Mr. James Russell Beach Sr., 94, of Youngstown FL, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006, in a nursing home. He was born in Colquitt and had resided in this area since 1932, moving from Deland, FL.
He was a member of Bear Creek Assembly of God Church, and he enjoyed helping widows with odd jobs. He was employed as a longshoreman until he retired. He loved to hunt and was a member of the National Rifle Association. He flew on his first airplane at the age of 92 on a trip to Alaska, which had always been a dream of his. He caught the largest halibut of any of his party which included grandsons, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Aug. 27, at Bear Creek Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Ray Johnson officiating. Interment followed at Youngstown Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joey Miles, Chuck McGill, Sammy Miles, Randy Miles, Daniel Sword and Kyle Merritt.
Survivors include a son, James R. “Tommy” Beach and wife Regla of Panama City; four daughters, Marion Lovis Miles and husband Willie Jim of Youngstown, Jane Ann McGill and husband Charles of Panama City, Wanda Daniels and husband Willie of Bayou George, Sonya Sword and husband William of Bear Creek; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Naomi.

“Therefore, we are always confident that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:” II Corinthians 5:6
The journey began in Miller County on December 15, 1919. Edith Merritt McDuffie was the eldest of eight children born to Nettie and Ezra Merritt. Three brothers preceded her in death.
She became a new creature in Christ at an early age. he was always a faithful and devoted Sunday School teacher at St. Mary A.M.E. Church of Whigham. Ga. and at Bethel Baptist Church in Colquitt. Recently she joined Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ Jesus.
She was married to the late Ira Paramore in 1938. Two daughters were born to that union, The family was completed when they adopted a son at the age of two months. She married George McDuffie in 1976.
She was educated in Miller and Decatur counties. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Albany State College. Several generations of students in Grady and Miller County schools benefited from her commitment to education. She retired after 41 years of teaching. She was a featured columnist for the Miller County Liberal. The newspaper will not be the same without her “Ebony Dots and Dashes” with her “Sights to Behold.”
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Miracle Temple Church.
Memories will be forever cherished by her husband, George; two daughters, Joyce Wright of Sanford, FL, and Alyce (Isaac, Sr.) of Cairo; one son, Richard Paramore of Colquitt; three brothers, Rev. Milton Merritt (Alice) of Albany, John (Edith) Merritt and Ezra Merritt of Savannah; one sister, Myrtle (Joe) Baulkmon of Savannah; one granddaughter, four grandsons, three stepgrandchildren;, one uncle, Rubin (Martha) Johnson of Orlando, FL; one aunt, Annie Pearl Johnson of Colquitt; special friends, Katie Smith and Eloise Holt; her loving pet and companion, Midnight; and innumerable nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Her journey ended at 6:10 P.M. on August 31, 2006, when God in his infinite wisdom sent the angel of death to bring her to Him. She is not dead. She is resting in the bosom of Jesus.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day” II Timothy 4:7 and 8.

Johnny Wayne Hurley, 63, of Colquitt, died at his residence on August 31, 2006.
Funeral services were held Sunday, September 3, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville with Rev. Eric Boomer and Elder Ross Plowden officiating. Burial followed in the Rock Pond/Olive Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Hurley, Tony Black, Todd Dunn, Jeremy Holley, Benny Kimmins and Jackie Hughes. Honorary pallbearers were Matthew Vorse, Joe Barber, Pee Wee Hughes, Brad Bell, Tim Gibson and Ricky Gibson.
Mr. Hurley was born on September 9, 1942, to the late John Hurley and Grace Askew Hurley. He was a self-employed auto mechanic and attended the Rock Pond/Olive Grove Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Marti Gail Holley Hurley of Colquitt; his mother, Grace Hurley of Iron City; one son, Buddy and Mary Hurley of Colquitt; one daughter, Tessie and Lamar Temples of Iron City; one brother, Buster Hurley of Iron City; one sister, Gloria Black Joyce of Macon; two grandchildren, Lee and Ryan Temples; surrogate grandchildren, Joe Barber, Julia Kimmins and Jay Kimmins; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Marguerite Newberry, age 83, of Colquitt died Thursday, August 31, 2006, at Miller Nursing Home.
Mrs. Newberry was born January 2, 1923, in Miller County. She was a member of Salem Free Will Baptist Church and was a retired paraprofessional with the Miller County School System.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Sheffield Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Kent Barwick and the Rev. Talmadge Worsley officiating. Interment followed in Primitive Union Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Tommy Smith, Alan Lee, Ronnie Newberry, John Weaver, John Maloy and Tim Phillips.
Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Heard and husband, Frank, Colquitt; two brothers, Robert “Bob” Daniels, Colquitt, and Stanley Daniels, Muscadine, AL; four grandchildren, Melanie Smith, Marcia Lee, Lance Heard and Dane Heard; nine great-grandchildren, Brandon Smith, Ansley Smith, Whitney Lee, Miles Lee, Tyler Heard, Garrett Heard, Reece Heard, Morgan Heard and Caroline Heard; one great-great-grandchild, Lexie Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Newberry, and one sister, Annette Newberry.

Week of September 3, 2006