EDGEWORTH

MR. TONY LEE EDGEWORTH, age 66, of Lyerly, Georgia, passed away Tuesday afternoon from injuries received in a pedestrian/auto accident. He was born August 6, 1960 in Summerville, Georgia to the late J. C. and Madeline Ledford Edgeworth. Tony was retired truck driver for Black and Meek Company.

Surviving are a daughter, Sara Thomas; son, Kenny Edgeworth; sister, Lois Reed; brother, Alvin Edgeworth; Seven Grandchildren, Five Great Grandchildren, several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 28th, at 2:00 P.M. from the Lyerly Pentecostal Power Ministries, with Pastor Steve Collins officiating, interment in Summerville Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Keith Lee, John Lee, Michael Blackmon, Sebastian Brown, Zackery Edgeworth, Eric Burk and Jason Lesprance. The Family will receive friends Friday at the Lyerly Pentecostal Power Ministries from 1 until 2 P.M.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mr. Tony Lee Edgeworth who passed away Tuesday.

ELLENBURG

 CAROLINE LOUISE GEISE ELLENBURG passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Pruitt Health Nursing Home in Rome, Georgia.  She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, June 3, 1933, to the late Emil Carl Geise and Lonie Bohannon Geise.  She moved with her family to Georgia when she was three years old.  Caroline spent her early years in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Georgia, where she built a life centered around her faith, family, and community.  She graduated from Gore High School in 1950 and was a member of Horizon Baptist Fellowship in Summerville.  Caroline was preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, William E. Ellenburg, Sr., son, Johnny Ellenburg, and sisters, Frances DeBerry and Dolores Marshall.

 She is survived by her three children and spouses, Eddy and Jackie Ellenburg of Chattoogaville, GA., Terri and Jerry Floyd of Chatsworth, GA., Tammy and Jerry Jackson of Ringgold, GA., and daughter-in-law, Deborah Cleveland, widow of the late Johnny Ellenburg; grandchildren and spouses, Blake and Cameron Dunagan, Jeremy and Beth Floyd, Dr. Mark and Kristen Floyd, Emily and Joe Costolnick, Matt Ellenburg, and Eli Jackson; great grandchildren, Kate, Anna, Caleb, Andrew Floyd, Jakob and Caroline Floyd, Sophi Taylor, Tyler Costolnick, Rachel Dunagan, and Kayleigh and Madilynn Ellis.

             Funeral services will be Sunday, August 23^rd, at 3:00 p.m. in the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Reverend Dalen Jackson and Jeremy Floyd officiating.  Pallbearers are Jeremy Floyd, Dr. Mark Floyd, Matt Ellenburg, Eli Jackson, Joe Costolnick, and Cameron Dunagan.  The Family will receive friends two hours prior to the service.  Interment will be in the Summerville Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Horizon Baptist Fellowship.  The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Staff at Pruitt Health in Rome for their loving care of mother.

     Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Caroline Louise Geise Ellenburg, who passed away Tuesday.

LANIER

Sidney Arlen Lanier Jr. of Summerville, Georgia, affectionately known as “Butch”, passed away on August 8, 2026 at the age of 71. Mr. Lanier was born to the late Sidney A. (Buddy) Lanier, Sr. and Dora Ann Lanier, who survives. Butch attended Chattooga County Schools where he played multiple sports and was a stand out athlete. Following high school, he attended Jacksonville State University where he excelled both academically and athletically. He was a First Team All-American third baseman and is recognized as a Jacksonville State University Centennial athlete. Butch's discipline to his work as an athlete continued to translate into his career of 38 years working at Georgia Power's Plant Hammond where his Compliance Analyst team highlighted him as honest, dedicated and ‘by the book’ when they celebrated his retirementment. Those traits continued as a constant throughout his life as a husband, father, and grandfather.

In the afternoons following work and on the weekends, Butch was back on the ballfields coaching his son’s many sports teams. His former players still lovingly refer to him as “Coach Butch”.

