Entries by Staff Writer

Mr. Bobby David Smith, 61, of Barnesville, passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at his residence.
Mr. Smith was born Thursday, December 13, 1956 in Barnesville, Georgia to the late William Hulet Smith, Jr. and Jean Dale Grosinger Smith. He was also preceded in death by his grandson, Austin Smith; step-mother, Evelyn Smith; brother, Jimmy Smith; sisters, Tracy Cato and Cindy Pruitt.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Chris & Angela Smith; grandchildren, Savannah Smith, Kristin Smith, and Lee Peterman; sisters, Wanda & Mike Smith, Diane Martin, and Denise Brady; brothers, Tommy & Angie Smith, Keith Kennedy, Tommy Ray Kennedy & Cheryl Lewis, Mark & Renee Smith, William “Bill” Smith, Frankie Brady, and Jonathan Smith; several nieces and nephews; special friend, Jannette Wilder.
A funeral service for Mr. Bobby David Smith will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the Barnesville First Assembly of God with Pastor Aaron Watson and Tim Guy officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Barnesville First Assembly of God from 12:00 noon until the service hour. 552 Highway 18 West Barnesville, Georgia 30204.
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 Smith family.

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Mr. Bennie James Akins, age 71 who resided at 121 Kayla Court, Griffin passed away on Tuesday, November 20 at his residence. The family will receive friends at their residence. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sardis Baptist Church of Barnesville. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Arthur Bandally is pastor and Rev. Willie J. Colbert will officiate. Bentley’s Funeral Home of Barnesville is in charge of all professional services.
Mr. Akins is survived by his wife, Alberta Traylor Akins; five children: Wanda Hayes, Daniel Banks (Katrina), Moses Banks (Rosalyn), Casundra Akins and Benjamin Akins (Aretha) all of Griffin; eight siblings: Gladys Stallings, Willie Paul Akins, Scott Akins, Richard Akins (Brenda), Dorothy Akins, Christine Akins and Adalene Tamplin (David) all of Barnesville and Earnestine Evans of Atlanta; and a host of other relatives and friends that will miss him dearly.

August 11, 1959-November 13, 2018
Scott was born in Valdosta GA, but lived most of his life in Griffin GA. Scott passed away after an extended illness. He worked at Jordan Forest Products formerly Weyerhauser for 28 years.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents L. W. & Nolie Walker and father William R Evans.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years Nancy Spann Evans, his mother Melinda Gayle Smith. Sisters Leigh Ann & Donald Hall, Darla & Jose Vicente. Nieces & nephews Katie L Teal, Alisha Pitts, Timothy Williams, Shekiniah (Shinney) Hall & Caleb Hall & Madison Cooley. Also very special extended family Aunt Deborah & Luther Bailey, cousins Todd Hendrix, Cody Hendrix, Marissa Hendrix & Marti Hendrix.
Scott was a very hardworking man. If he was not on his job he could be found working on cars, trucks & tractors. He loved hunting & fishing, and his Atlanta Falcons & Chevrolet racing
He also deeply loved his fur babies Gracie & Lillie.
We will have a Memorial Service for Scott on December 1st at New Life Baptist Church, Barnesville, GA at 11:00am. The family would like for this to be a celebration of his life and would love to hear any special memories from his friends. The family also requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to his wife to help cover his final expenses, or to your favorite charity in his name.

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 »]