Obituaries - G Surnames

Darlington: The little child of Mr Gacum that was seriously burned died Wednesday at 11 o'clock after intense suffering.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, 25 Feb 1911; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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Allie Mae Gainey, age 88, of Cottondale, passed away Wednesday, Feb 3, 1999 at the Washington County Convalescent Center. She was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church.

Funeral service was held on Feb 5 at the Chapel of Brown Funeral Home. Burial followed in the Piney Grove Cemetery with Brown Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her son: Ford Gainy (sic) of Chipley; daughters: Annette Foster of Savannah, Georgia and Montez Friedman of Stone Mountain, Georgia; sister: Edna Dilmore of Alford, Florida; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/ Washington County Post, 10 Feb 1999, Page 18

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Foul Murder on the West Side:

Ed Shirley Shot and Killed by Woodie Gates Last Friday at Brown's Still: Last Friday afternoon, a negro, Ed Shirley, shot and killed Woodie Gates, colored, thus adding one more to the list of murders in Holmes county.

The murder was committed in the woods near H H Brown's naval stores camp, about fourteen miles north of Westville. It was while Gates was at work that Shirley, armed with Gates's own shotgun, slipped upon him and shot him in the back, killing him instantly. Gates's wife, Classie, is charged with being accessory to the murder. Out of infidelity to her husband and too much admiration for Shirley the trouble came, and she demanded that Shirley put her husband out of the way. It is alleged that the job did not appeal strongly to Shirley till Classie took her husband's old shotgun down and told Shirley, it is reported, if he didn't put Gates out of the way she would kill them both. Thus impelled, Shirley took the gun and did murder as above stated.

Deputy Sheriff R A Brown arrested Shirley and the woman and took them before Justice of the Peace, T R McDonald, who committed them to jail. Sheriff Hickman went and brought them to Bonifay where they languish in the iron cells of the county bastile (sic).

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, 29 Jul 1911; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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Mr Petras Gedvila, age 92 of Bonifay, passed away Feb 22, 1999 at Mariner Health of Bonifay.

Funeral service was held on Feb 25 at St Theresa Catholic Church in Sunny Hills with Father Izidorious Gedvila officiating. Burial followed in the Calvary Cemetery with Peel Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife Genie Sarapinaite Gedvila of Bonifay and daughter Elena Rapkauskiene of Druskininkai, Lithuania.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 3 March 1999, Page 21

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A Sad Death:

The untimely death of John A George, which sad event occurred in our town on Tuesday morning of last week, came as a severe shock to his many friends in this city and other places where he was known.

Mr George came to Bonifay about six weeks ago and was connected with the D Hughes Mercantile Company. During this brief space of six weeks he had won, by his gentlemanly conduct, instinct and courteous attention to business, the admiration and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He was a young man strong in mind, character and body, and the only alleviation of the force of the blow is the knowledge that he died as he lived, a Christian.

The remains were interred in the Valley cemetery.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, Oct 31, 1908

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Doings Around Dady:

On July 12th, at his home near Dady, Mr Ambrose Gillman died. He was born in Bibb county, GA, October 1938, and came to this county about 10 years ago and has since lived here. After more than two months suffering, which he bore with quiet submission and implicit trust, came the end of his long and useful career. He was a most loyal and devoted member of the Missionary Baptist church and was rarely absent up to his late illness. About fifteen years ago, he was made a Deacon in the church at Leonia, and he has filled the with tidelity and universal satisfaction. He leaves a wife and several children to mourn his demise, to whom we extend our heartfelt sympathy.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, July 18, 1908

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Lavada Bernice Gilmore, nine-year-old daughter of Rosa Gilmore of Bonifay, passed away Feb 16, 1999 in the Doctors Memorial Hospital in Bonifay. She was a 3rd grade student at Bonifay Elementary School.

Funeral service was held Feb 20 at Mt Zion Baptist Church in Bonifay with the Rev Henry Taylor, the Rev R E Hudson, and the Rev Joe Harmon officiating. Interment followed in the Bonifay Cemetery with Cooper Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include her mother Rosa Gilmore Russ of Bonifay; brothers Franklin Russ II and Jason Lavar Jennings, both of Bonifay and many other relatives and friends.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 24 February 1999, Page 21

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Committed Suicide:

Frank E Gipson, a printer in the Herald office at DeFuniak, took his own life Wednesday noon at the Towers hotel while the other boarders were at dinner. A razor was the instrument used in committing the awful deed, with which he cut his throat from ear to ear.

