Hancock County Ga.
In the News 1930 - 1945
1930
January 7, 1930
Macon Telegraph
    HANCOCK NEGRO, 102, IS VICTIM OF DEATH.   Sparta, Ga. Jan. 6. Richard Richardson, 102-year-old Negro, died at his home here yesterday afternoon after a short illness. Richard was born in January, 1827, and was probably the oldest resident of this section. He was a blacksmith by trade and was said to have been one of the laborers who helped to build the first tracks of the Georgia railroad through here.
   He operated a blacksmith shop on the outskirts of this city up until two years ago when the infirmities of old age forced him to retire. Several children and numbers of grandchildren and great grandchildren survive.

January 12, 1930
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga., Jan. 11. J. D. Long, 70, proprietor of the Jewell hotel near here, suffered a stroke of apoplexy this morning and died before medical assistance could reach him.
    Though he resided just across the Ogeechee river in Warren county, Mr. Long was well known in Hancock county.
   His family has long been one of the more prominent in eastern Hancock county and western Warren county. He was a member of the Baptist church.
    Funeral and interment will take place at Jewell Sunday afternoon. He is survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters, besides a number of other near relatives in Hancock and Warren counties.

January 19, 1930
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 18. John Hood, 70, died at the home of his niece, Mrs. J. Mercer Archer here, last night from the effects of a stroke of paralysis suffered some weeks ago. Mr. Hood was a native of Washington county but had lived here for a number of years, being superintendent of the Archer farm.
  The funeral and interment took place at Balerma Baptist church this afternoon, his pastor officiating.

March 15, 1930
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Lane Mullally Succumbs Here After Long Illness. Body Probably Will Ve Taken to Sparta For Burial, With Funeral Sunday. Jefferson Lane Mullally, 59, immediate past potentate of the Al Sihah Temple of the Shrine and for many years chief deputy sheriff of Bibb county, died here at 10:15 o'clock yesterday morning following a long illness......
  Mr, Mullally is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Bessie Baxter, who is now residing with her brother, Thomas Baxter, at Athens, Ga.; two sisters, Mrs. Herbert Rountree, of St. Louis, and Miss Nina Mullally, of Sparta; three grandchildren, Harold Rountree, of St. Louis; Mrs. James Price, of Tyler, Tex.; and Miss Virginia Rountree, of S. Louis.
  Harry Stillwell Edwards of this city was an uncle by marriage. Cousins residing here include J. L. Edwards, Miss Rozaline and Prentiss S. Edwards, children of Harry Stillwell Edwards, and Mrs. Granville Conner, Jr., of this city, and Mrs. Frank Inman, of Atlanta.

April 20, 1930
Macon Telegraph
    Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Macken, of Sparta announce the engagment of their daughter, Wilhelmina Lvonne, to Mr. James Frank Edwards of LaGrange, the wedding to be solemnized at an early date.

May 19, 1930
Macon Telegraph
WOMAN SLAIN IN HER HOME; MAN IS HELD. Miss Vesta Brantley, 55, Found Dead in House 8 Miles From Sparta. Miss Vesta Brantley, 55, Found Dead in House 8 Miles From Sparta. VICTIM'S PURSE IS GONE.  One Negro Suspect Jailed and Other Arrests May Be Made, Officers Say.
Sparta, Ga, May 18. Miss Vesta Brantley, about 55 years old, was found murdered in her home on the Sparta and Jewell road, about eight miles from this city, last night.
    Miss Brantley had been on a visit to relatives at Jewell, a few miles away, on Saturday afternoon and left there to return home late, probably arriving at her home before dark. Her brother, Hamilton Brantley, came home last night and discovered the murder. From all appearances, the murderer shot the woman from another room through the open door. A shotgun which belonged in the home was used, the entire load striking the victim in her head and neck, cutting the jugular vein and killing her almost instantly, according to attending physicians.
   Track dogs were secured from the state farm and the local convict camp but could not find a trail as some time had elapsed and many people had been in the house.
    One Negro suspect was arrested by Sheriff Jackson and lodged in jail here and other arrests may follow. The motive for the crime is supposed to have been robbery, as Miss Brantley's pocketbook was missing when her brother reached the house.

May 22, 1930
Macon Telegraph
BROTHER DECLARES HE HEARD BRANTLEY ADMIT FATAL SHOT. ACCUSED MAN NOW IS HELD IN BIBB JAIL. Hancock County Farmer Is Charged With Murder of Sister at Their Home. MOTIVE OF CRIME UNKNOWN. Negro Held in Connection With Slaying Believed to Have Been Released.
Sparta, Ga, May 21. Reese Brantley, of Atlanta, said here today that his brother, Hamilton Brantley, 45, had confessed the slaying of their sister, Miss Vesta Brantley, 53, who was shot to death in her home here late Saturday. Reese Brantley said he was present when the alleged confession was given to Sheriff Jim Jackson, brother-in-law of the Brantley's who arrested Hamilton Brantley yesterday. Reese Brantley said his brother declined last night to go into any detail, saying he would make a full statement to Sheriff Jackson alone. He said his brother declared "sister never new who shot her."
 Jackson Refuses to Talk. Jackson has refused to discuss the case with newspapermen.  He took Brantley from the Hancock county jail early today and carried him to Macon.
    Arnold Hooks, Negro prisoner in the Hancock jail, said he overheard a conversation believed to clear up the disposition of Alex Gonder, Negro helper on the Brantley farm, who had been held in the case but was taken out of jail this morning by Jackson and had not been located since. Hooks said he heard the sheriff tell Gonder he was no longer in the case and "I will release you when we get out of Sparta."
   Hooks said Hamilton Brantley told the Negro it would be best for him to leave Hancock county and not return. Whether he had been released tonight could not be determined. He was not with Jackson and his prisoner when they arrived in Macon and Jackson declined to say where he went. The Negro was not to be found in surrounding county jails.
   Reese Brantley said his sister had inherited from her father Thomas Brantley, who died about three years ago, about $3,000, now in an account in an Atlanta bank, and control of about 200 acres of land in the old Brantley homestead about 8 miles from Sparta on the Sparta-Jewels road.
   He said he, as executor, divided the estate among himself, Hamilton Brantley and three sisters, Mrs. A. T. Jackson, Miss Vesta Brantley and Mrs. Tom Hyman. He said Hamilton Brantley had disposed of his share of the estate and that Miss Brantley had cared for him.
    Reese Brantley said no motive for the alleged act was given in the partial confession he said he heard his brother make.
    Hamilton Brantley was one of the pallbearers at his sister's funeral Sunday.
   Hamilton Brantley, 45, arrested in Hancock county Tuesday and charged with the fatal shooting of his sister,  Miss Vesta Brangley, which occurred last Saturday night at their home a short distance from Sparta,  was brought to the Bibb county jail yesterday shortly after noon and ordered held for safe keeping.
   Brantley was arrested by Sheriff Jim Jackson, of Hancock county, when a chain of circumstance developed against him. Sheriff Jackson is Brantley's brother-in-law.
  The Hancock county officer would not discuss the case with newspaper men when he arrived here yesterday with Brantley. He refused to answer questions, commenting that he had "nothing to say." Brantley refused to talk also.
   The two men, with Deputy Sheriff Smith who also was in the party, refused to affirm or deny reports of a confession having been made by Brantley.
(See September 27, 1930)

June 7, 1930
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., June 6. Mrs. Sallie H. Buell, 70, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. James Rives, in Hancock county last night after being in feeble health for several years. Mrs. Buell sustained a fall last Saturday which is though to have hastened her death.
   She was a resident of Washington. D. C., until the death of her husband several years ago. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. James Rives; two brbothers, John Kimbrough and Alec Kimbrough. The funeral and interment was held this afternoon in the family burial ground in the Kimbrough community, Rev. W. N. Pearman, pastor of the Sparta Prebsyterian church officiating.

June 7, 1930
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Ga., June 6. Funeral servics for Mrs. Hassie Darden, 84, who died at her home in the Powellton community yesterday, were held this morning at her home.
   Mrs. Darden is survived by one daughter, Miss Mattie Darden. The interment was in the Powellton cemetery.

June 11, 1930
Augusta Chronicle
  MRS BERT SMITH DIES AT SPARTA. Thomas Cheely Also Dies at Home Near Shoals
    Sparta, Ga., June 16. Mrs. Bert Smith, 26, died at her home in this city this morning after suffering a sudden heart attack. Mrs. Smith died a few minutes after her baby boy was born. The baby is living and doing nicely. Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband, one daughter and two sons. Funeral arrangements have not been made awaiting arrival of relatives.
Thomas Cheely, 50, died at his home in the Shoal community last night after a brief illness. Mr. Cheely's death is supposed to have been caused from organic heart trouble which he has suffered from for several years. A brother of Mr. Cheely died here a few months ago in the same manner. Mr. Cheely is survived by his widow and ten children. The funeral and interment will be held this afternon at Shoals.

August 19, 1930
Augusta Chronicle
FATAL ACCIDENT DRIVER CAUGHT. Negro Place in Sparta Jail on Charge of Murder
Sparta, Ga., Aug. 18. After being a fugitive from justice for more than a year Fleming Jones, negro lumber truck driver of the Devereux community, in this county, was arrested last night by Sheriff Jackson and County Policeman R. D. Smith for his connection with a tragic truck wreck on the Devereux and Milledgeville road on the night he made his escape.
   According to the evidence given out at the time of the accident, Jones was driving a lumber truck along the highway without lights and ran head-on into a truck driven by J. F. Smith, of Milledgeville. Mr. Smith had been to Sparta delivering bread for the Merita Bakeries company, of Macon, and was returning home when the lumber truck hit his bread truck. He was fatally injured and died in the Milledeville hospital later.
  The negro, after seeing what he had done, jumped from his truck and escaped to parts unknown, officers charged. He had not been heard from until the local sheriff got a "tip" that he was visiting in the county, near his former home. A seach was made for him and h was capured after  an all-night hunt. Jones is now confined in the Hancock county jail and will be tried at the next term of Hancock superior court, under a charge of murder.

September 10, 1930
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Malone-Walker Wedding Solemnized at Sparta....Miss Bernice Malone, of Sparta, to Mr. John David Walker, Jr., of Eatonton...Friday evening, Sept. 5, at 76:30 o'clock, in the Methodist church, in Sparta. Rev. J. T. Eakes, pastor of the Methodist chuch, performed the ceremony..
  The bride was given in marriage by her brother, Mr. W. J. Malone, of Augusta...
  After a bridal tour Mr. and Mrs. Walker will be home to their friends in Eatonton where he holds a position with the Georgia Power company....

September 27, 1930
Macon Telegraph
NO NEW TRIAL SOUGHT. Counsel for Brantley, Killer of Sister, Is Satisfied.
   Hamilton Brantley, Hancock county farmer who Thursday night was sentenced in superior court there to serve life for the murder of his sister, Miss Vesta Brantley, some months ago, will not ask for a new trial, his attorney, W. O. Cooper, Jr., announced here yesterday.
    Brantley was held in the Bibb county jail up to the date of his trial, but will remain in jail at Sparta, it was said, until he has been assigned by the prison board.

October 1, 1930
Macon Telegraph
J. BEN CODY. Sparta, Ga., Sept. 20. J. Ben Cody, 54, one of the wealthiest and best known citizens of this county, died at his home at Jewell during the early hours yesterday. Mr. Cody had been a sufferer for many years with an incurable malady, having sought relief in all of the medical centers of the country without success. During his active years he was connected with the cotton mill at Jewell which burned serval year ago. He sold his interest in the mill, however, when his health failed some years ago.
   Mr. Cody is survived by his wife and numbers of relatives in the county and over the state. He had no children.

November 2, 1930
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ The wedding of Miss Betty Hall Rives and Mr. Cleveland Bivings Marshall which was solemized Saturday afternoon at five thirty o'clock, October 25th, at the home of the bride in Sparta was an even tof wide social interest.
  The bride is the lovely young daughter of the late George Shackleford Rives and Lula Kilpatrick Rives, who is a grandaughter of Dr. J. H. Kilpatrick of White Plains. She was graduated last June at Shorter College, Rome, Georgia.
   The groom is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Marshall, of Rome. He is associated in business with his father in the Marshall Mfg. Co. at Rome.......................

December 10, 1930
Macon Telegraph
G.P. CARR, SPARTA DIES.  Life Long Resident of Section Had Been Ill Several Months.
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 9. George Pierce Carr, 76, life long resident of this section died early today after an illness of several months. Mr. Carr died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. A. Bradley.
   For many years he lived at the nearby city of Jewell, but had made his home, here with his daughter since the death of his wife. Besides the daughter, three sons, A. B. , Jr., and C. C. Carr, survive.   

December 15, 1930
Macon Telegraph
RETIRED PASTOR SLAIN AT SPARTA. Rev. I. M. Wood Called to His Door and Shot. NO ARREST, SAYS SHERIFF.
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 15. Rev. I. M. Wood, well-known famer and retired Baptist minister, was shot and fatally wounded last night by an unidentified man who knocked on the front door of the Wood home 15 miles from here in the Beulah section of Hancock county.
   Mrs. Wood told officers her husband died shortly after telling her he had been shot by a Negro. The full load of a shotgun took effect in Mr. Wood's abdomen.
   Sheriff James M. Jackson returned to his home early tonight and said he had made no arrests in the case. He said track dogs had failed to be of much assistance and that he could give no motive for the crime.
Negro Is Suspected. Mr. Wood was well thought of in this community." the officer said. "He had not been active in the ministry for several years."
    Mrs. Wood did not know who shot her husband. She said he did not identify his assailant, but merely said it was a Negro. Sheriff Jackson said there was a possibility that  Mr. Wood was mistaken in the color of the criminal, due to darkness on the porch where the shooting occurred.
   Sheriff Jackson said he had been informed of reports he had spirited a suspect to a jail in another county. He denied he had arrested anyone, and admitted "quite a mystery on the whole affair.
   The officer said he knew nothing of a report of a posse, other than officers assisting him in the case.

