Mrs. Martha J. Carroll, age 81, Savannah, died Tuesday, September 3, 2002, in the Hospice-Savannah after an extended illness.

She was a native of Moultrie, Ga., but spent most of her life in Louisville. She taught private piano, organ and voice lesson for many years and also taught public school music in Lousiville Academy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B. Carroll, and one son, Lt. Edward (Buddy) Carroll, Jr., U.S. Navy.

Survivors include her daughter, Gayle C. Allen, Rincon; one sone Thomas E. Carroll, Forsyth; three grandchildren, Gerald J. Allen, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Leslie C. Allen, Atlanta, and Edward B. Carroll IV, Forsyth.

Rememberances may be sent to the Springfield First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 237, Springfield, GA 31329 or a charity of your choice.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

Mrs. Penny Elrod, age 58, Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., died Thursday, September 5, 2002, in Leesburg, Fla.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native relocated to Lake Panasoffkee in 1993. She was a former resident of Atlanta, and was a homemaker.

Survivors include one son, Thoben F. Elrod III, Lake Panasoffkee; one daugher and son-in-law, Christa and Brooks Rainwater, Arlington, Va.; her father, John C. Morris, Vidalia; and two sisters, Lynn McNatt, Vidalia, and Laine Lane, Atlanta.

Purcell Funeral Home of Bushnell, Fla., was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

W. Roy Fletcher, prominent financier, civic and education leader, died Sunday, September 1, 2002, at his residence at 3805 Lyons Center Road, Vidalia, Ga., following an extended illness.

The 77-year-old Berrien County native had lived in Vidalia since the late '50's where he was active in civic, educational and religious activities of the community and the banking business.

Following graduation from Moultrie High School in 1943 he was drafted into the United States Army and sent to the European Theatre of Operation.

While there he received three battle stars for service at the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland and Central Germany.

He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He began his professional career with CIT Financial and upon being transferred to Vidalia, he opened a company office here. He was promoted to District Manager in 1957.

Joining Brice Banking Company as Executive Vice-President in 1961, he was promoted to Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO in 1983.

Mr. Fletcher was a past president of the Vidalia Lions Club; served as a commissioner of the Vidalia Housing Authority and later elected its chairman. He served as a member and vice-chairman of the Vidalia Development Authority. He was a member of the Vidalia Rotary Club and served on its Board of Directors.

The deceased was named Citizen of the Year in 1987. He served as the chairman of the committee that worked to locate Southeastern Technical Institute in Vidalia and later was appointed by the Governor of the State of Georgia to the STI Board of Directors. He served ninve years as Chairman of the Board and upon retirement, he was presented with the first United States flag to fly over the school.

Mr. Fletcher was appointed to the Georgia Workforce Investment Board by the Governor of Georgia and elected Vice Chairman of the Board. He was one of seven to be appointed to the Executive Committee. He was elected Director fo Southeastern Technical College in 2001.

He was a past president of the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce and a member of the First Baptist Church of Vidalia and the Men's Bible Class.

Mr. Fletcher is survived by three son, Rand Fletcher, Vidalia, Terry R. Fletcher, Hilton Head Island, S.C., Larry T. Fletcher, Newnan; and also Hazel Fletcher, Vidalia; two brothers, Walter Fletcher, Princeton, West Virginia, and Fred Fletcher, Sparks; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. Fletcher were held Tuesday, September 3, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Vidalia with the Rev. Bill Berryhill officiating. Entombment followed at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Active pallbearers were David Hart, Curtis McCall, Bob Webster, Ricky Mitchell, Jason Ferguson and Dale Evatt. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Men's Bible Class of the First Baptist Church.

Murchison Funeral Home of Vidalia was in charge of arrangements.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 1a.

Mr. Ray Edward Helms, age 79, Vidalia, died Wednesday, August 28, 2002, at his residence.

The Union County, N.C., native relocated to Washington, D.C. following his service in the U.S. Army. He was a car dealer with Cave Ford and Mid City Sales. Relocating to Charlotte, N.C., he was employed with H & K Volkswagen in Gastonia, N.C., and was a member of Roanoke Baptist Church in Monroe, N.C.

Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Helms Hosier, Alexandria, Va.; one son and daughter-in-law, Richard Raymond and Deborah Helms, Vidalia; two grandchildren; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Ann Helms Norman, Charlotte, and Janet Helms Thompson and Tommy Thompson, Monroe, and one brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Peggy Helms, Monroe.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday, August 31, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. in Roanoke Baptist Church, Interment followed in Lucy Helms Cemetery in Monroe.

Gordon Funeral Service of Monroe eas in charge of the funeral arrangements. murchison Funeral Home of Vidalia was in charge of the local arrangements.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

Mrs. Goldie Smith Mooney, age 77, formerly of Vidalia, Georgia, died Thursday, August 29, 2002, in Spartangburg, S.C., following an extended illness.

The deceased, the youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Max Smith, well-known benefactors and merchants in the city, was the sister of Vidalians Ben Smith and Doris Smith Foskey.

Mrs. Mooney, who was predeceased by her husband, Morton E. Mooney, was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She loved to tell the story of how she and her husband met. During World War II, he was a soldier from Brooklyn, N.Y., stationed at then Camp Stewart in Hinesville.

The then-Goldie Smith, who was born in Claxton and grew up in Vidalia, would go with other young women and a chaperone to the dances for soldiers. Morton Mooney asked her to dance when he saw she was wearing a Star of David and then wouldn't give her up when other soldiers tried to cut in to dance. They were married 50 years until his death in 1997.

