Dr. Daniel H. McRae

Dr. Daniel H. McRae, age 88, of Hazlehurst, Ga., died Tues., Jan. 5, 2016. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Fri., Jan. 8, in the Chapel of Miles Funeral Home in Hazelhurst.

The Rev. J. Barry Owens, the Rev. Dewitt Corbin and Terry Powell will officiate with burial in the Hazlehurst City Cemetery.

Dr. McRae was born in Wheeler County and grew up in Mt. Vernon, Ga. He was the son of the late Daniel Hermond McRae, Sr. & Ava Bomar McRae. Dr. McRae graduated from Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine and practiced for 16 years in Jeff Davis County, Ga. Dr. McRae retired from the Georgia Poultry Improvement Association in Douglas, Ga. He was a U. S. Army Veteran and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hazlehurst.

Survivors include his wife, Dot Stewart McRae of Hazlehurst; daughters and sons-in-law, Suzanne and Terry Powell of Andalusia, and Maria and David Crooke of Dublin, Ga.; grandchildren, Kyle and Ashley Powell of Auburn, Katelyn and Cory Ellis of Opp, and Leah Crooke of Statesboro, Ga.; and great-grandchildren, Sarah Frances Powell, Foster Deas Powell, Adeline Lorraine Powell, Woodham Reid Ellis, Georgia Catherine Ellis, and Thomas David Ellis.

Music will be rendered by Jeffery Spell, Sue Duckett and Archie McAfee.

Active pallbearers will beLonnie Roberts, Stanley Land, Ronnie Browning, Kyle Powell, Cory Ellis, Harold Whitfield and Reid Ellis.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Jeff Davis County Veterans Association, Marilyn Rowell, John and Joyce Dykes, Jack and Fannie Lou Rentz, Ben and Sue Duckett, Jim Morris, Rufus and Sarah Wiggins, Sherry Browning, Gail Hesters, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Powell, Gloria Girtman and Neil Girtman.

Miles Funeral Home in Hazlehurst is in charge of arrangements.

 

George Richmond Waits, Jr.

George Richmond Waits, Jr. of Ozark, Ala., former resident of Andalusia, died on Nov. 10 of injuries from an automobile accident.

He was born Nov. 29, 1958, in Savannah, Ga.

He is survived by his parents, George Richmond and Nancy Waits of Orlando; sisters, Christy Woodruff of Winter Springs, Fla., and Mary McDavid Waits of Orlando. Memorial Services will be at 2 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 9, 2016, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

 

MELBA JANICE

(PATTERSON) PHILLIPS

Melba Janice (Patterson) Phillips, 76, of Miramar Beach, Fla., died Jan. 2, 2016, at Grand Boulevard Health and Rehabilitation Center (“GBHC”).

Her parents, Walter L. and Kate Patterson, her brother, the Rev. Edwin Patterson, and son-in-law, Kenneth Mollitor, preceded her in death. She is survived by her her daughter, Lisa Mollitor of Destin; granddaughter, Meri Kate Mollitor, Destin; and close friend, her “adopted” granddaughter, Jessica Hayward, of Miramar Beach.

Janice grew up in a pastor’s family, serving as pianist and/or organist for many churches and playing for numerous weddings and civic events, until her disabilities prevented her from doing so. She worked in the health care field for many years, first as a medical secretary and transcriptionist, then later as a radiologist’s business manager. She loved Southern Gospel music, especially the Blackwood Brothers and Stamps Quartets, and was even named America’s Junior Miss Gospel Singer in 1956. In her later years, she enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and loved Alabama Crimson Tide football. She was an animal lover and greatly enjoyed when family or staff members brought their pets in for her to hold.

A private “Bama Game” memorial was held for close friends and family at GBHC which celebrated her love for her team prior to the National Championship Game.

Her life was exemplified in the words found in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Interment will be in Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery in Andalusia. Notes of condolences may be sent to https://www.magnoliafh.com. Magnolia Funeral Home of Hartford, Ala., is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alaqua Animal Refuge, Inc., 914 Whitfield Road, Freeport, FL 32439.

A special thank you to the staff of Grand Boulevard Health and Rehabilitation Center and Dr. Gilberto Vigo.