Mr. Sanford P. Darby, Jr., age 83, Macon, died Monday, February 7, 2005, in a Macon hospital.

He was a native of Vidalia. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was chief of reforestation for the Georgia Forestry Commission. He was retired as Director of the Surface Mined Land Use Board for the State of Georgia. He was awarded the Soil Conservation Man of the Year by the Georgia and Federal Wildlife Federation. He was a member of the mulberry Street Methodist Church and the Joy Sunday School Class.

Survivors include his wife, Laura O. Darby; one son and daughter-in-law, Sanford P. Darby, III and Sandra Darby; three grandchildren and spouses, Wendy and Lane McMichael, Kendra and Scott Cain and Amy Elliot; one nephew, Jack Ryals; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday, February 10, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mulberry Street Methodist Church with Rev. Creede Hinshaw and Rev. Jimmy Towson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mulberry Street Methodist Church, 719 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201.

Hart's Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Mary Bell Sconyers Dixon, age 95, Lyons, died Friday, February 11, 2005, in Meadows Nursing Center in Vidalia after an extended illness.

She was a native and lifelong resident of Toombs County. She was a homemaker and a member of the New Branch Calvary Holiness Church.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Nelson Brinson, Lyons; three sons and daughters-in-law, Max and Margaret Sheppard, Coolidge, Texas, J. Howell and Robbie Lou Dixon, Vidalia, and J.C. and Ronnie Sue Dixon, Dublin; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one sister, Willie Mae Bass, Lyons; and several nieces and nephews.

Kaylin Leigh Giddens, age 8, of Austin, Texas, died on February 9, 2005.

She was born on July 4, 1996 in Denver Colorado, to Kristin Calhoun and Freedom Giddens. She had many interests and hobbies, including reading, music, movies, dancing, soccer, art, singing in her children’s choir, anything pink and glittery, fairies, playing with her many friends, and Thai food with her family.

Survivors include her mother, Kristin Leigh Calhoun; stepmother, Jennifer Rae Voorhees; father, Freedom James Giddens; maternal grandparents, Phyllis Scarborough and Robert Calhoun; aunt, Whitney Calhoun; paternal grandparents, Anne DeToy and Jon DeToy; uncle, Christopher Giddens; aunts, Sarah DeToy and Jennifer DeToy; great grandparents, Homer Scarborough and Gertrude Calhoun; and several other relatives.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, February 12, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. in Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel.

In lieu of Flowers, donations can be made by contacting Mathews Elementary at (512) 414-4406 or by contacting Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home (512) 452-8811.

Mrs. Regina Teresa Gonzalez, age 41, Vidalia, died Tuesday, February 8, 2005, at her residence after a brief illness.

She was a native of Palatka, Florida, living in Montgomery County most of her life. She was employed with Trane of Vidalia.

Survivors include her husband, Roberto Gonzalez, Lyons; three daughters, Alice Evans and Nicky Sikes, both of Vidalia, and Sara Stone, Palatka; two brothers, Michael Edwards, Palatka, and Billy Edwards, Orlando, Florida; one sister, Danielle Johnson, Jacksonville, Florida; her mother, Alice Holley, Bunnell, Florida; her stepmother, Bobbie Edwards, Palataka; and four grandchildren.

Memorial services were conducted Friday, February 11, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in Ronnie L. Stewart Family Funeral Service Chapel of Vidalia with Rev. Steven Toole officiating.

Mr. Isiah Hart, Miami, Florida, died Sunday, January 30, 2005.

He was a native of Toombs County.

Survivors include five sons, Wayne, Deon, Reginald, Curtis and Jeff; a friend, Rosa Parks, Miami; one brother, James Hart, Miami; four sisters, Thirteal Hunt, Lyons, Carolyn Gerene Bacon and Warnell Flowers, both of Miami, and Bertha Fletcher, Jacksonville, Florida; one sister-in-law, Thelma Hart, Miami; two brothers-in-law, James Hunt, Lyons, and Marcus Flowers, Miami; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, February 12, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. in the Greater Rocky Creek Baptist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Vidalia Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

The Advance, Vol. 108, No. 7, Wednesday, February 16, 2005, page 6A.

Mrs. Connie Lee Helms, age 83, Tarrytown, died Thursday, February 10, 2005, in Meadows Regional Medical Center of Vidalia after an extended illness.

