The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current, December 29, 2021, Image 7

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The Advance., December 29, 2021, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextoHie Ahuance The ADVANCE, December 29, 2021 /Page 7A Obituaries Mrs. Elise Fountain Mrs. Martha Elise O’Quinn Fountain, age 99, of Mt. Vernon, Georgia, died on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Community Hospice House in Vidalia, Georgia. Mrs. Fountain was born on May 4, 1922, in the Stuckey Community of Glenwood, Georgia. She grew up there and gradu ated from Glenwood High School in 1939. She came to Ailey, Georgia, in 1941, to work as a sewing ma chine operator at the shirt factory, and then worked at Peterson’s Dry Goods Store. She met and married J.M. Fountain, a WWII Army soldier, in 1944. Their first child was born while J.M. was fighting overseas in the Philippines. After the war, they made their home in Mt. Vernon, where they raised seven children on their family farm. Elise re turned to factory work in 1959, and then worked at Montgomery County Bank for seven years. Elise was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother to her family. She loved to cook and con tinued to do this well into her 90s. She was an expert on canning and freezing vegetables from the garden and making homemade preserves and jellies. Her biscuits, lacey cornbread, Brunswick stew and fried chicken were just a few of her specialties. Large family get-togethers were always important to her, especially on holidays. Elise loved to sew, and she was a remark able seamstress, even mak ing dresses for proms and bride’s maids and costumes for children and grandchil dren. She loved working in her yards, and her flow ers were beautiful. She was an avid reader and filled her home with books and magazines, even using a magnifying glass to read her Bible and local newspapers as her eyes grew dim with age. After their children were grown, she loved trav eling with her husband all over the United States. At age 81, she rode her first air plane to an ancestral tour of Ireland. Elise was very patri otic and loved her coun try and her community. She was lovingly known as “Mema” to several gen erations of grandchildren, great-grands, and great- great-grands, as well as to dozens of community folks. For years, her big old decorated house was a favorite for trick-or-treaters at Halloween. Elise loved and trusted her Savior, Je sus Christ. Mema Foun tain taught Sunday School to preschoolers for many years at Mt. Vernon First Baptist Church, where she also served on many com mittees, and was a faithful member later of the Fidelis Ladies Class. In 2014, she was chosen as Grand Marshal of the Mt. Vernon Christmas Parade. In May of 2020, during the Covid 19 pandemic, Mema Foun tain was honored with a sur prise “drive-by” parade for her 98th birthday, and she was humbled by the very large number of family and friends who participated to show their love for her. In her last years, she loved to talk about history and she shared her knowledge of all the changes that had taken place in her 99 and Vi years on this earth. Mrs. Fountain is pre ceded in death by her par ents, Joe Newman and Lola Warnock O’Quinn; her husband of 57 years, Mayor J.M. Fountain; two broth ers, Joe and John O’Quinn; three sisters, Mae Moncus, LaVerne Fountain, and Ora O’Quinn; a son-in-law, Don Selph; a daughter-in-law, Linda Sue Fountain; and two infant grandsons. She is survived by two sons, Jesse (Susan) and Festus Fountain ofMt. Ver non; five daughters, Bev erly Selph of Statesboro, Marilyn Fountain, Cynthia Fountain, Becky Fountain (Terry Horne), Charlotte Black (Bill), all of Mt. Ver non; two sisters, Eleene Davis of McDonough and Cora Cheek of Rhine; one brother, Willard O’Quinn of Glenwood; fifteen grand children; eighteen great grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral ser vice was Thursday morn ing, December 23, 2021, at 11:00 at Mt. Vernon Me morial Cemetery with Pas tor Karl Hay officiating. Pallbearers were grand sons. Memorial contribu tions may be made to Mt. Vernon First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 482, Mt. Vernon, GA 30445, or to Community Hospice House, P.O. Box 2277, Vi dalia, GA 30475. Ronald V. Hall FUNERAL HOME "Memories, of a Lifetime of Love" Full Paid Obituary Lowry continued from page 6A knock out Roe and Casey, cornerstones of the progressive social agenda. Of course, the political and cultural war will continue apace. Still, December 2021 looks like an inflection point when, as Breed put it in her speech, “the bull***t” finally got a reality check. Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review. (c) 2021 by King Features Synd., Inc. Clark and Shaw Monument Company 856 Lyons Center Road, Lyons, Georgia 30436 Georgia Marble • Granite • Bronze • Mausoleums Office 912-526-4444 Fax 912-526-0508 Toll Free: 1-866-839-4563 Owners: Bill Clark and Chuck Shaw email: clarkshawmonu@att.net Mr. James West James Dawson West, 94, of Vidalia, Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home on December 19, 2021. Visitation was from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 at the Vidalia First Baptist Church Worship Center, followed by funeral ser vices at 2:00 p.m. Rever end Don Moye officiated, assisted by Scott Morri son. Private family burial followed at the Lakeview Cemetery. James was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, to Vivian and Howard West on January 4, 1927. He married Helen Mills on September 14, 1945, a \MEjg few months after having \ joined the United States Army. Following their wedding, James was sent to Italy to support the WWII European war campaign. He completed his tour and was honorably discharged in 1947. Upon returning from WWII, James went to work selling shoes in Macon, Georgia. After gaining sales experience, he went to work in 1951 for the Belk- Matthews Company as shoe department manager in Milledgeville, Georgia. From there he quickly rose to assistant store manager and was transferred to head up the Vidalia Belk- Matthews store as Man ager in 1958. After over four decades of successful and dedicated service, he retired in 1992 and contin ued to reside in Vidalia. James was an active member of the First Bap tist Church of Vidalia and proudly served in several positions such as adult Sunday School facilita tor, Church Treasurer, and President of the Men’s Bible Class. While work ing and raising his family, James participated in nu merous civic organizations. He was President of the Lion’s Club, President of the Vidalia Jaycees, a mem ber of the Toombs County School Board, Chairman of the American Red Cross, President of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Vidalia Zoning Committee and the Vidalia Development Authority. He was honored by the Vidalia Kiwanis Club as the Citizen of the year in 1975. During their many happy years in Vidalia, James and Helen both loved to relax playing golf. As members of the Vidalia Country Club, each won numerous local tourna ments, both as individuals as well as a couple. James even once scored a hole- in-one on the ninth hole! They often enjoyed travel ing on golf weekends with close friends. James also enjoyed fishing, hunting and woodworking. Many family members cherish handmade items from his woodworking shop. James loved family above all. He is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Helen; three broth ers, Ralph, Son, and Bin- ion; and three sisters, Ruth, Martha, and Alice. James is survived by his three children, Don (Linda), Na dine (Jerry), and Gloria; six grandchildren, Mamie (Mike), Jason (Nicole), James (Sara), Jessica (An drew), Jeremy (Brook), and Kayce; and 15 great grandchildren. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to First Baptist Church of Vi dalia; Wounded Warriors; Vidalia Community Hos pice; or the charity of your choice. The West family wish es to extend our sincere thanks to James and Hel en’s loving caregivers of the last several years, Pricilla Costen, Debbie Middle- ton, and Brenda Wiggs. Condolences may be sent online at www.rob- erts-stewartfuneralhome. com. ROBERTS - STEWART FUNERAL HOME Full Paid Obituary Mr. Tim Edwards Mr. Tim H. Edwards, age 67, of the Normantown Community, died on Mon day, December 20, 2021, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after a brief illness. Mr. Edwards was a na tive of Lyons, a 1972 grad uate of Lyons High School, and has lived in Norman town since 1974. He was a truck driver for 35 years, working