Entries by Staff Writer

Mrs. Joy Daisy O'Pry Shockley
May 8, 1926 – November 10, 2018
Mrs. Daisy O'Pry Shockley, age 92 of Milner passed away Saturday, November 10, 2018. Born May 8, 1926 in Griffin, Georgia, Joy Daisy O'Pry was known and loved by many living up to the endearment “Crazy Daisy” with her sheer JOY of life and its adventures.

In 1944, Daisy graduated from Spalding High where she was a majorette. She married James Edward Shockley and was married for 54 years until his death in 1998. She and “Jimmy” owned and operated Shockley’s Deer Cooler and Christmas Tree Farm on their property Sweet Gum Farm in Pike County. Together, they had 3 daughters, 1 son, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. In addition to baton twirler, wife, mother, grandmother and farmer, her list of credits includes Christian, professional artist and portrait colorist, art teacher, swim instructor, businesswoman, genealogist, writer, inventor, calico bears and poodle skirts maker (and seamstress to many other outfits for her children & grandchildren), decorator, gardener and at the age of 78, college student.

It was her love of learning, teaching and encouraging others that gave her the most enjoyment – whether it was taking classes at Gordon College well into her 80s, teaching art lessons at First Baptist Church or making sure every person she came in contact with could swim. Daisy never met a stranger and anyone who met her never forgot her enthusiasm, laughter and her special “words of wisdom” she would share with whomever would listen. Even celebrities Naomi Judd, Katie Couric, Dixie Chicks, Bret Michaels and President Jimmy Carter were immediately attracted to her spirit upon meeting her. As a testament to her strong beliefs, Daisy Shockley’s high on life came from the Lord and within – She vowed never to take a sip of alcohol and she never did!

Mrs. Shockley was a member of the Daughters of American Revolution, the Lamar Arts Association and Milner Baptist Church.

She is preceded in death by parents, Henry C. O’Pry and Emmie Young O’Pry, sisters Edna Kindard, June Dukes and Roslyn Minyard, brothers Henry O’Pry III and Thomas O’Pry and husband James Edward Shockley. Survivors include her daughters, Alice Stephens and husband Fred, Jane Williamson and husband Jerry, Christine Gholson and husband John; son, James Shockley, Jr. and wife Bonnie; Grandchildren Kathy, Lynn, Carlene, Mary Jane, John, David, Jes and AJ; 6 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. And no matter who says differently, she is a descendant of the infamous pirate hunter Admiral John Benbow.


Visitation for Mrs. Daisy O. Shockley will be Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Milner First Baptist Church. Dr. Rubin Smith and Pastor Steve Pattison will officiate. Interment will follow at the Williamson-Shockley Cemetery.
Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Rd, Griffin is in charge of arrangements.
Please join the family and friends in honoring Mrs. Daisy O. Shockley by visiting www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com and posting your tributes and memories.

Crystal Lea Darnell, formerly of Barnesville, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 in Columbus, GA at Piedmont Hospital. She is preceded in death by her grandparents Charles and Betty Sullivan and William Howell.
Crystal is survived by her father and mother, Mike and Mary Darnell; daughter Desirae Darnell; son Michael Trader; brother Robbie Darnell; sister Michael Ann Johnson and two granddaughters.
Services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 at the Lamar County Senior Life Center, 106 Veterans Drive, Barnesville from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. [Full Story »] 

Mr. Nickey Deems, age 59, of Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at his residence.
Mr. Deems was born on Sunday, November 16, 1958 to the late Walter R. Deems and Johnnie Stanley Deems. He is also preceded in death by his twin brother, Rickey Deems. Nickey worked for Three D’s Carpet as a Carpet Installer. He was a taxidermist and loved hunting and fishing. Nickey was a member of the NRA and the National Wildlife Turkey Federation.
Nickey is survived by his daughter, Amanda Youngblood of Barnesville; son and his fiancé, Walt Deems & Chelsea Lancaster of Barnesville; grandchildren, Terre, Tyler, & Tucker Youngblood and Trent Deems; mother, Johnnie Deems of Barnesville; sister, Wanda Lowery (Jim) and Kathy Pines (Johnny), both of High Falls and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service for Mr. Nickey Deems was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Breedlove Memorial Chapel with Gary Deems officiating. The family received friends at Williams-Westbury Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour.
To sign the online registry or to send a condolence online, please do so at www.williams-westburyfuneralhome.com 
Williams-Westbury Funeral Home, 526 College Drive, Barnesville, is serving the Deems family.

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Mrs. Ramona Mann Ray, age 86, of Milner, GA. passed away on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at Westbury Health & Rehab in Jackson, GA.
Mrs. Ray was born on Thursday, February 4, 1932 in Griffin, Georgia to the late Purvis Fain Mann and the late Ruby Garr Mann. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Hoyt Eugene Ray; sister, Colleen Mann. Ramona attended High Shoals Primitive Baptist Church. She loved doing crafts and bird watching.
Ramona is survived by her brother & sister-in-law, Azmer & Carole Mann; niece & nephew, Christy McVay and Terry Mann; great-niece, Casie Hughes; great-nephew, Christopher Daniel.
A graveside service for Mrs. Ramona Mann Ray will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at High Shoals Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Reverend Steve Pattison officiating.
To sign the online registry or to send a condolence online, please do so at www.williams-westburyfuneralhome.com.
Williams-Westbury Funeral Home, 526 College Drive, Barnesville, is serving the Mann/Ray family.

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Mr. Sherald Ray Johnson, age 72, of Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at his residence.
 Mr. Johnson was born on Saturday, December 15, 1945 to the late John Johnson Jr. and the late Viola Smith Johnson. He was a Heavy Machine Operator and was a member of the United Church of God. Sherald was a fence & saw mill man and an all-around jack of all trades.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Johnson; son and daughter-in-law, Johnny Ray & Maria Nichole Johnson; grandchildren, July James Johnson and Raylyn Nichole Johnson; step-daughter, Allison Marks; brother, Gerald Kay Johnson.
A funeral service for Mr. Sherald Ray Johnson will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at Breedlove Memorial Chapel with Pastor David Mills officiating. Interment will follow in Lamar Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the service hour.
To sign the online registry or to send a condolence online, please do so at www.williams-westburyfuneralhome.com 
Williams-Westbury Funeral Home, 526 College Drive, Barnesville, is serving the Johnson family. 

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