Obituaries from the Weekend, September 5, 2026 E-Edition

Michael Boling

Michael Lynn Boling, age 59, of Calhoun, passed away Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at AdventHealth Gordon in Calhoun.

Michael was born October 5 in Cleveland, Tenn., to the late Samuel and Evelyn “Crumbley” Boling.
Michael was a loving husband and father who cherished his family dearly. He is survived by his beloved wife, Diana Lynn Boling, whom he cherished deeply; and his sons, Josh Boling of Calhoun and Zachary Boling and his wife, Hailey, of Calhoun.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at Ponders Calhoun Chapel.
The family will receive friends for visitation Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. until the service hour.

Michael will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who have had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery at Hall Memorial.

Ponders Calhoun Chapel, selected independent owned and operated. 675 Jolly Road, Calhoun, Georgia 30701

Rev. Dennis Childers

Rev. Dennis “Buster” Childers, age 80, of Calhoun, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at AdventHealth Gordon.

Rev. Childers was born in Gordon County on June 11, 1946, a son of the late Charlie Paul Childers and the late Bessie Hightower Childers. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Willard and Barbara Childers; one nephew, Adam Childers.

He attended Fairmount High School and later became a machine specialist and retired from Fafnir Mills. Rev. Childers surrendered his life to the Lord and became a well-respected minister in the Gordon County area. He spent his life serving the Lord and pastored Timms Chapel Church of God for 24 years and was most recently a member of Victory Temple Church of God. He loved to travel, especially to the Smokies and spend time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mrs. Brenda Kirby Childers; one daughter, Paula Thomason (Hugh); one son, Kevin Childers (April); one brother, Kenneth Childers (Jane); four grandchildren, Autumn Garrett, Brandon Thomason, Drew Childers, and Blake Childers; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 at 1 p.m at Victory Temple Church of God with Rev. Jeff Dutton, Rev. Norris Sexton, and Rev. Drew Sexton officiating. Music will be provided by Mrs. Elaine Bearden, Mrs. Lisa Kirby, and Mrs. Tara Smith. Interment will follow in Haven of Rest Memorial Park. Gentlemen serving as pallbearers include Trevor Childers, Brian Childers, Drew Childers, Brandon Thomason, Randy Franklin, and David Roden.

The family will receive friends on Monday, Sept. 7, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Rev. Childers will lie-in-state on Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. at Victory Temple Church of God.

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com

Thomas Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Dennis “Buster” Childers.

Shelby Pulliam

Shelby Spiva Pulliam, age 89, of Calhoun, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. She was born in Trion, Ga. on May 1, 1937, daughter of the late John and Sallie Haney Spiva of Trion. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Vernon Pulliam and son-in-law, Robbie West Jr.

Mrs. Pulliam was a Sunday school teacher for more than 40 years in Gordon and surrounding counties. She also taught Pre-K for over 20 years at Dalton First Baptist Church. Mrs. Pulliam continued teaching young children for another 10 years in the Gordon County school system. Mrs. Pulliam served our Lord diligently through her beautiful singing voice as well as playing the organ, piano, dulcimer, accordion, and mandolin. Her legacy is the quiet kindness she left in every heart she touched. She leaves behind a world made softer by her gentle spirit. To know her was to experience gentleness and grace. She graduated from Trion High School in 1955.

She leaves behind her daughters, Alisa Pulliam Jones and Tresa Pulliam West; a son, Randy Pulliam, all of Calhoun; five grandchildren, Jamon (Angie) Jones of Pinelog, Andrew Jones, Ashley (Brett) Silvey all of Calhoun, Jada (Izaak) McDonald of Dalton, and Grace (Parker) Rutledge of Euharlee; great-grandchildren, Briana Silvey, and Myles Jones all of Calhoun; Jon Bennett and Griffin Randall Rutledge of Euharlee; Josiah McDonald of Dalton; Nieces and nephews also survive.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 p.m. at Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home.

