Edwin Thomas Mims, who retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Air Force, died Monday, August 14, 2006.
Funeral services were at 3 p.m. EDT Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church. Interment with full military honors were at 10:30 a.m. EDT Saturday at Colquitt Cemetery in Colquitt.
Born Dec. 3, 1920, he was the son of Irene Smith Mims and E.T. Mims of Miller County, Ga. Col. Mims graduated from the University of Georgia in 1942 with a degree in agricultural engineering. He entered active military service as an aviation cadet candidate in the Army Air Force just three weeks short of his 22nd birthday. After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, Army Air Corps, and his aeronautical rating as pilot, Lt. Mims flew his first combat mission May 29, 1944. He engaged in bombing operations in World War II as a pilot/aircraft commander and flight leader in B-24 Liberator heavy bombers with the 8th Army Air Force in England. He flew missions with the 446th Bomb Group over Normandy on D-Day and on many other significant combat missions. After the end of World War II, he continued his Air Force career flying jet bombers during the Cold War and Vietnam eras. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf can/Middle East Theater Ribbon with five Campaign Stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Ribbon.
He proudly served his country in military stations across the U.S. and overseas at bases in Bermuda, England and Turkey. After a tour of service in Vietnam, he retired from active duty in the Air Force and settled in Tallahassee, where he was a member of the Tallahassee Retired Officers Association, the Tallahassee Genealogical Society and American Legion. He was a founding member of the American Air Museum in Britain.
Col. Mims was an officer and a gentleman who was loyal to his country and dedicated to his family.
Survivors include his wife, the former Nellie Zemma Bird of Miller County; one sister, Betty Ann Murrah; four children, Wilka Carter (and William), E. Thomas Mims Jr. (and Pam Boland), Michael Bird Mims and John Lane Mims (and Gypsy); and his grandchildren, Mitchell Carter, Matthew, Bryan and Shawn Mims, Robiyn Mims (and Eddie Morris) and Mackenzi and Lane Mims.

Mrs. Martha Jane Clarke Roberts, age 82, of Donalsonville died Tuesday, August 15, 2006, at her residence.
Mrs. Roberts was born in Seminole County on April 15, 1924, to the late Bradshaw and Rena Bradley Clarke. She was a homemaker and active in her community, having been a member of the Donalsonville Women’s Club for many years and serving on the library board for a number of years. She was also an active member of the First Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held Thursday, August 17, at 4:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Donalsonville with Dr. Don McCaskill and Rev. Luther Hastey officiating. Interment followed in the Friendship Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Bill Hitt, John Clarke, Matt Darley, E.C. Bridges, Walter Spooner and Monty Johnson.
Survivors include a son, Dave Roberts; one daughter, Jane Johnson and her husband, Stan; brother, J.B. Clarke and his wife, Laurie, all of Donalsonville; two grandsons, Ansley Johnson and his wife Kimberly, Bainbridge, and Clarke Johnson and his wife Emmelyn, Valdosta.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Truett Davis Roberts, and her parents.

Mr. Thomas Jackson Bryant, 78, of Jakin, passed away at his residence on August 17, 2006.
Mr. Bryant was born on May 17, 1928, in Early County to the late Neves Bryant and Estelle Sullivans Bryant. He owned and operated a septic tank business in the local area. Mr. Bryant lived in the Jacksonville, FL, area for many years and retired from the Jacksonville Electric Authority. He was a past president of the Sundowners Saddle Club, founder and president of the Lazy J. Saddle Club, was an avid coon hunter and fisherman. After his retirement in Florida, he moved back to Jakin where he was a member of Jakin Baptist Church.
Funeral services for Mr. Bryant were held on Monday, August 21, at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home with Dr. Calvin Arnold officiating. Burial followed in the Jakin Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Virginia Long Bryant; son Thomas Bryant Jr. and his wife Pat of Glen St. Mary, FL; step-son, David Long and his wife Georgia of Greenville, MS; two daughters, Vicki H. Phillips of Albany and Janise B. Jones of Gordon, AL; step-daughter, Patricia A. Ellis and her husband Danny of Greenville, MS; two brothers, Neves Bryant Jr of Virginia and Joe Bryant of St. Augustine, FL; and one sister, Carol Black of Fayettevlle, NC. Seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren, and five step-grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Nell Wollard Bryant, daughter, Leah Elaine Beal, and a brother, Donald W. Bryant.
Pallbearers were Erik Phillips, Brian Beal, Robert Allen Jones, Adam Beal, Aaron Beal and Buddy Worsley.

Louise Gordon Jones, 91, of Dothan, AL, formerly of Damascus, died Thursday, August 17, 2006, at Westside Terrace in Dothan, AL.
Graveside funeral services were held Saturday, August 19, at 11:00 a.m. in Blakely Cemetery with Rev. Sterling Jones officiating.
Mrs. Jones was born in Miller County on March 6, 1915. She was a homemaker and a member of White Pond Freewill Baptist Church in Damascus, where she was church clerk for 27 years.
Survivors include one sister-in-law, Romona Gordon of Donalsonville; one grandson, Andy Collins and wife Tracey of Dothan, AL; three great-grandchildren, Danarae and Preston Collins and Hallie Long, all of Dothan,AL; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Connie Gordon and Viola Thornton Gordon; her husband, Benjamin Albert Jones; one daughter, Marion Ranallo; two brothers, J.B. Gordon and Eugene Gordon; and one infant son, Albert Gerald Jones.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ruth Hall Williams, 102, of Colquitt passed away Tuesday, August 15, 2006, at Miller County Hospital.
Mrs. Williams was born October 28, 1903, in Mitchell County. She was a homemaker and a member of New Salem Free Will Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held Thursday, August 17, at 4:00 p.m. at Sheffield Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Talmadge Worsley, Rev. Ryan Clements, and Rev. Benjamin Miller officiating.
Pallbearers were Duren Williams, David Clements, Tracy Kimbrel, Steven Middleton, Jeremy Middleton, and Jeff Williams.
Interment followed at Colquitt City Cemetery.
Survivors include her daughter, Lorraine W. Tison of Colquitt; four grandchildren, Michael Williams, Steve Middleton, Susan Middleton Turner, and Tim Williams; six great-grandchildren, La’is Williams, Amy Williams, Steven Middleton, Jeremy Middleton, Jeff Williams, and Shane Turner; and one great-great-grandchild, Kreason Turner.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Williams Sr.; one son, Douglas Williams Jr.; and two sisters, Robbie H. Flanders and Hazel F. Clements.

Week of August 20, 2006