obituary

Kathleen deMarrais, president of Historic Oglethorpe County, shows the obituary database that was compiled from copies of The Oglethorpe Echo at the Oglethorpe County Library. The database is a publicly available resource for genealogists, researchers and community members. (Photo/Caroline Feagin)

New library database puts more than 6,000 local obituaries online

Caroline Feagin

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Decades of obituaries are just a search away at the Oglethorpe County Library. But few people know the information is there.

Don Moore

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Obituary: Frances Donald ‘Don’ Moore

News Staff

Friday, February 20, 2026

Mr. Frances Donald “Don” Moore, 76, of Crawford passed away Feb. 10, 2026.Don was born on the naval base in Charleston, South Carolina on Jan. 14, 1950 to his late parents, Mr. Jack and Mrs. Ann Patton Moore.

Elizabeth Ann ‘Betty’ Mathews King

Obituary: Elizabeth Ann ‘Betty’ Mathews King

News Staff

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Mathews King, 80, of Lexington, met her Lord and Savior on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Betty was born to Ralph and Annie Mae Mathews at the old St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens on Jan. 17, 1946.

Joel Colquitt

Obituary: Joel Colquitt

News Staff

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Joel Colquitt, of Athens, passed away on Jan. 26, 2026. Born in Athens, he was the son of the late Coile and Christine Colquitt.

Paul Mitchell Butts

Obituary: Paul Mitchell Butts

News Staff

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Paul Mitchell Butts passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at Westbury Medical Rehabilitation in Jackson, Georgia, after a brief illness.

Fred Bell

Obituary: Fred Bell

News Staff

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Fred Russell Bell, age 83, of Athens, passed peacefully Jan. 12, 2026, at his residence. He was born in Athens on Dec. 16, 1942, son of the late George Hubert and Wynona Tindall Bell.

Wade Patterson

Obituary: Wade Patterson

News Staff

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Wade Patterson, 62, of Comer, born on Dec. 10, 1963, passed away on Dec. 22, 2025. Born in Athens, he was the son of William Telvie Patterson and Runita Jane Butler Patterson. Wade dedicated many years to his career with McKenny’s and was a proud member of the Local 72.

Larry Woodrow Williamson

Obituary: Larry Woodrow Williamson

News Staff

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Mr. Larry Woodrow Williamson, 88, of Lillian Strong Road, Carlton, husband of 68 years to Vonyce “Jean” Hickox Williamson, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.

Obituary: Harriett Y. Walton

News Staff

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Harriett Y. Walton of Carlton died Dec. 29, 2025. The funeral service was 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 at Thankful Grove Baptist Church, with Pastor Clarence Burgess, eulogist. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Obituary: Geraldine McElroy

News Staff

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Geraldine McElroy, of Athens died Dec. 26, 2025. The funeral service was 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2 at Shiloh Baptist Church, Carlton, with Pastor Arthur Hubbard, eulogist. Interment was in the Fork Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.