An avid outdoorsman, Butch enjoyed bird hunting in his youth and many years fishing, especially with family at Lake Weiss, and he could tell you the name of most any tree, type of snake, or bird. This love of the outdoors and animals (especially Golden Retrievers) was passed down to his children and granddaughter. On Saturdays in the Fall, you could find Butch wearing “Georgia red” and cheering on the dawgs from home or at Sanford stadium at The University of Georgia, his children’s alma mater. Butch was a charter member of First Presbyterian Church PCA and served as a deacon and on various committees. He also served as a commissioner on the Summerville Housing Authority board. Some of Butch's most treasured memories in recent years were the time he spent with his granddaughter, Lanier, especially their recent trips to Saint Simons Island. His children would want this said about him, even though he would never want this kind of recognition: He was one of the good ones. He was a man of faith. He was a fair man. You never had to question where he stood on matters of right and wrong. He was the backbone of his family and his legacy can be defined by the example he set for others by showing his ‘goodness’ through actions rather than words.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of almost 48 years, Suzann W Lanier; daughter, Alexandra Lanier Sandeford (Jacob); son, Sidney A. Lanier, III; granddaughter, Lanier Sandeford; mother, Dora Ann Lanier; sister, Joanna (Steve) Lively; brothers, Steve (Ginger) Lanier and Scott (Missy) Lanier; many nieces and nephews, and his beloved Golden Retriever, Cooper.

The family will receive friends Monday, August 10th from 1 until 3 p.m. at the Summerville Presbyterian Church, PCA, with a celebration of life service to follow at 3 P.M. with Rev. Bob Eckardt officiating, Pallbearers Sidney A. Lanier, III, Steve Lanier, Scott Lanier, Andy Williams, Butch Eleam, Robert McWhorter, Greg Williams, Steve Lively, and Jacob Sandeford. interment in Summerville Cemetery. Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church PCA in Summerville, Georgia.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Sidney Arlen Lanier, Jr.

BLACKWELL

MR. ROBERT ALVIN (BOB) BLACKWELL, age 79, of Summerville, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 6, 2026.  He was born January 18, 1947, to the late John and Sara Martin Blackwell.  Mr. Blackwell was retired from the maintenance department of Mohawk Industries.  Bob was hard working, devoted family man, who enjoyed antique stores, old trucks, porch sitting, and tinkering in his shop.  Above all, he loved his family deeply and spent his life helping and sacrificing to make their lives better.  His steady presence, generous heart, and quiet acts of love will be deeply missed.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, the late Dianne Smith Blackwell, his brothers, the late Ralph, Tommy, Ronald, and Bill Blackwell, and a sister, the late Wanda Prather.

Surviving are, daughters, Mary Ann (Donny) Blackwell, Karen (Steve) Odom, and Renee Blackwell; grandchildren, Brittney (Michael) Nicholson, Dustin Blackwell, Erika (Keith) Simmons, Sara Jo Haney, and Jacob (Kayla) Odom; great grandchildren, Jet Johnson, Evie and Molly Nicholson, Dartey Robert and Sutton Blackwell, Sophia and Greyson Simmons, and Cooper Hedgecloth; siblings, Donald (Nancy) Blackwell, Sara Anna (Mike) Stoker, Danny Ray (Christy) Blackwell, and Gary (Teresa) Blackwell; sisters-in-law, Betty Smith and Cindy Cotton; several Nieces and Nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8th, at 2:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Brother Russ Blackwell and Brother Mike Odom officiating, entombment in Greenhills Memory Garden.  Active Pallbearers will be John Blackwell, Rodney Blackwell, Clint Dillard, Luke Blackwell, Donald McGraw, and Terry Green.  The Family will receive friends Saturday from 12:00 noon until 2 :00 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mr. Robert Alvin (Bob) Blackwell, who passed away Thursday.