Obituaries
Teague officiating.
Burial: Anderson Memorial Gardens.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral HomeWallis Stewart Chapel, Ringgold.
Brenda Gail Clark, 62, Chattanooga
Brenda Gail Clark, of Chattanooga, Tenn., went home to be with Jesus Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016. She was 62.
She lived in the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas for most of her life and graduated from Rossville High School Class of ‘72.
She was a happy member of Union Avenue Baptist Church in Rossville and worked at Parkridge East Hospital for more than 30 years.
She loved her family, friends and church and will be missed by all who knew her. She was a bright light in a dark world.
Survivors include: Her loving husband of more than 41 years, David; son, Rusty (Mark); stepdaughter, Lisa (Jody); stepson, Greg; mother, Inez; sister, Blondie (Russ); brother, Ken (Cindy); loving niece, Allison (Zois); best friend ever, Brenda (Terry) Wilson and Lance and Nickki and godgrandchildren, Chandler and Camdyn.
Homegoing service: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Union Avenue Baptist Church.
Burial will be private and there will be no visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Union Avenue Baptist Church.
Online guest book at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Marianne Walden Williamson, 69, Rossville
Marianne Walden Williamson, of Rossville, Ga., went to be with the Lord Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. She was 69.
She was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Earl and Jacquiline Walden and beloved husband, David Earl Williamson.
Survivors include; Her son, Matthew (Darlene Kilgore) Williamson of Rossville; two brothers, Paul Walden and John (Becky) Walden and niece, Lydia Walden.
Visitation: Tuesday, Dec. 20, from noon until the hour of service
Funeral service: Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. David Williams officiating.
Burial: TennesseeGeorgia Memorial Park Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson and Sons Funeral Home-Ft. Oglethorpe.
Ronald Earl Sunderland, 37, Rossville
Ronald Earl “Ronnie” Sunderland, of Rossville, Ga., went home to be with his Lord Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, following a brief illness. He was 37.
Ronnie was a 1997 graduate of Ridgeland High School and professed his faith in Christ at an early age.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his father, George Sunderland.
Survivors include: His mother, Brenda Green Sunderland Cox (stepfather, Bob Cox); children, Laci and Noah Sunderland; loving sister, Jennifer (Ric) Metcalf; half-sister, Carla Sunderland; uncle, James Sunderland and niece, Zoie Metcalf.
Visitation: Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 4 p.m. until the service hour at the South Crest Chapel.
Funeral services: Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Ric Metcalf and Jim Boyd officiating.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Clarence Jack Ferriss Jr., 93, Fort Oglethorpe
Clarence Jack Ferriss Jr., of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in a local healthcare facility. He was 93.
Mr. Ferriss was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., March 18, 1923, to the late Clarence Jack Sr. and Ruby Ferriss.
He was a graduate of Central High School the same year as Luther Massengill.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army/ Air Force, was employed with T.V.A for 12 ½ years and later worked as a contractor for the U.S. Government as an inspector.
He attended First Bible Methodist Church in Chattanooga for several years and enjoyed watching the news, building model airplanes and his personal hobby of a jeweler.
Mr. Ferriss is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Jack Sr. and Ruby Ferriss; brothers, Don Ferriss and Roy Ferriss and a granddaughter, Jeannette Yaryan.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 73 years, Frances Ferriss; son, David Alan Ferriss; daughter, Carole Yaryan; grandchildren, Randy (Sami) Yaryan Jr., Janeane (Elvis) Humes, Janelle (James) Hill, Janaye (Jordan) Grow, Jordan Yaryan and Tiffany (Ricky) Smolik.
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 19, from 4-8 p.m. at South Crest Chapel.
Funeral services: Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel with Bro. Bill Beagan officiating.
Burial: Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Iris E. Linam, 57, Ft. Oglethorpe
Iris E. “Irow” Linam, of Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at a local hospital. She was 57.
She was a lifelong resident of North Georgia and was born in Lafayette, Ga., June 1, 1959, to the late Earl Espy Sr. and Calline Espy.
Mrs. Linam loved everyone and she never met a stranger. She was a caregiver to many over the years and was also a foster mom.
In her spare time she enjoyed playing video games especially Monster Buster and she also enjoyed watching WWF Wrestling.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl Espy Jr. and Artie Espy.
Survivors include: Her husband, Elvis Linam; three sons, Buford Lamar Green Jr. of Rossville, Ga., Nathan Shawn Green of Rossville, Ga., and Travis Lee McClain of East Ridge, Tenn.; sister, Judy Hicks of Chattanooga, Tenn.; one granddaughter Whitney Gould of Riverton, Wyo., and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel.
