In Loving Memory of Bert Wilkins

Everette Burton Wilkins "Bert" "I thought so once, but now I know it."

Bert Wilkins transferred to EHS from Rockmart, Georgia beginning our senior year. His daddy was a preacher and he moved to Eastman to become the pastor of one of our churches. Bert was very sharp and intellectual person. He was in the Beta Club and played on the baseball team. He was a plumbing contractor during his working years. Despite the fact that Bert was with us for only one year, he attended most all of the '55 Class and EHS reunions and drove to Eastman each time from Colorado. He died July 5, 2004 after a bout with lung cancer. We did not learn of his death until almost a year later.

In Loving Memory of Faye West

Georgia Faye West "Teddy" "She watches him as a cat would watch a mouse."

Faye West transferred to EHS from Dodge High starting our junior year. Faye was very popular in high school, attended Girls State, was in the band, the FHA, 4-H Club and on the Homecoming Court. Faye later married Charles Henry Brown ('54) and they lived in Florida for some time and then returned to Eastman. She died of cirrhosis of the liver.

In Loving Memory of Beeps Steele

Harriet Elizabeth Steele "Beeps" "My man's as true as steel."

Beeps Steele transferred to EHS at the beginning of our sophomore year from San Antonio, Texas. She was an outstanding student and an athlete in high school and college. A basketball player, an outstanding tennis player, a cheerleader, Tri-Hi-Y, a junior class officer, the FHA, the Beta Club, in the band, on the Homecoming Cour and a member of the Debate Team. A Senior Favorite at EHS "Most Intellectual" along with J. W. Holder. Graduated from the University of Georgia married a member of UGA's Golf Team and remained in Athens for the most of her adult life before moving to Hendersonville, North Carolina. Beeps loved the reunions. She died a couple of years ago in Hendersonville after a long battle with cancer.

In Loving Memory of Dorothy Smith

Dorothy Loretta Smith "Dot" "I wonder!! Men dare trust themselves with me!"

Dorothy was a very popular girl who loved the reunions. At EHS Dorothy was in the FHA, 4-H Club, Tri-Hi-Y, the Reading Club, the Commercial Club, a cheerleader, was in the One-Act Play and the Glee Club. Dorothy met Bill Golden in college and they married. She got her Bachelors Degree from the University of Georgia in English, her Masters Degree from Clemson and a Ph.D., but I'm not sure where from. She taught in college at Georgia Southern University and became the head of the English Department there. She was an accomplished tennis player and won numerous tournaments throughout the southern states. She died in the hospital, but was ready to go home that day, when all of a sudden her body just shut down. We did not know about her death until several weeks afterwards.

In Loving Memory of Gene Saunders

Gene Saunders "Rail" "A fool must now and then be right by change."

Gene Saunders was the first cousin of Jimmy Sanders. Gene married not long after graduation and was killed in an auto accident. He was the first of our classmates to die.

In Loving Memory of Francis McSwain

Joel Francis McSwain "Nanny" "Half the world knows not how the other half lives."

Francis transferred to EHS at the beginning of his junior year. He was highly intellectual and a fine athlete in high school. He was He was a member of the Debate Team at EHS, a member of the Beta Club, the Annual Staff, the Commercial Club and a senior class officer. He graduated from the University of Georgia in Business Administration and went to work for Mercury Outboard Motors. He advanced all the way to the top as National Sales Director for the company. He attended all the reunions except for his last one due to a meeting in Mexico whereby Francis signed a sales contract with the president for Mexico to use all Mercury Outboards for their government. He was killed in an automobile accident shortly afterward in Anchorage, Alaska when a dump truck passed a car going up a hill and hit Francis' car head on. I'm told he was kept on life support in Alaska until his mother and brother (Homer) could get there to check out the situation and to turn off the machines and let him die in peace.

In Loving Memory of J. W. Holder

Jackson W. Holder "J. W." "The oldest sins in the newest kind of ways."

J. W. grew up in Plainfield; excellent student in high school; extremely well liked; a Class Favorite "Most Intellectual" along with Beeps Steele, and also "Most Likely To Succeed" along with Jean Anderson. He was a member of the Beta Club and the Annual Staff. He got a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in engineering and spent many years in the Atlanta area before moving to South Carolina. At one time he was involved in the NASA space program. He died in South Carolina in January, 2005 after a long battle with abdominal and lung cancer.

