Obituaries: Remembering Shirley Ann Barlow, Mrs. Dorothy Louise Sims Barker, Ms. Lola M. Evans, Mr. Alvin R. Hardin, Mrs. Ruby Beatrice Waits

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Shirley Ann Barlow, age 67, of Rome passed away Saturday morning, December 26, 2015 in a local hospital.

A native of Rome, Mrs. Barlow was born January 3, 1948 daughter of the late Robert and Thelma Ely Marshall. She was a graduate of East Rome High School and was a substitute teacher at Garden Lakes, Model, and Glenwood Schools. Mrs. Barlow was also a real estate agent with Jason Free Realty. She was full of life, feisty, loved elephants and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a giver who enjoyed baking, especially Christmas goodies, then giving them to friends and family. Mrs . Barlow was a member of Southside Baptist Church and was preceded in death by her husband William V. Barlow.

Survivors include her children Jeff Kessler, Scott Voils, Russ Barlow and Sharon Barlow. Grandchildren Martha, Rusty, Jordan, and Dylan Espy. Crystal and D.J. Voils, Naaman and Heather Barlow, and Rob and Kyle Kessler. Several great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services were conducted at 4 P.M. Tuesday, December 29, 2015 in the Chapel of Parnick Jennings Sr.’s Good Shepherd Funeral Home with Reverends Rodger Whorton and Jackie Culberson officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2 until 4 PM at the funeral home. Interment services will be conducted at the Georgia National Cemetery near Canton at 11:30 AM Wednesday, December 30.

Mrs. Dorothy Louise Sims Barker, age 93, of Rome, passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2015, at Floyd Medical Center. She was born in Rome on May 20, 1922, daughter of the late George Sims, Sr. and Cora Welch Sims. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Barker, by a brother, Cecil Sims, and by a sister, Margaret Puryear Bishop.

Mrs. Barker was a member of Friendship Baptist Church since early childhood and the Crusaders Sunday School Class that her husband taught for many years. She had a love and great knowledge of flowers and plants of all types and was the owner of Kingston Avenue Florist prior to her retirement.

She loved and enjoyed her family and friends. She also loved the staff at Riverwood Retirement Center where she resided for the last several months of her life. The family is forever grateful for the kindness and care provided by the employees of Riverwood, Floyd Medical Center and Heyman Hospice Care.

Survivors include her daughter, JoAnn (Larry) Jacks, Rome, her son, Gary (Nancy) Barker, of Vidalia, Georgia; and four grandchildren, Elissa Jacks Tucker, Rome, Chad (Starla) Barker, Vidalia, GA, Jody Barker, Vidalia, GA, and Kelly (Ryan) Grove, Jessup, GA; four great grandchildren, Rachel (Kevin) Hall, Michael Tucker, Dakota Screws and Ty Nabb; four brothers, George (Jessie) Sims, Jr., Rome, Alton (Kay) Sims, Atlanta, Herbert Sims, Tyler TX, and Paul (Joan) Sims, Tyler TX and a sister-in-law, Eloise Sims, Rome. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mrs. Barker will be held Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Friendship Baptist Church with Dr. Rodger Whorton and Rev. Ken Hinkley officiating. The family will receive friends at Friendship Baptist Church from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm preceding the funeral service. The interment will be at East View Cemetery.

The family will be accepting flowers or memorial contributions may be made to the Friendship Baptist Church Building fund or Heyman Hospice Care in honor of Mrs. Barker.

Pallbearers will be Chad Barker, Jody Barker, Michael Tucker, Kevin Hall, Don Hughes and Ed Haygood.

Fred Talley’s Parkview Chapel Funeral Home.

Mrs. Ruby Beatrice Waits, age 86, of Lindale, passed away on Monday, December 28, 2015, at a local hospital.

Mrs. Waits was born in Cherokee County, Alabama on October 9, 1929, daughter of the late Cleo Bowman and the late Flonnie Mae Gunn Bowman. She was also preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, J. C. McCord, Sr., by her second husband, Charles Waits, by a sister, Doris Barnes, and by a brother, Melvin Bowman. Mrs. Waits was a homemaker and was a member of the Liberty View Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Glenda Gail McCord, Lindale; three sons, Larry McCord and his wife, Katrina, Silver Creek, Jimmy McCord, Lindale, and J. C. McCord Jr., Lindale; a brother, Glen Bowman, Rome; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at 11am in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, with the Rev. Ladell Jacobs officiating. Interment will follow in the Providence Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, on Thursday from 10am until the service time. At other hours, they will be at their respective residences.

Pallbearers are asked to assemble at 10:30am and include: Tim McCord, Jason McCord, Kenneth McCord, Dell Owens, Randy Todd, and Ethan Todd.

Ms. Lola M. Evans, age 78, of 251 State St. in Summerville, Ga. transitioned December 29, 2015. Complete arrangements will be announced at a later by F.K. Jones Funeral Home.

Mr. Alvin R. Hardin, age 79, of Rome, passed away Monday morning, December 28, 2015, at his residence.

Mr. Hardin was born in Floyd County on October 20, 1936, son of the late Herbert Paul “Stump” Hardin and the late Bertha White Hardin. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1953 until 1968, and the United States Army Reserves from 1968 until 1985, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer. Prior to his retirement, he was employed with General Electric here in Rome for over 39 years. Mr. Hardin was a member of Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, where he was also active in the Eagles Sunday School Class, the P. V. N. Pilgrims, and formerly served as a Deacon. He was a member of American Legion Post #5, where he served as Captain of the Honor Guard for many years. Mr. Hardin was a member of Floyd Springs Lodge #167 F. & A. M.

Survivors include his wife, the former Annie Laura Crabb, to whom he was married on January 23, 1955; 2 dau ghters, Lindy Dew, and her husband, Ricky, Armuchee, and Lissa Dunagan, and her husband, Alan, Armuchee; 6 grandchildren, Josh Dunagan, and his wife, Christina, Kingston, Matt Dunagan, and his wife, Natalie, Armuchee, Laurel Ferguson, and her husband, Josh, Adairsville, Justin Dew, Armuchee, Rachael Dew, and her husband, Matt Cole, Nederland, CO, and Jett Dew, Armuchee; 12 great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at 2pm in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, with the Rev. Horace Stewart officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens with the American Legion Post #5 Honor Guard extending military honors.

The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Wednesday from 12 noon until the service hour. At other times, they may be contacted at the residence.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, Building Fund, 735 Old Summerville Road, Rome, GA 30165.