Obituaries

Kenneth Wayne Lauderdale

Kenneth Wayne Lauderdale, 73, (April 12, 1950-Dec. 21, 2023) died Dec. 21, 2023, after a courageous 12-year battle with cancer.    A native of St. Louis, he was a son of Betty Imogene Ramer Lauderdale and the late Marion D. Lauderdale.

James (JR) Mount

James (JR) Mount, 76, formerly of Lexington, died Sunday, Jan. 7.    Mount was born Jan. 1, 1948, to John and Myrtle "Ruth" (McGraw) Mount in Florida.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Cochran Mount, son, Richie Mount, and daughter, Angela (Bray) Bouknecht.

Thomas Jefferson Tucker

Thomas Jefferson Tucker, 64, of Comer, died on Jan. 9, 2024.    Born in Athens, he was the son of the late Lonnie Edward Tucker and Montine Willie Tucker. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Tucker.

Lucyle Reynolds Ballentine

Lucyle Reynolds Ballentine, 98, of Atlantic Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 24, 2023, with her two daughters by her side.   Lucyle was born in Lexington on July 11, 1925. She attended Meson Academy, where her basketball team won the state championship two years in a row.

Mary Lee Jackson

Mary Lee Jackson, 78, of Winterville peacefully passed away in the comfort of her home, surrounded by the warmth of her family on Jan. 2, 2024. The funeral service was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 at Jones Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Stanley Armstrong, eulogist.

Dorothy Ann Kitchens

Dorothy Ann Kitchens, born Nov. 22, 1935, to the late Roy Lee Kitchens and Lois Florine Kitchens in Crawford, died on Jan. 3, 2024.    She is predeceased by her husband Charles Pearl Pickering, son Charles Pearl Pickering Jr.

Nathaniel “Nay” Smith

Nathaniel “Nay” Smith, 69, of Carlton, died Dec. 28, 2023. The funeral service was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 at Fork Bethel Baptist Church, with Pastor Torenzo Gilham, eulogist.    Interment was in the Fork Bethel Baptist Church cemetery.

Jerry Allen Tiller

Jerry Allen Tiller, 71, of Clover Avenue, Comer, died after a courageous and long battle with cancer on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.   Tiller was born Dec. 11, 1952 in Danielsville to Joseph Thomas Tiller and Mae Gladys Wheless Tiller.

Thomas Jackson (Jay) Brightwell III

Thomas Jackson (Jay) Brightwell III left us for his heavenly home on Dec. 26, 2023.  Born in Athens, he was the son of the late Thomas Jackson Brightwell Jr. and Juanita George Brightwell.

Claudia Thornton

Mrs. Claudia Thornton, 78, of Florida, formerly of Carlton, died Dec. 14, 2023. The funeral service was at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Carlton, with Pastor Arthur Hubbard, eulogist. Interment was in the church cemetery.