but lived most of her life in Albany before moving to Cordele to be near her daughter. She was the daughter of the late Joe Macias, Jr. and Petra Maria Garza Macias. Dora was raised in the Catholic Church but had a spiritual awakening in her 70's and became an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church. She began her day reading her Bible and...

A graveside service for Mary Katrina Lewis of Cordele will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Zion Hope Cemetery. In accordance with the Covid-19 requirements, face masks or face coverings are required and seating will be limited because of social distancing. The family will speak with friends following the service. Katrina passed away November 3, 2020 at Fellowship Home of Cordelia Manor. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Lewis. Born in Dougherty County, she was the daughter of the late S.G. Hutto and Mary Middleton Hutto. Katrina was a homemaker and an active member of Antioch Baptist Church where she very much enjoyed her Bible Study group She was an...

A graveside service for Quinnon "Lamar" Wynn of Cordele will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2020 at Sunnyside Cemetery. In accordance with COVID-19 requirements, face masks or face coverings are suggested and seating will be limited because of social distancing. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Rainey Family Funeral Services. Lamar, 82, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at his residence. He was the son of the late Julious Lamar Wynn and Rosa Shehee Wynn. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and was a member of Lake Blackshear Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. For several years, Lamar served as the Assistant...

Larry Newton Lewis, 79, of Cordele, passed away Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at home. Services will be held Friday, August 14, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Larry was born in Cordele, the son of the late G.C. "Snooks" Lewis, Jr. and Florence Elder Lewis. He worked for 36 years at Griffin Lumber Company as Vice President, Sales Manager, and Financial Manager. He served on the board of directors for Crisp Area Habitat for Humanity and as a Trustee on the Crisp County Library Board. In addition, he was a former member of the Cordele Lions Club and a former Deacon at First Baptist...

A memorial service for Denver Kyle Walls "Denny" of Warwick will be held at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2020 in the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services. The family will meet with friends prior to the service Wednesday beginning at 11:00 a.m. Denny as he was affectionately known, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2010 at his residence. He was born in West Virginia and was the son of the late Estell and Lola Blake Walls. He was the owner and operator of D&E Trophies in Albany. Denny loved reading God's word, and fishing was one of his favorite activities. Most important to him though was his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 64...

Alma Earle Moore, 93 of Warwick, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at Crisp Regional Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Suber Alvin Moore. Due to the government regulations a private graveside service only will be held. She was born in Warwick and was christened as a baby in the Warwick United Methodist Church where she has worshiped all these years. Alma was the daughter of the late James Pless Dixon and Alma Irene Wood Dixon. She was a teacher (RET)and taught home economics for several years. Before her retirement she taught Elementary Education at J.S. Pate Elementary School in Cordele, GA. She was an excellent cook and seamstress and made a lot of the family's...

A memorial service for Chad James Rivers, 34 of Jacksonville, FL was held at Cordele Christ Episcopal Church at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 1, 2020 with The Reverend Walter Hobgood officiating. Chad passed away at his home on January 26, 2020. A native of Cordele, he was born on September 4, 1985. He is the son of Lee Ann Rivers Adams and the late Ronald Stewart Rivers. Chad attended St. Andrews and graduated from Crisp County High School. He also attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Georgia Coastal College. He was the former manager of Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Chad was extremely involved with the Twelve Step Program. Chad had a passion for music of all...