Celebration of Life service: Saturday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. in the South Crest Chapel.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Roy A. Rogers, 70, Chattanooga
Roy A. Rogers, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in a local hospital. He was 70.
Mr. Rogers was born in Chattanooga Dec. 12, 1946, to the late John and Goldie Rogers. He resided in the Hixson area for most of his life.
Mr. Rogers loved watching TV, playing the guitar and singing and will truly be missed by his family and friends.
He also worked with Brant & Sullivan in Chattanooga as a metal polisher.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Goldie Rogers; two brothers, Mack Trapensted and Grady Lee Rogers and sister, Clara Whitaker.
Survivors include: His brother, John (Debra) Rogers; sisters, Patricia Peoples and Eulia Jane (Junior) Tarter and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, from 11 a.m. until the service at South Crest Chapel.
Graveside services: Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
L. E. Sims, 92, Ringgold
L. E. Sims, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. She was 92.
She was a lifelong resident of the North Georgia area and a member of Burning Bush Baptist Church.
Mrs. Sims was retired from Miller and Smith Hosiery Mills. She was a member of the Hutcheson Medical Center Auxiliary volunteers for 33 years and at 75 years old became a greeter at Walmart for 10 years.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Neal Sims; parents, Jessie and Kitty Barnes; sisters, Zora Lee, Louise Coker, Martha Cain and Jo Adkins and brother, Buddy Barnes.
Survivors include: Her son, Dennis (Andrea) Sims; brother, Ray (Brenda) Barnes of Ringgold; grandchildren, Chris (Michele) Sims of Cartersville, Ga., and Angie (David) Martin, of Montgomery, Ala.; great-grandchildren, Samantha and Alexandra Sims and Laine and Graham Martin along with several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Dennis McNulty officiating.
Burial: Burning Bush Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Burning Bush Baptist Church.
Online guestbook available at heritagebattlefield.com.
Arrangements: Heritage Funeral Home, Battlefield Parkway.
Kelly Andrew Watkins, 45, Rossville
Kelly “Kellybear” Andrew Watkins, of Rossville, Ga., passed away Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, in a local healthcare facility. He was 45.
He was born May 13, 1971, to Robin and Kathy Watkins. He graduated in the 1990 class of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School. After graduation he worked as an electrician and was working for Catoosa County Public Schools at the time of his passing.
He was of the Baptist faith.
Kelly enjoyed show cars, loved his nephews, and going four-wheeling in his jeep. He was considered the family pyro technician on the 4th of July, was a fun person to be around and was an avid Alabama fan. He also loved his dog, Eva. Kelly was loved by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robin A. Watkins.
Survivors include: His mother, Kathy (Gary) Rains; brother, Eli Watkins; special cousin, Sis April Castleberry; stepbrother, Lee Rains; fiancé, Kari Denise and her daughters, Breanna and Princess Brileigh; nephews, Jonas and Jeb Watkins and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21, from 4-8 p.m. and Thursday from noon until the funeral hour at South Crest Chapel
Celebration of Kelly’s life: Thursday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home.
Burial: Tennessee Georgia Memorial Park.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Zelma Frazier Gault, 58, Red Bank, Tenn.
Zelma Frazier Gault, of Red Bank, Tenn., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at her home surrounded by her family. She was 58.
A native and lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Tenn., Gault was a graduate of Red Bank High School and was employed with Fischer Evans Jewelers until the time of her illness.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Frazier.
Survivors include: Her husband, Mark Gault; sons, Eric (Vicky) Coppinger, Marc Bureau, Clay Bureau, Zach (Michele) Bureau and Curt (Amanda) Bureau; sisters, Gay (Cliff) Duncan and Lucy (Phillip) Kirkhan; brother, Jimmy (Jan) Frazier and eight grandchildren.
A celebration of life: Friday, Dec. 21, at 4 p.m. in the chapel of Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, with Rev. Brian Kearns officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37416.
Online guestbook available at lanesouthcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Donald Eugene Wood, 69, Rossville
Donald Eugene Wood, of Rossville, Ga., went home to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. He was 69.
He lived in the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas for most of his life and was a member of Lighthouse of the Word Church.
He was an Army veteran having served during Vietnam and retired from Rock-Tenn after more than 34 years of service.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family, playing golf and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Dorothy Wood; sister, Joy Winters and grandson, John Matthew Kittle.
Survivors include: His loving wife of more than 22 years, Susan Hayes Wood of Rossville; children, Donald Wood Jr. of Nashville, Tenn., Valerie Mae Kittle of Chickamauga, Ga., Tiffany Teems Billingsly of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Nathan Daniel Teems of Rossville; brother, Dennis James Wood of Chattanooga; six grandchildren and numerous extended family and friends.