1931
January 11, 1931
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Miss Ray Becomes Bride of Robert C. Wiley.
   Among the interesting social events of the Christmas season was the wedding of Miss Harriet Barnette Ray, of Sharon, and Mr. Robert Carnes Wiley, of Sparta.
     "The wedding was solemnized at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, dec. 31, at the home of the bride's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Alonzo Terrell Ray, in Sharon....
  The ring ceremony was performed by Dr. J. Lee Aligood, of Athens.
.......Mrs. A. T. Ray, the bride's mother, wore green crepe.
...refreshments were served by Mrs. W. B. Barnett and Mrs. N. G. Barnett. assisted by Miss Emmie Moore and Miss Lila Barnett...
   The out-of-town guests included: Mrs. Albert Feeney, of Atlanta; Mr. and Mrs W. B. Barnett, of Thomason; Mr. Jabe Barnett, of Atlanta; Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Powell, of Sparta; Mrs. A. W. Simpson, of Washington, Ga.,  Mr. and Mrs. John C. Lewis, of Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Barnett, of Washington; Mrs. A. S. Carnes of Sparta; Misses Nell and Lila Barnett, of West Palm Beach; Mrs. Elizabeth W. Smith of Sparta; Mrs. Hartwell Archer, of Sparta, Mr. and Mrs. Sam H. Wiley, of Sparta, Dr. John D. Wiley, of Milledgeville; Mr. Jack Barnett, of Thompson.
   "Mrs Wiley is the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Alonzo Terrell Ray, of Sharon. She is a teacher in the Sparta High school, a graduate of Lucy Cobb institute, Athens and of Virginia college, Roanoke, Va, Mr. Wiley is one of the Hancock county commissioners. The groom is a son of the late Dr. R. C. Wiley, and Mrs. R. C. Wiley, of Sparta.
    "After a short wedding trip to Florida, the couple are now making their home in Sparta."
    
March 15, 1931
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga. March 14. Mrs. Frank Beall, 55, died at her home at Culverton, this county, this morning after an illness of several months. Mrs. Beall had been a resident of this county all her life, being a leader in church and civic work. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Roberts, this county; her husband, five sons, Billy, Jesse, Harold and Edward Beall, of Culverton, John Beall, of Quantico, Va.; four daughters, Mrs. Calvin Thrash, of Gay, Ga.; Mrs. Prior Cason, Jewell; Mrs. Fred Williams, Cochran; Miss Nanylyn Beall, Culverton.
    The funeral and interment will take place in the Culverton cemetery Sunday morning, with her pastor, Rev. J. J. Sneed, conducting the last rites.

April 1,1931
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga. March 31. Prior Rainwater, 60, one of the best known citizens of the Powelton community died last night after a heart attack. Mr. Rainwater had been a member of the Methodist church practically all of his life.
   Besides his wife he is survived by three sons and five daughters, all of whom reside in this county. They are: Burwell Rainwater, George Rainwater, Henry Rainwater; Misses Myra, Grace, Emily, Geneva Rainwater and an infant daughter. Funeral services were held this afternoon and interment was in the Powelton cemetery.

May 28, 1931
Macon Telegraph
   Milledgeville, Ga., May 27. T. J. Coleman, 76, died at the home of his son, F. H. Coleman, today after an illness of several months.
  He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lula Blizzard, Wrightsville, and Mrs. Anna Smith, Sparta; three daughters, Mrs. W. E. Joiner, Dublin; Mrs. J. M. Welch, Lakeland, Fla.; Mrs. Morgan Beasley, Wrightsville; six sons, Frank Coleman, Milledgeville; W. M. Coleman, Bridgeton, N. J.; B. W. Coleman, Macon;  T. M. Coleman, Macon; J. P. Coleman, Oklahoma, Okla., J. M. Coleman, Orlando, Fla., and several grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
  Funeral services will be held Friday morning at Mount Hope church in Hancock county.

July 7, 1931
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., July 6. Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Frazier, 87, one of the oldest and best known women of this county were held Sunday afternoon in the city cemetery. Mrs. Frazier.had made her home for a number of years with her niece, Mrs. McCoy Hussey, and had beenin feeble health for some months.
   The last rites were conducted by her pastor, Rev. W. A. Maxwell. She was a member of Gaissert's Methodist church. Mrs. Frazier is survived by one brother, W. T. Gaissert, of Albany; a nephew, L. Gaissert, of this city; several nieces and other relatives.

July 8, 1931
Macon Telegraph
MRS. MINNIE F. M'COOK. Sparta, Ga. July 7. Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Friese McCook, 63, who died at her home near here yesterday, will be held this  afternoon at 6 o'clock in the Catholic cemetery at Washington, Ga. Mrs. McCook has been in feeble health for several years and her death was caused  from a second stroke of paralysis. She is survived by her husband, one sister, Mrs. Mamie Smith, of Albany, Ga.; two brothers, Victor Friese, of Savannah, and Edward Friese, of Birmingham, Ala. Mrs. McCook had been a lifelong resident of this city and was prominently connected with business and social activities for many years before her retirement.

August 23, 1931
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga., Aug 22. Miss Ruth Franks, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Franks, of this city, died today at Rawlings sanitarium in Sandersville after several weeks of illness. Funeral services for Miss Franks will be held here tomorrow and interment will be held at Warthen, former home of the Franks family.
   She was a member of the Sparta Baptist church and Sunday school. Her parents, one sister and a young brother survive.
   the funeral services will be conducted by Dr. E. J. Forrester, her pastor.

September 27, 1931
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and Mrs. I. S. Hudson, of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter, Mary Frances, to Mr. Hill Jackson, which was quietly solemnized on Sept. 13, Dr. E. J. Forrester officiating.

November 30, 1931
Macon Telegraph
Mrs. Jennie Curtis, 70, died suddenly at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning at her home, 858 Elm street. She was an employe of the Bibb Manufacturing company, and had lived in Macon 50 years, moving here from Sparta. She was before her marriage, Miss Jennie Epps, and was a member of the Primitive Baptist church.
   Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon in the Knowles chapel, near Sparta, by Rev. John R. Lewis. Interement will be in the family lot in Sparta. The funeral cortege will leave Hart's chapel here at 8 o'clock this morning.
    Mrs. Curtis is survived by her husband, Jim Curtis, Macon, a sister, Mrs. Goodwin Johnson, Sparta, and several nieces and nephews, including Mrs. M. C. Epps and J. R. Johnson, of Macon.

December 23, 1931
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 22. Funeral services for William Dunn, 74, were held yesterday afternoon in the Dunn burial ground, near Culverton, this county. His pastor, Rev. W. A. H. Flynt, assisted by Dr. E. J. Forrester and Rev. J. F. Fulghum, conducted the last sad rites. Mr. Dunn died after a short illness. He had been a resident of this county all of his life. His wife preceded him to the grave many years ago. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. G. G. Garrett, of this city; Mrs. Andrew Hinesley, of Warrenton; Mrs. Rufus Long, of Culverton. One brother, Sidney Dunn, and three sisters, besides numbers of other relatives also survive.

December 23, 1931
Macon Telegraph
NEGRO HELD FOR MURDER. Sparta, Ga., Dec. 22.  John Henry Spikes, Negro farm hand, is in jail here charged with the murder of Charlie Stone, another Negro, in a "hot supper" brawl on the plantation of John H. Howell, near Devereux, in this county, last night. Coroner B. P. Sharpe held and inquest over the body of the Negro, who was shot through the heart by a pistol bullet.
   The Negro admitted his guilt before the coroner's jury, but claimed the fatal shooting was accidental. A warrant was sworn out for him by Coroner Sharpe and he is now being held on a charge of murder.

1932
January 24, 1932
Macon Telegraph
     Announcement is made of the marriage of Mrs. Maude C. Malone and Mr. George C. Waller, Sr., both of Sparta, which was solemnized at the Methodist parsonage in Sparta, Jan. 17, Rev. C. D. Read officiating.

January 24, 1932
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~MISS FANNIE HITCHCOCK IS WEDDED TO MR. ROBERT B. BOYER, OF LINTON.
  Of cordial interest is the announcement made today by Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Hitchcock, of Sparta, of the marriage of their daughter, Miss Fannie Madel Hitchcock, of this city, and Mr. Robert Bruce Boyer, of Linton, the ceremony having been performed Thursday, Jan 21, at noon, in the parlors of Mulberry Methodist church with Dr. Walter Anthony officiating.
......Mrs. Boyer was graduated from the G. S. C. W., Milledgeville, and later graduated from the Middle Georgia sanitarium.
  Mr. Boyer is a graduate of the Nashville Automobile college. He and his bride will make their home near Sparta, upon their return from their wedding trip.

February 14, 1932
Macon Telegraph
Sparta Girl Weds Alabama Resident. Mr. and Mrs. L. D. McNeely, of Spara, annnounce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Mildred McNeely, to Mr. Charles M. Curtis, of Birmingham, Ala., which was solemnized quietly at Tuscaloosa, Ala., Feb. 12.
   Mr. Curtis is the son of Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Curtis of Mobile, Ala., his father being a Methodist minister. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and is connected with the Alpha Portland Cement company in Birmingham.

February 21, 1932
Macon Telegraph
SMITH - THOMPSON. Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Smith, of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter, Emma Lou, of Macon, to Mr. Rex A. Thompson, of New York city, the wedding having been solemnized on Feb. 8 in Savannah.

March 6, 1932
Macon Telegraph
HENRY EPPS. Sparta, Ga., March 5. Funeral services for Henry Epps, 84, one of the oldest citizens of this city, were held this afternoon at 4 o'clock in the city cemetery. Mr. Epps died Friday morning after a sudden heart attack. He is survived by his wife, one son, William Epps, Nashville, Tenn.; six daughters, Mrs. Carlos Ezelle, Augusuta; Mrs. G. M. Barker, Macon; Mrs. H. R. Garrett, Faceville; Miss Emma Epps,Mrs. John Kimbrough and Mrs. Mattie E. Baggett, of this city. The last rites  were conducted at the home and interment was in the family square here.

April 2, 1932
Macon Telegraph
  Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Whaley, of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter Edith, to Mr. N. C. Myers, of Danburg, which was solemnized at the Sparta Baptist church on March 26.

April 5, 1932
Augusta Chronicle
FOUR GET A YEAR IN MURDER CASES. Hancock Court Sets a Record For Identical Sentences in Three Cases.
  Special to The Chronicle. Sparta, Ga., April 4. Probably the most remarkable record for the trail of murder cases ever known in the state was made in Hancock superior court, which adjourned here last Friday afternoon. Three murder cases were on the criminal docket for trail and in each instance the defendants were sentenced to only a year.
  The first case was that of Albert, alias "Preacher" Dickson, Negro youth on trial forkilling his brother several weeks ago. He was represented as being of feeble mind and drew only 12 months on the gang.The next case was that of John Willis, charged with the murder of another Negro at a "hot supper" on the plantation of John H. Howell, near Devereux. It was proven to the satisfaction of the jury that other Negroes fired shots at the Negro, who was killed, so Willis was sentenced to a year.
  The last case was that of Dave (Minish) Minnish and Goss Smith, white farmers from Jefferson county, held for the death of Harwell G. Archer in a truck crash near here on March 24. They entered a plea of involuntary manslaughter and got one year each.

May 11, 1932
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., May 10. Funeral services for Mrs. Annie McComb, who died in the city hospital in Milledgeville Monday were held here Tuesday morning in the local cemetery.
   Mrs. McComb was formerly Miss Annie Durham, and lived here practically all of her life before moving to McComb's Mount, the ancestral home of her husband in Baldwin county. One grandson, Mr. Frank Chandler, and other relatives survive.

June 15, 1932
Macon Telegraph
   HARRY W. CULVER. Sparta, Ga., June 14. Funeral services for Harry W. Culver, 53, were held Monday afternoon in the city cemetery, Rev. C. D. Read and Rev. John R. Lewis officiating. Mr. Culver died Sunday night after an extended illness. He is survived by his widow; two sons, John and Walker Culver, of this city; four daughters, Mrs. Gene Dozier, Macon; Mrs. R. F. Brown, Macon; Mrs. C. D. Garner, Orlando, Fla.; Miss Ennie Clyde Culver, of Sparta; one sister, Mrs. J. Lundy Smith, Macon. Interment was in the city cemetery.  

July 13, 1932
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta,  Ga., July 15. Funeral services forThurmond Epps, 25, well-known young white farmer, were held at Knowles chapel, near here, Thursday afternoon, his pastor, Rev. Z. V. Hawks, conducting the last rites. Mr. Epps died suddenly here on the streets while sitting in a car. He had been in feeble health and was en route to a hospital when stricken with a fthal heart attack. The young man is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Epps and several brothrs and sisters.

December 22, 1932
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 21. Relatives of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wood received information that their young son, James, Jr., died Tuesday in San Antonio, Texas. The Wood family moved to Texas several months ago, thinking the change would benefit their son's health. The body is brough to Devereux, in this county, for burial. His parents, grandmother and other relatives survive.  

December 24, 1932
Macon Telegraph
HUTCHINGS  STILL IN JAIL.  Sparta, Ga., Dec. 23 - Seabie Hutchings, Hancock county farmer, who was given a sentence of 20 years in the penitentiary at the adjourned term of superior court last week, is still in jail here awaiting orders from the state prison board. It is probable that he will be assigned to some gang during the next few days or sent to the state farm at Milledgeville. He was convicted of the murder of a white tenant on his place, named Ebb Swint a few weeks ago.

December 31, 1932
Macon Telegraph
Sparta,, Ga. Dec. 30. Charles D. Hood, 73, prominent farmer of this county, died at his home early Thursday morning after a brief illness. He had lived in this county the greater portion of his life.
    He is survived by his wife; one son, Jesse Hood, of Columbus, and two daughters. Funeral services were conducted by his pastor Rev Z. V. Hawks, at Mt. Hope church Friday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Hood had been a member of the Mt. Hope Methodist church for many years.

1933

March 4, 1933
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta Ga, March 3. Charles Amason, 60, died at his home near Culverton, this county, Wednesday night after a brief illness with pneumonia and complications. He was buried in the Dunn graveyard near his home on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. Z. V. Hawkes officating. Mr. Amason is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Frank Tolbert. He was a highly respected farmer of the county.

March 21, 1933
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., March 20. Linton S. Carr, farmer of the Mt. Hope section of this county, died at his home Sunday after several weeks' illness. He was taken to Rawlkins sanitarium for treatment but returned home a short while before his death.
   Mr. Carr is survived by his widow; three sisters, Mrs. Reid Gilmore, Thomaston; Mrs. Frank Johnson and Mrs. Julian Boone; a brother, Green Carr, and other relatives.
   The funeral and interment were held Monday in the Mt. Hope cemetery.

May 21, 1933
Macon Telegraph
HOOKS-JOHNSON. Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Hooks of Warthen announce the marriage of their daughter,Louise Elizabeth, to Mr. Herbert Johnson of Sparta, which was solemnized in Sparta on April 29.

