Marty Allen dies at 95
Mr. Arthur Wally Akins, age 92 of Aragon passed away Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.
Mr. Akins was born July 13, 1925 in Polk County, son of the late Ellip Akins and the late Fannie Jacobs Akins.
He was a member of the Piney Woods Baptist Church of Buchanan and retired from the Georgia State Highway Department.
Mr. Akins loved his family, enjoyed gardening and telling stories about old times.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Allie Mae Garner Akins on June 14, 2016; three brothers and two sisters.
Survivors i ncluded a stepdaughter, Julie Edna Holcomb of Canton; step- son, John Thomas Holcomb Jr. of Rockmart; eleven grandchildren and numerous great- grandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren.
Funeral graveside and interment services for Mr. Akins were held on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the family lot of the Piney Woods Baptist Church Cemetery of Buchanan with Rev. Jason Suits officiating.
His grandchildren served as pallbearers.
Please visit www.freemanharrisfunerals.com to extend personal condolences to the family by signing the online guestbook.
Freeman Harris Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral graveside service for Mr. Arthur Wally Akins.
Mr. Henry (Hank) J. Connelly, age 77, of Cedartown, beloved husband of Debbie Woods Connelly, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Connelly was born in New Haven, Conn., son of the late Henry and Eleanor (Gillen) Connelly of East Haven, Conn.
He graduated from St. Francis Grammar School of New Haven, Notre Dame H.S. of West Haven, and the Hartford State Technical Institute with a degree in electrical engineering.
Following, he joined the United States Army in 1962 and served in Okinawa, having received The Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement. Upon his release from the service, he worked at the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.
Later, he worked for Fannie Mae as a computer systems analysts. Upon retirement, he and his wife Debbie relocated to Marietta and then Cedartown, where they started farming.
Mr. Connelly was an innovative farmer following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, establishing a deep well irrigation system and assembling a large hot house which supported an early start to the vegetable season.
He and Debbie spent many years developing the farm and attending the local Farmers’ Market. They won numerous Blue Ribbons for their fresh produce and canned/ preserved items which they also sold on the farm.
Mr. Connelly and his wife were also avid Model Railroaders, traveling the country to attend conventions. His interest in trains began at home and continued as a Junior Railroader with the New York, New Haven and Hartford RR.
He was inspired by his father to create his own indoor model railroad, making many unique landscapes by hand, including a Garden G-Train display as well.
He is survived by his sons, Sean (Mary) of Frisco, Texas and Jeffrey (Jeanette) of Woodbridge, Va., 7 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews from the east coast to the west. He also leaves his sister, Eleanor Burke (Ralph) of Fairfield, Conn. and brother, Dr. Thomas Connelly (Kathy) of Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Mass was said Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 at 9 a.m. at the St. Bernadette Catholic Church with Father Timothy Gallagher officiating.
Interment followed Monday afternoon at he The Georgia National Cemetery in Canton Georgia with Military Rites conducted by the United States Army.
The family received friends Sunday evening, Feb. 18, 2018 at the Lester Litesey Funeral Home.
Condolences can be made to the family by visiting www.liteseyfh. com to sign the online guest book.
The Lester Litesey Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral for Henry John “Hank” Connelly III.
Mr. Bacyl Edwin “Ed” Lonergan Jr., age 79, of Rome, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, at his residence.
Mr. Lonergan was born in Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 19, 1938, son of the late Bacyl E. Lonergan Sr. and Geneva Schmidke. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Suzie Caldwell.
He was a self-employed contractor for a number of years before finishing his career in insurance sales. He sold insurance for New Era, Mutual of Omaha, and United Healthcare, among others.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Delaine “Dee” Barker Lonergan, to whom he was married on March 30, 1985; 5 children, Eric, Emily, Elliott, Clifton, and Carrie; two stepchildren, April Day and Shawn Day; 2 sisters, Karol Waldorf and Vickie Ross; and several grandchildren.
Friends and family were invited to a Celebration of Life service that was held on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, from l p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Lonergan residence in Rome.
Henderson and Sons North Chapel and Crematory, had charge of the funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Charlotte Redden Cash, age 74, of Cedartown, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018.
She was born on June 16, 1943 in Rome, the daughter of the late James L. and Jessie Thacker Redden.
Mrs. Cash is survived by her daughter, Tonja Cash ( Jimmy); son, Randy Cash ( Cindy) seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Cash is preceded in death by her parents; husband, William Ira Cash; daughter, Wanda Elizabeth Cash; son, Jeff Collins; and, sister, Emmaline Agan.
The funeral arrangements for Mrs. Charlotte Redden Cash were held on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the Gammage Funeral Home with Rev. Jerome Smith and Rev. Rozelle Sanders officiating.
Interment followed in the Northview Cemetery.
The family of Mrs. Cash received family and friends on Thursday morning, Feb. 15, 2018 prior to the funeral hour at the Gammage Funeral Home.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Macky Agan, Robbie Collins, Jamie Collins, Michael Collins, Tim Ayers and Ken Ayers. Honorary pallbearers were: Adam Wright, Hayden Wright, Jayden Wright and Chance Brown.
