C
ommunity newspa-
pers tell the stories
of local residents.
They offer a glimpse
into the lives of those
who call a community
home and also provide
a historical record for
generations to come.
For 200 years, The
Union-Recorder has
done just that for the
residents of Milled-
geville and Baldwin
County and surround-
ing areas, telling their
stories and recording
history. Obituaries
and death notices are
a critical part of that history, allowing
families to record and trace their her-
itage from one generation to the next.
“Before newspapers, death notices
were nailed to a tree in the town
square,” says Funeral Director Cam-
eron Williams of Williams Funeral
Home. “After newspapers, everyone
realized this was how news was trans-
mitted and of course it was a natural
way to notify people.
Obituaries tell stories of not only an
individual’s lives, but they also reflect
the stories of communities at the time
of someone’s death.
dled services. It helps with locating
cemeteries and even for genealogy.
Family members are locating distant
relatives through the help of the
periodical. Also, a person may not
know the deceased’s name but may
know a family member, therefore,
the publication helps to connect the
family members. Someone may want
to express condolences to a friend
who may have lost a loved one. It also
can help reach different geograph-
ical areas with different newspaper
publications. Often with our increas-
ingly transient society, a loved one
may have worked or lived in another
region and had friends we may not
think to notify at the time of passing.
Newspapers help to inform those
friends and families in other areas.”
Williams is a part of the third gen-
eration of his family to work in the
funeral home business.
“We have always had a great relation-
ship with our papers,” he says. “We
realize the important role they play in
our lives and we value that friendship.
We all work together to be a vital part
of our community. From advertise-
ments to obituaries, this has afforded
us to stay in touch with the public and
our communities. We hope to contin-
ue to earn the trust of our neighbors,
family, friends and community.”
Newspaper
obits help
share family
history for
generations
Much has changed in the process
of publishing obituaries since The
Union-Recorder’s inception.
“We used to call the obits in to the
paper, usually we had until 7 p.m. to
call and read the obit to someone that
was typing the notice for print,” said
Williams, whose family has served
the local community in times of need
since 1964. “Then came the fax ma-
chine, around 1990, best thing since
sliced bread.
Then papers got the ability to
print pictures of the deceased on the
pages with obits. Now with email,
it’s convenient to get them to many
newspapers with the click of a button.
Even further with technology Obit-
uaries can be uploaded via web and
received immediately. Websites and
online newspapers reach consumers
instantly.”
Williams says publishing obituaries
in newspapers helps share informa-
tion on a person’s passing in a way
that otherwise might not be as acces-
sible. They provide a lasting record of
a person’s life and allow people, and
communities, to collectively mourn.
“Newspapers online [are] also very
convenient. Someone can find the
information of a deceased through a
Google search as opposed to having to
find the exact funeral home that han-
22 l 200th