Funeral services for Mrs. Rosetta Odom Harmon of Cordele, Georgia will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church, Montezuma, Georgia with Reverend Bobby J. Brown officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery.

Rosetta Virginia Odom Harmon was born March 4, 1928 to the parentage of the late Mr. Curry Odom and Mrs. Kittie Mae Harvey Odom. At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and became a member of New Hope Baptist Church. She transcended from labor to an everlasting life of  peace and rest on June 19, 2017. She is preceded in death by her brother, Mr. Timothy Odom, Sr., and her sisters, Mrs. Eria O. Johnson, Mrs. Mollye O. Hankerson, and Mrs. Amye O. Marshall.

She received her high school diploma from Georgia Baptist College in Macon, Georgia; and continued her education at Albany State College, and later The Fort Valley State College graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics, with minors in both General Science and Elementary Education. She matriculated at Tuskegee University, the University of Cincinnati, and Xavier University for graduate studies.  Rosetta began her teaching career in Jefferson County, Georgia, teaching Home Economics for 6 years. She then taught 10 years at Dennis Fulton Douglas High School in Montezuma, Georgia teaching Elementary Education, Biology, and General Science. She continued her teaching career in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving the children of the Cincinnati Public School District until her retirement in 1986.

Rosetta lived a life enveloped in beauty and marked by love. She had many varied interests and talents, among which were: sewing, interior and exterior decorating, cooking, and entertaining. Much like her sisters, Rosetta was an avid, award winning gardener. She never missed an opportunity to give of herself to others, a virtue she exercised freely at her church, the Union Baptist Church, of Cincinnati, Ohio. She extended that love to her co-workers at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, adopting Polly Dews and Shellie Anderson as her daughters.

Rosetta was united in holy matrimony to the late Arthur W. Harmon, Sr. in 1985. With this union, Rosetta gained 5 children, whom she loved as her own: Joyce Murphy (James, deceased), Yvonne Henry (Ronald), Marilyn Davis, Arthur Jr., and Elaine Staples (Al). These children and their children filled Rosetta and Arthur’s home with love, laughter and memories. Rosetta opened her heart and became a grandmother and great-grandmother; celebrating every milestone, birthday, graduation and holiday with her signature smile and gracious spirit.

In the wake of her enormous life, she leaves to cherish her memory and uphold her legacy her brother, Mr. Willie James Odom (Norma, deceased), her sister-in-law, Mrs. Alberta Odom, her brother-in-law, Mr. Marvin Johnson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and loved ones. In her latter years, she resided in the Fellowship Homes at Cordelia Manor in Cordele, Georgia. Rosetta again showed the strength of her character, participating in social activities and making new friends. She began a bible study group for the other residents, and would often pray with and for staff members any and everywhere she encountered them. She was cared for by her niece, Mrs. Vivian O. Breed, along with her other nieces and nephews. The staff of the Pruitt Health Hospice of Cordele took exceptional care of her in her final days.

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 Funeral services for Mr. James Laster will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Big Bethel Baptist Church with Rev. Calvin Rollins officiating. Burial will follow at the Eastview Cemetery

James Laster was born December 2, 1952 to the late Jerry and Beatrice Laster in Americus, Sumter County, Georgia.  He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County, Georgia.  He was employed by Warren Scott for over 20 years. On Sunday, June 11, 2017, while a patient at Vitas Healthcare, Stratford, NJ, he peacefully slipped away.  He was preceded in death by three brothers: Junior Laster, Jessie Laster and Donnell Laster; three sisters: Estella Laster, Bessie Mae Laster Poole and Evelyn Johnson; four uncles: Oscar (New Jersey) James, Fort Myers) Walter (Georgia) and Joe (New Jersey); seven aunts: Estella Sims and Margie (Mott), Ola Laster, Reddings NJ. Lillie Mae Laster Zolfo Springs, Florida, Pearl Bogan, NJ, Beulah Ford, Ft. Laudel FL and Lillie Mae Hopkins, Pompo Beach FL; one sister-in-law Claraetha Laster; one niece, Dawn Laster, one Nephew, Emory Laster.