July 16, 1933 
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Jackson of Culverton announce the engagement of their daughter, Ethelyne, to Mr. Bert Beckham of Mayfield, the marriage to be solemnized at an early date.
  Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Jackson of Culverton, announce the marriage of their daughter, Mildred Francis, to Mr. Ernest Askew on Saturday, July 8, at Mayfield.

August 13, 1933
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~  The marriage of Miss Nelle Prance of Americus, and Mr. Edward E. Alfriend of Sparta was solemnized at the home of Bishop Warren A. Candler in Atanta on July 29........
  Following the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Alfriend left for a wedding trip through the Carolinas, Virginia and Washington, D. C.
  Mrs. Alfriend is the daughter of President and Mrs. J. M. Prace of Georgia Southwestern college. She attended Georgia State Teachers college in 1929, where she was a popular member of the college et. She was a member of the Sigma Kappa Nu sorority and, on account of her dramatic ability, Alpha Psi Omega.
  Mr. Alfriend is a son of the late J. W. Alfriend and Mrs. Edith Pierce Alfriend of Sparta, and a great-grandson of Bishop Lovick Pierce. After completing his studes at G. M. C., Mr. Alfriend attended the University of Georgia, where he was most popular among students and instructors. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity while there.
  Mr. and Mrs. Alfriend will make their home in Sparta, where the groom holds a responsible position in the post office of that city..

October 11, 1933
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Oct 10. Miss Paula Harley, a native of this city and resident for many years, ded at the home of Capt. Ellison Smythe, at Flat Rock, N. C ., where she had lived for many years. Miss Harley had been ill for a week before her death. She is survived by one sister; two brothers, James and Foster Harley, of Columbus, Ga., and a large family connection here. Miss Harley  was a granddaughter of the late Bishop George F. Pierce and her parents were the  late Judge and Mrs James A. Harley, life-long residents of this county. Funeral and interment will be held here but no plans have been given out.

October 24, 1933
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga, Oct. 23. Funeral service for Mr. Ben Pinkston, 76, were held at Knowles chapel cemetery in this county yesterday afternoon. Mr. Pinkston died at his home near Hardwick, Ga., last week after suffering a stroke of paralysis.
  He was a batchelor and is survived by several nephews and nieces, among them being B. A. Pinkston of Atlanta, and David L. Pinkston, of New York city. Mr. Pinkston was a life-long resident of this county before going to Baldwin county to live a few years ago.

December 6, 1933
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 5. Funral services for Miss Beulah Burgamy, 55, were held here in the city cemetery Sunday afternoon, Rev. T. E. Sherwood, officiating.
   Miss Burgamy died at her home Saturday after a long illness. She is survived by three brothers; one sister and two adopted children. She has been a resident of the country all of her life and was a member of Smyrna Methodist church.

December 20, 1933
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga., Dec. 19. Miss Gertrude Aubrey, 64, died  at her home in Culverton last night after a long illness. Miss Aubrey suffered a stroke of paralysis some months ago and had been confined to her bed since that time.
    She is survived by distant relatives; all of her immediate family having preceded her to the grave. Miss Aubrey was a life-long member of the Methodist church and was a leading factor in church and missionary work at Culverton.
   Funeral services were conducted this afternoon and interment was in the Culverton cemetery, Rev. G. B. Henderson officiated.

1934


January 7, 1934
Macon Telegraph
       Mr. and Mrs. John M. King of Linton announce the marriage of their daughter, Mary Grace, to Mr. William Roy Harrison of Linton, the wedding having been solemnized on Dec. 31.

February 1, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 31. Mrs. J. A. Waller, 76, 855 Oak Street, S. W. Atlanta, died at the home of her son, R. A. Waller, here this morning. Mrs. Waller had lived in Atlanta 10 years, after removing from Sparta. She resided there with her daughter, Mrs. J. L. McCleskey.
   Mrs. Waller suffered a stroke of paralysis several months ago and has been in ill health since.
     She is survived by three sons, George C. Waller, Sparta; B. H. Waller, Harlem; R. A. Waller, Culverton; one daughter, Mrs. J. L. McCleskey, Atlanta; three nieces, Mrs. M. Goldstein, Atlanta; Mrs. Herman Bull, Holly Hill, S. C.; Mrs. Marvin Smith,  Culverton; a nephew, George Jones, Sparta; three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
   Funeral services and interment will be held in the Culverton cemetery tomorrow afternoon.

March 20, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., March 19. Funeral services for Samuel Ohlman, 87, were held Saturday afternoon in the city cemetery, Rev. Ed. Rudisill, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating.
    Mr. Ohlman was the only surviving member of a Jewish family of three brothers who came here many yeas ago and established a flourishing mercantile business. His other brothers preceded him to the grave several years ago and he has lived here alone since.
    A few weeks ago he was assaulted by someone as he started to open his room door which was located in a two-story building he owned on Broad street in this city, and he is said to have never full recovered from this shock. He was hit with a brickbat tied up in an old sock and a deep gash was cut in the side of his head. A young white man named Arthur Cole was found a few minutes later, back of the building with a broken leg, and arrested and charged with the crime. He was released on bond the day before Mr. Ohlman died as he is said to be in a serious condition with his leg which is said to be badly swollen and infected. Cole will be tried at the March term of Hancock Superior court which convenes next Monday morning and it is not known what turn the case will take after the death of Mr. Ohlman.
   A nephew, Arthur Ohlman, of New York City, is the only surviving relative and attended the funeral.

April 7, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., April 6 - Mrs. Ida R. Moore, widow of R. H. Moore, one of the best known women of this section, died at her home in Culverton last night after a brief illness following a stroke of apoplexy.
   She is survived by four sons, L. R., and J. P. Moore of Culverton; R. L. Moore, Tampa, Fla., L. T. Moore, Brooklym, N. Y. Mrs Moore was a life long member of the Baptist church and funeral services will be conducted by her pastor, Rev. Carlton Dykes,  Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. Interment will be in the Culverton cemetery.

April 11, 1934
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Ga., April 10. Funeral services for Alva D. Hitchcock, 50, well-known Hancock farmer, were held this afternoon in the family cemetery in the Beulah community, this county.
   Mr. Hitchcock died Monday afternoon after being in feeble health for sometime., He is survived by two sons, Douglas Hitchcock, of Atlanta; Jack Hitchcock, of Cave Springs; a daughter, Mrs. Leonard McLean, of Atlanta; three brothers, Drs. Grady and Cecil Hitchcock, of Moultrie; Williard Hitchcock of this county; four sisters, Mrs. H. W. Brantley, this city; Mrs. William J. Ray, Macon; Mrs. Ramey Brewer, Campton, and Mrs. Josie Martin of  Baldwin county. The last rites were conducted by his pastor.

May 10, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., May 9 - Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah L. Mincey, 105, the oldest citizen of this county, were held Tuesday afternoon in the family cemetery in Barrow county, near Winder.
  Mrs. Mincey was a native of that section of the state, but had lived in this county for a number of years. She died Monday morning at the home of Mrs. B. F. Montgomery, her daughter, in the Fairmount community.
    She was a member of the Methodist church and is survived by several children and grandchildren. Rev. Edmund Rudisill, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the last rites.

September 18, 1934
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Ga. Sept. 17. Funeral services for Miss Johnnie Gaissert, 55, were held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock at her home and interment was in the Sparta cemetery. The last rites were conducted by Rev. L. G. Cowart of the Devereux circuit and Rev. Ed. Rudisill, of the local Methodist church.
  Miss Gaissert was a teacher in the Hancock county schools for about 35 years and had just resigned as county superintendent of education, a few weeks ago, on account of ill health. She was elected to this place two years ago and was the first woman official to serve in this county.
  Miss Gaissert is survived by a half brother, Thomas Allen; one brother, L. Gaissert; five sisters, Mrs. McCoy Hussy, Mrs. Maude Garrett, Mrs. Frank Boyer, Mrs. W. T. Moore and Mrs. Maxie Brown, all of this county,
  She was one of the most beloved women of the county and her funeral was attended by hundreds.

November 2, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   JOHN T. ROBERSON. Swainsboro, Ga., Nov. 1. John Thomas Roberson, 60, farmer, died at his home near Swainsboro at 3:30 p.m. yesterday. His death was sudden.
    Mr. Roberson was born in Hancock county April 13, 1874, and was the son of the late H. W. and Carrie Simmons Roberson, both natives of that county.
    The deceased was engaged in farming all of his life and removed to Emanuel county eight years ago. Besides his widow, who was Miss Rosa Belle Hitchcock of Devereaux, he is survived by two daughters, Miss Grace Roberson and Mrs. Irene Edenfield, both of Swainsboro; eight sons, H. T. and J. W., of Warrenton, G. W. of Devereaux, J. C., L. E., J. A., L. I. and D. H. of Swainsboro.
    Funeral services will be held from his residence at 1 p.m. tomorrow with interment in the city cemetery.
    Funeral services were held today at the home of Mrs. G. F. Flanders in Swainsboro. Rev. J. M. Foster and Rev. C. A. Jackson both of Swainsboro, officiated. Interment was in the city cemetery.

November 4, 1934 
Macon Telegraph
  Archer -Archer. Mr. and Mrs. Tom J. Archer of Sparta announce the engagment of their daughter, Sarah Gladys, to Mr. Edward Archer of Sparta, the marriage to be solemnized at an early date.

November 9, 1934
Macon Telegraph
    MRS. MATTIE A. BURGAMY.  Sparta, Ga., Nov. 8. Mrs Mattie A. Burgamy, 77, well-known Hancock woman, died at her home here last night after a long illness. Mrs. Burgamy had lived in this county all of her life, being Miss Mattie Alsabrooks before her marriage.
   She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Albert Elder, Miss Alma Burgamy; three sons, Lester, Eddie and Eulas Burgamy.
   The funeral and interment was held at the Smyrna Methodist church, this county, this afternoon at 4 o'clock, her pastor, Rev. Mr. Hendrick conducting the service. Mrs. Burgamy had been a consistent member of this church since childhood. 

December 30, 1934
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. Edwin Wiley, son of Mr. W. E. Wiley of Sparta, county treasurer, was married to Miss Vaughnie Fralin of Richmond, Va. Dec. 26 at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York city.
  Mr. Wiley is a civil engineer employed by a  contracting company in Fayettville, N. C.
  After a brief honeymoon, Mr. Wiley and his bride will live in Fayetteville.

1935
January 8, 1935
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Milledgeville, Ga., Jan 7. William Milner Wheeler, 78, prominent business man and farmer of Hancock county, died at his home in Powelton, Ga. this morning. Funeral services will be held in Powelton at 3 o'clock Tueday afternoon, Jan. 8. Rev. Geo. C. Snead, officiating...
   Mr. Wheeler is survived by his widow, who was Miss Lula Whaley, four daughters, Miss Sue Wheeler, Powelton; Mrs. J. O. Dyal, Mrs. H. H. Cole, Greensboro, N. C.; Miss Lucille Wheeler, Douglas, Ga., three sons, R. E. Wheeler, Sparta, Ga.; Geo. R. Wheeler, Sanford, N. C.; C. W Wheeler, Washington, Ga.

January 22,  1935
Macon Telegraph
  A marriage license application was filed yesterday afternoon by Leonard Fred Bell of Sparta, and Zellie Mae Williams of 356 New street, Macon.

January 28, 1935
Macon Telegraph
E.C. McMillan's Mother Is Dead. Rites for Native of Devereaux Set for Tomorrow.
  Mrs. C. E. McMillan, 80, mother of E. C. McMillan, head of the McMillan Paint and Glass Company here, died yesterday at her home in Devereaux, according to word received here.
    Mrs. McMillan was born in Devereaux on Sept. 11, 18, and was the daughter of James and Sarah Langford Stanton.
    In addition to her Macon son, she is survived by two grandchildren, E. C. McMillan, Jr. and May Flewellyn McMillan, both of Macon; a sister, Miss Louise Stanton of Devereaux, and a number of nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services are to be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow in Devereaux.

February 3, 1935
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Williams of Devereaux announce the marriage of their daughter, Zellie, to Fred Beall of Sparta, Saturday, Jan. 26, the ceremony having been performed by Dr. Edmund F. Cook at his home in the Vineville Court. After a trip to Florida Mr. and Mrs. Beall will be at home in Sparta.

March 30, 1935
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga. March 29 - Funeral services for Mrs. Lucy Jones, 85, one of the oldest and best known women of Hancock county, were held this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in Horeb cemetery, Rev. Carlton Dyches, officiating.
    Mrs. Jones was a native of this county and a life-long member of Horeb Baptist church. She died at her home near Mayfield on Thursday after a brief illness.
    She is survived by one son, Paul T. Jones, of Warrenton; brother Hal T. Baker, of Warrenton; five grandchildren, Misses Leola and Maurice Jones, Warrenton; Elmer T. and  Charles Jones, Mayfield; Mrs. E. E. McLendon, Augusta.

May 19, 1935
Macon Telegraph
    Mrs. Myra T. Shivers of Sparta announces the engagement of her daughter, Gertrude, to Mr. Harold Henry Higgins of Jackson, the marriage to take place in early June. No Cards.

August 4, 1935
Macon Telegraph
  Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Jackson, of Sparta announce the engagement of their daughter, Frances Gaissert, to C. A. Adams, Jr., of Sandersville, the marriage to be solemnized at an early date. No cards.

August 9, 1935
Macon Telegraph
    Milledgeville, Ga. Aug. 8. Eugene Garland, 71, died at his home near Milledgeville today following a short illness. Funeral services and interment will be held at the family cemetery in Hancock county, Friday at 3 p.m., Rev. Mr. Cowart of the Deveraux Methodist Church officiating.
   Mr. Garland has been a prominent farmer of this section for many years.
    He is survived by his wife who was Miss Lena Arnold;  two daughters, Mrs. George Brookins, Linton, Ga.; Miss Lillie Garland, Milledgeville; three sons, George Garland, Linton; Noel and Robert Garland, Warrenville, S. C., two sisters, Mrs. Georgia Clay, Macon, and Mrs. Jim Johnson, Deepstep, Ga.

