Obituaries–July 30, 2018

LAKES DUNSON ROBERTSON 

Amanda Mae Cotton

Mrs. Amanda Mae Cotton was born February 26 to the late John Patterson and Mandy Alsberry Patterson in LaGrange (Troup County) Georgia. She was employed by City County Hospital. Mrs. Cotton was united in Holy Matrimony to Mr. Sammy Lee Cotton, a union that has lasted fifty-nine years. On the morning of Thursday, July 19, 2018; Amanda passed away at WellStar West Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, Georgia. She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband, Sammy Lee Cotton; children:  Samuel V. (Lera) Cotton, Jeffery I. (Monica) Cotton, Vanessa D. (Joe Henry) Birdsong, Lawanda A. Cotton, Antonyetta R. (Lewis) Cotton, Monte V. (David) Brown; one step-daughter, Linda G. Mitchell; nine grandchildren:  Lashika Birdsong, Katie Birdsong, Cordero Cotton, Gregory Griggs, Jestin Cotton, Samantah Cotton, Kwame Brown, Kelsey Cotton, Kenyetta Cotton, and seven adorable great grandchildren; two sisters, Myrtis Patterson and Anne (Cain) Harper; one brother, Forest (Elaine) Patterson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives. The Celebration of Life Service was Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Church of the King. Apostle Dr. Hope Taylor and Apostle C. M. Chivers officiated. Burial followed at Restlawn Memory Gardens.

Porter Carter, III 

Mr. Porter Carter, III was born March 10, 1954 the fourth of six sons born to the late, Mr. and Mrs. Porter and Lilla Mae Carter. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age at Central Baptist Church. Later in life, he rededicated his life to Christ and began to worship with the Sardis Baptist Church Family and did so faithfully until the declining of his health. Porter was a graduate of LaGrange High School, Class of 1972. He was employed with Solomon Department Store, Milliken and Company, InterFace Flooring, Torrence Construction all of LaGrange; and Owens Corning of Fairburn, Georgia. On September 21, 1974, Porter married Melissa Rogers and to this union, one child was born. To know Porter was to love him. He would do anything for anyone. He served as a Caregiver to his mother and father. His hobbies included listening to music, watching sports, and Western movies. On Friday, July 20, 2018; Porter departed this life at WellStar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Georgia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents:  Mr. and Mrs. Porter Carter, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Abe Winston, Sr.; two brothers:  Mr. Oliver Carter and Mr. Kevin Carter. He leaves to cherish his life, a devoted daughter, Tekeila (Stacy) Brown; brothers:  Winston (Shirley) Carter, LaGrange, GA; Lawrence (Gwendolyn) Carter, Lanett, AL; Gregory (Linda) Carter, Union City, GA; two sisters-in-law:  Geraldine Carter, East Point, GA; and Barbara Kirtley, Detroit, MI; two aunts:  Mary Rather, LaGrange, GA; and Catherine Laye, Atlanta, GA; two grandchildren, and a host of special friends:  Horace Fulton, Gary Phillips, Truman Estes, Melissa Pittman; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and extended family, The Fulton and Ross Families. The Celebration of Life Service was held Friday, July 27, 2018 at 11:00 at Confidence Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Michael J. Jackson and Rev. Walter Dowell officiating. Burial followed at Southview Cemetery. The family was at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Tekeila (Stacy) Brown.

John Wesley Davis 

John Wesley Davis was born January 7, 1978 to Willie Charles Davis and Carrie Willie Mays. He was educated in the LaGrange City Schools. John loved his children, they were the joy of his life. On Saturday, July 21, 2018, at the age of forty, John transitioned from this life and joined the Lord at Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia. He was preceded in death by two lovely sisters:  Betty Gamble and Charlene Anderson; his grandparents:  John Wesley Fanning and Bertha Harrison; and Robert and Sarah Davis. He leaves to cherish his memories, eight children:  Shekedia Grier, Dezmon Jordan, Aniya Pye, Jaylon Cunningham, Zariah Thomas, Martrell Barber, Cinya W. Davis, John W. Davis, Jr.; special friend, Tasha Barber; his mother, Carrie (Randy) Mays; father, Willie Carles (Maria) Davis; nine sisters:  Ann (Alton) Griggs, Ashley Daniels, Arlester (Troy) Braswell, Patricia (Smith) Edwards, Cora Davis, Melissa Hayes, Quentatta (Brandon) Fletcher, Monica (Dexter) Lampley, and Shereece Payton; twelve brothers:  Tifton (Daphne) Dobbs, Willie Eugene, Tyrone, Charles Lamar, Jimmy Davis, John Davis, Stacey Richardson, Steve Richardson, Willie Charles, Lonnie McQuirter, Kenny McQuirter, and Eric Burks; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. The Celebration of Life Service was held Friday, July 27, 2018 at 3:00 PM at New Macedonia Baptist Church., 111 Johnson Street, LaGrange, GA 30240.  The family was at the home of his mother, Carrie W. Mays.

