Lifestyle Archive

Claude Lemount Mossburg

Claude Lemount Mossburg, of Albany died Friday, April 20, 2012, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday April 28, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Byne Memorial Baptist Church with military honors. Dr. Matthews Nance will officiate.

A native of Liberty Center, Ind., Mr. Mossburg had resided in Bluffton, Ind. most of his life. Claude graduated from Bluffton High School in 1942 and entered the US. Navy during WW II, he served as a ship’s deck gunner in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He participated in six convoy crossings of the Atlantic, as well as ships’ ports of call in England, Italy, the Azors and Okinawa. After the war, he attended Indiana Technical College under the GI Bill, where he studied engineering. After graduation, he was employed by Franklin Electric Company, where he worked in the drafting department for forty two years.

He was a member of Hope Missionary Church in Bluffton, Ind. and a member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church, Albany. His favorite hobbies included gardening and bowling. He actively bowled in various bowling leagues until he turned 86.

Survivors include his wife, Betty J. Mossburg, Albany, a daughter and her husband, Sandy Wingard and Col. Joe Wingard, USMC (Ret.), Albany, a grandson, Lucus Wingard, Albany and a granddaughter and her husband, Rachel Wingard Rodriquez and Juan Rodriquez, Atlanta.

The family will receive friends following the funeral services at Byne Memorial Baptist Church.

An online guestbook is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Billy L. Hammack Sr. 86

Billy L. Hammack Sr., 86, of Hoschton, Ga., formerly of Albany, died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, Seneca, S.C., following a long battle with lung cancer. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 26 at Mathews Funeral Home with military honors. Rev. Russell Anglin and Rev. Charlie Rouse officiated. A private interment followed in Hillcrest Cemetery, Sylvester, Ga.

A native of Albany, Mr. Hammack had resided in the Del Webb community of the Village at Deaton Creek in Hoschton, Ga. since late 2009. He was retired from the Air Force and was a member of Liberty Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, seven sisters and his wife, Edna Nadine Hammack.

Mr. Hammack served two years in the US Army during WW II, stationed in Germany. He later joined the US Air Force and had a 20-year career, stationed in Georgia, Florida, Texas and France. He achieved the rank of Sr. Master Sergeant and at one time was Crew Chief of the Skyblazers, the Air Force aerial acrobatics team in Europe. While in the Air Force, he also served a tour in Vietnam.

Survivors include one sister, Lillie Hathcock, Lawrenceville, Ga.; two daughters, Brenda Rutledge (Harold), Walhalla, S.C., Beverly Brigman, Pensacola, Fla., three sons: Larry Hammack (Barbara), Montclair, Va., Billy Hammack Jr., Huntsville, Ala., and Tony Hammack (Tania), Albany;  eleven grandchildren: Brent Oglesby (Joanna), Lilburn, Ga., Tiffany Kollander (Mike), Conway, Ark., Jason Brigman (Laura), The Woodlands, Tex., Jeff Brigman (Christy), Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Kelly Ulloa (Richard), Pensacola, Fla., Stephanie Jones (Joshua), Virginia Beach, Va., David Hammack, Arlington, Va., Krystye Hollis (James), Albany, Todd Hammack, Albany, Chris Hammack, St. Augustine, Fla., and Devan Hammack, Albany; fourteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to any Hospice or the American Cancer Society 323 Pine Ave. Albany, Ga. 31701.

An online guestbook is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Bettye Jean Bass Mann, 82

Bettye Jean Bass Mann, 82, of Albany died April 25, 2012 at her residence.  Funeral services for Mrs. Mann were held on Friday April 27 at The First Baptist Church in Albany.  Interment followed at Crown Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Butch Knight officiated.

Mrs. Mann was born July 23, 1929 in Lanett, Alabama to the late Homer and Chloe Bishop Bass.  She had lived in Albany since 1965 after moving here from Lexington, Ky. Mrs. Mann was a loving and devoted wife of 63 years, a wonderful mother who cherished her family, a talented cook, a staunch and caring friend, and a long time faithful member of First Baptist Church of Albany.

She is survived by her husband Walter Lewis Mann of Albany, three sons; Michael Mann and wife Diane of Wetumpka, Ala., Gary Mann and wife Debra of Atlanta, Christopher Mann and wife Dawn of Albany, two daughters; Pat Herndon and her husband Martin of Macon and Sherri Mann of Atlanta. Seven grandchildren; Christy Carter, Alison Till, Brad Mann, Ellie Mahon, Laura Mann, Steven Mann and Will Herndon.  Four great-grandchildren Ty Carter, Matthew Carter, Gray Carter and Graham Till also survive.

Those desiring can make contributions to The First Baptist Church 145 Oakland Parkway Leesburg, Ga. 31763

An online guestbook is at www.kimbrellstern.com

Edwina W. Mathis, 86

Edwina W. Mathis, 86, of Leesburg, Ga., died Sunday, April 22, 2012 at Lee County Health Care.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 3 p.m. at First Free Will Baptist Church.  Rev. Mark Walker and Rev. Jim Luttrell will officiate.  Interment will follow in Floral Memory Gardens Cemetery.