November 27, 1935
Augusta Chronicle
DEATH SENTENCE IN SPARTA TRIAL. Winton Boyer, Negro, Doomed to Chair for Slaying Officer Stafford.
   Sparta, Ga., Nov. 26. Citizens of Hancock county were praised for their "law-abiding spirit," and lynch law was condemned today by Judge James B. Park as a Negro, charged with slaying a policeman, was convicted and sentenced to die Dec. 20.
   The comments of the 83-year-old jurist, who has presided over the Ocmulgee Superior Court circuit for nearly 24 years, were made after the jury brought in its verdict, and the Negro was taken from the courtroom by Sheriff R. C. Wiley.
    The defendant, Winton Boyer, was charged with shooting Policeman M. L. Stafford, 25, after the officer had stopped a motor car carrying a group of Negroes, to determine if they were sober.
   "Lynch law never has accomplished what is was intended to accomplish," the judge told the orderly crowd in the courtroom.
  "Lynch law breeds disrespect for law. It has a demoralizing effect on any community in which it occurs."
  Perfect Order. "Throughout the trial there has been perfect order.
  "This is the only way to preserve the laws of the land-to let the courts handle the work for which they were established."
  "Orderly procedure makes for better law enforcement. It has a salutory effect on the nation as a whole."
   Boyer was taken to the Bibb county jail at Macon for incareration pending his transfer to the state prison at Milledgeville.
   One of the occupants of the motor car from which the policeman was shot testified that Boyer was the slayer. Officers said others in the car also named him as the man who fired on the policeman here Nov. 17.
   It had been suggested that national guard protection might be needed at the trial, because of feeling aginst the defendant.
   To an inquiring newsman in Atlanta, the judge said over the telephone:
   "Tell the governor for me that no national guardsmen will be needed here."
  Officer Stafford was at one time a resident of Augusta.
(note: He died in the electric chair Dec. 4, 1936.)

December 8, 1935
Macon Telegraph
Miss Pauline Gunnells and Mr. Ivy Pierce Coleman  of Devereaux were married in the presence of a few friends Nov. 28 in the study of the First Methodist church in Devereaux with Rev. L. G. Cowart, pastor of the church, officiating.
   Mrs. Coleman has been a member of the faculty of the Devereaux high school for the past 10 years. She attended LaGrange college and later the University of Georgia. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Gunnells of Ashland and is a sister of Miss Lillian Gunnells member of the faculty of Neese school, Madison county, Miss Esther Gunnells of Athens, Rev. Julian P. Gunnells principal of Palmetto high school, Quitman, and Mr. Doyle Gunnells of Piedmont college. On her paternal side Mrs. Coleman is a descendant of the late Rev. Joel D. Gunnells distinquished Methodist minister and for many years county school superintendnet of Banks county. She is also a near relative of the late Corra Harris of Rydal.
  Mr. Coleman is the son of Mr. William L. Coleman and the late Martha Coleman. He is a member of the mercantile firm of Coleman Brothers, Devereaux.
  Mr. and Mrs. Coleman will reside at the groom's home in Devereaux.

1936
January 28, 1936
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga., Jan. 27. Mrs. Virginia Roberson, 80, died in the Beulah community, Hancock county, Sunday morning at the home of her son, M. S. Roberson, after being in feeble health for several years.
   Mrs. Roberson was one of the oldest women in the county and had lived here practically all of her life. She survived on one son, M. S. Roberson; a daughter, Mrs. Fannie Garland, several grandchildren, nieces and nephews; one brother, William Brantley. Funeral services and interment were held at Black Spring Baptist church on Monday afternoon, her pastor conducting the last rites.

February 5, 1936
Macon Telegraph
   H. T.  ALLEN. Sparta, Ga., Feb. 4. H. Thomas Allen, 64, well-known farmer of Hancock couty, died early this morning after a week's illness of pneumonia.
   Mr. Allen is survived by a half-brother, L. Gaissert: five half-sisters, Mrs. FrankBoyer, Mrs. Maxie Brown, Mrs. Maude Garrett, Mrs. McCoy Hussey, Mrs. E. T. Moore, all of this county.
   Funeral services were held this afternoon, his pastor, Rev. Mr. Hinds of the Hancock circuit, officiating. Interment was in the Sparta cemetery.

March 17, 1936
Macon Telegraph
   Gordon, Ga.  March 16. Funeral services for C B. Johnson, 62, were held at the Methodist church here Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock, with Rev. J. S. Hayes officiating, assisted by Rev. J. L. Pitman.
   Mr. Johnson was born in Hancock county, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Johnson, and had made his home here for the past 18 months.
   He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Burton Brooks and Mrs. George Smith of Gordon; two brothers, Ed C. Johnson, Sandersville, and L. H. Johnson, Macon, and one sister, Mrs. J. T. Foster, Culverton, Ga.
  Pallbearers were L. J. Fountain, W. W. Brooks, E. H. Lewis, L. Hatfield, W. O. Smith and R. J. Hawthorne. Interment was in Ramah cemetery.

April 14, 1936
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., April 13. Funeral services for A. Hamilton Boyer, 60, Hancock county farmer, were held at his home yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock and interment followed in the Milledgeville cemetery.
   Mr. Boyer died Friday in a Milledgeville hospital after several months illness following a stroke of paralysis.
  He is survived by his widow, three daughters, Misses Mildred, Ellen and Marguerite Boyer; two brothers, Frank Boyer, this county, and Mirabo Boyer, of Atlanta; three sisters, Mrs. Bray and Mrs. Fleta Berry, of Atlanta; Mrs. Dennis, of Milledgeville.

May 3, 1936
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Stephens-Gilmore Union Solemnized. Tennille, Ga., May 2. The announcement of the marriage of Mrs. Polly Stephens of Tennille and Mr. John Gilmore of Sparta will be of wide social interest because of the prominence of both families. The marriage occurred Saturday afternoon, April 25, in East Baldwin at the home of the bridegroom's cousin, Rev. Jesse M. Gilmore who performed the ceremony.
  She was formerly Miss Polly Sheram, daughter of Mrs. Z. A. Sherman of Tennille and the late Mr. Sherman. For some time she has been in charge of women's work for the government, serving as county supervisor and was recently given a district supervisor's place. The family have made their home here many years.
   Her mother was the former Miss Lula Bell-Isle of Atlanta and her sisters are Mrs. Albert Kelley of Augusta and Miss Mary Ellen Sheram of Tennille.
  The bridegroom is a business man and planter in Hancock where he owns farming lands. He was reared in this county, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Gilmore of Warthen, and a member of a family connected with business interest in Washington county. After a trip Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore will reside at his country home near Sparta.

June 12, 1936
Macon Telegraph
  ASBURN, Ga., June 11. Miss Ruth Burguess was quietly married to Mr. Stutts of Sparta, Tuesday evening. The ceremony was performed  by Mr. Joe McHancock, ordianary of Turner county.
   The bride is the daughter of Mr. Charles Burguess.
    Mr and Mrs. Stutts will make their home at Sparta for the present.

September 16, 1936
Macon Telegraph
   Of cordial interest to a large number of friends and relatives in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia is the announcement of the approaching marriage of Miss Elizabeth Coleman, of Devereaux to Dr. Albert Minor Snelling, of Chicago and Athens.
   The bride-to-be is the youngest daughter of Mrs. James Coleman and the late Mr. Coleman of Devereux. She is a graduate of Wesleyan Colege, Macon, and has held the position of musical director in schools of North Carolina and Georgia.
   Dr. Snelling is the son of Chancellor and Mrs. Charles M. Snelling, of Athens. He is a grduate of the University of Georgia and Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
   Due to recent bereavements in both families the wedding will be very quiet, the date to be announced later..

November 24, 1936
Macon Telegraph
Norris-Dunn. Culverton, Ga. Nov. 23. Announce of the marriage of Miss Elsie Dunn and Mr. George Willie Norris, of Warrenton, occurred November 16, Rev. Carlton Dyches performing the ceremony, in Devreaux.
   Mrs. Norris has been a very capable worker in the B.Y.P.U work of the Washington Association. Mr. Norris is engaged in farming in Warren county in the Long Creek vicinity. 

December 5, 1936
Macon Telegraph
HANCOCK SLAYER PAYS FOR CRIME. Winton Boyer Goes to Death in Chair Maintaining He Killed in Self-Defense. Milledgeville, Ga., Dec. 4. Maintaining that he killed a Sparta policeman in self-defense, Winton Boyer, Negro, went to his death in the electric chair at the state prison farm,. near Milledgeville, this morning.
   Boyer walked the distance of about 15 feet unassisted. Two shocks were administered before he was pronounce dead at 10:15 o'clock.
  The electrocution was held as soon as possible under Georgia law, the statute designating that electrocutions must take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    Several Macon persons who were interested in the young Negro's case were with him during his last hour. The group included D. Lee Churchwell, attorney who had assisted in efforts to obtain a commutation of the death sentence; J. R. Moseley and J. R. Hunt, religious workers of Macon, and W. G. Geeson, a religious worker from New York, who had become interested in the case with Mr. Moseley and Mr. Hunt.
Attorney Visits Cell. Boyer said he had a "good night's rest" last night, retiring at 11 o'clock. He ate very little at breakfast.
  C. A. Giles, Milledgeville attorney, who had directed the defense efforts, was one of the visitors to the death cell during the morning.
  None of the Macon party witnessed the execution, but Chaplain E. C. Atkins of the prison staff walked the condemned man to the chair.
  "Boyer was extremely serious," commented Mr. Moseley, "but he bore no ill feeling toward anyone. I asked him if he had a final message to leave for the world, and he answere: "I would be glad if everyone would get the full salvation of the Lord. I love everybody and I don't hate anybody."
  In discussing the fatal shooting of the officer, Mr. L. Stafford, Boyer said:
    "It happened so quickly I don't know how I came to do it. I thought at the time I had to do it to save my life."
  A carload of Sparta residents who made the trip to witness the execution, arrived at the prison gates just after the grim ceremony was ended.

December 13, 1936
Macon Telegraph
     Mrs. John W. Waller of Sparta announces the engagement of her daughter, Frances, to Mr. Joe S. Rhodes of Bartow, the wedding to take place at an early date.

1937
March 20, 1937
Macon Telegraph
MRS CARRIE T. WILSON. The body of Mrs. Carrie Turner Wilson, 81, sister of Mrs. Stuart C. Davis, 350 Pierce avenue was buried in the Sparta cemetery yesterday after funeral services in the Sparta Methodist church.
    One of the oldest graduates of Wesleyan college, she was a granddaughter of the late Bishop George F. Pierce, noted Methodist leader.
   Mrs. Wilson died Thursday morning at her residence near Sparta in Hancock county.

April 9, 1937
Macon Telegraph
  Macon relatives were notified yesterday of the death early Thursday of Frank Edward Hood, of Atlanta. He died of pneumonia in an Atlanta hospital.
   Mr. Hood was the son of the late John C. and Cornelia Garrett Hood, of Sparta, but had for a number of years made his home in Atlanta where he was traveling representative of the Randall Coal Company.
    He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Eleanor Hood, Atlanta; three sisters, Miss Ruth Hood, Mrs. Dana Ryals, Sparta; Mrs. N. A. Proctor, Atlanta, and several nieces and nephews including Mrs. S. F. Maddox and Mrs. J. C. Rogers, Macon. He was a member of the Sparta Methodist chuch.
    Funeral services will be held in Atlanta Friday with interment following at Sparta Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

April 27, 1937
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Ga. April 26. Funeral services for Green Dickson, 80, were held today in the chapel of Lanier funeral home.
  Mr. Dickson, a farmer, had lived in Hancock county all his life. He died  from injuries received when struck by a truck as he walked across the road in front of his home. Mr. Dickson lived on the Sparta and Sandersville highway.
  Mr. Dickson is survived by one brother. Interment was in the family cemetery.

June 27, 1937
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Miss Nan Claudia Bell, of Sparta, was married to Mr. Harrison Franklin Braselton, of Braselton, at high noon Friday in the Sparta Methodist church. Rev. L. M. Twiggs, pastor of First Methodist church, Dalton, performed the ceremony.
  Mrs. Braselton is the daughter ofMrs. Florence Wilson Bell and the late William Key Bell, of Sparta, her maternal grandparents being Mr. Richard Cumming Wilson and the late Mrs. Carrie Turner Wilson. Mrs. Wilson was the oldest granddaughter of Bishop George F. Pierce, prominent in Georgia Methodism, and Colonel Thomas M. Turner and outstanding citizen of Hancock county. Her paternal grandparents wre the late Gideon C. Bell and Julian Carmichael Bell, of Dawson and Montezuma
   Mrs. Braselton received her degree from LaGrange College where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta sorority and president of the senior class of 1935: since that time she had taught successfullly in the Blackwells Consolidated school and Lawrenceville High school.
   Mr. Braselton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Green Braselton, of Braselton. His maternal grandparents are Mrs. Jo Hannah Duncan and the late Senator I. Frank Duncan, of Hall county. His paternal grandparents were the late Mr. and Mrs. William Harrison Braselton, his grandfather having founded the town of Braselton.
  Mr. Braselton attended Gordon Institute of Barnesville, and the University of Georgia, Athens, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. he is now a member of the firm of Braselton Brothers, Inc., Braselton Commission Company, and assistant cashier of the Braselton Banking Company.
   After the ceremony the couple left by motor on a trip through the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky............

September 26, 1937
Augusta Chronicle
   Davisboro Ga, Sept, 25, A wedding of much interest to their many friends through out this section, was that of Miss Freta Giles, of Sandersville, formerly of Deepstep and Mr. Walter E. Lunsford of Sparta.
   The ceremony was performed Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Methodist parsonage, in Davisboro, by Rev. W. B. Taylor, pastor of the Ruth Aldred Memorial Methodist church in the presence of a few friends and relatives.
   The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Giles, of Sandersville, and the groom holds a respnsible position with the Miller Hardware company, in Sparta.
   After their wedding trip, they will make their home in Sparta.      

October 12, 1937
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Oct. 11 - Funeral services for Mrs. Jewell Flury, 28, were held at Zebulon church in Hancock county Saturday afternoon with the Rev. John W. Clark, pastor, officiating.
  Mrs. Flury died at the Georgia Baptist hospital in Atlanta Thursday after a brief illness, being carried there a short time ago. She was a member of the Sparta Baptist church.
   Surviving are the following relatives: Mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Holloway of Stillmore, Ga., husband, Jewell Flury, Sparta; three daughters, Mary Lillian, Ruby Carolyn and Roberta Flury, all of Sparta; three sisters, Mrs. R. L. Bargeson, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.; Mrs. Tommy Sutton of Graymont, Ga.; Mrs. M. M. Gilbert of Atlanta; two brothers, W. F. and D. E. Holloway of Graymont, Ga. Interment was in the Zebulon cemetery.

