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Ebbie Mae Bell, age 81, died Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at Good Samaritan Center, Dowling Park, FL.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Beggs Funeral Home, Madison, with burial at Midway Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Beggs Funeral Home.

She was born in Madison County where she lived all her life, and was a member of Madison Church of God. 
She is survived by five sons: Donald Wayne Bell and Douglas Arnold Bell, both of Madison, Darryl Roger Bell, Dale Scott Bell and Dwayne Keith Bell, all of Jacksonville; two daughters: Wanda Elaine Scott (Blake) of Pinetta and Wendy Lawann Odom (Ken) of Lee; 3 sisters: Beulah Johnson of Lee, Betty Jean Webb (Louis) of Perry and Maggie L. Webb of Madison; 6 grandchildren: Kalli Nicole Crocier (Ronnie) of Ft. Gaines, Ga., Brandon O’Neal Matheny (Courtney), Kassi Alexis  Lowery (Andy), Kandace Brooke Odom, Kelsey Briana Odom, Kendall Emma Odom; and one great grandchild, Owen Matheny.
 Beggs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements 973-2258.

Arthur McNealy, 63, a retired Veterans Administration employee and member of Cascade Missionary Baptist Church died Thursday, May 24, 2012, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, at St. James Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation 4-6 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2012, at the Ganzy Funeral Home (850) 973-3267.

Burial immediately followed at Mt. Horeb Cemetery in Pinetta.

Otera Clara DeGrasse, age 92 died Monday, May 28, 2012, at Tallahassee.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, at New Testament Christian Center, Madison with burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9;30 – 11:00 prior to the service at the church.
She was born in Winterville, Ga., and lived in Maine and W Palm Beach before moving to Madison in 1987. 

She was a loving, kind and compassionate person who was much loved by everyone who knew her. She was precious to all of her family and friends.  She imparted her love of life and laughter to all of those around her.  She volunteered for Literacy at the local prison. She loved to read, play scrabble. She was a singer and very musically talented. 
  
 She is survived by two sons, Jim Haynes (Nelyda) of Orlando and Dennis Alan De Grasse (Jeanne) of Trenton; two daughters, Linda Lee DeGrasse of Ruckersville, Va., and Cindi Perron (Dan) of Madison; two sisters: Lillian Conway of Sebring and Gladys Robinson of Middletown, Ohio.

Donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5428. 
Beggs Funeral Home, Madison, is in charge of  arrangements. 973-2258.

Wilbur Hubert Bishop, 90, of Valdosta, Ga., passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2012. He was born in Aucilla on November 28, 1921 to the late George Thomas Bishop and Alice Eva Anderson Bishop. He retired from Owens Illinois now Packaging Corporation of America after 30 years of service. He was a charter member of Azalea City Baptist Church now known as Crossroads Baptist Church where he was active as a deacon, trustee and in the senior ministry.

Mr. Bishop was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Rebecca Shattles Bishop who died in 2004, his sister, Vera Jones, brother, George Thomas Bishop and son-in-law, Jim Narey. Survivors are his daughters , Gwen Simmons of Valdosta, Sharon Narey of Ringgold, Georgia, grandson and his spouse, Gregg Simmons and Nancy of Jacksonville, Florida, granddaughters and their spouses, Lysbeth Simmons Wilson and Andrew of Cambridgeshire, England, Lynn Simmons Orenstein and Scottie of Valdosta, great grandson, Austin Orenstein and four great granddaughters, Jordan Simmons, Ally Orenstein, Hollie Simmons and McKenna Wilson; a sister, Muriel Taylor of Monticello, Florida, a nephew and two nieces. The family would like to thank United Hospice and Mr. Bishop’s caregivers for their loving and dedicated service.

The family received friends on Thursday, May 24, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Funeral services were held on Friday, May 25, 2012 at eleven a.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Reverend Charlie Scarbrough will officiate. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Crossroads Baptist Church Senior Ministry, 3001 Country Club Drive Valdosta GA 31601 or to United Hospice 407 Cowart Avenue Valdosta, GA 31602. Condolences may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneral services.com.