There will be no visitation at the funeral home.
Graveside services: Thursday, Dec. 29, at 1:30 p.m. at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Mike Lowery officiating.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson and Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Robert Edwin Fulton, Jr., 56, LaFayette
Robert Edwin “Ed” Fulton Jr., of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. He was 56.
He was a lifelong resident of LaFayette and a member of Lake Howard Baptist Church.
Ed enjoyed fishing his favorite spot on Nick-A-Jack Lake and could be found trading at his usual flea markets. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother and son who will be greatly missed.
Ed was preceded in death by his father, Robert Edwin Fulton Sr.
Survivors include: His mother, Barbara Fulton; children, Bo (Misty) Fulton and Marissa Fulton; brothers, Tony Fulton and Michael Fulton; grandchildren, April, Noel, Gage and Alisha and several nieces and nephews.
A private family memorial will be scheduled at a later date.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral HomeLaFayette Chapel.
Kathy Farmer York, 42, Calhoun, Ga.
Kathy Farmer York, of Calhoun, Ga., passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. She was 42.
She was a member of Northside Church of Christ in Calhoun.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Emory and Myrtle Farmer and Earnest and Jessie Davis.
Survivors include: Her husband, Jeremy York of Calhoun; parents, Charles Farmer and Jean Davis Farmer of Rock Spring; daughters, Mackenzie Brooke Fitzgerald and Maeghan Breille Fitzgerald; son, Miles Brady Fitzgerald; stepson, Ethan James York all of Calhoun; sister, Pam (Benny) Fitzgerald of Ballground, Ga.; brother, Michael (Donna) Farmer and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services: Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Rev. Henry Hampton and Min. Terry York officiating.
Burial: Trinity Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Mitchell Holbrook, Kyle Walker, Jonathan Presley, Jamon Hall, Andy Vincent and Don Harrison.
Honorary pallbearer: Ethan York.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Jo Ann Martin Caldwell, 71, LaFayette
Jo Ann Martin Caldwell, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. She was 71.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Felix Martin and Ella Ruth Carlock Martin and brother, Raymond Martin.
Survivors include: Her husband, Ray Caldwell; daughter, Karla (Josh) Chapman; son, Lebron Sampson (Brian Arthur) all of LaFayette; sister, Phyllis Bearden of Villanow; grandchildren, Claire Chapman and Colby Chapman and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, from 4 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
A Celebration of Life service: Thursday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. at Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Scott Hobbs officiating. No burial. Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Linda Ann Hoffer, 70, Rossville
Linda Ann Hoffer, of Rossville, Ga., went home to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. She was 70.
She was born in Canoochee, Ga., to the late Willie and Narcisus Randall but lived in the North Georgia area for most of her life.
She was a member of Canaan Baptist Church and was employed with Erlanger Medical Center for more than 15 years as a cardiac nurse. She truly loved her church and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Earl Douglas Kidd and brother, Bubba Randall.
Survivors include: Her loving husband, Allen Hoffer; sons, Michael Bolin, Andy (Darlene Brinck) Bolin and James (Vicky) Barton all of Rossville; brother, Ricky Randall of Denton, Texas; three grandchildren, Beth, Bubba and Sarah Bolin; great-granddaughter, Destiney Hudson and numerous extended family and friends.
Visitation: Thursday, Dec. 22, after 3 p.m. and from 9-11:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Funeral services: Friday, Dec. 23, at noon at Canaan Baptist Church with Bro. Joe Gill officiating.
Burial: Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson and Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
Billy Joe Harris, 75, Ringgold
Billy Joe Harris, of Ringgold, Ga., went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. He was 75.
Harris was a member of Unity Baptist Church.
He was an avid golfer, talented musician, wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Trudy Mae Harris.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 57 years, Peggie Harris of Ringgold; children, Cynthia Harris Willett of Ringgold, Michael Harris of Chattanooga, Tenn.; sisters, Mary Nell Harris Slater of Ringgold and Betty Jean Harris Place of Daytona, Fla.; five grandchildren, Lee, Ryan, Matt, Taylor and Noah; one greatgrandchild, Liam; several nieces, nephews and many special friends.
Visitation: Monday, Dec. 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Funeral services: Monday, Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. in the Fort Oglethorpe Chapel with Rev. Steve Fletcher officiating.
Burial: Lakewood Memorial Gardens South.
Flowers will be accepted or you may send memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 300 W. Emery Street, Suite 106, Dalton, Ga. 30720.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson and Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 300 West Villanow Street • LaFayette, GA 30728 (706)638-5936 • Monday-Friday 9am-5pm