In Loving Memory of Harold Grissom

Harold Grissom "Lard" "He was a noble rascal."

Harold was in the Army and had returned to live near Columbus. He was in the senior trip photo, but was not in cap and gown photo.

Vivian Grissom, Harold Grissom's widow furnished the following information:
Harold passed away 08/06/97. He died of heart failure. He had two heart attacks. The last one damaged his heart tremendously. He died at Emory Hospital in wait of a heart transplant.

In Loving Memory of Peggy Cunningham

Martha Ann Cunningham "Peggy" "Between the cradle and the grave."

Peggy Cunningham transferred to EHS from Chester at the beginning of our senior year. She was a member of the band, the 4-H Club and the Commercial Club. Peggy graduated from college and was a school teacher like her mother. She was killed in an auto accident when a car, passing another going over a hill hit Peggy head on. At the time of her death, she was the mother of 6 children.

In Loving Memory of Jerry Aspinwall

Gerald Moore Aspinwall "Jerry" "I can resist anything except temptaton."

Jerry was a very gifted person in many ways, especially in art. He could draw anything to scale or for fun. He was a member of the football team, the basketball team, the baseball team, in the band, on the Annual Staff, in the Commercial Club, the Hi-Y, the 4-H Club, a Senior Favorite for "the Cutest" along with Wilo Dene Giddens and for the "Most Talented" along with Catherine Bass. He went to Georgia Tech, but I'm not sure if he graduated or not. He made an invention of a gun part that was/is being used by the U.S. Government. Later he began diving with different teams and for awhile he was a diver with Jacque Cousteau (of National Geographic fame). I don't remember the exact year he died. At the time of his death, he was living alone and died after going into a diabetic coma. Not sure of exact date of death but it was probably 1977, 78 or 79.

Obituaries (beginning October 2008)

JOE D. TAYLOR 1936 -2008

EASTMAN - JOE D. TAYLOR, SR., age 72, of Eastman, died Tuesday, October 14, 2008 as the result of an auto accident. -Funeral Services are scheduled for 2 P.M., Thursday, October 16, 2008 in First Baptist Church, Eastman, with Dr. Jerry Peele officiating, with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery. Dicky Clark will speak during the funeral service. -Mr. Taylor was born in Pensacola, Florida, lived most of his life in Dodge County, was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, son of the late Chloe Godwin Taylor & Joe Wheeler Taylor, a veteran of the U. S. Navy, a retired bank president and businessman, a retired bank director for Colony Bank, former Eastman City Councilman, former Sunday School Teacher and Gideon, a member of Eastman Rotary Club, a former board trustee for Southern Seminary, was a deputy for Dodge County Sheriff's Department and was preceded in death by a son, Vince Taylor. -Survivors: Wife, Emogene Walker Taylor; daughter, Rae Taylor Spradley (Neil); son, Joe D. Taylor Jr., (Hayley); four grandchildren, Neil Perry Spradley, Walker Spradley, Emma Taylor and Joe Duncan Taylor III; brother, Norman Taylor (Rose); brother-in-law, Cleslie Walker (Donna); and his faithful pet, Clyde. -The family may be contacted at the Taylor Residence, 810 9th Avenue, Eastman and will receive friends one hour before services on Thursday in First Baptist Church. -In lieu of flowers the family request contributions to the Vince Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund of First Baptist Church. -Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman has charge of arrangements.

