Messages of condolence can be made to the family by signing the online guestbook at gammagefh. com.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mrs. Charlotte Redden Cash.
Ms. Marcia Whitman Swan, age 66, of Rockmart, passed away Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in a Rome medical center following several months of declining health.
She was born in Paulding County on June 22, 1951 a daughter of the late Preston Whitman and Pauline Causey Whitman.
Ms. Swan had lived all of her life in the Rockmart and Aragon area. She was a member of the Lakeview Baptist Church and a former employee of Shaw Industries.
She loved her family especially her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Rebecca Lynn (Becki) Presley and a brother, Gerald Whitman.
Survivors include a daughter, Shea Camp (Dennis), Rockmart; son, Chuck Swan, Aragon; three grand- children: J.T. Camp (Emily), Cherie Swan and Wesley Camp; step-grandson, Steven Camp (Kristina); stepgranddaughter, Taylor Camp and a great-granddaughter, Lakelyn Camp; sister, Sherry Schmelzer, Rockmart; brother-in-law, Dean Presley, Rockmart; sister-in-law, Dixie Whitman, Dallas; a number of nieces, nephew and cousins; and special friends, Ruth Dunn and Kay Streetman.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 15, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home with Rev. Johnny Sisson officiating.
Interment followed in the Oak Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers included: J.T. Camp, Steven Camp, Wesley Camp, Tony McGee, Josh Whitman, and Marlin Tant. Travis Causey, Billy Causey, and Loren Hulsey served as an honorary pallbearers.
The Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements for the funeral of Ms Marcia Whitman Swan.
Mrs. Mary Welchel Porter, age 70 of Piedmont, Ala., formerly of Cedartown, passed away on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.
She was born on Feb. 23, 1947 in Cedartown, the daughter of the late Randolph Welchel and Velma Carter Hendrix.
Mrs. Porter is survived by her sisters, Barbara Hollingsworth and Vicki Richardson (Johnny Cheatwood); brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Brenda Welchel and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Porter is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Floyd Porter.
The funeral arrangements for Mrs. Mary Porter were held on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Gammage Funeral Home with Rev. Roger Keenam officiating and Mr. Jimmy Welchel providing the eulogy.
Interment followed in the Polk Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family of Mrs. Porter received family and friends on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 prior the funeral hour at the Gammage Funeral Home.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Jimmy Welchel, Dale Lee, Jeremy Richardson, Jacob Cheatwood, Travis Chapman and Marvin Chapman.
Messages of condolence can be made to the family by signing the online guestbook at gammagefh. com.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mrs. Mary Welchel Porter.
Mr. Michael Wayne Porterfield, age 47, of Cedartown, passed away on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 following a lengthy battle of cancer.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1970 in East Point, the son of the late John Billy Porterfield and present Barbara Dooley Porterfield.
Mr. Porterfield was an active Navy man for 6 years. He served as a veteran of Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and later was in the Reserves.
He was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church.
Mr. Porterfield is survived by his mother, Barbara Dooley Porterfield; uncle and aunt, Larry and Patti Dooley; grandmother, Mabel Gossett Dooley; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Porterfield is preceded in death by his father, John Billy Porterfield.
Per the family’s wishes, there will be a private service held for Mr. Porterfield.
The family has respectfully requested that flowers are to be omitted and donations can be made to the Oak Grove Cemetery Commission, c/ o: Larry Dooley, 636 Cherokee Road, Cedartown, Ga.,30125.
Messages of condolence can be made to the family by signing the online guestbook at gammagefh. com.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mr. Michael Wayne Porterfield.
OBITUARIES
LAS VEGAS — Marty Allen, the baby-faced, bugeyed comedian with wild black hair who was a staple of TV variety shows, game shows and talk shows for decades, died at the age of 95 of complications from pneumonia.
Allen, known for his greeting and catchphrase “hello dere,” was a living link late in life to a generation of long-dead superstars with whom he shared a stage, including Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne and Elvis Presley.
He first found fame as half of the duo Allen & Rossi with partner Steve Rossi, who died in 2014. Allen & Rossi appeared 44 times on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” including the episodes where the Beatles performed and most of America watched.
“Everyone remembers those shows with The Beatles, and they were great, but we appeared on all the shows,” Allen said in 2014. “There wasn’t a talk show on TV that didn’t want Allen & Rossi.”
The duo appeared regularly on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” and “The Merv Griffin Show.” They also toured comedy clubs nationwide, headlined shows at major Las Vegas casinos and released a series of hit albums until their amicable breakup in 1968. Allen then took on a series of serious roles on daytime television and made-forTV movies, and was a regular on “The Hollywood Squares” and other celebrity-themed game shows.
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried tweeted, “Farewell to one of the funniest people onstage and off.”
Allen was born in Pittsburgh and served in Italy in the Army Air Corps in World War II, earning a Soldier’s medal for valor.
He kept making crowds laugh into his mid-90s.
“It’s unbelievable to be 94 years old,” Marty Allen told a New York audience in 2016. “My wife says, ‘What do you want for your birthday?’ I told her, ‘An antique.’ So she framed my birth certificate.”