John T. Clark

COLLEGE PARK — Funeral services for Mr. John T. Clark, affectionately called “Dokey,” of College Park, formerly of Americus, who died in that city Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, from the Friendship Community Church, 4141 Old Fairburn Rd., and his burial will follow in the Staley Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Elk’s Lodge, N. Jackson Street, following the interment.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Mrs. Catherine Clark; two brothers, Mr. Charlie (Laura) Clark and Mr. Sampson D. (Julia) Clark; two aunts, Ms. Rosa Patterson and Ms. Pearl Wade; two grandchildren, Mr. McArthur Clark and Mr. Kenneth (Monique) Clark and a host of other relatives and friends also survive.

Thorn Hill Funeral Home, College Park, is in charge of arrangements.

Claudine G. Usher

REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO — Claudine G. Usher, 62, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio passed away on Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, from lung cancer. Preceded in death by her father, Bruce Willis, and grandson William Henry Thomas IV, Mrs. Usher is survived by her husband, Guy L. Usher; mother, Mary Willis; daughter, Sherrie Faye (Jeff) Gibson; son, Vincent Earl Christian; sisters, Mary Etta (Terry) Stamos and Alice (Eddie) Jacks.

Survivors also include: grandchildren, Nichole (Benji) Wisham, Hannah Thomas, Seth Christian and a great-grandchild, Trenton Wisham. Mrs. Usher lived in Coquille, OR for the first 30 years of her life and the remainder of her life was spent in Americus and Ohio. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Newcomer Funeral Home, 3047 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH. Messages of condolence may be left at www.newcomerfamily.com.

Eddie James McGrady

AMERICUS — Funeral services for the late Veteran Eddie James McGrady, affectionately called “Sarge” of 112 Ashby Street, Americus who died Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 in the Palmyra Nursing Center, Albany will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 from the Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry B. Sims to officiate and burial to follow in the Andersonville National Cemetery. The remains will lie in repose at the church one hour prior to the services.

Veteran Eddie James “Sarge” McGrady departed this life Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. Veteran McGrady was born March 6, 1928 to Ola Scott McGrady and Will McGrady in Americus. He attended the local public schools of Sumter County. At an early age, he joined the Friendship Baptist Church.

Veteran McGrady enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 and during his military service, he was stationed in Germany and Korea and at various posts throughout the United States. After retiring from the Army as a First Sergeant E-8 in 1966, Veteran McGrady returned to Americus and joined the city police force. Veteran McGrady continued his career in law enforcement with the department of public safety at Georgia Southwestern State University College (GSW). He attained the rank of captain before retiring in 1990.

In 1967, Veteran McGrady and the late Thomas Blount became the first African Americans to sit on the Americus City Board of Education, a position he held for 13 years. He proudly served as Post Commander of the C.B. Dowdell American Legion Post 558 from 1971-1976. In addition, Veteran McGrady served in several community-related capacities, including chairman of the Board of Directors of the West Central Georgia Community Action Council, which oversaw the local Head Start Program.

On Dec. 26, 1952, Eddie McGrady married Alice Smith, who precedes him in death. This union produced three children who survive: Mr. Broderick (Helen) McGrady, Decatur, Ms. Valery Trice, Albany and Mr. Rodney McGrady, Smyrna; he also leaves to mourn two daughters, Ms. Shanika McGrady and Tonika McGrady, both of Americus, one sister, Ms. Geneva Hart, one nephew, Mr. James “Spooky” Hart, one niece, Ms. Dale Fountain, all of Detroit, Mich., three grandsons, Jared McGrady, Cedric Trice and Jeremy McGrady, all of Atlanta; and a host of other relatives and friends also survive.