Obituaries

Mar 25, 2026

Windell R. Ridley, 84, of Chatsworth, GA, gained his angel wings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Ridley is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Jessie Lee Ridley; brothers, George Lamar (G.L.) Ridley and Reverend James Ridley; and sister, Dovie Murvis Roberts.

He is survived by his first true love, Jeanette Greenway; children, Buck (Norma)...

Mar 22, 2026

Toledo Johns Bisbee (Jackson), age 78, of Dalton, Georgia, passed away on March 22, 2026, at her home.

Tody was born on January 13, 1948, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Garland and Myra Jackson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Garland and Myra Jackson; her son, Andy Johns; the father of her children, Thomas Johns; and...

Mar 4, 2026

Sherman Lee Crabtree, born April 6, 1961, passed away peacefully at his home on March 4, 2026, leaving behind a life of love for his children, the outdoors, and helping others.

Sherman was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Robert and Leta Crabtree; brothers, Gerald Crabtree and Anthony Crabtree; and sister, Sue Goodman. He is survived...

Feb 25, 2026

Dana Joel Freeman, age 73, of Dalton, passed away peacefully at his home on February 25, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Josephine Freeman.

A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Joey was a 1970 graduate of Sherman High School in Seth, West Virginia. Following graduation, he proudly served his country in the...

Feb 24, 2026

Tony Ridley, age 72, of Chatsworth passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, peacefully at his home.

Tony was born on December 5, 1953, as the first child of Bobby and Glenice Harrison Ridley, residents of Murray County, Georgia. As a young boy, he spent his first two years in Anchorage, Alaska where is Dad was serving...

Feb 21, 2026

Christopher Don Green, 55, of Dalton, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Debra Green; brother, Benjamin Green; and grandparents, Leonard and Patsy Headrick and Hoyt and Anne Green.

Mr. Green is survived by his wife of fourteen (14) years, Sharon Green; his children, Christopher Green, Jr.,...

Feb 20, 2026

2 Corinthians 5:8

Claude Thomas, 76, was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 1:45 p.m. peacefully in his home in Chatsworth Georgia. Claude was an incredibly grateful and loving man, and fun to be around. Claude was a veteran of the United States Air Force.

He is preceded...

Feb 17, 2026

BY GOD, what a ride it was. On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Murray County lost its unofficial mayor, lead storyteller, and most loyal neighbor, Greg Wilbanks, at the age of 69. A man whose roots didn't just grow in Ramhurst—they were buried deep in the sawdust of his granddaddy's sawmill and the red clay that he made his stomping...

Feb 14, 2026

Bobby Allen Hyde, age 74, passed away on February 14, 2026. Bobby was a man with the biggest heart and the warmest smile. If you were lucky enough to know him, you know that his kindness and generosity came naturally. He was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back without hesitation.

...

Feb 13, 2026

John Harry Smith, 88, of Dalton, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at home. He was a man defined by his love of family and friends. If he loved you, he loved you with his whole heart and being.

Early Life and Career

Born on May 5, 1937, in Dalton, GA to George and...

Feb 10, 2026

Anthony "Tony" George Armstrong, 70, of Ellijay, Georgia, passed away peacefully at home on February 10, 2026. He was born on July 2, 1955, to the late Sanford and Annie Estelle Armstrong.

A man of many passions, Tony spent his life working as a skilled mechanic and long-haul truck driver. He found joy in the open road...

Feb 1, 2026

Tommy went to his heavenly home on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Born in Detroit Michigan, living a life well-traveled with his family often moving around the country as a boy, and later in life doing the same, having lived in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and California. After high school Tommy enjoyed a brief stint riding a motorcycle in...

Jan 15, 2026

Karen Christian, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, peacefully departed this life on January 15, 2026, just a few months shy of her 80th birthday, in Dalton, Georgia.

Karen Francis Steinmetz Christian was born on April 8, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio. After graduating from Waite High School in Toledo in 1964, she went on to nursing school at...

Jan 14, 2026

Enid Kay Welch passed away peacefully in Ellijay, Georgia, on the 14th of January 2026. Enid was born on the 1st of September 1943, in Rock Island, Illinois, the daughter of Raymond and Edna (Payne) Heitz.

Enid shared 63 years of marriage with her beloved husband Dan, and together they cultivated a family that anchored her life...

Jan 7, 2026

Daniel James Welch, affectionately known to all as Dan, passed away on January 7, 2026, in Ellijay, Georgia. Born on February 18, 1944, in Moline, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Mary (Mayorski) Welch. Dan was a man whose humor and kindness left an indelible mark on the world.

Dan's professional life was as solid as the...

Jan 5, 2026

William Peter Hyatt, Jr., 82 of Dalton passed away Monday, January 5, 2026, peacefully at his home away from home, Dalton Square.

Bill, as he was lovingly known as, was born March 4, 1943, in LaGrange, GA to Pauline Lott Hyatt and William Peter Hyatt. He graduated from LaGrange College in 1965, moved to Dalton to begin...

Jan 2, 2026

Janice Ann Carden Gragg passed peacefully on January 2, 2026, surrounded by those who loved her.

Born the fourth of eight children to Thomas and Maxine Worley Carden, Janice learned early the importance of family, teamwork, and quiet strength. A proud captain of her Valley Point High School basketball team, she carried those qualities throughout her life....

Dec 17, 2025

Lanie Jones, age 71, of Dalton, passed away peacefully at Hamilton Medical Center early Wednesday morning, December 17, 2025, with her sisters near her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and JoAnne Liles Jones.

She is survived by sisters, Leslie (John) Hudson and Andrea (Roger) Hughes; nieces and nephews, Whitney (Michael) Cantrell, Kingsley (Stephen)...

Nov 30, 2025

Richard Ralph Schoen, 76, passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Born May 11, 1949, in Birmingham, Alabama, Richard was the oldest of four boys born to Fred and Bernice Schoen. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving in Okinawa during the Vietnam conflict. Following his military service, he attended...

Nov 29, 2025

With deep love and profound sadness, our family announces the passing of Wanda J. Ellis, who left this world peacefully on November 29, 2025, just two days shy of her 81st birthday.

Born on December 1, 1944, Wanda lived a life marked by strength, generosity, and compassion. Whether through her words, her laughter, or her acts of...