November 16, 1937
Macon Telegraph
    Hancock Negro Dead in Wreck. Auto Strikes Unlighted Wagon From Behind.
    Sparta, Ga., Nov. 15. Jesse Hood, 75-year-old Negro farmer of Hancock county was killed., as well as both mules he was driving, when struck by a speeding car Saturday night on the highway between here and Devereaux.
  The car was being driven by a white man named Gordon Ferguson of the Carrs Station section, who says he was blinded by a car he was meeting and did not see the wagon team which "sandwiched" in between as the wagon carried no light. The impact drove the rear wheels under the front of the car before it leaped off a high embankment and was stopped by a tree.
    Ferguson and a companion were painfully injured but were able to be carried home after their wounds were dressed by local physicians. The old Negro had lived on the farm of Miss Zoe Brown for many years and would have turned off the paved road for his home within a short distance of where the wreck too place. No arrests have been made as it seems to be an accident which could not have been avoided under the circumstances.

December 16, 1937
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Dec. 15. Mrs. Mabel Northup Williams, 61, wife of Mr. Harry B. Williams, died at her home near Harris' Mill, Hancock county, Saturday night after a month's illness.
   Mrs. Williams was a native of Ellicottville, N. Y. , but had lived in the county for the past five years. Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon with the Rev. Mr. Joiner officiating. She was a member of the Christian Science church.
   The body was carrie to Ellicottville, N. Y. for interment. She is survived by her husband; a sister, Mrs. Grace O'Neil of Mt. Upton. N. Y. and several nieces and nephews.

1938
February 1, 1938
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 31. Funeral services for Miss Mattie Little were held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the old family burial ground near Little's Ferry on the Eatonton highway. Miss Little died in Milledgeville on Friday and was brought to the home of her sister, Mrs. Irby Hudson who resides at the old Little home-place in the Westen section of Hancock, near the Oconee river. Miss Little is survived by only one sister, Mrs. Hudson, and a niece, Mrs. Hill Jackson and other relatives.

February 12, 1938
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Feb. 11. Mrs John T. Pound, 71, died at her home in the Linton community, Hancock county, Thursday after an extended illness. She had lived in Hancock county for 22 years.
    Surviving are her husband: four sons, Jesse B. Pound, Sandersville; Ed J. Pound, McRae; Spurgeon F. Pound, Milledgeville, Ernest Pound, Devereux; four daughters, Mrs. Tom Lane, Milledgeville; Mrs. J. B. Hughes, Sandersville; Mrs. Luther D. Ennis, Sandersville; Miss Rosalee Pound, Milledgeville; two brothers, Mr. Jim Reynolds, Wellston; Mr. Allen Reynolds, Warthen. Several grrandchildren and nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, at Union church, with her pastor, Rev. J. F. McCluny, officiating. Interment was in the churchyard, following the services.

March 5, 1938
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., March 4. Funeral services for Algernon Eugene Jernigan, 72, were held this morning at 11 o'clock at Smyrna Methodist church and interment was in the family burial lot in the churchyard.
   Mr. Jernigan was one of Hancock's best known citizens, having served in various capacities and was one of the county tax assessors at the time of his death.
   He is survived by his wife; six sons, C, W., Harry and J. Hardy Jernigan, of Augusta; Robert J. Jernigan, Atlanta; A. E. Jernigan, Huntington, West Virginia; H. M. Jernigan, Columbus; four daughters, Mrs. Arthur T. Stewart and Mrs. S. G. Jones of White Plains; Miss Addie L. Jernigan, Vidette, Ga., and Miss Evelyn Jernigan, Athens; one brothers, J. H. Jernigan of Siloam and a number of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

May 8, 1938
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and  Mrs. John Milton Moate of Devereaux announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathryn Wingate, to Dr. J. Milton Heard Jr., the date of the wedding to be announced later.

May 20, 1938
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta Ga., May 19 - Funeral services for Carl Vinson Walden, 19, enrolee of the local CCC  camp who died suddenly Monday night, were held at Nebo church in Glascock county Wednesday afternoon with his pastor, Rev. J. D. Durden officiating. A truck load of members of the camp attended the funeral and six of them acted as pallbearers for their young friend. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Walden, one brother and two sisters and other relatives.

October 01, 1938
Augusta Chronicle
 Hancock Jury Frees Man on Murder Charge - Evidence Circumstantial.
    Sparta, Ga. Sept. 20 - Hancock Superior Court adjourned here this afternoon after a week's session and the curtain was rung down on Judge James B. Park's career as presiding jurist over the court here.
   The docket was cleared of all cases which could be tried.
  One murder case was tried, that of Lan Harrell, Negro and his son who were indicted for the murder of Harrell's son-in-law, Dawson Brown a short time ago. The evidence was circumstantial and the jury gave them freedom after considerable deliberation.
  They came near having a mistrial at one time but were sent back to their room by the judge after he gave them more information as to procedure.
  The grand jury adjourned Thursday afternoon.

October 18, 1938
Macon Telegraph
     Sparta, Oct. 17. Funeral services for Wofford Dunn, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dunn, of the Devereux community, Hancock county, were held Sunday afternoon at the graveside in the Dunn cemetery near Culverton, with Rev. Carlton Dyches, officiating.
   The boy met a tragic death Saturday when he was thrown from the family wagon when the mule was frightened and ran away. His skull was crushed when his head struck the pavement and he died in a few minutes after reaching a doctor's officer here. Another brother in the wagon with him, jumped to safety although he was painfully hurt. Surviving are his parents, two brothers and three sisters, all of this county.

November 11, 1938
Augusta Chronicle
PIERCE MIDDLEBROOKS.
  Sparta, Ga., Nov. 10. Pierce Middlebrooks, 68, the oldest member of the board of stewards of the Methodist church here and a grandson of the late  Bishop George F. Pierce, died suddenly at his home here last night.
  Funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 4 o'clock.
   Survivors are his wife, two brothers, W. H. Middlebrooks of the county, and Dr. F. Middlebrooks of Eatonton; three sisters, Miss Claude and Miss Blanche Middlebrooks, both of Sparta, and Mrs. L. M. Twiggs of Dalton.

December 21, 1938
Macon Telegraph
   Funeral services for John Q. Cheely of James, who died Monday afternoon, were held at the Methodit church at Sparta at 2:30 p.m. yesterdayand burial was in the Sparta cemetery.
    His nephews served as pallbearers.
    Mr. Cheely lived in Sparta most of his life and was a retired farmer. He was a member of the Sparta Methodist church.

1939
January 15, 1939
Macon Telegraph
Lovejoy-Clements.  Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Lovejoy of Sparta announce the marriage of their daughter, Vesta Frances to Willie Murphy Clements of Macon, the marriage having been solemnized at the home of the bride's aunt, Mrs. I. J. Lovejoy, in Macon, Dec. 31.

March 1, 1939
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Feb. 28. Funeral services for Robert Lee Thompson, 66, were held at his residence near Linton, Hancock county, on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock with the Rev. J. F. McCluney and Rev. W. A. H. Flynt officiating.
   Mr. Thompson was one of the highest esteemed farmers in the Southern section of the county and died at Rawlings sanitarium after a brief illness.
   He is survived by the following relatives: His  widow, Mrs. Lizzie Brookins Thompson; two daughters, Miss Anna Bell Thompson, and Mrs. George Brookins, both of Linton; one sister, Mrs. H. D. Boyer of Linton.
   He was a member of the Darien Baptist church. Interment was in the Thompson burial ground.

April 16, 1939
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and Mrs Eulas Burgamy of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter, Madeline, to Henry Johnson of Hancock county, the marriage having been solemized in Annapolis, Md. The couple will make their home in Sparta

April 17, 1939
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, April 16. A Negro farm hand who had sought in vain for a reconciliation with his estranged wife put a grim period to his argument today by killing her with a shotgun and serious wounding himself and his father-in-law.
  Hancock county Sheriff T. B. Hightower identified the man as Duboy Sanders, Negro resident of the southern section of Hancock county.
  Both Sanders and his father-in-law were still alive early tonight but attending physicians gave them little chance to recover.
   According to Sheriff Hightower, Sanders appeared at the farm home this morning and after a brief argument with his wife, shot her. He then turned the weapon on his father-in-law and fired a second charge at him, the sheriff said.
  When officers arrived at the home they heard the sound of another shot and entered the building to find Sanders prone on the floor, the smoking gun by his side.

July 21, 1939
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Rain and electrical storms in many sections of Georgia brought relief Thursday from the 100-degree heat of the past few days, but left several persons dead.
.......Four others were killed Wednesday night....Mrs. Ellis Johnson, wife of a Hancock county farmer, was killed by a bolt that struck while she was working in the kitchen of her home.........

August 29, 1939
Macon Telegraph
Hancock Farmer Held in Slaying. George Osborne Faces Commitment Hearing Thursday.   Sparta, Aug. 28. Sheriff T. B. Hightower announced tonight George Osborne of the Linton community was in the Hancock county jail on a charge of murder in connection with the death of a Negro, Warren Durden, Saturday night.
  Slaying occurred in the community as a climax to an argument between the two, Sheriff Hightower said.
  A commitment hearing has been arranged before Justice of the Peace H. A. Berry, Thursday.
  Both are farmers.

October 1, 1939
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Sept. 30. Miss Ethel Tye and Dr. Paul R. Ensign of Sparta were married at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. Eve Tye, at Devereux on Sept. 18, with the Rev. A. T. Hind, pastor of the Methodist church officiating.
   The bride was gowned in a fall model of navy with accessories of wine. She is the younges daughter of Mrs. Tye.
   Dr. Ensign is head of the child health demonstration in Sparta. He is Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scout troop.
  The couple will make their home in Sparta.

December 9, 1939
Augusta Chronicle
SPARTA NEGRO ADMITS SLAYING OF HIS WIFE. Sparta, Ga., Dec. 8. Henry Hamilton, Negro filling station worker, confessed to Sheriff Hightower Thursday afternoon that he shot and killed his wife near their home here on Thursday night November 30.
   Hamilton was arrested on December 1, after his wife's body was found, and was ordered held in jail by the coroner's jury although they had not reached a verdict when he confessed. At each session of the jury he had refused to talk.
  Sheriff Hightower said, "Hamilton would be given a commitment hearing this week, if he wished, and then await trial in Superior court next month.
  This clears up one of the hardest cases local officers have been confronted with in sometime as no evidence could be secured on account of close-mouth tactics of all the Negroes who lived i the vicinity of the killing. Hamilton clamed they were both drinking and had a quarrel.
(Note: He received life imprisonment in 1940, was paroled in 1947 per Georgia, Central Register of Convicts, 1817 - 1976.)

December 24, 1939
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Dec. 23 - Mrs. Mattie E. Wynn, 83, died at her home near Powelton this morning after a week's illness. She was the widow of B. Frank Wynn and had been a member of Powelton Baptist church for more thatn 70 years, and was a prominent citizen of that section. Surviving are seven sons, J. V., W. B., H. ., G. P. and S. N. Wynn of Powelton; J. E. Wynn, White Plains; three sisters, Mrs. R. L. Williamson, Mrs. G. H. Rocker, Mrs. E. C. Chapman, all of Powelton; seven grandchildren.
   Funeral services will be held at Powelton Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Rev. Carlton Dyches and Rev. George C. Steed, officiating. Burial will be in Powelton cemetery.

1940
January 5, 1940
Augusta Chronicle
    Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Clark, of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter, Sara Elizabeth, to J. P. Jackson, of Atlanta, on Saturday, December 23. The wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Brown in the study of the Edgewood Baptist church in Atlanta.
  Prior to her marriage Mrs. Jackson was associated in the Macon office of the Metropolitan Life Insurance company. Mr. Jackson is well known through this territory as representative of the Lever Brothers company.

January 7, 1940
Macon Telegraph
  Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Moate of Sparta announce the marriage of their daughter, Lois, to Rothwell A. McCaskill of Bomberg, S. C, The wedding was solemnized on Dec. 24 in Aiken, S. C.

March 19, 1940
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, March 18. H. Elliott Grimsley, 58, farmer of the Whaley section of Hancock county, died at his home Saturday night after several week's illness.
   He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Lina Ledbetter Grimsley; six sons: Curtis, of New York City; Earl, of Norfolk, Va.; Everette, of Sandersville; Howell, Leon and Jack Grimsely, of this county; four daughters, Mrs. William Dunn of Sparta; Mrs. Veazey Dunn of Sandersville; Mrs. John Johnson and Miss Mary Alice Grimsley, of Mayfield; and three sisters and four brothers also survive.

April 5, 1940
Macon Telegraph
Ben H. Belding Dies In Hancock. Funeral Services Held for 79-Year-Old Farmer
   Sparta, Benjamin Hill Belding, 79, well known farmer, died at his home in Hancock county last night after a long illness.
  He is survived by one son, Merrill Belding, LaGrange; fur daughters, Mrs. J. A. McLean, Lumber City; Mrs. L. W. Baker and Mrs. J. F. Turnell, Madison;
Mrs. J. Hugh Herndon, Mayfield; seven grandchildren and five nieces.
   Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at Smyrna Methodist church, with the Rev. O. H. L. Baugh, his pastor, officiatig. Burial was in the churchyard.
 

April 28, 1940
Macon Telegraph
Harrison Eulogized At Sparta Service. Sparta, A memorial service was held in the school auditorium here Tuesday for the late Superintendent Benjamin M. Harrison who died last Saturday.
   Principal Clarence C. Crooms presided. Chairman Charles W. Moran of the  county board of education, spoke first and was followed by Charles Clark Jr., who represented the student body, Prof. Eldred F. MacLeod spoke for the faculty. The Rev. R. J. Kerr spoke as Superintendent Harrison's pastor and co-worker in the school and Sunday school.
   Superintendent's Harrison's body was taken to Charleston, Miss., for funeral and burial and no service was held here.

June 12, 1940
Macon Telegraph
  Retired Farmer Dies in Hancock. Sparta.James Thomas Smith, 76, retired farmer, died at his home in Powelton, Hancock county Tuesday afternoon after a brief illness.
   He is survived by one son, H. C. Smith, Atlanta; one daughter, Mrs. F. F. Thomas, Powelton; two sisters, Mrs. L. M. Brake, Powelton; Mrs. Fannie Cox, Augusta; one brother, W. F. Smith, Culverton.
   Funeral services will be held at graveside in Powelton cemetery at 3 p.m, Wednesday with Rev. L. S. Baugh officiating.