Services to celebrate Shelby’s life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home with Rev. Brandon Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Chandler Cemetery. Active pallbearers will include Jamon Jones, Andrew Jones, Brett Silvey, Parker Rutledge, Izaak McDonald, and Steve Pulliam. Honorary pallbearers are Wayne McIntosh and Bryan Blackstock.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Shelby Spiva Pulliam.

Linda Roden

Linda Jean Roden, 81, of Calhoun, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. She was born in Whitwell, Tenn., on Aug. 13, 1945, to the late Edward and Thelma Layne. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Roden.

She is survived by her sons, Dale (Julie) Lockard Jr., Earl Lockard, Chris (Katie) Lockard; daughters, Donna (Steve) Barker, Loretta Taylor, Denise (Bobby) Silvers; brother, Harold Layne; sister, Diane Layne; grandchildren, Emily (Daiton) Lockard, Megan (Brian) VanDyke, Sara (Keith) Jones, Jessica (Chad) Phillips, Laura (Dustin) Ghorley, Elizabeth Taylor, Cody Lockard, Hunter (India) Lockard, Jeremy (Brittany) Lockard, Jonathan (Brittany) Silvers, Landon Silvers, Tristyn Lockard; 21 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren also survive.

The family received friends on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 p.m. at Tabernacle of Praise.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. from Tabernacle of Praise with Rev. Scott Southerland officiating. Burial will follow in Chandler Cemetery. Pallbearers serving are Bobby Silvers, Jonathan Silvers, Landon Silvers, Zander Taylor, Dustin Ghorley, and Hunter Lockard.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Linda Jean Roden.

Neil Walker

Eva Neil (Allen) Walker, 91, of Calhoun, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. She was born in New Boston, Texas, on June 13, 1935, to the late Rufus and Ruby Allen. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Paul Kenneth Walker; brother, Nathan Allen; and granddaughter, Katie Walker.

Neil is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Kenny and Jamie Walker of Athens, Georgia, and Clint and Sherry Walker of Calhoun, Georgia; and one grandchild, Britt Walker.

The family received friends on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church.

The funeral service was held on Thursday, Sept. 3, 206, at 1:00 p.m. from Trinity Baptist Church. Burial followed in West Hill Cemetery in Dalton. Pallbearers are Tommy Hall, Lamont Kiser, David Hancock, Glenn Shropshire, Gary Shropshire, and Greg Shropshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Rock Sunday School Class at Trinity Baptist Church.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Eva Neil (Allen) Walker.

Jo Ann Walker

Jo Ann Rich Walker, age 87, of Calhoun, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at AdventHealth Gordon.

Jo Ann was born on June 16, 1939, in Gordon County, daughter of the late William Andrew Rich, Sr. and Lois Eleene Metcalf Rich. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, George Arnold Walker; and two brothers, William Andrew Rich, Jr. and David Kim Rich.

She enjoyed reading, thrifting, estate sales, cooking, and car rides through Blue Ridge. She was a member of Oostauala Baptist Church. Jo Ann was a loving mother and grandmother.

Jo Ann is survived by one son, Terry Erwin; two daughters, Priscilla Couch and Yvette Sales; one brother, Michael Rich, four sisters, Joyce Waters, Julia Nichols, Edith Womack, and Pamela Rich; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Sept 5,. 2026, at 11 a.m. in Oostanaula Baptist Church Cemetery with Reverend Gary Quarels officiating.

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com

Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Jo Ann Rich Walker.

Sybil York

Sybil Essie York, 88, of Calhoun, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. She was born in Dalton on Sept. 26, 1937, to the late Waymon and Cynthia Headrick. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Leonard Headrick, Clyde Headrick; sisters, Ruby Headrick, Josie Sellers, Kathryn Green, Lottie Mae Headrick, Mary Vineyard.

She is survived by her sons, Kenneth York, Ronnie York, Mitchell (Tammy) York, Danny (Tambi) York; grandchildren, Adam York, Laura York, Krystal Tate, Angie Roberts, Christy More, Amanda Carver, Misty York Latendresse, Grant York; 11 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren also survive.

The family received friends on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. from Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Crandall, Georgia.

The family would like to give a special thank you to all the staff at The Lantern with Morning Pointe.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Sybil Essie York.