Charles Robert Willoughby

The Loyal, Inspirational, and Loving Life of Charles Robert Willoughby

Charles Willoughby was born October 24, 1923 in LaGrange, Georgia, and was the youngest of eight children of the late Joshua and Pinkie Hollins Willoughby.  All of his siblings preceded him in death.  Charles truly loved his family and was its patriarch following his father’s death.  He was wise and strong-minded even as a young boy, always set on doing whatever he thought was right, regardless of what others thought.  This strength served him well throughout his life. Charles graduated from East Depot High School in 1943 and was drafted into the United States Navy that same year, following the lead of his older brothers.  Before departing for the Navy, he married his childhood sweetheart Lillie Mae Hand.  A daughter, Justine Olivia was born of this union.  The couple divorced in 1946.  Charles was a member of the first African American graduating class of the Great Lakes Hospital Corps School.  After graduating, he served under the first African American doctor in the United States Navy.  He concluded his military career after 33 months, having attained the rank of pharmacist mate second class, a high honor for any African American serviceman during that time. Charles always believed that God had great plans for him, and that he was to be influential and inspirational to others.  He knew that in order to make an impact in the black community, he would need to position himself to be a leader.  After leaving the military, he enrolled in the Business Administration program at Clark College in 1947.  He was inducted into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in December of 1948.  He remained active in the fraternity throughout his life and was a Lifetime Member.  Charles received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Elementary Education in the spring of 1951. While at Clark College, God blessed him when he met the love of his life, Dorothy Hammond.  They met their freshman year and married their senior year on September 3, 1950.  Charles and Dorothy shared 65 years of holy matrimony until her death in 2016.  Charles and Dorothy lived a wonderful life together, retiring to Peachtree City and later to Newnan.  They did most things together – graduated college, pledged the same year, went to graduate school, cooked, shopped, traveled, and sang (while looking into each other’s eyes), to name a few.  Together, they were leaders, serving their community, doing the work they felt God had called them to do.  Besides the love he felt from God, Charles had never known a love such as this! You could see the love he had for Dorothy every time he looked at her and whenever he said her name.  He was a faithful, caring, and devoted husband. Charles began his professional career as a teacher in the LaGrange Public School System at Kelly Grammar Elementary School, where he remained for twenty years.  While teaching, he continued his education at Columbia University-Teacher’s College, Atlanta University, and West Georgia College, where he completed his Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.  In 1972, he became principal of Pine Street Elementary School in Hogansville, Georgia.  At the time of his appointment, the school faced serious problems.  Charles became a noted and celebrated administrator, known for his effective leadership, respectful nature, and his integrity.  He set the standard for other administrators very early in his leadership endeavors.  Within the first year of his taking charge of the school, he received public accolades for having returned the school to order.  He truly enjoyed being a positive role model in the lives of children as well as in the black community.  He remained there for 16 years until his retirement in 1988. Charles was always active in the community.  He loved to help people.  While in LaGrange, he served as treasurer of the Community Action for Improvement Agency (CAFI), a Community Action Agency (CAA) that received millions of dollars in state and federal funds.  He was on the Board of Directors for the Negro Old Folks Home, where he also served as treasurer.  He was Scout Master of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 63 for 24 years.  Under his supervision, the troop was honored with their first African American Eagle Scout. Charles was a founding member of the LaGrange Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Nu Chapter.  Charles believed in opportunity and equality for everyone.  He never had a problem shaking things up if he thought that was the right thing to do.  If he was fearful about anything, the fear was seldom seen. Charles loved God!!! He gave his life to Christ at ten years of age and was baptized at the First Baptist Church of Fannin Street in LaGrange.  He grew up in the church and later became a Deacon, serving alongside his father, who was also a Deacon.  He sang in the choir and was chairman of the Deacon Board for ten years.  After moving to Peachtree City, Georgia in 1981, he joined the First Baptist Church of Peachtree City.  While visiting other churches, he found a new church home at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church of College Park, Georgia.  He joined and remained a member for the duration of his life.  There he became a Deacon and actively served on the Deacon Board, sang in the church choir, and served as facilitator of the Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) for many years.  He served on the Finance Committee for over twenty years.  He withdrew from some activities when his wife became seriously ill in 2014, and returned to serving in the church following her death.  Charles was faithful to God.  He was unyielding to His word and did all he could to positively influence and encourage others to be their best.  God blessed Charles greatly, giving him the greatest gift when He allowed Charles to come home to be with him.  Charles’ job was well done. Charles was a generous person and leaves the evidence of his love with all whose lives were touched by him.  His generosity will be perpetuated by his family he leaves to cherish his memory and continue his work: Daughter, Mrs. Justine Harris (Joseph) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Grandchildren, Mr. Joseph Harris, Jr. (Cortney) and Mrs. Jaclyn Karefa-Smart (Peter) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Great-grandchildren, Olivia Harris, Kouyate Karefa-Smart, and Kimani Karefa-Smart of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Nephews, Dr. Edward Jonas, Jr. (Veta) of Atlanta, Dr. Harold Jordan Sr. (Geraldine) of Los Angeles, California, Mr. Emerson Jordan (Nicole) of Colarado Springs, Colorado, and Mr. Joshua Willoughby, III of Lancaster California; Nieces, Mrs. Carolyn Robinson of Lagrange, Mrs. Betty Jean Sutton, and Mrs. Bernice Smalls of Temple Hills, Maryland; Special cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Harris (Lucille) of Newnan; Rev. McAllister Hollins of Atlanta; Special great-niece and nephews, Ms. Detra Robinson of Washington, D.C., Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Fowler, Jr. (Jocelyn), and Mr. Edward Jonas III of Atlanta; Special sister and niece in love, Mrs. Clemmie Hatchett, and Judge Glenda Hatchett of Atlanta; Special friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Thomas (Sally) of Newnan, Mrs. Linda Dobson of College Park, Mrs. Sylvia King of Newnan, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fitzhugh (Vivian) of Atlanta, and Mrs. Anice Pearson of Peachtree City. Funeral Services were held Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 11:00 AM, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, 1500 Norman Drive, College Park, GA 30349.