June 21, 1940
Augusta Chronicle
HANCOCK COUPLE SHOT TO DEATH. Sheriff Reports Evidence Indictates Farmer Slew Wife and Self
Sparta, Ga, June 20 - Winton N. Arnold, 66, Hancock farmer, and his wife, Mrs. Della Collins Arnold, 60, were shot to death in their home at Devereux this afternoon.
  The slayings were investigated by Sheriff T. B. Hightower, who said evidence indicated that Mr. Arnold, while temporarily mentally deranged shot his wife and then himself.
  The couple is survived by three sons, Dr. W. O. Arnold, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Dr. S. R. Arnold, Louisville, Ky; W. L. Arnold, Birmingham, Ala; three daughters, Mrs. Hillery Thomas, Birmingham, Ala.; one sister, Mrs. Annie Binion, Macon. Mrs. Arnold is survived by two sisters, Mrs. J. B. Kennedy, Sr., Milledgeville; Mrs. A. M. Arnold, Macon; one brother, Bob Collins, Miami, Fla.
  Funeral services will be announced later upon arrival of relatives..

July 11, 1940
Macon Telegraph
   Albany, July 10. Final rites for Worthy Edward Brown, retired railroad conductor, were held in a local mortuary Tuesday.
   Born in Hancock county in 1875, Mr. Brown came to Albany in 1911 to make his home. He retired four years ago.
   Survivers include his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Baldwwin King and Mrs. Troy Strickland, both of Albany; four brothers and four sisters.

August 18, 1940
Macon Telegraph
  Mrs. Joseph Goulding Stevens of Sparta announces the marriage of her daughter, Mrs. Harriet Stevens Bond, to Charlies Mitchell Bowling Jr., of Tifton, fomerly of Paris, Ky. The ceremony took place August 9, in Sparta.

August 19, 1940
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Aug. 18. Walter L. Shivers, 65, retired Sparta merchant, died in the Sandersville hospital Sunday after an illness of several months.
   Funeral services will be held at the graveside at 5 p.m. Monday, with the Rev. R. J. Kerr, Methodist pastor, officiating. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Lou Rozier, Sparta, and a number of nieces and nephews.

August 22, 1940
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Aug. 21. Mrs. Maude Jackson, 70, mother of Chairman Frank H. Jackson, Hancock county board of roads and revenues, died at her home near here this afternoon after an extended illness. She was a lifelong resident and widow of the late Jesse Jackson.
    Surviving are sevey sons, Frank H., Roy, Harvey and Robert Jackson of this county; George L. Jackson of Kentucky; Herschel Jackson of Mississippi; two daughters, Mrs. J. G. Hill, Mrs. F. W. Alsabrooks of this county. Funeral services have not been announced.

September 8, 1940
Macon Telegraph
Rives-Coleman. Mrs. George Schackelford Rives of Sparta announces the engagement of her daughter, Lula Dawkins, to Warren Coleman of Mitchell, Ga., the marriage to take place in the fall.

October 20, 1940
Macon Telegraph
   Mr. and Mrs. Roy Devereux of Devereux announce the marriage of their daughter, Carolyn, to Marvin Brown of Sparta, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brown of Sparta, the wedding having taken place May 26 in Aiken, S. C.

November 17, 1940
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Sparta Nov. 16. Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Packer of Sparta announce the marriage of their youngest daughter, Mary Alice, to Clyde Edward Thomas Howell, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Howell, who live near Crawfordville. The ceremony took place Saturday evening, Nov. 2. at the home of the Rev. and Mrs. R. J. Kerr in Sparta.
.......Mr. Howell is in the timber business. He and his wife will be at home with the bride's parents.

1941
January 27, 1941
Augusta Chronicle
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 26. Funeral services for Mrs. Hattie Claire Rountree, 69, prominent resident, will be held Monday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock at the graveside in the City cemetery with Rev. R. J. Kerr officiating. She died Saturday night after a stroke suffered the night before. Suviving are her husband, Herbert Rountree; one son,  Harold B. Rountree, this city; two daughters, Mrs.  E. T. Haase, St. Louise, Mo., Mrs. James H. Price Jr., of Sparta, six grandchildren; one sister, Miss Nina Nunnally. Mrs. Rountree was a niece of the late Harry Stillwell Edwwards and related to other prominent families in the state.

April 13, 1941
Macon Telegraph
Miss Grimes Wed To Sparta Man. Byron, April 12. The marriage of Miss Sara Grimes of Byron to Sanford Butts of Sparta took place Thursday evening April 3, at the pastorium in Sparta, with the Rev. Mr. Barrett, pastor of the Sparta Baptist church performing the ceremony.
    Mrs. Butts is the daughter of C. B. Grimes and the late Mrs. Grimes of Byron. She received her education at the Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville and for the pas few years has been a member of the Sparta grammar school faculty.
   Mr. Butts is the son of Mrs. Cora Butts and the late Mr. Butts of Sparta. He hs lived in Sparta all his life and is now a member of the firm of a furniture company there.

June 8, 1941
Macon Telegraph
  Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rozier Sr. of Sparta announce the marriage of their daughter, Frances S. Rozier, to Richard E. Birdsong of Sparta having taken place May 21.

June 9, 1941
Macon Telegraph
  McCoy Hussey Dies Sunday Near Sparta. Sparta, June 8. McCoy Hussey, well known farmer, died at his home near here early Sunday.
   Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Gaissert Hussey; two sons, George and L. G. Hussey, Sparta, and three daughters, Mrs. W. L. Thigpen, Sparta, Mrs. H. A. Garrard, Wrightsville and Mrs. Joe P. Smith, Eutaw, Ala.
   Funeral services will be held Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Gaissert's church, with the Rev. Joe Griffies and the Rev. A. T. Hind officiating. Interment will be in Sparta cemetery.

August 3, 1941
Macon Telegraph
ARNOLD-YATES, Dr. Wilbur O. Arnold of West Palm Beach, Fla., announces the engagement of his sister, Miss Thelma Marguerite Arnold of Devereaux, to Major Edison E. Yates, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Yates of Sandersville, the marriage to take place in the autumn.

August 10, 1941
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Culverton, Aug. 9. Announcement is made today by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Edwards Culver of Culverton of the engagement of their daughter, Mary Elizabeth to Halvor Edward Iverson of Decatur, Ga., and Miami. Fla., the wedding to take place in Culveton, Sept. 5.
 .... Miss Culver's mother is the former Mary Bridges Smith, daughter of Jett C. Smith and Elizabeth Copeland Smith of White Plains and Culverton. Her paternal grandparents were Lewis Edwards Culver Sr. and Mary Dickson Culver of Macon and Culverton. Her only brother is Lewis E. Culver Jr., of Decatur.
   The bridegroom-elect is a son of the Rev. Daniel Iverson and Vivian Frazier Thorpe Iverson of Miami, Fla., where Dr. Iverson is pastor of the Shenandoah Presbyterian church. His paternal grandparents were Mr. and Mr. Halvor Iverson of Norway and Savannah and his materal grandparents were  Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Thorpe of Savannah.

September 24, 1941
Macon Telegraph.
   Sparta, Ga. Sept. 23. Services for Mrs. Elizabeth Hinesley, 75, were held at Mt. Hope Methodist church Tuesday with her pastor officiating. Mrs. Hinesley died Monday of a heart attack while sitting in a chair at her home.
   Surviving are four sons. Andrew Hinesley, Warrenton; Thomas , Horace and Chafin Hinesley of Hancock county; one daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Herringdine. Burial took place in the churchyard by the side of her husband, who preceded her to the grave sometime ago.

October 10, 1941
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Oct. 9. Miss Zoe Brown, 81, lifelong Hancock resident and prominently connected with Middle Georgia families, died at her home here late Thursday following a stroke of paralysis. She had been a member of Sparta Methodist church for more than 50 years.,
   Surviving are a brother, Capt. Earnest A. Brown, of Hancock county, and a number of nieces and nephews, including Capt. A. S. Brown, of Macon, J. C. and  Moody Brown of Dublin, and Mrs. Nona Adams and the Misses Undine and Emily Brown of Sparta.
  Funeral arrangments are pending. 

October 14, 1941
Macon Telegraph
J. A. Jackson Dies a Home In Devereaux. Special to The Telegraph. Milledgeville, Oct. 13. James A. Jackson, 82, died at his home in Devereaux today following an illness\ of five months.
  Funeral services will be held at Moore's Funeral Home in Milledgeville at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday wirh the Rev. Carlton Dyches officiating.
   He is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Virginia Arnold, of Devereaux and one son. James A. Jackson, Jr. and five daughters. Mrs. Mary Ellen Courtney, of Meridian, Miss., Mrs. Annie Mae Morrison, of Devereaux; Mrs. Arlene Pounds, Macon; Mrs. Bessie Borders, of Milledgeville and Mrs. Julia Archer, of Sparta.
    Two  sisters, Mrs. J. V. Johnson and Mrs. Eva Humphrey, both of Sparta, also survive.

 December 4, 1941
Macon Telegraph
Farm Hand Is Sought In Hancock Slaying. Sparta, Dec. 3 - Local officers have been unable to find any trace of the whereabouts of Emmett Boyer, Negro farm hand, sought in the fatal shooting of Charlie Thomas, white farmer, near Carrs Station, in Hancock county last Friday night. It is reported tht Mr. Thomas and Boyer had an argument over settlement of an account and the shooting followed. The amount involved was said to have been only about forty cents.

December 7, 1941
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Milledgeville, Dec. 6. The wedding of Annie Laurie O'Quinn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Oscar O'Quinn, to James Albert Simmons, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Simmons, of Devereaux, was held on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Harmony Baptist church with the Rev. J. L. Brown officiating.
  Mrs. R. E. Long sang and Miss Laurie Shirley played a piano program. James Alpha O'Quinn of Macon, brother of the bride, lighted the candles.
  Bridesmaids wwre Misses Eliabeth Veal of Deepstep, Margaret Ennis, Mildred Ennis, Carolyn Boyer of Devereaux.
  The maid of honor, Miss Mary Frances O'Quinn, sister of the bride....
  Little Betty Chambers of Gordon was flower girl...
   After the wedding the couple left on a short trip after which they will be at home in Milledgeville

1942
January 25, 1942
Macon Telegraph
    ~excerpt~ Devereux, Jan., 24. The wedding of Miss Ruth Coleman and Lt. Charles Edwin Williams Jr., of Devereux and Wilmington, N. C., was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Coleman Sunday, Jan.  11, before the families and a few friends...
  Following the  wedding trip, the couple will make their home in Wilmington, N. C., where Lieutenant Williams is stationed at Fort Fisher.

April 10, 1942
Macon Telegraph
LaFayette P. Berry Funeral in Sparta. Sparta, April 9. Services for LaFayette Pearson Berry, 64, were held from the graveside in the city cemetery Tuesday, with Rev. A. B. Elizer, pastor of the local Methodist church officiating. Mr. Berry, prominent lumberman, died Monday night from a heart attack. He had been in bed several weeks, but his death came as a surprise.
   Though a resident of this city for the past 22 years and a native citizen, he lived in Macon for a number of years during his early manhood before coming back to his home here, being connected with the Joseph N. Neel Company. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hazel Rogers Berry; one son, Lt. Willilam M. Berry, of Fort Washington, Md., one sister, Mrs. H. L. Earl and two grandchildren. Interment was in the family lot.

May 19, 1942
Macon Telegraph
M. M. Gordon Dies at Sparta. Sparta, May 18. Funeral services were held Sunday for Melvin Monroe Gordon, 38, who died after suffering a stroke of paralysis Friday afternoon.
   Mr. Gordon was owner of the local Chevrolet agency; president of the Devereux Lumber Company; past worshipful master of the Sparta Masonic Lodge; a deacon in the Sparta Baptist church and member of the Sparta Lions club. He was a native of Walton county but had been in business here for the past 20 years and was one of the most successful business men in this section.
     Surviving are his widow; one son, Royce Gordon; a daughter Miriam Gordon, both of Macon: three brothers, H. R. Gordon, Milledgeville; Jasper M. Gordon, Talbotton; A. B. Gordon Jr., this city. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B., Gordon, Hardwick. Several nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services were held from the Sparta Baptist church at 3 o'clock with Rev. W. H. Barrett, officiating. Interment followed in the city cemetery with the Sparta Masonic Lodge in charge.

May 19, 1942
Macon Telegraph
         Sparta, May 18 - Funeral services for L. B. Wiley, 54, were held on Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock with his pastor, Rev. W. H. Barrett, officiating. Mr. Wiley died Friday morning after suffering a heart attack during the night. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Marjory Mae Dalton Wiley, Two sons, L. B. Wiley Jr., of West Palm Beach, Fla; Dalton Wiley, of Sparta: three daughters, Mrs. F. H. Johnson, Warrenton; Mrs. C. P. Ray, Atlanta and Mrs. B. L. Holmes, Sparta. One brother J. E. Wiley, of Winder and other relatives. Interment was in the city cemetery.

June 13. 1942
Macon Telegraph
LEWIS H. CARR. Sparta - Lewis Howard Carr, 68, well known farmer, died at his home near here Thursday night after a long illness.
   Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Florance Wright Carr; two sons, Marvin and John Carr; one daughter, Miss Sarah Carr, Greenboro; three sisters, Mrs. Mamie Allen, Barnett; Mrs. Dana Cheely, Lynn Haven, Fla.; Mrs. Addie Wardlaw, Tarrytown; two brothers, J. R. Carr, Vidalia; G. M. Carr, Macon.
    Funeral services will be held at Culverton Methodist church Saturday at 11 a.m. The Rev. R. C. Tappan, will officiate. Burial will be in Cheely cemetery.

June 24, 1942
Macon Telegraph
   Devereux, June 23. Bart Arnold, farmer, 62, died at his home Tuesday afternoon of a heart ailment. Funeral services for him will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Devereux Baptist church, the Rev. Carlton Dyches officiating.
    Mr. Arnold is survived by his wife, the former Miss Hattie Burns; three sons, Grover and James Arnold of Carrs Station, and Bartow Arnold of Tennille; three daughters,
Mrs. Henry Epps and Misses Hattie and Edna Arnold of Devereux; two sisters, Mrs. Mattie Simmons of Devereux and Mrs. Annie Parker of Carrs Station; two grandchildren.