She was born in Waycross, Ga. Mrs. Mathis had resided in Albany since 1942 moving from Baker County, Ga. She was the last living charter member of First Free Will Baptist Church where she served as director of their kindergarten program and taught a ladies Sunday School Class. She was a member of Crepe Myrtle Chapter # 163 Order of the Eastern Star where she had served as Worthy Matron. Mrs. Mathis was preceded in death by her husband, James B. Mathis.

Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Hester (Mike) of Gray, Ga., Sharon Woods (Roger) of Albany, a son, Lonnie Mathis (Dorene) of Leesburg, Ga.; six grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

Those desiring may make contributions to, Gideons International, P.O. Box 1823, Albany, Ga. 31702, The First Free Will Baptist Church Youth Department, 420 N. Westover Blvd., Albany, Ga. 31707, The Dynamic Church, 2299 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 153-146 Chattanooga, Tenn. 37421.

The family will be at the residence of Lonnie and Dorene Mathis 208 Windship Drive, Leesburg, Ga. 31763.

An online guestbook is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Sara Strickland Morgan, 87

Sara Strickland Morgan, 87, formerly of Dawson, Ga. and Pelham, Ga., died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Lee County Healthcare and Rehabilitation.

Her funeral service was held graveside at the Pelham City Cemetery, Tuesday, April 24.

Mrs. Morgan was born December 19, 1924 in Randolph County to the late Francis Monroe Ferguson and Arrie Sauls Ferguson.  She attended school in Randolph County and was a bookkeeper by profession.  During her career she was employed with International Harvester, Maloofs Clothing Store and with the Terrell County Commission.  She was a devoted member of Dawson United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and was active in the Epworth Sunday School Class.

She was the widow of the late Ben W. Strickland, Sr. of Pelham, Ga. and the late Robert L. “Bud” Morgan of Bronwood, Ga. She was preceded in death by her son, the late Ben W. Strickland Jr. of Albany as well as nine brothers and sisters.

Survivors include her three grandchildren, Ben W. Strickland III and wife Cathy, Lee County, Gina S. Price and husband Jody, Worth County, Blaine Strickland and wife Dawn, Lee County; daughter in law, Gail Strickland Korpal and husband Tom, Albany; brother, Sanford Ferguson, Edison; seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Lee County Healthcare and Rehabilitation for the care and compassion they gave Mrs. Morgan for the last nine years.

Those desiring may make memorials to Lee County Healthcare’s Activity Fund, 214 Main St., Leesburg, Ga. 31763 or Dawson United Methodist Church, 306 Stonewall St., Dawson, Ga. 39842.

An online guestbook is at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Pauline Wiggins Sadler, 83

Pauline Wiggins Sadler, 83, of Lee County, Ga., died Friday, April 20, 2012 at Lee County Health Care.  Funeral services were held Monday, April 23 at Mathews Funeral Home.  Rev. Billy D. Hanna officiated.  Interment followed in Floral Memory Gardens Cemetery.

A native of Douglas County, Ga., Mrs. Sadler had resided in Lee County most of her life. She was retired from Merry Acres Motel as Head House keeper and was a Program Assistant with Albany Outreach.  Mrs. Sadler was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church since 1951. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas (Tom) Sadler, her parents, Cleveland Wiggins and Queen Duke Wiggins and two sons, Tommy Sadler and Allen Eugene Sadler, a sister, Evelyn Dudley.

Survivors include a son Frank Thomas Sadler and his wife, Patti of Troy, Ala.; daughter-in-law, Gwen Sadler of Daleville, Ala.; sister Mary Law of Dawson, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Col. Shaun Sadler and his wife, Sandra Sadler and their children, Colton and Cody Sadler, Frank T. Sadler Jr. Pamala Sadler Klias, Pam Washington, Franklin Allen Sadler, Keith Sadler, Jeanne Sadler, Kim Sadler and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Those desiring may make contributions to, First Free Will Baptist Church, 420 N. Westover Blvd., Albany, Ga. 31707

An online guestbook is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Marshall Lynn Hannah Sr., 63

After a courageous struggle with cancer, Marshall Lynn Hannah Sr., 63, of Arlington, Ga., died on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany.

Marshall was born on January 20, 1949, in Little Rock, Ark., to Thomas Lee Hannah and the late Ruth Geraldine Hammons Smith.  He served in the Navy and was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War.  He loved working with wood and gardening, but his favorite pastime was sitting on the front porch, playing backgammon, with his wife.  Marshall was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.  His caring, accepting, and giving nature prompted many throughout his lifetime to regard Marshall as a trusted friend.

