Obituaries for April 23

Published 10:52 pm Saturday, April 22, 2006

Grace Elyse Allen

MOULTRIE — Grace Elyse Allen, 85, of Moultrie, died Saturday, April 22, 2006, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Allen is survived locally by five sons and two daughters: Theron L. “Doc” Allen, Marlin J. Allen, Kenneth R. Allen, Voleta Yarborough, Rodney Allen, Sandra Brock and Dale Allen.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Home in Thomasville.



Betty W. Hall

MOULTRIE — Sarah Elizabeth “Betty” Hall, 80, died on April 21, 2006, at her home in Moultrie. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at First Presbyterian Church in Moultrie with the Rev. Hugh Ward officiating. The family will receive visitors following the service at the First Presbyterian Church. Interment will be at Pinecrest Memory Gardens.

Born Sept. 24, 1925, in Commerce, Ga., Mrs. Hall grew up in Eatonton, where her father, John Aubrey Williford, was a primary founder of the Rock Eagle 4-H Center, and her mother, Norma Haley Williford, helped found and was long-time curator of the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton. Her late sister Norma Watterson succeeded Mrs. Williford as curator of the museum.

Mrs. Hall graduated from the University of Georgia, where she met her husband, Howard Hall of Moultrie. After marriage and moving to Moultrie, she went into the teaching profession, where she taught second, third and sixth grades at Okapilco School in Colquitt County and 10th grade at Moultrie High School, retiring as a high school English teacher.

Mrs. Hall had a long record of active service with clubs and organizations in Moultrie, including the Junior Woman’s Club; the Moultrie Federated Guild, where she served as president; and the John Benmng chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served twice as regent. She served as district president of the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, and was named as “State Clubwoman of the Year” by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs. A lover of nature and animals, she helped start Moultrie’s Humane Society. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Moultrie.

Mrs. Hall’s interests included bridge, reading and traveling with her husband. She was a vivacious, direct, spirited, and fearless Southern lady, her family said. A born extrovert and conversationalist, her family said she touched the lives of many people from all walks of life over the course of her teaching career and throughout her lifetime. An enthusiastic supporter of the University of Georgia, she kept to an old UGA tradition, always ringing a big backyard farmbell whenever the Bulldogs won a game. She enjoyed playing the piano, and adored “Buddy,” the Halls’ yellow Labrador retriever.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Howard William Hall of Moultrie; one daughter, Haley Hyatt and son-in-law Barry Hyatt of Valdosta; one grandson, Dr. Mark Howard Blanchard of Moultrie; brother-in-law, Jack Hall and his wife Helen of Moultrie and Highlands, N.C.; sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Christian of Brunswick; and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Buck Heard, Henry Klar, Keith Wilson, Bob Gavigan, John Hall. Art Ellis, Bill Mclntosh and Pete Dillard.

Cobb Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.



Marjorie Sealy Baird

MOULTRIE — Marjorie Sealy Baird, 82, of Mimosa Avenue in Moultrie, formerly of Huber Heights, Ohio, died Saturday, April 22, 2006, at Sunrise Nursing Home in Moultrie.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 24, at Harrell Faircloth Funeral Home with burial at Meigs Sunset Cemetery in Meigs. The Rev. Dennis Norman will officiate. Her nephews will serve as casketbearers.

Mrs. Baird was born Aug. 31, 1923, in Mitchell County, Ga., the daughter of the late Joe and Alma Sealy. She served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Fairborn, Ohio.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Baird was preceded in death by her husband, Sheldon Baird; and two brothers, Buddy and Burney Sealy.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Louise Sealy of Meigs; her niece, Susan S. Gay of Moultrie; her nephews, Edwin Sealy Jr. and Whit Sealy, both of Meigs, Burney Sealy Jr. of Camilla and Joey Sealy of Augusta; and several great-nieces and -nephews.

Visitation will be 7-8:30 p.m. today, April 23, at the funeral home.

Harrell Faircloth Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.