MARY DOLORES "DEE" REAVES 1936-2009

STATESBORO, Ga. - Mrs. Mary Dolores Reaves, age 73, died Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at the Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Facility. She was born on March 26, 1936, in Eastman, Ga., and lived in Statesboro, Ga., since 1976. Dee worked in the shoe department at Belk, managed Patterson-Griffin Shoes, owned and operated Dee's Book and Balloon Gallery and worked with her husband at his company, Design Systems, Inc. until 2006. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Statesboro and sang in the choir for over 30 years. Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Louise Smith. Dee is survived by her husband of 53 years, Thomas A. Reaves; two daughters, Judy R. Dotson (John) of Statesboro, Ga., Tracy R. Williams (Jeffrey) of Waleska, Ga.; and one son, Tommy E. Reaves (Janet) of Richmond Hill, Ga.; 10 grandchildren, John A. Dotson Jr., and James T. Dotson of Statesboro, Ga., Jana D. Harrod (Patrick) of Valdosta, Ga., Melissa Fandrich (Nolan), Robbie Hill, Travis Hill of Richmond Hill, Ga., Luke Reaves and Ethan Reaves of Statesboro, Ga., C.J. and Jake Williams of Waleska, Ga.; one great-grandson, Trentyn Harrod of Valdosta, Ga. Dee was known as Mama Dee and Badee to her grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed. Pallbearers will be Paul Reaves, Alan Reaves, Don Whaley, Chuck Reddick, Charles Howard and Bill Self. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Open Door Sunday School Class. Visitation will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2009, at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at First Baptist Church of Statesboro with Dr. John Waters and the Rev. Bill Coen officiating. Internment will be in Bulloch Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459; or The First Baptist Church of Statesboro Building Fund, 108 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458. Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com. Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.



FRANCES BROWN

At the time of the 2010 EHS reunion we learned that Frances Marie Brown Bell (class of 1955) had passed away. According to an abbreviated obituary in the Huntsville Times, Frances died on Oct 7, 2007. She is buried in Huntsville not in Browns cemetery in Chauncey as previously thought. Frances grew up in Chauncey and attended school there until her senior year when she transferred to Eastman High School where she graduated with the class of 1955. She is the daughter of Gladys and John Brown and had a sister Shirley Ann Brown Hutchinson and a brother John F. Brown. Frances is listed in the 1955 EHS annual and is in the senior trip picture taken in Washington D.C.
NOTE; If anyone has additional information about Frances, her family, etc please send it to EHS Reunion, P.O. Box 635, Eastman, Ga. 31023. It can be included in this memorial.

MACK KIRKLAND KING “Mat”

“Variety is the spice of life; I have all of mine in one bundle.”

Mack Kirkland King Sr., age 76, passed away Thursday, August 23, 2012. He was born February 12, 1936, in Manchester, GA, but resided in Jacksonville for the past 52 years. Mack served on the USS Saratoga and retired from BellSouth (AT&T) after 30 years of service. He was a loyal member of the Murray Hill United Methodist Church. He was a 32^nd degree Mason. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Bernice Carter King. While at Eastman High School, Mack excelled in football, was in the band, on the Annual staff, and was a member of Commercial, 4-H, & Hi-Y Clubs. After High School, he joined and served 4 years in the U.S. Navy Air Force & was stationed in California, Oklahoma, and Florida. He is survived by 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Mack attended the EHS Reunion on 8/11/2012 and died only 12 days later. While checking out of the hotel on Sunday morning, Don’s wife, Marilyn, ran into Mack in the lobby. Thinking that he would outlive Don, she suggested that Mack go by their room to say “Goodbye” to which Mack replied, “I’m not going to tell Don goodbye—I love him too much”. Mack and Don were friends for a lifetime.

DON N. PARKERSON

EASTMAN… Services for Dr. Don N. Parkerson of Lake Oconee, formerly of Eastman, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2012 in the First Baptist Church in Eastman with burial in Orphan’s Cemetery. Stokes Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of the arrangements. Dr. Parkerson was born on September 15, 1937 and died on October 24, 2012. He was the son of the late Sadie Ivey Parkerson and Bartow David Parkerson. He was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Eastman and he was saved there on October 10, 1944. He was most recently a member of The River of Life Church at Lake Oconee, Georgia.

Dr. Don Parkerson graduated from Eastman High School, the University of Georgia and Palmer College of Chiropractic. He served as president of his college class and was a former high school biology teacher and football, basketball, baseball, and golf coach at Banks County High School, Elbert County High School, and Dodge County High School. He was a Chiropractor in Eastman for 33 years. He served as president of the Georgia Chiropractic Association, Palmer College Alumni Association, Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Gideons, Lions Club, Shriners, and Dodge County Booster Club.

