IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA CIVIL ACTION FILE NO. 2025-A-0081   IN THE INTEREST OF: AVERIE JOY RAY,  MINOR FEMALE CHILD   NOTICE OF PUBLICATION   TO: LACRETIA JORINE RAY AND ANY AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES   You are hereby notified that on the 29th day of September 2025, CHARLOTTE DIANNE BROWN and JIMMY FRANKLIN BROWN filed a Petition to adopt AVERIE JOY RAY, the daughter of LACRETIA JORINE RAY and CLAYTON WHEELER. Pursuant to .O.C.G.A. §19-8-10 (c)(l)(C), you are hereby notified that you may lose all rights to the child unless you show cause, if you can, on the 26th day of May 2026 at 10:00 o'clock am., before the Honorable J. Grady Blanchard, Judge of Superior Court at the Columbia County Justice Center, 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, Georgia 30809, Courtroom 1, why said adoption should not be granted.   WI'INESS, the Present Honorable Sheryl B. Jolly, Barry A. Fleming and J. Grady Blanchard, Judges of Superior Court of Columbia County, Georgia. This 23rd day of March 2026.    Cindy Mason, Clerk of Superior Court Columbia County, Georgia   PRESENTED BY: Stephen H. Hagler, Attorney for the Petitioner Georgia Bar# 316880 4070 Columbia Road Martinez, Georgia 3 0907 Telephone: (706) 860-9060 Facsimile: (706) 855-7844 E-mail: shagler@haglerlaw.net