OBITUARIES

Sam W. Doss Jr.

Former State Senator, local civic and business leader Sam W. Doss, Jr. passed away Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, at the age of 89 in a Rome hospital following an extended illness. He is survived by two children, Freda Rountree of Eatonton, Georgia and David Doss of Rome, Georgia; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

He was born in Thomasville, Georgia and moved to Atlanta in 1939 where he was educated in the public school system. On December 7, 1941, at the age of 14, while working in the soda shop at the Euclid Pharmacy word came of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was anxious to enlist into military service, and finally at the age of 17 with his parents’ permission, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as a medical corpsman at the US Naval Hospital in Mare Island, California. While at Mare Island in October, 1945, he was selected to be part of a military detail assigned to the convening of some 50 nations where the charter was adopted that created the United Nations.

After the war, he returned to Atlanta where he attended Emory University and later graduating from West Georgia College where he met and married his love of 67 years, Carolyn Camp, who preceded him in death in 2015. In 1949 he and his new bride moved to Rome where he began his career in the real estate and mortgage banking business at Harvey-Given Company. There he helped develop many of Rome’s residential areas and provided mortgage loans for hundreds of families. He also began his long career of community service beginning with the Rome Jaycees where he quickly rose through the leadership ranks. In 1962, the Georgia Jaycees named him one of the Five Outstanding Young Men of Georgia. He went on to hold leadership positions in the Jaycees on a state, national and international level and developed friendships that would influence his life for many years. In 2015, Sam was honored by being inducted into the Georgia Jaycees Hall of Fame. His career of community service also included the Rome Exchange Club, Georgia Easter Seals, Georgia March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, over 40 years with the Rome Boys and Girls Club and a Life Member of the Board of Trustees of Floyd College. He was also a Founding Member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

In 1968, he was elected to the Georgia State Senate where he served with honor and distinction for 10 years. There he quickly established himself as a skilled Legislator and became one of the most influential and respected members of the Senate. He held leadership positions on the powerful Appropriations, Rules and Higher Education Committees. Later, Lt. Governor Zell Miller asked him to the Chair the committee that created the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and continued to serve as Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Group for the Hall of Fame after he retired from the Senate in 1979. He was also instrumental in locating the Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital in Rome which created employment opportunities for hundreds of citizens.

After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, spending time with his many of his life long friends, and being pampered and spoiled by his love Carolyn. He was so proud of his children, his grandchildren, and he loved the excitement and energy of his great-grandchildren. Perhaps no other place was more enjoyable to him than spending time at his cabin on Lake Weiss. He loved the lake and his many friends and neighbors.

Sam Doss exemplified the Greatest Generation. He rose from humble beginnings and became a self-made giant of a man who served his community, his state and his country with unquestioned integrity, unwavering loyalty, and an unending love. He possessed an incredibly quick wit, a keen mind, a compassionate heart, and the rare ability to listen more than he talked. He lived the words of the Jaycee Creed every day of his life; Faith in God gave meaning and purpose to his life; that Government should be of laws, rather than of men; and that service to Humanity was the best work of life. His passing will leave a void in the hearts of those who loved him and of the Community that he loved so dearly.

His funeral will be held Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church with a private interment to follow. His family will receive friends beginning at 10 am in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in his honor to The Boys and Girls Club of Rome, P.O. Box 2939, Rome, Ga., 30164 or the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1941 Shorter Ave., Rome, Ga., 30165.

SOUTH CHAPEL Deborah Ann Cruz

Deborah Ann Cruz, age 51, of Rome, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at a local hospital.

Mrs. Cruz was born in Floyd County, Georgia on February 4, 1966, daughter of Vernon Arthur McCarley and the late Helen Edwards McCarley. She was a homemaker and was a member of Rome Baptist Temple.

