Local & Area Deaths

Bailey, James Edmund “Jim,” 97, Pine Mountain Valley, Ga., died Thursday. McMullen Funeral Home, Columbus.

Baker, Rosalyn, 60, Cusseta, Ga., died Friday. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Saturday, Kingsville Baptist Church, Cusseta. Charles E. Huff’s International Funeral Home, Columbus.

Blackburn, Mary Julia, 91, Columbus, died Friday. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus.

Gardner, retired Col. Eli, 78, 1523 Hilton Ave., Columbus, died Wednesday. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Friday, Main Post Protestant Chapel, Fort Benning. Charles E. Huff’s International Funeral Home, Columbus.

Gruber, Mary Alpha, 87, Smiths Station, Ala., formerly of Columbus, died Saturday. Graveside service: 3 p.m. Monday, Parkhill Cemetery. Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus.

Hickman, Benny Frank, 78, Cusseta, Ga., died Thursday. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Monday, Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus.

Kekaualua, Joseph Nalimu Iokepa Jr., 77, Columbus, died Wednesday. Memorial service: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus.

Kite, Ben J., 72, Macon, Ga., died Friday. Memorial service: 1 p.m. Monday, Hart’s Mortuary, Macon.

Reeves, Lester Jr., 52, Midland, Ga., died Dec. 5. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Monday, People’s Funeral Service of Columbus.

Rockemore, Mamie Jackson, 86, Columbus, died Tuesday. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Monday, Lewis Memorial Baptist Church. Sconiers Funeral Home, Columbus.

Wilkerson, Woodrow, 85, Columbus, died Friday. Battle & Battle Funeral Home, Phenix City.

For a list of death notices for the past week, visit www.ledger-enquirer.com and click the “Obituaries” link.

This story was originally published December 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Local & Area Deaths."