She was a native of Toombs County, living most of her life in Toombs and Montgomery counties. She was a homemaker and a member of the Higgston Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Jackson "Jack" Helms.

Survivors include eight daughter and sons-in-law, Faye and Ray Whaley, Marlow, Oklahoma, Sandra and Ellis Howell and Rose and Ken Braddy, all of Tarrytown, Linda Campbell and Kenn Wade, Tybee Island, Vicki and Terry Fletcher, Hilto Head, South Carolina, Gail and Jimmy Gibson, Aiken, South Carolina, Lyn Helms, Timpson, Texas, and Irma Helms, Manchester, New Hampshire; three sons and daughters-in-law, J.T. and Dana Helms, Vidalia, Robert and Carol Helms, Mt. Vernon, and Jack and Brenda Helms, Lyons; 30 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Charlie McDaniel, age 89, Soperton, died Thursday, February 10, 2005, in the Meadows Regional Medical Center of Vidalia after an extended illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris McDaniel.

He was a native of Laurens County, living most of his life in Vidalia. He was a retired farmer and attended the Abundant Life Pentecostal Church of Vidalia.

Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Cobb, Metter, Reba Strickland, Vidalia, and Charlie Mae Johnson, Soperton; two sisters, Mary Holland, Bowling Green, Florida, and Jessie Mae Westberry, Vidalia; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, February 12, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. in the Abundant Life Pentecostal Church with Rev. John Young officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Adrian.

Pallbearers were David Burke, Shannon Johnson, Travis Lee Cobb, Joey Cobb, Sr., Joey Cobb, Jr. and Lenwood Newsome.

The Advance, Vol. 108, No. 7, Wednesday, February 16, 2005, page 6A.

Mr. Dewey Simons, age 90, Tarrytown, died Saturday, February 12, 2005.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Treutlen County. He was a retired farmer and a member of Harmony Baptist Church, Soperton. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Daniel and Maggie Calhoun Simons.

Survivors include his wife, Loyce Poole Simons; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Carl Cowart, Soperton, Sybil and Bob Petty, Piedmont, South Carolina; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Sammons Funeral Home with Rev. Hilton Morgan officiating. Interment followed in Tarrytown Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Wyman Simons, Andy Simons, Randy Simons, M.L. Barger, Robin Fowler and Scotty Fowler.

The Advance, Vol. 108, No. 7, Wednesday, February 16, 2005, page 6A.

Mr. Dewitt Smith, Vidalia, died Friday, January 28, 2005, in Meadows Regional Medical Center of Vidalia.

He was a native of Tattnall County.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia D. Smith, Vidalia; one son, Brian Smith, Vidalia; one daughter, Kimberly Hibbert, Bridgeton, West Virginia; two brothers, Laren Smith and Marvin Smith, both of Reidsville; one sister, Leila Smith Boyd, Reidsville; two sisters-in-law, Catherine Smith, Teaneck, N.J., and Marie Smith, Reidsville; and two grandchildren of Bridgeton.

Rev. James Trenith "Trenny" Thomas, age 56, Savannah, died, Monday, February 8, 2005, at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

He was a native of Laurens County. He had pastured Stuckey Baptist Church, Thomaston Road Baptist Church in Macon, Evergreen Baptist Church in Claxton, Dean Forest Baptist Church, Pleasant Hills Baptist Church in Wrightsville, Quacco Baptist Church in Savannah, taught at Calvary Baptist High School and served as a House Parent at the Masonic Home for Children in Macon. He was a member of the Savannah Baptist Ministerial Association, the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lois Jackson Thomas.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra "Sandy" Thompson Thomas, Savannah; one son and daughter-in-law, James Trenith "T.J." Thomas, Jr., and Laney Thomas, Savannah; three brothers, Tommy and Timmy Thomas, both of Port Wentworth, Georgia, and Tony Thomas, Garden City; one grandson, James Trenith Thomas, III, Savannah; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Friday, February 11, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in the Quacco Baptist Church with Rev. Edwin E. Cannon officiating. Interment followed in the Greenwood Section of Bonaventure Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were ministers of the Savannah Baptist Association and visting ministers from the community.

Remembrances may be made to the Quacco Baptist Church, 215 Quacco Road, Savannah, GA 31419.

Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home of Savannah was in charge of the arrangements.

The Advance, Vol. 108, No. 7, Wednesday, February 16, 2005, page 6A.