Survivors include her husband, Benjamin Cruz, to whom she was married in 1987; two sons, Nicholas Scott Cruz and his wife, Elizabeth, Rome, and Benjamin Arthur Cruz, Rome; two grandsons, Ayden Cruz and Lucas Cruz; her father, Vernon McCarley, Rome; two brothers, Mark Arthur McCarley and his wife, Misty, Calhoun, and Vernon Scott McCarley and his wife, Lesia, Taylorsville; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, with Dr. Billy Goolesby officiating. Interment will follow in Floyd Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the service time. At other hours, they will be at their respective residences.

Pallbearers are asked to assemble at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and include: Nick Cruz, Ben Cruz, Armando Cruz, Brandon McCarley, Ethan McCarley and Pablo Cruz.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Sallie Lee Phillips

Mrs. Sallie Lee Phillips, age 77, of Rome, passed away on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, at her residence.

She was born in Cherokee County, Ala. on June 1, 1940, daughter of the late Marvin Amos Williams and the late Syble Camp Williams. She was a retired employee of the Vistakon Company and was a member of the King’s Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Carroll George Phillips, in 2004.

Survivors include two daughters, Marlene Turner (John), Rome, and Lynne LaFrance (Rick), Jacksonville, Fla.; two sisters, Audrey Bryant (Bob), Silver Creek, and Joyce Loveless, Rome; a brother, Marvin Williams (Jane), Rome; five grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren, several nieces and nephews; her companion, Fred Higginbotham, Rome, also survives.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, at the Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Fla. The Rev. Lee Whitaker will officiate.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to your favorite charity in Mrs. Phillips memory.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the arrangements.

Cathy Mae Carroll Wagner

Mrs. Cathy Mae Carroll Wagner, age 66, of Rome, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at her residence.

Mrs. Wagner was born in Floyd County, Georgia on July 1, 1951, daughter of the late Lawson Carroll and the late Pearl Walker Carroll. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence Carroll. Mrs. Wagner was a member of Faith Baptist Church and had been attending the Christian Church at Rome.

Survivors include two daughters, Gail Trapp and her husband, Brian, Rome, and Glenda Love and her husband, Jim, Statesboro; a son, Chris Thompson, Rome; three sisters, Glenda Stanley, Marietta, Virginia Shelton, Cave Spring, and Ellisa Callahan, Rome; a brother, Franklin Carroll, Rome; five grandchildren, Joshua Trapp, Justin Trapp, Bo Carden, Dakota Thompson and Jamie Love; one great grandson, Jaxson Trapp; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Christian Church at Rome with the Rev. Brad Dillard officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the service time. At other hours, they will be at their respective residences.

Pallbearers are asked to assemble at the church on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and include: Joshua Trapp, Justin Trapp, Donnie Callahan, Ronnie Callahan, Howard Ford, Jimmy Ford, Tim Shelton and Terry Shelton.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Marjorie Casteel Willis

Mrs. Marjorie Casteel Willis, age 84, of Rome, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at a local hospital following an extended illness.

Mrs. Willis was born in Cedartown, Georgia on October 5, 1932, daughter of the late Joe Thomas Evans and the late Fannie Mae Cambron Evans. She was also preceded in death by her husbands, William J. “Bill” Casteel and Harold Clyde “H. C.” Willis, and by a grandson, Donovan J. Hall.

Mrs. Willis was a member of Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church where she sang in the choir until her health would not allow her to. She worked as a Dietician at Redmond Regional Medical Center for several years. Mrs. Willis loved her family, her church and her friends. When she was able she loved eating out and going to church. She taught Bible Precepts at her previous church in Hiram, Ga.

Survivors include a sister, Charlotte Bolton, Rome; a nephew, Rick (Nancy) McJunkin, Hickory, N.C.; a niece, Gail (Richard) Beauchamp, Rome; daughters, Robin Kilpatrick, Tallassee, Ala., Carol Phillips, Rome, and Kelley Ayers, Macon; a son, Barry Willis, Loxley, AL; great nieces, Lori (Tom) Casey, Rome, and Martie (Chris) Johnston, Dalton; grandsons, Brian Kilpatrick, Matt (Sharon) Kilpatrick and Robert (Shawn) Hall, II; granddaughters, Brandy Willis, Kayla Buchancow, Michelle (Robert) Watson and Jennifer (David) Farmer; three great-great nieces; one great-great nephew; 49 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Fricks and Mr. Mark Winstead officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church on Monday from noon until 1:45 p.m. At other hours, they will be at their respective residences.