July 19, 1942 
Macon Telegraph
Snow-Eubanks Wedding Told.  Milledgeville, July 18. Mrs. R. L. Snow of Milledgeville and Carr's Station announce the marriage of her daughter, Nellie Lucille, to John Lee Eubanks, ther ceremony having been performed on June 27 at the Baldwin county courthouse.
    The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Eubanks of Devereaux, Ga.  He is now in active service with the U. S. Army.
   The bride's mother is the former Miss Emmie Miller.

July 19, 1942
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Sparta Girl is Married In Ohio. Sparta, July 18. Mr. and Mrs. Asbury Dodge Brantley Sr. announce the marriage of their daughter, Alice Elizabeth to Lt. Ralph Wayne Lanterman of La Crescenta, Cal.
      The wedding was solemnized on Wednesday, July 1, at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. Blaine Bartlett in Akron, Ohio. The Rev. Evan Roberts, pastor of the Firestone Baptist chuch, officiated......
   After a brief honeymoon in Ohio, the bride visited her parents in Hancock county. She will return to Lexington. Ky., to continue her duties as a government nurse. The groom returned to his post at Camp Carson, Col.
   Mrs. Lanterman is an honor graduate of the Sparta High School and the Macon Hospital Nurses Training school.

July 25, 1942
The Bulletin
Sparta. Ga. The marriage of Miss Martha Josephine Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Johnson of Cusseta, Georgia, to Mr Robert Cecil Carroll,  son of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Carroll, of Sparta, was solemnized at the Cathedral of Christ the King, in Atlanta, on June 6, by the Right Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Moylan.
   Mr. and Mrs. Carroll will make their home in Rome.

September 6, 1942
Macon Telegraph
(PHOTO) MRS. ALAN MITCHELL of Sparta is the former Dorothy Brooks of Macon. She and Mr. Mitchell were married August 14.

October 12, 1942
Macon Telegraph
  Miss C. Middlebrooks, Retored Teacher, Passes After Brief Illness. Sparta, Oct. 11. Miss Claude Middlebrooks died at her home here Saturday night after a brief illness. She retired a few years ago after teaching in the local schools over 40 years and was beloved by hundreds of former pupils.
   A granddaughter of the late Bishop George F. Pierce she was one of the most prominent residents of this section.
   Surviving are two brothers, W. H. Middlebrooks, Devereux; Dr. Flourney Middlebrooks, Eatonton;  one sister, Mrs. L. M. Twiggs, Augusta, also several nieces and nephews.
  Services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock with the Rev. A. B. Elizer, pastor of Sparta Methodist church officiating. Interment following in the city cemetery.

October 27, 1942
Macon Telegraph
Long Illness Fatal To Powelton Farmer. Sparta, Oct. 26. William Benjamin Wynn, 60, farmer of the Powelton section, died at his home Thursday after an illness of several weeks.
   He is survived by five brothers, J. V. Wynn, G. R. Wynn, S. N., H. E., and R. L. Wynn all of Powelton; J. E. Wynn of White Plains, one sister Mrs. M. D. Chapman of Powelton.
     Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at the graveside with the Rev. Carlton Dyckes and the Rev. George C. Steed officiating. Interment was in the Powelton cemetery.

November 22, 1942
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Nov. 21. Josh H. Hutchins, 70, well-known farmer, died at his home near here early this morning. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Miriam Wood Hutchins; six daughters, Mrs. M. J. Williard, Buford; Mrs. Byron Arnold and Mrs. R. L. DeFore, Macon; Miss Leola Hutchins, Milledgeville; Mrs. L. E. Timmerman, Sparta; Miss Eudelle Hutchins, Washington, D. C.; one son, Alvin Hutchins, Macon; two brothers, E. H. Hutchins, Barnesville; Early Hutchins, Lyla; thirteen grandchildren.

1943
January 17, 1943
Macon Telegraph
Mrs. J. M. Hight of Sparta, died yesterday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Foster, of Orange street.
   Mrs. Hight was born Dec. 29, 1854 in Walton county and was the widow of Joe Macon Height of Newton county. In 1898 they took up their residence in Hancock county after purchase of a home and plantation there and together they did much to rehabilitate that section of the state. She was a charter member of the Mt. Zion Methodist church of Sparta.
    She is survived by five daughters and one son. They are Mrs. John Foster, Mrs. W. A. Burns and Mrs. W. E. Chapple of Macon, Mrs. Charles Braswell of Logansville, Mrs. E. C. Hixon of Greensboro, and James Patrick Hight of Sparta. A number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive.
   Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today at Mt. Zion church with the Rev. A. B. Elizer officiating.

January 25, 1943
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 24. Funeral services for Clarence F. Reynolds, one of Hancock county's leading citizens, postmaster, merchant, ginner and lumberman at Mayfield, were held at the graveside in Horeb cemetery Thursday afternoon with his pastor, Rev. J. Carlton Dyches and visiting ministers conducting the last rites.
     Mr. Reynolds died at his died at his home during the early hours of Wednesday morning after suffering a heart attack. He had been in ill health several years but was thought to be greatly improved, and had been able to look after his extensive business interests for the past year. He was chairman of the Hancock board of education for many years and a leading member of Horeb Baptist church.
    Survivng are his widow, Mrs. Lily Kendrick Reynolds, two brothers, Ralph W. Reynolds of New York City and Henry Reynolds of Mobile, Ala.; three sisters, Mrs. Pearl Hudson and Mrs. Bessie Cheatham of Atlanta; Mrs. Ruth Clark of Massachusetts; also several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

April 11, 1943
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, April 10 - Duffy Graves McKinley, 62, died at his home in Hancock county Thursday afternoon from gunshot wounds. According to verdict of coroner's jury the wounds were self-inflicted. Coroner Roy Baker was called to the scene soon after the tragedy. Mr. McKinley was alone in the home at the time.
   Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lila Johnson McKinley; one daughter, Mrs. Nancy Talmadge, Chattanooga, Tenn.; four brothers, R. S. McKinley of Mayfield; J. R. McKinley, and M. L. McKinley, of White Plains; L. T. McKinley of Miami, Fla.; three sisters, Mrs. J. M. Smith of Milledgeville; Miss Maude McKinley of Milledgeville, Mrs. E. D. Bass of McRae.
   Funeral services were held at the graveside in the White Plains cemetery Saturday afternoon with the Rev. E. A. Cottrell of the Baptist church officiating. Interment followed in the family lot.

June 8, 1943
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Ga., June 7. Joe W. Lewis, 57, well known local attorney, was found dead in bed this afternoon by releatives. He had been dead for at least five hours according to his attending physician, and died from natural causes, he said.
     Surving are his mother, Mrs. Robert H. Lewis; five brothers, R. H. Lewis, Jr., Pine Bluff, Ark.; William C. Lewis, Charlotte, N. C.; John C. Lewis, Washington,
D. C.; Frank C. Lewis, Charleston, S.C.; James M. Lewis, Milledgeville, Ga.; two sisters, Mrs. George W. Johnson, Milledgeville, Ga.; Mrs. T. W. Brantley, Devereux, Ga., and relatives.. Funeral plans have not been announced.

June 13, 1943
Macon Telegraph
Miss urgamy, J. Milton Bass Are Married.   Miss Alma Burgamy and J. Milton Bass were married at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the parlors of Mulberry Street Methodist church with the pastor, the  Rev. Silas Johnson, officiating.
   The bride wore a heavenly blue dress with navy accessories and a corsage of white carnations and lilies of the valley.
   The parlor was decorated with palms, white gladioli and candelabra. Mrs. Julian Crosely and Mrs. Lloyd Mielenz gave a program of music, Mrs. Mielenz sang  I Love You Truly, and Because.
     Mrs Bass is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Burgamy of Sparta. Mr. Bass is a native of Macon.
     The couple will make their home at 103 First street.

August 15, 1943
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Macon Girl, Army Man Are Wed.
   Devereaux, Ga, Aug. 14. The marriage of Miss Allene Hight Sigman of Macon and Sparta and Pvt. Ben Hill Grace Jr., of Camp Shenango, Pa., and Devereaux, was solemnized Friday evening, Aug. 6, at the Methodist parsonage with the Rev. A. B. Elizer officiating. .................
    She is the daughter of Mrs. G. M. Sigman and the late Grover M. Sigman of Sparta. Her sisters are Mrs. M. C. Hammett and Miss Mary Sigman of Macon. Her only brother is Thomas M. Sigman of Sparta. She is a graduate of the Sparta Hight school and now holds a postion as supervisor with the Reynolds Corporation in Macon.
   The groom is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Grace of Devereux. He is a graduate of Sparta High schol and attended the Southern Business College in Atlanta. Prior to his induction into the Army, he was employed by the Reed Appliance Company of Atlanta.
  Mrs. Grace will remain in Macon while Pfc. Grace is in service.

August 29, 1943
Macon Telegraph
Hamilton-Stegath Marriage Held. Devereaux, Ga., Aug. 28. Announcement is made by Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Hamilton of Devereux of the marriage of their daughter, Eugenia, to Fred H. Stegath of Ann Arbor, Mich.
   The ceremony was performed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Nelson in Milledgeville, Aug. 8, with the Rev. James Teresi officiating.
   ...The bride's only attendant was her cousin, Miss Katherine Combs, of Sparta. Roy Nelson Jr. was best man.
   Mrs. Stegath is a graduate of Sparta High school and has attended Georgia State College for women in Milledgeville the past two years. She is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Hamilton and her only brother is Chester A. Hamilton Jr.
   The groom is the only son of Mrs. Bernice M. Stegath, Ann Arbor, Mich. He attened Ann Arbor High school and is a graduate of Georgia Military College, Milledgeville.
   After a short wedding trip, the couple returned to Devereaux for a visit before leaving for his home in Michigan.

September 17, 1943
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Sept 16. Claude C. Connell, 68, died last night at his home in Culverton after a brief illness. He was a life-long citizen of Hancock county.
  Surviving are two brothers, Alva Connell of Savannah, Linton Connell of Culverton; four sisters, Misses Mamie and Missouri Connell, Mrs. Pierce Moore, all of Culverton, Mrs. S. G. Houser of Savannah. Funeral this afternoon in Culverton cemetery.

September 26, 1943
Macon Telegraph
Sparta Girl Is Bride Of Maconite. Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Yarbrough of Sparta, announce the marriage of their daughter, Annie Chistine, to James Robert Dillard of Washington, Ga. and Macon.
   Mrs. Dillard is a graduate of Sparta High school and later attended the Georgia-Alabama Business College in Macon. She is now employed by A. C. Gledhill Real Estate in Macon.
    Mr. Dillard completed his education in the Washington High school and is now employed at Warner Robins.
   The marriage was solemnized in Jeffersonville, Sept. 7th. They will make their home in Macon.

November 28, 1943
Macon Telegraph
Sparta Girl Maconite Married. Announcement is made of the marriage of Miss Mary Ethel Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Williams of Sparta to Lt. Q. Reese Watkins of Lexington and Macon, the marriage having taken place on Nov. 17.
   The bride is a former resident ofMacon, having been connected with the National Farm Loan Association here. 
   Lieutenant Watkins before his induction into the Army in February, was an assistant United States attorney for the Middle District of Georgia with headquarters in Macon.
    Lieutenant and Mrs. Watkins are making their home at present in Atlanta where he is stationed.

1944
January 2,1944
Macon Telegraph
   Miss Rena Jackson of Sparta, Ga., and William Ferrell of 349 Hammond street. were quietly married December 19, in the study of Macedonia Baptist church, with Rev. E. J. Calhoun performing the ceremony. Among those present were their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woodall, 349 Hammond street. After spending the holidays in Jacksonville, Fla., they will make their home at 349 Hammond street.

January 16, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., Jan. 15. Henry L. Archer, 61, farmer, died suddenly at his home in Hancock county today. Surviving are his widow; one son, Larry Archer, and one daughter, Miss Lynette Archer. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Archer. Four brothers, Willie Archer, Sparta; Ralph Archer, Albany; Harrison Archer, Devereux; J. C. Archer, Sparta. Three sisters, Mrs. J. I. Martin, Haddock; Mrs. Tom Brown, Sparta; Mrs. Joe Sparks, Warthen.
   Funeral services will be held at Balerma Baptist church. Rev. W. H. Barrett will officiate..

January 18 1944
Macon Telegraph
   The remains of Mrs. Minnnie Wallace, late of 206 Coles Lane were shipped to Deveraux, Ga. this morning. Funeral service will be held in the Warren Chapel church in Devereaux at noon today. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Hutchings; Service.

February 20, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   It will be sad news to the many friends to learn of the death of Mrs. Nona Bell Butts, who departed this life Feb. 17, 1944, at the home of her niece, Mrs. Hattie Butts, 203 Patterson street, Macon, Ga. The body was shipped to Sparta, Ga., for the funeral services which will be held this afternoon, at 2 o'clock.
  She leaves to mourn her loss two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Heath and Mrs. Mamie Ruff of Sparta, Ga; on brother, Dave Smith, also of Sparta, a host of relatives and friends. Hayes Funeral Home in charge.

March 24, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., March 12. Funeral services for Mrs. Effie Reynolds Carr, 67, were held Sunday at Fairmount Baptist church with her pastor, Rev. W. A. H. Flynt officiating. Mrs. Carr died Saturday at her home in the Fairmount community.
    Surviving are one son, Hershel Vinson Carr, of Washington, D. C. Seven daughters: Mrs. Pete Marchman, White Plains; Mrs. Bernard Hyman and Mrs. Horace Hyman, of Norwood; Mrs. Merritt Johnson, of Milledgeville; Mrs. Luke Sloan, Mrs. Ferris Johnson and Mrs. R. Reynolds, all of Sparta. Also 37 grandchildren and other relatives.
  Interment was in the churchyard. 

April 5, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., April 4. Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Norris Johnson, 66, who died at her home here Sunday, were held Monday afternoon at Mill Creek Baptist church in Warren county, with her pastor, Rev. W. H. Barrett, of this city, officiating. Mrs. Johnson had been a resident of this city for several years, moving here from her native couunty of Warren, where she had lived all of her life before coming here.
    Survivng are 10 sons, Pleman, Ray, Ralph, Henry, Vinson, Dorsey and Wintford Johnson, all of Sparta; Melvin Johnson, U. S. Army, England; Lester Johnson,
U. S. Army, Camp Stewart, Ga. and W. D. Johnson, U. S. Army, California. Two daughters, Miss Buna Johnson and Miss Jane Johnson, both of Sparta. Three brothers, E. T., Ray and Pete Norris, of Warrenton; one sister, Mrs. Dean Poole, of Warrenton. Five grandchildren and other relatives.
   Interment was in the churchyard by the side of her husband who preceded her to the grave several years ago.