He served 14 years on the Board of Directors of the International Chiropractors Association, was instrumental in the founding of Life University and served as a member of the Board of Trustees for 28 years. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Middle Georgia College and on the Board of Regents of Liberty University. He served 31 years as a sportscaster for Dodge County sports and was named Eastman High School Alumnus of the Century in 1996. In 2010, he was inducted into the Eastman High School Hall of Fame. He was a professional speaker, ordained deacon, and the author of two published books, Five Easy Steps to 30 Years of Volume, and Remembering Eastman High School.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Gore Parkerson of Lake Oconee, daughter and son, Beverly (Gary) Mitchell of Ivanhoe, North Carolina and Dr. Don N. (Julie) Parkerson, Jr. of Smyrna; grandsons, Dare Bartow Mitchell of Ivanhoe, North Carolina and Micah Paul Parkerson of Smyrna, and granddaughter Sadie Ivey Parkerson of Smyrna; brothers, Dr. Bartow D. (Amelia) Parkerson, Jr. of Lake Oconee and Rex M. (Caryle) Parkerson of Eastman. Several nieces and nephews, plus his beloved poodle, Rainey, also survive.

Pallbearers for the service are Dr. James Gore, Jr., Dr. John Gore, B. David Parkerson, III, Dr. Grant Parkerson, William Perry Parkerson, and Lawrence Rogers

Honorary pallbearers for the service are Rev. Bill Barnes, Dr. Robert Bearden, Rev. Aubrey Corbitt, Clay Corbitt, Wendell Graham, Dr. Durie D. Humber, Dr. Bill King, Bill Lowery, Jack Minchey, Rev. L. E. Mobley, Daniel B. Pickett, Tommy Pritchett, Jack Sharp, Hal M. Smith, Jr., W. J. Steele, Norman Taylor, Jeff Wilson, and Gary Yawn.

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 26 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Stokes Southerland Funeral Home. The family may be contacted at the home of Lawrence and Paula Rogers in Eastman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Vince Taylor Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church in Eastman, Gideons International, or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.


ANNIE LOU JESSUP 1928 - December 18, 2012

MRS. ANNIE LOU BARNETT JESSUP, age 84, of Eastman, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Dogwood Gardens, Eastman. Mrs. Jessup was a member of Grace Baptist Church and formerly an active member of Lovely Grove Baptist Church. She was a Director and Banking Officer of Magnolia Bankshares Inc. and the Bank of Eastman. She was the first female Bank Director in Dodge County, a former Hospital Authority Board Member, past member of Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce, former Board Member of the Senior Citizens Center and a board of directors member for the Relay of Life.

Mrs. Jessup was 1946 graduate of Eastman High School and a graduate of Crandelle Business College. She received the 1974-1975 Dodge County Unit of the American Cancer Society Appreciation Award, the 1976 American Cancer Society Georgia Division Citation for Excellance and the 1993 Dodge County Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award.

She was daughter of the late Joe Annie Mullis Barnett Moore & Rema Lou Barnett and widow of John F. Jessup, Jr. She was preceded in death by 4 Brothers – Rudolph Barnett, Albert Barnett, Sr., J. C. Barnett & Grady Ross Barnett and Special Friend – Clinton Kight.

Survivors: Daughter – Jolene J. Carroll (Clark) of Eastman; Son – John L. Jessup (Carla) of Eastman; 5 Grandchildren –William J. Carroll, Callen Ann Carroll, Brooke Wright (Steve), Brianna Jessup and John Barclay Jessup; 1 Great-Grandson – Gavin Wright; Sister – Donna Walker (Cleslie) of Eastman; Sister-in-Law – Marilyn Barnett of Eastman; Several Nieces, Nephews & Cousins.



JAMES LOYD 1934 - December 13, 2012

MR. JAMES FRANKLIN LOYD, SR., age 78, of Eastman, GA, died Thursday, December 13, 2012 at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon. Mr. Loyd was a lifelong resident of Dodge County, a veteran of the U. S. Navy, a member of Eastman First Baptist Church, former General Manager of Dodge County Motor Company and a retired Owner & Operator of Loyd’s Chrysler, Dodge & Jeep Inc. He was the son of the late Stella Rebecca Jones Loyd & Jack Loyd and was preceded in death by a Sister – Louise L. Pinnell.

