Ellen Louise Thompson, 74, Fayetteville, died May 31, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Charles "Chuck" Thompson. Services were at the Carl J. Mowell chapel with the Rev. Gary Boyd and the Rev. Hugh Kirby officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City. Survivors include daughters, Luanne and Rocky McGinnis, Sevierville, Tenn., and Lynne and Neal Nelson, Fayetteville; grandchildren, Noah McGinnis, Jordan McGinnis, Blakely Nelson, and Sarah Nelson; a brother, Jerry and Charlene Langley, Jacksonville, Fla.; and a sister, Peggy and John Aydlett, Perry. Memorial donations may be made to Southwest Christian Hospice, 7225 Lester Rd., Union City, GA 30291. Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.

Harold Randall Bynum, 71, Woolsey, died May 28, 2009. He was preceded in death by brothers, Vernon and Olen Bynum, and a sister, Verla Mae Elliott. He served in the United States Air Force and later retired as an air traffic controller with the FAA. He loved his grandchildren, gardening and Alabama football. Services were at the Carl J. Mowell chapel with the Rev. Donald Bynum officiating. Interment was at Brooks Memorial Cemetery, Brooks. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Audrey Jean Bynum, Woolsey; son, Ryan Bynum, Woolsey; a daughter, Tammy and Karl Thomason, Brooks; grandchildren, Seth, Abby, and Makenna; and brothers, Drew Bynum, Donald Bynum, and Lex Bynum. Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville, was in charge.

Infant Jacob Marcus "Jake" Colvin, Fayetteville, died May 27, 2009. Services will be today, June 3, at 7 p.m. at Hopewell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Scott Pickering officiating. Survivors include his parents, Mark and Heather Colvin, Fayetteville; a brother, River; sisters, Elizabeth, Emily, and Danielle; paternal grandparents, Larry and June Colvin; maternal grandparents, Ike and Nancy Eichholtz. Parrott Funeral Home, Fairburn, was in charge.

Lamar Branton, 78, Fayetteville, died May 27, 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Henrietta Branton, eight brothers and one sister. Services were at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus, with the Rev. Hugh Kirby officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree City.

Peggy Payne Chamberlin, Peachtree City, died May 25, 2009. She was born in Memphis, Tenn. and raised in Olive Branch, Miss. She was the oldest of three children of Byron and Marjorie McReyolds Payne. She enjoyed traveling and was always ready for any adventure. She was a loving, compassionate and generous person.

Aubrey Varner, 82, Fayetteville, died May 25, 2009. He was born June 5, 1926 in Ashland, Ga. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Edgar and Emma Bellamy Varner, sons, Thomas Varner and Dr. Terry M. Varner, and grandchildren, Thomas Kent and Emma Groover. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army. He was graduated from the University of Georgia in 1950 and served as the Fayette County Extension Agent for 30 years, retiring in 1981. He will be remembered by the countless young lives he influenced through his work with 4-H clubs. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and a member of the Fellowship Disciple Class at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church.

Carolyn Burge, Peachtree City, died April 25, 2009. She was born Sept. 6, 1934 in Independence, Mo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lee Burge Jr., parents, Hugh and Carolyn Nickson Sr., and a brother, Hugh C.

Bravo to two Fayette County residents from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School who received special recognition on the 2009 national French exam. Out of approximately 18,500 students taking the French II exam, sophomore, Nicole Gagnier, tied for 6th place in the state of Georgia and 8th place in the nation making her a national bronze winner for the second consecutive year. Additionally, she received a superior ranking in Georgia’s spoken language competition which is the highest possible ranking. Representing the French I class, freshman, Keila Pagsisihan, tied for 10th place in the state of Georgia making her a top ranked Georgia student. Congratulations to these two students for this exemplary achievement.

The effort of some Fayetteville Intermediate students to get Fayette residents to conserve water will continue thanks to a scholarship from Keep Atlanta Beautiful.

A middle school student is among a handful nationwide and one of just two in Georgia to receive a Certificate of Recognition from the 2009 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Promising Young Writers Program.

This is no ordinary summer camp! The Camp Action Project is highly motivated toward providing at-risk youth in our community the opportunity to participate in a safe and fun environment for a 5-day experience, totally free of charge!

From left are George Martin, Rotary Club president, receives a check from Sadie Mason, McIntosh High School Interact president with Interact officers, Emma Kearney, Will Kearney and McIntosh faculty member, Zoila Curtis.

The McIntosh High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, presents a $600 check to Rotary Club president, George Martin as a donation for Polio Plus.  The Polio Plus campaign is Rotary's initiative for wiping out polio worldwide.  Interact Clubs are "Youth Rotary Clubs" sponsored by a Rotary Club and are open to high school students with the desire to volunteer their time and talents for the betterment of community and humanity.

Graduating seniors at Fayette County High and McIntosh High are among the 2,500 students nationwide receiving National Merit Scholarships.

A student’s dreams of becoming a doctor are getting closer to reality.

Volisa Carter, an 11th grader at Whitewater High, has her goals set on becoming a neonatal intensive care doctor. She was notified in March that she has been invited to attend a medical program that is only offered to the top one percent of high school students in the country.

Peachtree United Methodist GOTR Team members in the back row are Coaches Lisa Reeder, Anna Ivory, Lacy Smith, Sheena Biggerstaff and running buddy Casey Slaggert. In the middle row are Emily Teel, Josephina Reeder, Madison Shepherd and Allison Howl. In the front row are Kristen Trainer, Kayla Ivory and Kallie Coleman. Not pictured are Coach Angela Goddard and Esperanza White. Photo/Special

Fayette County’s team of Girls on the Run (GOTR) have just completed their 12 week program. The 12-week character building program of experiential learning through running teaches very specific and well-defined social and personal skills. The Fayette County’s Peachtree United Methodist team joined other metro Atlanta Girls on the Run teams in a non-competitive 5K race event, Girls on the Run on Sunday, April 19 at the Atlantic station.

Girls on the Run International, is a non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running.