April 16, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Ga., April 15. Frank A. Guill, 69, well known Hancock county farmer, died in a Milledgeville hospital Tuesday night after an illness of several weeks. He was a native of this county and had lived here all of his life. Funeral services have not been announced.

April 16, 1944
Macon Telegraph
Pair Is Married At Sparta Rites. Milledgeville, Ga. April 15. Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Simpson announce the marriage of their daughter, Annie Lillian, to Frank McComb Chandler of Milledgeville and Sparta. The wedding took place April 1 in the home of the Rev. W. H. Barnett of Sparta, who officiated.
  The bride is a teach of home economics in the Sparta High school. Mr. Chandler, a member of Baldwin county families, is Hancock ccounty's soil conservationist.

May 28, 1944
Macon Telegraph
COMBS-KENNEDY. Mr. and Mrs. Louie T. Combs of Sparta announce the engagement of their daughter,Katherine, to James Buchanan Kennedy of Devereux, the marriage to take place on June 18 at the Sparta Methodist church.

July 9, 1944
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~Miss Thompson, W. B. Dickens Are Married. Miss Artholene Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Lankford of Attala, Ala., and William B. Dickens, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Dickens of Sparta were uited in marriage on Friday evening, June 16, at the Attala First Baptist church.
     The Rev. Charles Granade, pastor, performed the ceremony....,music was presented by Miss Eleanor McLendon.
     ......given in marriage by her brother-in-law, Argyle Brown...Mrs. Mildred Owens was the bride's only attendant..........
    Mrs. Dickens is a graduate of Emma Sanson High School and at present is employed by the Bell Telephone Company in Gadsden. Mr. Dickens is an employe of the Southern Railway Company of Attalla.
..left for a wedding trip to points in Florida.

August 20, 1944
Macon Telegraph
BEALL-BAGGETT. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Beall of Sparta announce the marriage of their daughter, Kathryn, to Thomas Baggett of Macon, the marriage having been solemnized
 on Aug. 6.

August 20, 1944
Macon Telegraph
   Hardwick, Ga., Aug. 19. Miss Mary Frances Hattaway, of Hardwick, and Frank Hyman, of Culverton, were married by the Rev. James F. Fulghum at his home Saturday,
 Aug. 12.
    The bride wore navy crepe with matching accessories. She is he oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Hattaway, of Hardwick. She has one brother, Harold Earl Hattaway, Naval Air Corps, stationed at Grosse Isle, Mich., and one sister, Miss Betty Louise Hattaway, of Hardwick. Mr. Hyman is in the lumber business at Sparta where the couple will live.

November 11, 1944
Macon Telegraph
Napoleon Davis, a deacon of Harmony Baptist church, died early Friday morning at the State hospital, Milledgeville, Ga. Funeral services will be held Sunday in Sparta, Ga. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bernice Davis, of Maconl two daughters, Mrs. Peggie Wrice and Mrs. Helen Cephus, of New Britain, Conn; mother, Mrs. Victoria Davis, Sparta, Ga.; two brothers, George Davis, Atlanta, Ga., and  Earnest Davis, Augusta, Ga., four grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

1945
January 5, 1945
Augusta Chronicle
~excerpt~Sparta, Ga., Jan 4. Miss Jacqueline Hill became the bride of Lieutenant George Stewart Wright Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 4 o'clock in the home of her parents in Sparta...Mr. John Hill Jr., brother of the bride, acted as best man. Misses Emilee Alsabrooks and Maryleene Jackson were the bride's attendants.
..   Mrs. Wright is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Hill...
    Lieutenant Wright is the only son of the Rev. and Mrs. George F. Wright, of Mayfield, Ga. He is a pilot in the Army Air Corps an only recently returned from duty overseas.. The couple left for Merced, Cal., where he as been assigned as instructor in the Army Air Forces. .

February 21, 1945
Augusta Chronicle
Funeral Services Held For victim of Accident. Sparta, Ga., Feb. 20. Funeral services for Mrs. Lucyle Hitchcock Meeks, of Decatur, were held here Sunday afternoon with interment in the Sparta cemetery. Mrs. Meeks died uder the wheels of a Georgia Railroad passenger train, in Decatur, last Thursday night. She lived here for the greater portion of her life before she married. Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Josie Hitchcock; two brothers, Ernest and Harold Hitchcock and other relatives.

February 23, 1945
Macon Telegraph
    Sparta, Feb. 22. W. A. Manning, sawmill operator of Hancock county, was instantly killed, and his daughter, Miss Wylene Manning, was critically injured when their car was struck by a Georgia Railroad passenger train at the grade crossing near their home between Granite Hill and Culverton about 4 o'clock this afternoon. Miss Manning was rushed by ambulance to a local physician's office and later carried to a Milledgeville hospital.
   Manning is survived by his widow; another daughter, and two small sons. The family came to this county several yeas ago from Uvalda.

March 1, 1945
Macon Telegraph
BOISE F. MARCHMAN. Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Boise F. Marchman, of 117 Plant street, who died at his residence at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday They will be announced later by Hart's mortuary.
   Mr. Marchman was born in Hancock county, the son of H. S. Marchman and Mrs. Ida Lou Arnold Marchman and had lived in Macon for eight years. He had been associated with the Art Manufacturing Company and was a member of the Mt. Stephens Baptist church in Hancock county.
   Surviving are his wife, formerly Mrs. Sarah Cliffod Brake; five sons, Tech. Sgt. Raymond C. Marchman, U. S. Army in Germany; Pvt. H. S. Marchman, Camp Shelby, Miss.
J. Comer Marchman. Bobby T. Marchman and Donald L. Marchman, Macon; two daughters, Sarah L. Marchman and Shirley Ann Marchman, Macon; two grandchildren, Dianne and Bennie Marchman; two sisters, Mrs. J. H. Bruce and Mrs. J. E. Jones, Macon; two brothers, L. A. Marchman, Sandersville; R. W. Marchman, Macon. 
(*Note - buried in Evergreen cemetery.)

April 24, 1945
Macon Telegraph
  Sandersville, April 23. Funeral services were held here Sunday for S. F. Jones, 82, who died Saturday at his home in Sparta after an illness of two weeks.
  Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, Mrs. S. F. Jones, Sparta; five children, Mrs. J. J. Brown, Mrs. J. W. Tyson and Hermann C. Jones, residents of Macon; Mrs. L. G. Franklin, Warner Robins; and Roy Jones, Alliance, Ohio; also by several nieces and nephews, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
  He was a member of Tabernacle Methodist church and had served for many years as Sunday school superintendent and steward of that church, while a resident of Sandersville. He moved from this city to Sparta in 1944.
  Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. T. A. Moseley at the chapel of the Sandersville funeral home, and burial was in the Tennille city cemetery.

June 8, 1945
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, June 7. Funeral services for George H. Rocker, 84, who died at an Atlanta hospital Sunday morning, were held at his home in Powelton, in Hancock county, on Tuesday morning. Mr. Rocker had been a lifelong resident of Powelton, but fell and broke his hip a short time ago and was carried to the hospital for treatment. He developed pneumonia a few days ago and gradually grew weaker until his death.
   Surviving are his widow, six daughters and one son. He also had five sisters and two brothers. A. P. Rocker of this city and Sam Rocker of College Park, Ga., besides other relatives. Interment was in the Powelton cemetery with his pastor officiating.

July 6, 1945
Augusta Chronicle

Mrs. Belle Hudson, 67, mother of Mrs. Robert Bush of Augusta, died at the residence near here Tuesday after  a long illness. Funeral services were held at the graveside in the city cemetery this afternoon with the Rev. Flynt officiating.

    Other survivors are her husband, Henry N. Hudson; 1 son, George Henry Hudson of Atlanta; daugher, Mrs. R. F. Bragg of Gadsden, Ala.; 5 sisters, Mrs. Mattie Hudson of Sparta; Mrs. Willie Florence of Atlanta; Mrs. Maude Wynne and Mrs. Julia Atkinson of Greensboro and Miss Myrtle Amoss of Sparta; and 5 grandchildren.

August 22, 1945
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Aug. 21. Funeral services for Mrs. Louis Yaffe were held in Augusta Monday and interment was in the Jewish cemetery in that city.
   Mrs. Yaffe died here Saturday after a brief illness.
    Surviving are her husband, Louis Yaffe:; one son, Capt. Bertram Yaffe, of San Diego, Calif., and one daughter, Mrs. Rosa Koplin of Norfold, Va. Also other relatives.

August 22, 1945
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Aug. 21. Funeral services for Mrs. Homer Johnson, 37, were held Sunday in Knowles Chapel Methodist church following her death in Augusta Saturday after a long illness.
    Surviving are her husband, Homer Johnson; one son, Calvin Johnson of Macon; two daughters, Myralee and Evadell Johnson of Sparta; two brothers, Marvin Howell of Atlanta and  Tillman Howell of Wrens; four sisters, Mrs. D. D. Boatwright of Dublin; Mrs. Lewis Johnson of Macon; Mrs. Annie Brown of Dublin and Mrs. B. D. Johnson of Sparta.
   Rev. R. P. Ethridge, pastor of the church, conducted the funeral and interment followed in the churchyard.

November 3, 1945
Macon Telegraph
JOE D. GARRETT. Sparta, Nov. 2. Joe D. Garrett, 54, retired carpenter, died at his home near here wednesday after being in ill health for the past several years. He was a native of Hancock County and had lived here most of his life.
   Surving are his widow, Mrs. Lena Mae Smith Garrett; six sons. Howard, Bobby and Edward Garrett, of Sparta; J. D. Garrett, of Anicosta, D. C.; Douglas Garrett, of Thomasville; James Garrett, of the U. S. Navy, now stationed in the Pacific; one daughter, Mrs. Frances Hearn of Eatonton; three  sisters: Emma Stapleton of McDonough, Mrs. Leila Jackson, of Sparta; Mrs. John Grace, of Culverton.
   Funeral servies have not been announced awaiting the arrival of his sons, but will be held in the City Cemetery with Rev. W. A. H. Flynt officiating.,

November 11, 1945
Macon Telegraph
~excerpt~ Sparta, Nov. 10. Miss Irene Pound, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin G. Pound, became the bride of Oscar M. Peden at a ceremony solemnized Tuesday in the Sparta Methodist Church. ........
   The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin G. Pound of Sparta. She is a gradduate of Wesleyan College. Her maternal grandparents are Mrs. Irene Berry and the late Edward Holland Berry. Her maternal grandparents were Mrs. Julia Elizabeth and James Madison Pound.
   The groom is the son of Mrs. Inez Harton Peden and the late Oscar M. Peden. He received his education at Mercer University. He is now interested in farming operations. His mother belongs to the Harton family, native of Hancock County. His father, the late O. M. Peden, came from South Carolina..........

November 16, 1945
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Ga. Nov. 15. John Madison Grace, 79, died Monday afer an illness of several years.
    Funeral services were held at the graveside in Bethel churchyard Tuesday with the Rev. W. A. H. Flynt officiating.
    Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mary Garrett Grace and several nieces and newphews.
   Mr. Grace was a member of the Culverton Methodist church and had lived in that community the greater portion of his life.

November 24, 1945
Macon Telegraph
   Sparta, Nov. 23. Funeral services for William M. Underwood, 79, retired farmer, were held Wednesday in the Friendship Baptist Church, near here. He was a life-long resident of the Friendship community of Hancock County.
     Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Bennie Gardner Underwood; three sons, V. V. Underwood and William C. Underwood, both of Milledgeville; L. W. Underwood, of Macon: four daughters, Mrs. J. L. Garrett, of Macon; Mrs. J. T. Ward, of Atlanta, and Mrs. A. O. Hutchings, of Carrs Station: one sister, Mrs. R. L. Green, of Milledgeville.
    Interment was in the family lot in the Friendship cemetery.

November 30, 1945
Macon Telegraph
Sheriff's Wife Dies in Sparta. Sparta, Nov. 19. Mrs. Marie Garrett Butts, 53, wife of Sheriff Bernard Butts, of Hancock County, died here today after
a long illness.
    She was a native of this county and is survived by her husband; one son, Ben Butts; her mother, Mrs. W. L. Garrett, Sr.; three brothers, H. R. Garrett, Quitman; Ellison Garrett, Camilla, and W. L. Garrett, Jr., Sparta; five sisters Mrs. Helen Tompkins, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Miss Bobie Garrett, of Atlanta; Mrs. John Dickens, Mrs. Carlton Stone and Mrs. W. B. Macken, Sparta.   Funeral services are planned for Friday afternoon.

December 6, 1945
Macon Telegraph
Mrs. Harper Succumbs Here Funeral services for Mrs. Lena Rivers Harper, of 706 First Street who died in a local hospital at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, after a brief illness, will be held in the chapel of Hart's Mortuary at 4 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. W. M. Haywood and the Rev. A. C. Baker will offiicate and bural will be in the Macon Memorial Park.
  Pallbearers  are to be Leon Harper, Bob Steele, Myrick Whited, H. R. Rogers, Harold Irvin and Ralph Reagan.
   Mrs Harper, widow of C. B. Harper, was born in Sparta, Ga., the daughter of James F.Bowen and Mrs. Sarah Sitton Bowen and had lived in Macon for 38 years. She was a member of the First Street Methodist Church.
   Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. C. C. Swisher, Mrs. Sarah Whited, Miss Louise Harper and Mrs. R. E. Reagan, of Macon; Mrs. H. R. Rodgers, Montgomery, Ala.; Mrs. H. W. Hutchinson, Miami; four sons, W. C. Harper, Dublin; C. H. L. and C. B. Harper of Macon; 20 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five sisters, Mrs. W. H. Stansell, Macon; Mrs. Pierce Middlebrooks and Mrs. Sarah B. Little of Sparta. Mrs. Frank L. Reese, Griffin; Mrs. R. E. Wheeler, Tifton.

December 16, 1945
Macon Telegraph
  Sparta, Dec. 15. Floyd Harris Ivey, 43, died at his home here Wednesday following a long illness. He was a native of the Mayfield community, in Hancock County, but had made his home here for a number of years, being on the police force at one time.
   Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Boyd Smith Ivey; one son, Floyd H. Ivey Jr., of Warrenton, one sister, Mrs. Ralph Rich of Bainbridge.
  Funeral services were held at the graveside at Horeb Baptist Church Thursday with Rev. R. P. Etheridge and Rev. W. H. Barrett  officiating. Interment followed in the Horeb Cemetery.

 
 
 








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