Pallbearers are asked to assemble at the church on Monday at 1:30 p.m. and include: Active: William Terry, Terry Simmons, Brian Kilpatrick, Matt Kilpatrick, Chris Johnston and David Farmer. Honorary: Barry Willis and Rick McJunkin.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

NORTH CHAPEL Kim Tanner Buffington

Mr. Kim Tanner Buffington, age 61, of Rome, passed away Thursday evening, Sept. 14, 2017, in Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Mr. Buffington was born in Rome, Ga., on June 24, 1956, son of the late Claude Rena Buffington and the late Mary Lou “Myrt” Tanner Buffington. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Rhonda Darlene Dunaway Buffington, on April 21, 2016, and by a sister, Gail Floyd. Mr. Buffington attended Armuchee High School. He was the Owner and Operator of Tanner Mulch Products and attended Antioch Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Kimberly Dale Buffington Young, and her husband, Eddie, Rome; three sons, Bryan Buffington, and his wife, Jill, B. J. Buffington, and his wife, Angela, and Scott Buffington, and his fiancée, Kayli Camp, all of Rome; a sister, Fran Murdock, Rome; three brothers, Kenneth Buffington, Troy Buffington, and his wife, Carole, and Jimmy Buffington, and his wife, Kay, all of Rome; 13 grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 at 4 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church with the Rev. Brian Butler, the Rev. Stanley Smith, and Chaplain Ray Plymel officiating. Interment will follow there in Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Monday from 5 until 8 p.m. At other hours, they may be contacted at their respective homes.

Active and honorary pallbearers are requested to assemble at Antioch Baptist Church on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and are as follows: Active: Roy Trammell, Junior Shropshire, Bryan Tate, Shane Johnson, Greg Murdock, and Kevin Buffington. Honorary: Todd Murdock, Shang Callahan, Roger Callahan, Carl Owens, and Nelson McMichael.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Madeline Diprima Perron

Madeline Diprima Perron, age 92, of Rome, passed away on August 11, 2017 in St. Paul Minnesota, surrounded by loving family.

She was the daughter of the late Sam and Ivie (Jones) Diprima, and was predeceased by her brothers, Nino, Romeo, Sam Jr., Lewis, and Charlie, as well as husbands, Raymond Salmon, of Rome, and Joseph Perron, of St. Paul, Minnesota. She is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 12 greatgrandchildren, as well as many cherished relatives still living in Georgia.

Although she had lived in St. Paul for many years, Rome was still “home.”

Frederick Gene Mayabb

Frederick Gene “Slug” Mayabb, age 82, of Rome, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, in a local hospital. He will be missed.

A native of Middletown, Ohio, Mr. Mayabb was born August 27, 1935 to Lottie and Jessie Mayabb. He was a retired steelworker and veteran of the US Army, serving as a medic. Mr. Mayabb was an incredibly caring and giving individual who truly would give you the shirt off his back. He loved his family, his Doberman “Apollo,” and Ohio State football. His greatest joy was to be with his family and enjoy a meal. Mr. Mayabb was preceded in death by his wife Betty Lackey Mayabb, whom he selflessly cared for many years.

Survivors include his son John (Pamela) Powers and his daughter Becky; five grandchildren Samantha, Austin, Kelly, Josh, and Megan also survive.

Graveside funeral services were conducted last Saturday, Sept. 9, in Middletown, Ohio at the Woodside Cemetery.

Parnick Jennings Sr.’s Good Shepherd Funeral Home is serving the family of Frederick Gene “Slug” Mayabb.