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife, Shelrine Johnson Laster, Americus, Georgia; four loving devoted daughters: Alberta Mitchell Americus, Georgia, Jamesa Paul, Jamerra Paul and Evylese Bratton of New Jersey; one granddaughter Jamya Evans, NJ;  two sisters: Valerie Laster and her life partner, Stanley Bouldin; Americus, Georgia and Betty Sue Combs Americus, Georgia; one brother, Leon Laster (Porsha) Mt. Laurel NJ; one aunt, Mrs. Essie Laster, Americus, Georgia;   one brother-in-law, Joe Johnson Americus, Georgia; two sisters-in-law: Clara Laster Browns Mills NJ and Easter Laster, Albany Georgia;  seven nieces: Evelyn Harris, Valerie Bouldin, Phyllis Whitterspoon, Michell Laster, Bessie Laster, NJ., Beatrice Jackson Americus, Georgia and Latoya Fairell, Augusta Georgia;  nine nephews; Jerry Junior Laster, Donnell Laster, Malik Laster, Douglas Wright (Tamerria) NJ, John Wright (Ursula) Americus, Georgia and Leon C. Sims, Americus, Ga, Leonard Laster, Antron Laster Albany Georgia; four devoted friends; Susie Johnson, Patricia Josey, and Annette Foster Americus, Georgia and, Donna Carnival, NJ. A host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends survive.

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Mr. Willie Williams, Jr. of Americus, Georgia died on Friday, June 9, 2017 at his residence on Lafayette Street in Americus, Georgia. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at the Eastview Church of Christ with Minister James Williams officiating. Burial will follow at the Andersonville National Cemetery.

Willie Williams, Jr was born on August 15, 1964 in El Paso, Texas to the late Willie Williams Sr. and the late Thelma Yearby Williams. He was the grandson of the late Tom Yearby Sr, Leslie Yearby, and the late Johnny Williams and Elmira Williams all of Americus Georgia. Willie was a 1982 graduate of Americus High School after graduation he enlisted into the U.S Army.  After faithfully serving his country, Willie chose the profession of being a truck driver. Willie being known by the some as “Baby Maker” drove for a number of years at Danfair Oil Company. At the time of an untimely illness, “Baby Maker” was employed by Williams Dairy Trucking.

Willie leaves to cherish his memory a devoted friend of 27 years, Rosa Kendrick; one sister, Ms. Valerie S. Williams; his children: Jarvis R Williams, D’atrah S. Mann, Demisha S. Williams (Freddie Carson, Jr) and JaLinda Smith all of Americus, Georgia; his step-children: NY’Sheka Sims, Courtney Sims, Stanbon Sims, Jasmine Sims( Corey Hicks), Maiyonna Kendrick and Devonya King; step grandchildren: Ja’Coreyen Hicks, Ny’King Sims, Joanna Major, Kason Sims, and Rubee Banks; one aunt, Ms. Celestine Yearby, and one uncle, Tom Yearby Jr, all of Americus Georgia; three truly loving friends: Lafayette Banks, Calvin Colbert and Reginald Merritt. Devoted cousin, Nile Yearby Sr. God parents Thomas and Betty Bell. Several other relatives and friends also survive.

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Mrs. Christine Tookes of Americus, Georgia died on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at the Phoebe-Sumter Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at Perry B. Grove Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia with Bishop A. Rushin officiating.

Mrs. Christine Tookes was born in Sumter County, Georgia on January 10, 1954 to the late Tommy Robinson and the late Mary Green. She received her education from the Americus City School System. She was preceded in death by six siblings: Robert Earl Moore, Jr., Eugene Whitehead, Johnny Robinson, Clara Tyson, Willie Lee White, and Sammy White.

She leaves to cherish her memory two children: Crystal Tookes of Americus, Georgia and Leonard Tookes, Jr. of Florida; three sisters: Shirleen Johnson of Plains, Georgia, Barbara Ann Morgan of Plains, Georgia, Dorothy Dowdell of Desoto, Georgia; four brothers: Willie Barker {Silvia}, Walter Moore of Americus, Georgia, Robert Lee Davis of Millen, Georgia and Jonathan Wallace (Sabrina) of Jacksonville, Florida; two loving godchildren: Shynise Roberts and Tiffany Burt; a devoted friend Frannie Mitchell of Florida. Several other relatives and friends also survive.

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