William Henry “Buddy” McChesney, Jr., 66, passed away April 20, 2012, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

BuddyMac, as he was known by his many friends, grew up in Cherry Lake and Madison, FL., and settled in Tallahassee. He attended North Florida Junior College in Madison and then the University of Florida in Gainesville. BuddyMac was an avid outdoorsman and he loved hunting, fishing, and the University of Florida Gators with equal fervor. Recently, Buddy discovered the joys of setting up model train layouts and made new friends in the Big Bend Model Railroad Association. He was also excited to participate in the Tallahassee Regional Antique Auto Club with an original 1946 Willys Jeep acquired from his father-in-law.

Buddy is survived by his wife of nearly 44 years, Pamela Scott McChesney; his two sons, William H. McChesney, III, and Thomas Scott McChesney; a granddaughter, Madison Renee and an expected-in-May grandson, Brody Scott McChesney.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Beggs Funeral Home, 3322 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL. 32311, (850) 942-2929.

Erma Whidden passed away on April 14, 2012. She lived in Tampa for 56 years before moving to Madison. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Fred Muller.

She is survived by her busband, Dwayne Whidden; daughter: Debra Aplin (Doug); son: Jim Joslin (Jackie); brothers-in-law, Bill Gill and Lester Tillis; sister-in-law Sara Tillis; and three grandchildren. 

Funeral services were held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, at Hopewell Baptist Church.

 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer Association or to the Hopewell Baptist Church Building Fund.

Jesse “Jay” Wall Watson, Jr., age 68, passed away in Tallahassee on April 10, 2012.

Jay, the eldest of two sons, was born to Jesse Wall and Esther Whidden Watson in Bartow, on January 1, 1944.

Jay was an avid golfer who began to swing a club and play as soon as he could walk and hold a club. He even competed in the National Pee Wee Championship in Orlando at the age of five. Jay had been a member of both the Capital City and Killearn Golf and Country Clubs where he had many golfing friends.

After graduation from Madison High School, Jay attended North Florida Community College, Florida State University and the University Of South Florida. He served in the U.S Army Reserves. Jay provided service to the State of Florida working 38 years with The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The many who knew Jay will miss and remember his sincere and kind generosity, compassion for others, fondness of F.S.U. football and tailgating with the children and friends, calm contemplative demeanor and his keen wit. He would want us all to remember the fun times, play 18 holes of golf and then visit the 19th hole and have a party. We cherish the memory of the man, Jay, who has now crossed the links.

Predeceased by his parents and his brother, Jerry Watson. Jay is survived by his wife, Rosemary M. Watson; sons, Michael T. and his wife Kelly A. Watson and Kevin J. Watson; sister-in-law, Sandra P. Watson “Sandy” and numerous cousins.

A visitation was held on Saturday, April 14, at Beggs Funeral Home, 3322 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL. 32311. Services and interment were held on Monday, April 16, in the Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow, FL.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish, may make memorial contributions to Golfers Against Cancer, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail, Kingwood TX, 77339; Castaways Against Cancer at www.castawaysagainstcancer.com; the American Heart Association, 2851 Remington Green Circle, Tallahassee, FL, 32308; or a charity of the donors choice.

Gladys Hale Newman, age 84, died Sunday, April 15, 2012 at Madison County Memorial Hospital.

 Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, at Beggs Funeral Home with burial at Midway Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. at Beggs Funeral Home.

A dedicated mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, Gladys Hale Newman was born December 27, 1927 in Madison where she grew up and graduated from Madison County High School.

She retired from a cigar factory in 1985 after 39 years in Clearwater and relocated back to Lee in 1989 where she became a member of the Lee First Baptist Church.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Madison County Genealogical Society.
She is survived by two sons: Claude Newman and wife Beverly of Slocomb, Ala., and Earl Newman and wife Peggy of Madison; daughter-in-law, Hiroko Cherry; 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; two sisters: Julia Cruce of Madison and Myrtice Albritton of Jacksonville;

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Melton “Doc” Newman; two sons: Keith Newman, and Jimmy Newman, brother: L. V. Hale and sister-in-law Annie Hale.

 Please join us for a celebration of her life and her reunion with her Lord.

 In lieu of flowers, we encourage contributions be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308-5428. Beggs Funeral Home, Madison Chapel is in charge of arrangements 850-973-2258.