Jesse MacDowell Sellers Jr.
Jesse MacDowell Sellers Jr. passed away Sunday morning, April 2, 2017. He was 92.
He was born in Chatsworth, Ga. and was the son of the late Jesse McDowell Sellers and Clara Belle Moore Sellers.
He was a graduate of Murray County High School, Chatsworth, Ga. and matriculated to Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, N. C. While at Mars Hill, he interrupted his studies and joined the U.S. Navy where he was stationed in San Diego, Calif. during World War II. He completed his undergraduate degree and enrolled at Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. During the completion of his education, he also enrolled in the U.S. Army reserves and continued to serve his country. Upon receipt of his Juris Doctorate degree from Mercer University, Mr. Sellers entered into private practice, and was also elected as a City Court Judge in LaFayette, Ga. While in private practice, his Reserve Unit was activated and Mr. Sellers served as a JAG officer in Korea and received the Army Commendation of Honor and a Bronze Star. Upon returning home, he met and married Saralyn Long, of Chattanooga, Tenn. in 1955 and shortly thereafter accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Justice in Miami, Fla. His career trajectory took he and his family to Atlanta, Ga., San Antonio, Texas and Denver, Colo. and culminated in his appointment as an Immigration Judge in 1976. He worked on a number of key issues including the Iranian Crisis and Mariel Boatlift, and also served on the The Board of Immigration Appeals. He remained on the bench until retiring in 1991. He remained an Army reservist throughout his career and retired from the reservists in 1981.
Judge Sellers and his wife enjoyed many years of extensive travel that took them all over the world and included Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, Mexico, South America and Turkey.
He enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life such as gardening, history, fishing, foreign languages, politics, sailing and volunteering. His biggest interest was his family. In 2003, he and his wife relocated to Amelia Island, Fla. to be near family and were active members of the community. A man of deep and quiet faith, Mac had served as an elder and most recently belonged to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Martha Jones, Gadsen, Ala.
Survivors include: His wife of almost 62 years, Saralyn Sellers, Jacksonville, Fla.; their children, Charles (Kim), Littleton, Colo., Kimberly (Harold), Centreville, Va. and Marc (Tammy), Jacksonville, Fla. and five grandchildren, Rachel, Naomi, Callie, Jackson and Adeline; sister, Ruth Connell of Durham, N.C.; nieces and a nephew.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Oxley Heard and a reception will be held following the services on Thursday in Burns Hall at St. Peter’s Church.
Funeral service: Thursday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach with the Reverend Rector Stephen Mazingo officiating.
Judge Sellers will be laid to rest with full military honors in St. Peter’s Episcopal Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at oxleyheard.com
Arrangements: Oxley – Heard Funeral Directors.
Tony Wallin, 53, LaFayette
Tony Wallin, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Monday, April 3, 2017. He was 53.
A native of LaFayette, Tony attended LaFayette High School and spent his working career as a pipefitter.
He was an artist and inventor by heart and was always inventing gadgets. Tony had a passion for music and laser light shows. He will be missed by all but especially by his daughter and granddaughter whom he loved profoundly.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Wallin.
Survivors include: his daughter, Kyla Wallin; granddaughter, Dalila Wallin; mother, Fannie Loggins Reeves; sister, Sandra (Victor) Jordan; brothers, Danny Wallin and Randy (Denise) Wallin; niece, Kelsey Jordan; nephew, Austin (Hillary) Wallin.
Visitation: Thursday from 6 p.m. until time of service.
Memorial service: Thursday, April 6 at 8 p.m. in the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Mary Ann Perry, 55, Chickamauga
Mary Ann Perry, of Chickamauga, Ga., passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 55.
Mary was extremely active in her community, she became a member of Walker County CERT in 2005, served as president of CERT from 2008 to present. Mary was a member of Walker County Sheriff’s Citizen Academy in 2012. Mary was also active in the Red Cross and was known for various other volunteer activities.
She is preceded in death by her child, Katie Rae Cline; her parents Clarence and Marie Jefferies and siblings, Joe Jefferies and Doris Wolford.
Survivors include: her husband, Johnny Perry and two children, her devoted daughter Robbi L. Cline and her son Dustin Johnson; two grandchildren, Heidi Jo and Marley Johnson; her siblings, Patsy Bruce, Marjorie Powell, Brenda Dickson and two brothers, Dan and Terry Jefferies.
It must be mentioned that Mary had several wonderful friends that meant so much to her. Many thanks to Jody Payne, Nadine Gilliland, David Ashburn and the Carroll Family. Finally, the family would like to thank Hospice of Chattanooga for the care given to Mary during her illness.
Visitation: Tuesday, April 4, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home-J. Avery Bryan Chapel, Chickamauga.
Chadwick “Chad” Byron Stone, 48, Old Fort, Tenn.
Chadwick “Chad” Byron Stone, of Old Fort, Tenn., passed away Sunday, April 2, 2017. He was 48.
A native of Ringgold, Ga., he lived in the Old Fort area since 1999.
He was a former employee of Cleveland Tire and was of the Baptist faith.
He is preceded in death by his father, Bernard Byron Stone and brother, Anthony “Tony” Stone.
Survivors include: his ex-wife and best friend, Linda Stone of Cleveland, Tenn.; two daughters, Rena Stone of Old Fort, Tenn. and Casey Stone of Cleveland, Tenn.; mother, Joyce Johnson Gresham of Bryant, Ala.; sister, Joy Howard of Old Fort, Tenn.; four grandchildren; one niece.
Visitation: Tuesday from 12-4 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service: Tuesday, April 4, at 4 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Dennis Chambers officiating.
Burial: Burning Bush Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home Wallis-Stewart Chapel Ringgold.
Lula Drucilla Whaley Brown, 83, LaFayette
Lula Drucilla Whaley Brown, of LaFayette, Ga., went to be with her Lord and Savior at Pruitt Health Care, Shepherd Hills Monday, April 3, 2017. She was 83. Drucilla was born on April 2, 1934, to the late John A. and Venice Hixon Williams.
She was a member of the LaFayette Revival Center.
Drucilla was a loving mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and sister.
After a time at Barwick Mills she was the office manager and safety inspector for Danny’s Auto Sales. She was also known for having a passion for helping others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Brown; grandson, Greg Smith; great-granddaughter, Madison Roberts; sisters, Stella Hurst, Zula Snyder, Frances DeBord, Lillie Fincher, Almarie Pittman, Hazel Lindsey, Ellen Littlejohn and Annie Bell Gray; brothers, Alex Williams and Ottie Williams.
Survivors include: daughters, Darlene (Pastor Marion) Webb of Cedar Bluff, Ala., Debbie (Gene) Guffey, Lisa (Mike) Day, and Teresa (Johnny) Scoggins all of LaFayette; sons, Ricky (Susie) Brown of LaFayette and Danny Brown of Rossville; brother, John Elmer Williams of LaFayette; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Tuesday, from 6-8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, from noon until service time.
Funeral service: Wednesday, April 5 at 4 p.m. in the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Marion Webb, Pastor Alan Horne and Pastor Chris Spears officiating.
Burial: Chattooga Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Duke Guffey, Zachary Bishop, Jason O’Neal, Ruben Gaskey, Gary DeBord, Ross Vecchio and Stanley Gray.
Honorary pallbearers: Johnny Scoggins, Gene Guffey, Nick Grant, Derrick Daniel and Chase Grim.
Online guestbook available at walliswilbanksfuneralhome. com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Johnnie Mae Parton Trotter, 81, Ringgold
Johnnie Mae Parton Trotter, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Monday, April 3, 2017, at her residence. She was 81.