Gipson had been on several sprees recently but was apparently alright on Wednesday. No cause was given for the horrible tragedy. He was from South Carolina.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, Dec 12, 1908

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Juanita Belvia Given, age 84, of Port St Joe went to be with her creator on Wednesday, March 3, 1999, surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services were held on March 5 at the Chapel of Brown Funeral Home with the Rev David Fernandez officiating. Burial followed in the Dykes Cemetery in Greenhead with Brown Funeral Home of Chipley directing.

Survivors include her son William Given and wife Lisa of White City, Florida; sister Ruth Odom and husband John; grandchildren Dickie Whitfield and Dawn and her husband Mike Kirkland, all of Vernon; Darrell Whitfield and wife Lisa of Moline, Illinois; Carolyn Thomas of Dothan, Alabama; Keith Jones and his wife Jill; Jennifer Sheffield and her husband Charlie, all of Port St Joe, Florida; four great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, 10 March 1999, Page 19

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Ponce de Leon:

We regret to note the death of Mr M M Glass which sad event occurred Wednesday. He had been in bath health for some time and his death was not unexpected. We extend to the bereaved our deepest sympathy.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, 26 Aug 1911; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp

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Prosperity.

Grandfather Peacock was laid to rest in the Camp Ground cemetery last Sunday in the presence of a host of sorrowing relatives and friends.

The little son of Bud Gomillion died last Thursday after only a few hours of sickness and was buried in the Camp Ground cemetery Friday. It is thought the child got poisoned from a dose thrown into the yard for the dog. We think that the authorities ought to look after and try to put a stop to such dangerous acts.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Friday, May 21, 1915
Transcribed by Mona Spears, March 1999

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Charles V Gomillion, age 72 of Bonifay, passed away Saturday morning, Dec 26, 1998 in the Sun Coast Hospital in Largo, Florida, after an extended illness.

Mr Gomillion was born in Westville, Florida, but was reared in Bonifay. He formerly lived in Largo and Dunellon, Florida, before returning to Bonifay in 1994. Mr Gomillion was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bonifay and was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of the VFW Post #4252 in Hernando, Florida and also the USS Pittsburgh CA72 Association. Mr Gomillion was retired from Pinellas County as the Survey Party Chief in the Engineering Department.

Graveside funeral services were held Dec 29 at the Memory Hill Cemetery in Dothan, Alabama with Dr Austin Phillips officiating and Holman-Headland Mortuary directing. A memorial service was held Dec 29 in the First Baptist Church of Bonifay with the Rev David Lauen officiating.

Mr Gomillion was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Lee Gomillion and Nancy Ellen Calbert Gomillion.

Survivors include a son: James C Gomillion and his wife, Lindy F Gomillion of Largo, Florida; sister: Robert Newsom Kelly and her husband, Charlie Kelly of Dothan, Alabama; niece: Lynn Sanders and her husband, Larry Sanders of Cairo, Georgia; nephew: Jimmy Newsom and his wife, Sharon Newsome, of Dothan, Alabama; aunt: Lou Sellers of Westville, Florida and several cousins.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post - Wednesday, January 6, 1999, Page 19

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Lillie Grantham, age 79 of Wausau, passed away at her home on Monday, Nov 16.

She lived all of her life in Wausau.

Funeral services were held at graveside at Wausau Memorial Gardens Thursday, Nov 19 at 11 a m with the Rev Lloyd Lykins officiating.

Burial following in the Wausau Memorial Gardens with Brown Funeral Home directing.

She was preceded in death by daughter Lunell Smelcer of Wausau. She is survived by children: Lena Raulerson of Crawfordville, Lurine Skompski of Panama City, Luverne Jenkins of New Hope, Louise Pelache of Panama City, Loyal Grantham of Crawfordville, Lamar Grantham of Wausau; may grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and sister Doshie Carter of Wausau.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post - Wednesday, November 25, 1998; Page 11

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Dady: The little girl of Mr Charley Grayson who was so badly burned about two weeks ago, died last Friday and was buried at Leonia.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay FL, Saturday, 25 Feb 1911; transcribed by Cathy Strickland Popp.

