The Funeral Service for Ms. Sandra Ogburn of Montezuma, Georgia will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Union Baptist Church, Norris Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Interment will follow at Champ Waters Cemetery, Montezuma, Georgia.

Sandra Faye Ogburn was born July 12, 1949, in Montezuma, Georgia to the late Johnnie and Mandy McCants Ogburn. She grew up in Montezuma and attended the public schools of the county. As a student at D.F. Douglass High School, she played basketball and was a member of the Marching Hornet Band. Sandra graduated in the class of 1968.

At an early age, Sandra decided to be a faithful servant of God, choosing to fellowship with Him, and to be active in the church. She served on the Usher’s Ministry at Union Baptist Church and always supported the church as an active member.  

Ms. Ogburn worked at Southern Frozen Foods for most of her adult life. She had a great passion for planting flowers and beautifying her yard. She made beautiful memories and shared many laughs with those she knew and loved.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, our Heavenly Father said “Well done faithful and loyal servant. It’s time to come with me”. She was preceded in death by Rosa Taylor, Carvin Ogburn, Johnnie B. Ogburn, Perry Ogburn, Lizzie Ogburn-Clayton, Timothy Ogburn, Mary Ogburn, Annette Ogburn-Anderson, Marylin Ogburn-Thomas, and Larry Ogburn.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her two sons: Corey Ogburn (Annie Hooten) of Montezuma, Georgia and Dexter Ogburn (Pamela McDonald) of Warner Robins, Georgia; her siblings: Sharon Ogburn of Montezuma, Georgia, Otis Ogburn (Lillie) of Macon, Georgia, Carolyn Anderson, and Charles Ogburn of Miami, FL; her grandchildren: Corey Ogburn II and Shamiracle Faye Ogburn; devoted friends: Willie Smith, Cheryl Law, and Bertha Mae Barron; devoted niece, Fannie Bailey; a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

To view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below.

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The Funeral Service for Mrs. Melba Neal of Montezuma, Georgia will be held Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Union Baptist Church, Norris Street, Montezuma, Georgia. Interment will follow at noon at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia.

Mrs. Melba Dianne Harrison Neal, daughter of the late Russell T. Harrison and Clara Mae Porter-Harrison, was born on June 20, 1939, in Montezuma, Georgia. She was a 1958 graduate of Macon County Training School. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Union Baptist Church where she was a cherished and dedicated member.

Melba was united in holy matrimony to Deacon Ollie Jewel Neal II in August of 1960. To this union four children were born. Melba was a devoted wife and mother. Mrs. Neal was employed at Macon County Elementary School and was lovingly adored by faculty, staff, and students. She was a loyal and true friend. Her most proud accomplishment was the family whom she loved immensely.

Mrs. Melba Neal quietly departed this life Wednesday, April 26, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband Ollie J. Neal and her siblings: Russell T. Harrison Jr., Mary Harrison, and Sara Clark.

Her remarkable life will forever live in the hearts of her children: Kimberly Larry, a very devoted daughter and Rodney J. Neal both of Montezuma, Georgia, Cassandra J. Neal of Atlanta, Georgia, and Sherry L. Velez (Luis) of Ruskin, Florida; her loving sisters: Evelyn Harmon of Oglethorpe, Georgia and Patricia Council of Montezuma, Georgia; her brother-in-law, Terry Brown of Montezuma, Georgia; her seven grandchildren: Geoffrey L. Larry II and Nicholas J. Larry both of Montezuma, Georgia, Clarissa D. Durden (Jimmy) of McDonough, Georgia, Kelsse J. Neal (Tywon) of Forest Park, Georgia, Sharmillian E. Larry (Christopher Sr.) of Montezuma, Georgia, Nadia P. Velez (Randy) of Ruskin, Florida, and Justin J. Velez of Atlanta, Georgia; a multitude of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

To view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below or watch on our Facebook page.

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Darnell Brown known to the community and his friends as simply “Pitbull”, was born in Macon County, Georgia to the Late Claude Lee "Bubba" Brown and Jane Haugabook Brown on June 30, 1952. Pitbull lived in Macon County the majority of his life, where he met and married his wife, Lorine Walters. From this union, Pitbull's legacy lives on.

He attended D.F. Douglass High School and later joined the United States Army as a Ground Surveillance Radar Crewman for three years in Germany. Upon his return from Germany, Pitbull became Macon County's area mechanic. His fun-loving attitude always brought light to any dark room.

On April 20, 2023, at St. Francis-Emory Hospital in Columbus, Georgia, while battling a longtime illness, the angels came down and called Pitbull home. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Cornell Brown and John L. Brown, and one sister, Janie Lee Edwards.

The Funeral Service for Darnell Brown will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Brown Chapel Baptist Church, Hwy 224, Montezuma, Georgia. 

He leaves cherished memories with his wife, Lorine Brown of Oglethorpe, Georgia; five children: Gary Brown of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Kevin Brown of Hanover, Maryland, Torrence Brown of Oglethorpe, Georgia, Marquavious Turner of Vienna, Georgia and Kim Slaughter (Darryl) of Albany, Georgia; his brother, Emmit Brown of Oglethorpe, Georgia; two sisters: Dollie Brown-Phillips of Montezuma, Georgia and Margaret Johnson (Ronald) of Fort Valley, Georgia; a very special aunt, Annie Claude Tookes of Orlando, Florida; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a host nephews, nieces and friends.

To view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below or watch on our Facebook page.

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The Homegoing Celebration for Evangelist Sarah Bogan of Atlanta, Georgia will be held Friday, April 21, 2023, at noon at New Hope Baptist Church, 8620 State Route 26E, Montezuma, Georgia with Chaplain Juan F. Scott officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation for Evangelist Bogan will be at the church from 11:00 a.m. until noon.

