Mr. James Richard “Jim” Westbury, Sr., age 78, of Griffin, Georgia, went to be with his Lord on Friday, December 13, 2019.Jim was born on Saturday, November 22, 1941 in Dansville, New York to the late Reverend Samuel Joseph Westbury and the late Dorothy Elizabeth Miller Westbury. He is preceded in death by his wife, Loretta Chambley Westbury, and grandson, Evan Richard Brock. Jim grew up in Augusta, Georgia and graduated from Richmond Academy. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, Evangel Bible College, and went on to graduate from the University of Georgia. He was a lifelong Georgia Bulldog fan. He was very involved at Griffin First Assembly in many leadership positions and later at First Baptist Church of Griffin, where he served on the board of deacons and was a member of The Brothers Sunday School class. Jim spent his entire working life as the Administrator for the family nursing home in Jenkinsburg/Jackson. He was a pioneer in the Georgia Health Care Association. Jim - with generosity, grace, humility and love - cared for others all his life. Jim survived being hit by a train on Memorial Day 1971, famously apologizing to the conductor for stopping the train.
Jim is survived by his devoted wife, Linda Bass Westbury; children and their spouses, Penny and Rick Griffin, Patti and Byron Brock, James and Tonya Westbury, Joe and Drew Westbury; grandchildren, Tyler and Dana Griffin, Kip and Daniel Wise, Keaton Wise, David Brock, Jay Westbury, Adam Brock, Mattie Westbury, Kitty Westbury, Kami Westbury, Karoline Westbury, and Kaysen Westbury; great-grandson, Avery Griffin; sister, Margie Hunt; brothers and sisters-in-law, Phil and Sherry Westbury, Ron and Karen Westbury; several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Jim Westbury will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Griffin. Dr. Bill Hardee and Dr. Ron Westbury will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery with Dr. Benny Tate officiating. Friends visited the family on Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home in Griffin. Friends may also visit the family one hour prior to the service in the Parlor of the First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army, 725 Meriwether Street, Griffin, Georgia 30224.
To offer an online condolence to the family, please visit www.sherrell-westburyfuneralhome.com.
Sherrell-Westbury Funeral Home, 212 East College Street, Jackson is serving the Westbury family.
Six Lamar County Middle School students were taken to Upson Regional Medical Center for evaluation after a school bus crash early Monday morning on Veterans Parkway. A fight among students on the bus led to the crash.
The opening reception for Lamar Arts Inc. will be held at the Depot Gallery on Friday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continue from Dec. 13, 2019, to Jan. 25, 2020, featuring another outstanding exhibit from the Barnesville Woodturners. Gallery director Angela Preston notes, “These talented wood turners continue to win numerous prizes in competitions and shows - they master wood as new beauty. Lamar Arts is proud to continue the tradition of showcasing their work at the Depot Gallery in Barnesville.” 
By Mike Ruffin
Convicted killer Jennifer Clark was scheduled to appear in Lamar superior court Dec. 3 for a hearing on her motion for a new trial but that proceeding has been continued until Jan. 13. 
Churches, schools and community groups throughout Lamar County have multiple Christmas events on tap as Santa’s sleigh ride draws nigh. What follows is an overview of the events we have been notified about.
The December term Lamar County grand jury indicted alleged Johnstonville puppy mill operators John David Matthews and Latitia Adelle Matthews on three counts of racketeering and issued true bills on 35 additional counts Monday, according to district attorney Jonathan Adams.
The Department of Transportation will begin work at the deadly intersection of Rose Avenue and Veterans Parkway in Barnesville Monday morning to align the left turn lanes on the eastern and western sides of the intersection. Currently, there is a blind spot for eastbound traffic on Rose Ave. and those tuning left on the four-lane from the eastern side.