Finding the right information in a moment of grief is honestly one of the hardest things you've ever had to do. When a neighbor or a long-time colleague passes away in the Chattahoochee Valley, most of us still turn to the same place we have for generations. Whether it’s the physical paper or the digital scrolling, Columbus Ledger Enquirer obituaries for today remain the central hub for honoring those who built this community.
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you're looking for service times or trying to send flowers, you’re likely seeing a mix of well-known local names and quiet, private legacies. It’s more than just a list of names. It’s a record of life in Columbus, Phenix City, and the surrounding counties.
✨ Don't miss: Map of Palestine in the Middle East: What Most People Get Wrong
Who We Are Remembering Today
The notices published today reflect the diverse fabric of our region. Several prominent services are taking place this morning and afternoon.
Annie Hinton, a beloved figure who passed on January 10, is being honored at 11:00 AM at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Phenix City. At the same time, family and friends of Pearline (Ocie Pearl) Walker are gathering at Prospect AME Church in Fortson for a Celebration of Life. Later this afternoon, at 2:00 PM, a service for Annie Ruth Brinkley will be held at Gateway Church on Buena Vista Road. These aren't just entries on a screen; they represent decades of teaching, church leadership, and family devotion right here in our backyard.
Kinda makes you realize how interconnected we all are, doesn't it? You might see the name of a veteran like SFC (Retired) Carlos Rivera DeJesus, who lived to be 93, or Cecil Lamar Bass, whose recent passing has touched many in the city. The Ledger-Enquirer keeps these stories alive so we don't forget the people who paved the roads we drive on every day.
How to Navigate the Ledger-Enquirer Obituary System
Searching for a specific name can feel like a chore if you don't know where to click. Most people just Google it, but the direct route is often faster.
- Legacy.com Integration: The Ledger-Enquirer uses Legacy to host their digital records. It's basically the industry standard now.
- Search Filters: You can filter by "Last 30 Days" or "Today" specifically. Honestly, the "Today" filter is the most used because people are usually looking for immediate funeral details.
- Guestbooks: Most listings have a digital guestbook. It’s a small way to leave a note for the family if you can't make it to the service in person.
It’s important to remember that not every death results in a published obituary. Some families choose private services or simply can't manage the logistics during a crisis. If you don't see a name in the Columbus Ledger Enquirer obituaries for today, check the local funeral home websites directly. Names like McMullen Funeral Home, Striffler-Hamby, and Sconiers often post updates on their own sites a few hours before they hit the newspaper's digital feed.
The Cost and Process of Placing a Notice
If you find yourself on the other side of this—having to write one—it’s a lot to handle. In 2026, the cost to place a notice in the Ledger-Enquirer starts around $22.35, but that’s just for a very basic text entry. If you want a photo (and you usually do, because a picture says so much), the price goes up.
🔗 Read more: River North Shooting Chicago: Why This Neighborhood is Struggling to Fix Its Nightlife Crime Problem
Most people work directly with their funeral director to handle this. The funeral homes have a streamlined pipeline to the McClatchy offices (the parent company of the Ledger-Enquirer). They’ll help you proofread and ensure you don't miss the 4:00 PM deadline for the next day's publication.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Date Confusion: Double-check the day of the week versus the calendar date.
- Military Honors: If the deceased was a veteran, make sure to mention it early so the local VFW or American Legion can be notified.
- Charitable Donations: If the family wants donations instead of flowers, provide a direct link to the charity. It saves everyone a lot of phone calls.
Beyond the Paper: Grief Support in Columbus
Reading the obituaries is often the first step in a long process. Columbus has some incredible resources for those left behind. Columbus Hospice on Moon Road isn't just for end-of-life care; they offer extensive grief counseling and support groups that are open to the public.
Losing someone sucks. There’s no other way to put it. But seeing a community come together in the comments of an obituary or at a graveside service at Parkhill Cemetery reminds us that nobody has to go through it totally alone.
What to do next
If you need to find a specific service time for today, go directly to the Ledger-Enquirer's obituary portal. If you are looking to send flowers to one of the services mentioned earlier (like the one for Annie Brinkley or Pearline Walker), contact a local florist like Bloomwoods or Albright's immediately to ensure delivery before the 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM start times.
For those looking to archive a notice or find older records for genealogy, the Columbus Public Library on Macon Road has microfilm and digital archives of the Ledger-Enquirer dating back over a hundred years. It's a great resource if you're digging into your family tree and need more than just what's available online today.