Ms. Sarah Bogan was born to CD and Cora Mae Bogan on December 29, 1936, in Byromville, Georgia. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at an early age. Sarah attended school in Dooly County, Georgia. She played basketball throughout school and often reminisced about her many games. She also shared stories of how she earned the nickname Joe Lewis (a heavy weight boxing champion) in school. It wasn’t because she was a fighter, but because she knew how to defend herself. Ms. Bogan talked often about growing up on a farm feeding the animals, milking cows, tending to the hogs, and working from sunup to sundown in the blazing hot sun.

In 1954, Ms. Bogan moved to Atlanta where she lived for a year. She then moved to Chicago where she raised her children with an abundance of love and a strong hand. She prayed for their safety and salvation throughout the years. 

Ms. Bogan recommitted her life to the Lord and became a member of Holy Raiders Revival Church in Chicago. Later, she joined Jesus Word Center where she started the kitchen ministry and cooked food for the church’s neighborhood outreach program. In 2000, Ms. Bogan moved back to Byromville, Georgia where she began evangelizing, often preaching and teaching in various churches throughout the southeast. In 2010, she moved back to Chicago where she became a member of Living Word Christian Center. In 2020, Ms. Bogan relocated to Atlanta until her peaceful transition on April 15, 2023, at 2:05 p.m. surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her son Louis Bogan; three grandchildren: Terrill Bogan, Anthony Bogan, and Tamika Hall; her parents: CD Bogan and Cora Mae Bogan; her siblings: Bertha Singleton, Mary Bogan, Eva Mae Wiley, Willie Mae Bogan, Joe CD Bogan, Earnest Bogan, George Bogan, Tommy Bogan, John Bogan, and Robert Bogan.

Evangelist Sarah Bogan leaves a legacy of love and many precious memories with her children: Carolyn Mitchell of Fond Du Lac, WI, Charles Bogan (Theresa) of Chicago, IL, Cora Mae Bogan of Milwaukee, WI, Melvin Bogan of Chicago, IL, Levell Bogan (Michelle) of Steger, IL, Freddie Bogan of Chicago, IL, Bernita Bogan of Atlanta, GA, and Darrell Bogan of Washington, DC; seventeen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

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The Graveside Service for Mr. Charles Edward Gooden of Jacksonville, Florida will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Eastview Cemetery, Ashby Street, Americus, Georgia with Reverend George F. Monts officiating.

Mr. Charles Edward Gooden was born on March 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois to the parentage of the late Dan Gooden and the late Lucy Bell Gainor. He grew up in Sumter County, Georgia and attended Staley High School. After high school, he briefly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Throughout his life, Charles worked various jobs. He was most recently employed at Walmart in Jacksonville, Florida.

Mr. Gooden passed away on April 8, 2023, at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Willis Parthenia Gooden, his parents Lucy Bell Gainor and Dan Gooden, his grandmother Irma Lee Fuller, and his brothers Richard Gainor, Lee Warren Gooden, Danny Gooden, Arthur Goodman, and James Gooden.

He leaves precious memories with his son, Marcus Gooden (loving daughter-in-law, Ediedra) of Marietta, Georgia; his daughters: Felicia Gooden of Macon, Georgia, Cecily Gooden of Americus, Georgia and Lutessa Solomon of McDonough, Georgia; his siblings: Jonathan Gooden of Jacksonville, Florida, Dwight Gooden of Newark, New Jersey, Betty Jones and Mercedes Gooden of St. Petersburg, Florida; devoted sister-in-law, Mildred Gooden of Americus, Georgia; and a host of  loving grandkids, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. 

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The Funeral Service for Mrs. Emma Kate Lowe of Americus, Georgia will be held on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church, Americus, Georgia. Due to COVID-19 concerns, we ask that you MASK UP and continue to practice social distancing for your protection and for the protection of others.

Emma Kate Lowe was born on May 6, 1945, in Sumter County, Georgia to the parentage of the late Berdie Lee Coleman and the late Allen Hall Sr.  She was a member of Triedstone Baptist Church where she served faithfully on the Usher’s Ministry. She found true joy in helping others. Emma Kate served for over twenty years on the executive board of the NAACP until her health declined. She also worked as a trailer attendant for Goodwill Industries. In 1971, she married her soul mate of thirty years, the late Collis Lowe Jr. and to this union three children were born. Mrs. Lowe passed away on April 2, 2023. She was preceded in death by three brothers: Robert Hall, John Hall and Alvin Tommie, and one son, Bruce Hawkins.

She leaves to cherish her memory four loving children: dedicated daughter, Shanekia Lowe-Jackson (Taurus), Collis Lowe III, Cherie Gray (Jamil Burt) all of Americus, Georgia and Gabriel Lowe (Theresa) of Aniston, Alabama; seven grandchildren: Trevyn Gray, Katelyn Burt, Jeremiah Jackson, and Amir Jackson of Americus, Georgia, Anaya Lowe and Jayla Lowe of Aniston, Alabama, and Codaro Campbell of Preston, Georgia; six siblings: Allen Hall Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, devoted sister, Debra Green of Americus, Georgia, Annette Hall of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Mary Hall-Bynes of Michigan, Patricia Edden-Jackson of Americus, Georgia and Sharon Johnson of Macon, Georgia; two nieces: Kathy Rebecca Tommie and Priscilla Walker (William) and one sister-in-law, Lucille Hardy all of Atlanta, Georgia; four dearly devoted cousins: Sharian King and James Hunt of Americus, Georgia along with Ricky King and Arthur King of Atlanta, Georgia. Emma Kate was affectionally cared for and aided by Patricia Rodgers employed by Gentiva Hospice. Faithful friends Mary Mann and Margie Jackson and a host of nieces, cousins, family and friends also survive.  

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