Marshall is survived by his wife and best friend of 43 years, Donna Hatcher Hannah of Arlington, Ga.; daughter and son-in-law, Shelli and Jonathon Dew of Albany; daughter, Paige McKnight of Leesburg, Ga.; son, Marshall Hannah Jr. of Arlington, Ga.; three grandchildren, Cassidi Hannah, Emily McKnight and Logan McKnight; brothers and sisters-in-law, Barrett and Dot Hannah of Senatobia, Miss., Jack and Betty Smith of Wichita, Kansas, Joseph Smith of Senatobia, Miss., and Connie Hatcher of Arlington, Ga.; father and step-mother Thomas Lee and Lavonne Hannah of Eugene, Oregon.

Marshall was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Ruth and Jack Smith of Memphis, Tenn.

A Celebration of Life, for Marshall, will be held Saturday, April 28, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Marshall’s home, 47 Greenleaf Ave., Arlington, Ga.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses, respiratory therapists, support staff and physicians who gave compassionate care and comfort to Marshall and the family. You are so very much appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Willson Hospice House, 320 Fountain Lane, Albany, Ga. 31707.

Nicholas (Nick) John Retza Jr., 84

Nicholas (Nick) John Retza Jr., 84, of Albany died Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. A Funeral Mass was conducted Saturday, April 21, 2012 at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church. Rev. Finbarr Stanton officiated. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. at a later date.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Nick Retza had lived in Albany since 1982 moving from Nashua, N.H. He was a retired MGY SGT from the Marine Corps and received a Business degree from the University of Lowell, Mass.  Nick was a member of St. Teresa’s Catholic Church and was preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas John Retza Sr. and Elizabeth Peters Retza, two sisters, Helen Fredrickson and Valerie Craig.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Retza of Albany; two daughters, Jennifer M. Annis of Nashua, N.H. and Denise Valerie Marks of Pepperell, Mass.; two grandchildren, Seth Annis (Marion) of Wellington, Co. and Katie Richards (Jamie) of Merrimack, N.H.; four great-grandchildren, Penelope and Gwendolyn Annis, Tyler and Brenton Richards; niece, Diana Baldridge, nephew, David Frederickson and several other nieces and nephews of Houston, Texas.

Nick was born in Galveston, Texas and went to High School in Houston, Texas.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1944 at the age of 17 following his father who served with the Marines at Belleau Woods, and four other campaigns in France and the Occupation of Germany with the AEF.  After completing Boot Camp at Paris Island, S.C. and advanced Infantry Training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., he was then assigned to Replacement Draft for the 5th Marine Division then on Iwo Jima.  When his transport refit and trained for the invasion of Japan. He then joined the Reconnaissance Platoon, 28^th Marine Division at Camp Tarawa on the Big Island of Hawaii.

With the surrender of Japan, when the Atomic Bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan, Retza sailed to Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan with the 5^th Marine Division to commence the occupation of Japan ant return to the US in August 1946.

After serving with a Reserve Unit, he transferred to the 1^st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif.  When the Korean War started in 1950 he sailed with the 1^st Marine Division for the Inchon, South Korea “landing”.  He was at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea when the Chinese Communist Forces attacked the United Nations forces in November 1950.  After six campaigns in the Korean War, he returned to the US.

He married his wife Marilyn (from WI) at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and had two daughters, Jennifer and Denise who in turn honored him with two grandchildren followed by four great grandchildren.

Over the years he was stationed at the MCLB, Albany; MQMC, Washington, DC; Okinawa, Japan; MCLB, Philadelphia.  He retired from active duty in 1968 and took a position with Nashua Corporation, Nashua, N.H.  After completing night school courses at various Marine Locations over the years and in Lowell, Mass. he received a Business degree from the University of Lowell, Mass.  He retired from Nashua Corporation in 1981 followed by his final Civilian employment with the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany.

Nick was a past President of the Georgia Chapter of Chosin Few.  Also a member of the American Legion and the Marine Corps League.  He then enjoyed many friendships with Marines and civilians and loved to tell “sea stories”.  Semper Fidelis

A prayer service was held Friday at Mathews Funeral Home.

An online guestbook is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Richard DeWitt Fowler, 78

Richard DeWitt Fowler, 78 of Albany died April 19, 2012 at Willson Hospice House.

A private family service was held.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Fowler was of the Baptist faith. He was a graduate of Moultrie High School and Georgia Tech. He moved to Albany in 1960 where he worked for Standard Oil Co. and then became self-employed, retiring in real estate.

Survivors include his brother, Lynn C. Fowler and his wife Anne of Decatur, Ala., sisters, Flora Jane Parker of Spartanburg, S.C., Mary Kay Griffin and her husband Gene of Albany and Ann Miles and her husband Herb of St. Simons, Ga., numerous nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Kathryn Griffin.

Those desiring, please make memorials to the Lord’s Pantry 219 W. Society Ave., Albany, Ga. 31701 or favorite charity.

An online guestbook is at www.kimbrellstern.com.