Survivors: Wife of 58 years – Montine Manning Loyd of Eastman; Son – Frankie Loyd (Jan) of Eastman; Sister – Charlotte Mercer of Conyers; Brother-in-Law – Gerald Manning (Joan) of Eastman; 3 Grandchildren – Jana Owen (Josh), Jenica Sheffield (Jamie) and Jamie Loyd; 4 Great-Granddaughters – Jaylin Sheffield, Jessa Sheffield, Jaley Owen & Jacey Owen; Several Nieces, Nephews & Cousins.



JAMES COLSON 1935 - January 6, 2013

MR. JAMES CLIFTON COLSON, age 77, of Eastman, GA, died Sunday, January 6, 2012 at his residence. Mr. Colson was a lifelong resident of Dodge County, a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, a member and past deacon of First Baptist Church, a member of the Max O’Neal Sunday School Class and a retired I. E. Technician for Robins Air Force Base. He was son of the late Lillian Mae Fordham Colson & Omer C. Colson and was preceded in death by 2 Sisters – Geneva C. Stallings & Hester C. Wright and 1 Brother – Herbert Colson.

Survivors: Wife of 47 years – Virginia Brewer Colson of Eastman; 2 Daughters – Leslie C. Giddens (Todd) of Warner Robins and Becky C. Hilliard (Bruce) of Eastman; Brother – Ben Colson (Edna) of Mt. Olive, NC; 4 Grandchildren – Mollie Giddens, Morgan Giddens, Meghan McCranie and Shane McCranie; Special Pet – Daisy; Several Nieces, Nephews & Cousins.


WILO DENE (GIDDENS) MOYE  1937 - August 23, 2014

Wilo Dene Giddens Moye, age 77 of Albany, died August 23, 2014 at her residence. Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 26, at the First Baptist Church of Leesburg with Reverend Tom Pollock, Reverend Ron Baxley and Bobby Hall officiating. Interment followed in the Leesburg Cemetery. Mrs. Moye was a native of Eastman, graduate of Eastman High School and Eastman School of Business. She served as the pastor's wife at First Baptist Church of Leesburg and Sunnyside Baptist Church in Albany. She was a teacher at Mamie Brosnan Elementary School and a florist with Pace Florist. She was currently a member of Westview Baptist Church and the Ladies Sunday School class. She was the daughter of the late W.C. and Lilla Mae Giddens. A grandson, Justin Moye; sister Wynelle Peacock and brother, Doyle Giddens all preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Reverend Bobby Moye of Albany; sons, Gary Moye, Chris Moye, and Jeff Moye (Joyce); and grandsons, Joseph Moye and Jake C. Moye all of Lee County. Memorials can be made to Westview Baptist Church, 2509 Homewood Drive, Albany, GA 31707. Matthews Funeral Home of Albany was in charge of the arrangements.

PATRICIA “PATTY” PICKETT SPARROW

Patricia Pickett Sparrow, age 77, of Hawkinsville, GA, died Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Taylor Regional Hospital in Hawkinsville. Funeral services were held Sunday, January 11, at Corinth Baptist Church, Hawkinsville, with Rev. Gary Andrews officiating, with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Eastman. Mrs. Sparrow was a member of Corinth Baptist Church, a 43 year retired teacher for the Pulaski County School System and a home school educator for over 10 years.  She was a loving mother and sister, and enjoyed tending her flowers and solving Sudoku puzzles.  She was the daughter of the late Mamie Patricia Bowen Pickett & John Herman Pickett, widow of John Sparrow and was preceded in death by a Son – Marc Cullen Lancaster and Brother – John Herman Pickett, Jr.

Survivors:  Daughter – Lynn Lancaster Hawley of Elgin, SC;  Son – David Lancaster of Hawkinsville;  Brother – Danny Pickett (Eleanor) of Eastman;  Niece – Carol Pickett Aguero (Alfred) of Moultrie;  Nephew – Dan Pickett of Eastman;  Several Cousins including – Kay Graham, Sue Taylor and Carol Healy.  Serving as pallbearers were Robert Lancaster, Emmitt Long, Dan Pickett, Sam Healy, John Sparrow and Bruce Sparrow.  Carolyn Ragan was musician for the funeral service.