The couple moved to Jesup to operate Mooney Department Store in 1948. When they retired and closed the store in 1984, a community-wide reception drew hundreds of well wishers. But they didn't really retire. With her husband, Mrs. Mooney was an active member of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and a poll worker on every election day for a decade. They were so committed to community service that the Jesup mayor declared "Mort and Goldie Mooney Day" in their honor when the two moved to Spartanburg for health reasons in 1996.

Mrs. Mooney also was a faithful member of the Eastern Star and When her children were young, a several time president of PTA. She was third-generation member of Bnai Brith Jacob synagogue in Savannah and a meber of Temple Bani Israel and its sisterhood in Spartanburg. She was a life member of Hadasah and a generous contributor to Jewish Charities worldwide.

She was an extremely talented baker and provided one of her sought-after cakes for hundreds of bake sales and fund-raisers for any charity. She also would bring cakes as a thank-you gift to anyone who had done a kindness for her boundless hospitality. For more than 30 years, she prepared a Thanksgiving feast, often for more than 50 guests. She invited family, friends, and anyone who might otherwise have been lonley on the day. The gighlight of the meal alsways was her dozens of cakes.

Even in the last months of her live, although increasingly debilitated, she found a way to express her generosity of spirit. A new resident of Eden Terrance assisted living in Spartanburg, she organized an afternoon tea party where the residents would get together and chat a few hours befor dinner. Eden Terrace employees described how kind she was, cheering up the other residents or holding hands and listending as they talked about the loss of their loved one.

Survirors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Larry Abelkop, and Linda and Saul Tanenbaum, all of Spartanburg, and Brenda Mooney and Marc Komisarow, Atlanta, two sisters, Ethel Cohen, Philadelphia, Pa., and Doris Foskey, Vidalia; one brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Bebe Smith, Vidalia; and a sister-in-law, Beatrice Frank, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.; five grandchildren, Shayne and Shayle Abelkop, Athens, Kara and Faith Tanenbaum, Atlanta, and Jason and his wife Jamie, Charoltte, N.C.; and belvoed nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nephews.

Graveside services were conducted Sunday, September 1, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah with Rabbi Avigdor Slatus presiding.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

Mr. Leon Guy Newton, age 76, Lyons, died Sunday, September 8, 2002, in Toombs Nursing Home in Lyons.

The Wheeler County native relocated to Toombs County in 1946. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a retired service manager with Threlkeld Mortor Company, and was a member of Lyons First United Methodist Church and the Men's Bible Class. He was prceded in death by his daughter, Suanne Newton.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret S. Newton, Lyons; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, September 10, 2002, at 4:00 p.m. in Lyons First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Max Hill and the Reverend James Aycock officating. Inerment followed in Lyons City Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Billy Robertson, John Moore, Sr., Jimmy Brandenburg, Bruce Durden, Van Newton, Collie Collins and Howard Sharpe.

Murchixon Funeral Home of Vidalia was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

Mr. Erin "Pee Wee" Rewis, age 74, Millwood, Ga., died Tuesday, August 27, 2002, in Meadows Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.

The Tattnall County native had resided in McRae most of his life. He was a retired carpenter.

Survivors include one son, Kenneth Ervin Rewis, Milan; four daughters, Linda Diane Tuner, Gautier, Miss., Amanda Carol Groover, Ludowici, Laura Penny, Alma, and Vicky Lynn Harrell, Brantley County; one brother, Clifford Herbert Rewis, Lyons; two sisters, Lottie Moody, Ludowici, and Lois Moore, Macon; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday, August 29, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. in the Ronnie L. Stewart Family Funeral Service Chapel of Vidalia, with the Reverend Joe Howell officating. Interment followed in Conners Baptist Church Cemetery in Cobbtown.

Pallbearers were Chris Penny, John Groover, Joe Smith, Buddy Rewis, Hayward Howell and John Howell.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.

Mr. Pierce Wiley Sowell, age 74, Vidalia, died Sunday, September 8, 2002, at his residence following an extended illness.

The Toombs County native worked in Spain for four years with the CIA and returned to Vidalia from Fairfax, Va., in 1970. He was a graduate of Georgia Tech, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was retired from Federal Pacific, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and Belk department store. He was a veteran of World War II, and a member and former deacon of First Baptist Church of Vidalia, where he was a member and former teacher of the Caring and Sharing Sunday School Class, and also taught weekly Bible Study at Grove Apartments.

Survivors include his wife, Myrle M. Sowell, Vidalia; one son, David Scott Sowell, Gracewood; three stepsons, Taryl Wiggins, Uvalda, Herrell Wiggins, Vidalia, and Jon Wiggins, Marietta; two sisters, Quba Lee Davis and Ruth Darley, both of Vidalia; two brothers, Ira Sowell, Atlanta, and Carl Sowell, Albany; four stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, September 10, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Murchison Funeral Home with the Reverend Scott McHugh and Tom Moore officiating. Interment followed in Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Active pallbearers were Jack Mosley, Greg Sowell, Jerry Sowell, Kenneth Sowell, Byron Gay and Ben Layton. Honorary pallbearers were Pat Adams, Jack Fields, Warren Martin, James Lowe, Ed Smith, Steve Montford, Wes Holt, Howard Rogers, Joe Palmer, Darwin Beasley, Jimmy Wilbanks, Doc Reeves, Bobby Hamilton, Tony Brooks and Daryl Bennett.

Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church of Vidalia.

The Advance-Progress, Wednesday, September 11, 2002, page 2c.