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Death of Mrs. Sarah Green

Entire Community Shocked When news Became Known. Interment In Euchee Valley

The hearts of many people were shocked and saddened early last Sunday evening when the news was given out that Mr. Sarah Green had died very suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. B. Hammond, in this city.

Mrs. Green came to Bonifay on Saturday afternoon to visit her children and to attend services at the Presbyterian church which she did at the 11:00 o'clock hour. After the service she went to the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. B. Hammond, where she partook of the usual noon meal. About three o'clock preparations were being made for her return home to Darlington. She had gone to place some things in the automobile, while her daughter was in the yard gathering some of her favorite flowers which she wished to take along. As they were returning into the house she became faint and was assisted to bed and medical aid was immediately summoned. Her condition was not considered serious as she was soon able to tale freely with those about her, but about seven o'clock she appeared slightly nauseated and raised up to vomit and without a moments notice or warning of as to her true condition fell back dead, the way she had often expressed the wish that she might pass out.

On Monday afternoon the remains were taken to Euchee Valley cemetery by auto, followed by several other cars taking relatives and friends from Bonifay. At the cemetery a large crowd had already gathered from all sections of the country to pay a last sad tribute to the memory of the deceased. The services were conducted in the church by Rev. R. Q. Baker, a life-long friend and pastor, assisted by Revs J. W. West and J. W. Register. Appropriate hymns were beautifully rendered by a quartet composed of Mrs. Nannie Sowell, Miss May Vick Boyle, Judge A. G. Campbell and Mr. Burdick. The many and beautiful floral designs attested in a small way the great esteem at which she was held.

Deceased had reached the age of 72, having been born in Euchee Valley in 1843. Her parents and grandparents were among the first white settlers in the Euchee Valley community, having settled there while Florida was but a territory. Deceased is survived by five sons and two daughters, W. S. Green, of Argyle, D. L. Green, of this city, M. G. Green and H. L. Green, of Ponce de Leon, Angus Green of Darlington, Mrs. M. M Owens and Mrs. W. B. Hammond, of his city, also seven brothers and two sisters, Chas. Douglass, of Westville, D. D. Douglass, of Pensacola, Angus Douglass, of Ponce de Leon, John Douglass, of Argyle, H. A. Douglass of DeFuniak Springs, Ed Douglass of Freeport, W. M. Douglass, of Laurel Hill, Mrs. Jas. McLean, of DeFuniak Springs and Mrs. J. l. Campbell, of Chipley. Mrs. Green was a most devoted member of the Presbyterian church (line missing on page) ing and lovable attributes of her sex. None ever entered her home without a warm welcome nor left without feeling the warmth of a genuine hospitality, so characteristic of the people of her ancestry. Truly, her mortal career was closed with the fitting inscription "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

The heartfelt sympathy of the entire community it extended the bereaved family, their great grief is in the common grief of every citizen of this section.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser, Bonifay, Florida, Friday, May 21, 1915
Transcribed by Mona Spears, March 1999

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Wilbur Ray "Bill" Griswell, age 75, of Graceville, died Friday, Jan 1, 1999 at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan Alabama. He was born Nov 4, 1923 in Geneva County, Alabama and lived the early years of his life in Slocomb, Alabama. He was a veteran of Word War II having served in the U S Navy. Mr Griswell resided in Slocomb, Alabama prior to moving to Graceville in 1969. He was former owner and operator of Griswell Auto and Electric for 30 years prior to his retirement in 1989.

Funeral service was Jan 5 at Union Baptist Church with the Rev Steve Rodgers officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery with Byrd-Williams Funeral Home directing.

Survivors includes his sons: Steve Griswell, Wayne Griswell, Ronald Griswell and Jeffery Griswell, all of Graceville; daughters: Patricia Waldron of Graceville, Janice Register of Graceville, Debbie Stancil of Orlando, Joyce McMillian of Fitzgerald, Georgia; 20 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister: Ruth Carroll of Slocomb, Alabama; along with several nieces and nephews.

Source: Holmes County Advertiser/Washington County Post - Wednesday, January 6, 1999, Page 19

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