Charles E. Huff's International Funeral Home

01/07/2026

Arrangements Pending

View Lucille Sessions's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/07/2026

Lawrence “Poochie” Sparks, 65, of Columbus, Georgia, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Charles E. Huff’s International Funeral Home...

View Lawrence "Poochie" Sparks's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/06/2026

View Lawrence Sparks's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/04/2026

Arrangements are pending.

View Lawrence Sparks's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the Charles E. Huff International Funeral Home family.

As we step into 2026, we’re also stepping into a milestone year—our 75th Anniversary.

Thank you for trusting us through generations. We don’t take it lightly.
Here’s to a year of continued service, compassion, and legacy. 🤍

We look forward to honoring this legacy with you throughout the year.

01/01/2026

Stacey R. Poole, 55, of Columbus, Georgia, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Liberty Hill Baptist Church, 6804 Forrest Road, Columbus, GA 31907. Rev. James Ziglor will be officiating and Rev. Bobby Ru...

View Stacey R. Wiggins Poole's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

12/29/2025

We have a few tickets left. Stop by today to purchase your tickets.

Join us for the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Unity” Award Breakfast on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Columbus Ironworks Convention & Trade Center.

Doors open: 6:30 A.M.
Program begins: 7:06 A.M.
Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.

Ticket Pricing:
• Reserved Seating – $75
• General Admission – $60

Tickets, ads, and sponsorships are available online at mlkbkfst2026.eventbrite.com.
Let’s come together and powerfully honor Dr. King’s legacy.
They may also be purchased at Hazel’s Flowers and Gifts and Huff International Funeral Home.

All proceeds benefit local scholarships and community outreach initiatives.

Let’s come together and honor Dr. King’s legacy in a powerful way.

12/29/2025

Most of us have probably heard of “Watch Night Services,” the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year’s Eve.

The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year’s Eve event.

If you are like me you assumed that "Watch Night" was a fairly standard Christian religious service, perhaps made a bit more Afro centric because that’s what happens when white elements of Christianity link with the Black Church for that one service each year. It's a traditional way in which a white church re-assures themselves that they are inclusive when they really are not.

Regardless of all of that (present day racism), there is an important historical reason for the "Watch Night" New Year’s Eve services in African American congregations.

The Watch Night Services in Black communities can be traced back to gatherings on December 31, 1862, also known as “Freedom’s Eve.” On that night, Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news the "Emancipation Proclamation" actually had become law. At the stroke of midnight January 1, 1863 all slaves in the Confederate States were declared legally free. When the news was received, there were prayers, shouts and songs of joy as people fell to their knees and thanked God. Since then people of color have gathered in churches on New Year’s Eve praising God for bringing them safely through another year. And, since racism is still very much alive and well in America the celebration is sadly appropriate ... and for all those who are not European in origin.

It’s been 150 plus years since that first "Freedom’s Eve" and many of us were never taught the African American history of "Watch Night," but tradition still brings many together at this time every year to celebrate ... for pretty much the same reason.

It is a tradition in the Black Church in America that five minutes before midnight, men, women and children will kneel, hold hands and pray to God from the present year into the New Year.

(Little Known Black History FB; And, Rev. Joan R. Harrell, Director of Public Communications, Trinity United Church of Christ; Host and Producer, "Empowering Voices")

12/25/2025

12/18/2025

Mr. Anthony A. King, 43, passed on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at his residence. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Spirit Filled Ministries, with Pastor Zeph Baker officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Viewing will be h...

View Anthony A. King's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.