for Coleman Pa per and Conway Southern Express. He was Baptist by faith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie Meeks Edwards; his par ents, Manzy Edwards and Alice Reese Edwards; and 5 siblings, Faye, Pee Wee, Grace Eugene, and Keith. His family includes 2 children, Timothy Ed wards and Dusty C. Fair- cloth and husband Bo; 4 grandchildren, Ethyn Ed wards, Connor Edwards, Holly Faircloth, and Will Faircloth, all of Norman town; and several nieces and nephews. A graveside funeral service was held on Thurs day, December 23, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., at Waters Cem etery, with Pastor Owen Waters officiating. In lieu of flowers, me morial contributions may be made to the Commu nity Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475. Ronald V. Hall FUNERAL HOME "Memories, of a Lifetime of Love" Mr. Edd Cannon Mr. Willie Edward “Edd” Cannon, age 82, of Vidalia, died on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after an ex tended illness. Mr. Cannon was native of Tattnall County, a 1957 graduate of Collins High School, and he lived in Tattnall County until mov ing to Vidalia in 1958. He worked several years at Pal metto Box Company and retired from Oxford Indus tries after 22 years. He was an active member ofVidalia Advent Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Reba Cannon; 1 brother, James W. “Buddy” Cannon; and 1 sister, Edris C. Ken nedy. His family includes his wife of 64 years, Vio la Strickland Cannon; 1 daughter, Rhonda Cannon Edge and husband Steve; 2 grandchildren, Justin Edge and Christina Edge Phillips and husband Craig; 2 great grandchildren, Harley Phil lips and Brooklynn Phillips, all of Soperton; and several nieces and nephews, includ ing a special nephew, Gary Kennedy of Collins. The funeral service was held on Wednesday, De cember 22, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home, with Pastor Clint Hutcheson and Pastor Michael Kennedy officiating. Burial followed at Lakeview Memorial Gar dens. Pallbearers were Jay Hutcheson, Roy Wick- strom, Bobby Strickland, Tim Dubberly, Daniel Ken nedy, and Chad Hutcheson. Flowers will be ac cepted or memorial con tributions may be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475, or to Vidalia Christian Advent Church, c/o Vickie Messex, 222 Lou Ellen Lane, Vida lia, GA 30474. Ronald V. Hall FUNERAL HOME "Memories, of a Lifetime of Love" Ms. Anna Pittman Ms. Anna Johnson Pittman, age 85, of Lyons, died on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Girard, GA, after an extended illness. Ms. Pittman was a native of Lyons and was a 1954 graduate of Ly ons High School. Early in her life, she worked as a switchboard operator and later worked with Ox ford Industries for many years. She was a member of Sharpe’s Chapel United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Wright Johnson and Dorotha Wig gins Johnson; 1 grandson, Jeremy Pittman; 1 grand daughter, Shelly Hatfield; and 6 siblings, Gene John son, Earl Johnson, Max Johnson, Glenda Johnson, Rex Johnson, and Pat John son Williamson. Her family includes 3 children, John T. Pittman of Lyons, Kimberly Varna- dore and husband Ricky of Girard, and Noah Pitt man of Clearwater, FL; 3 siblings, Lois Whitman of McNatt Falls, Myrl Gosa of Rome, and Brent Johnson and wife Rosita ofVidalia; 4 grandchildren, Levi Pit tman and wife Angela of Jenson Beach, FL, Luke Pittman and wife Kristen of Rio, FL, Nicholas Pitt man of Atlanta, and Logan Pittman of Lyons; 2 great grandchildren, Winniford Pittman and Haven Pit tman; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on Thursday, De cember 23, 2021, at 3:00 p.m., in the chapel of Ron ald V. Hall Funeral Home. Ronald V. Hall FUNERAL HOME "Memories, of a Lifetime of Love" « Mr. John Spikes Mr. John Donald Spikes, age 77, of Lyons, died on Thursday, Decem ber 23, 2021, at his home after a sudden illness. Mr. Spikes was born in Orange, TX, lived in Wash ington, and then in Loui siana for 20 years before moving to Ly ons in 1997. He retired after 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Petty Officer 1st Class, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a self-employed commer cial fisherman while living in Louisiana. He was pre ceded in death by his wife, Debra Pittman; 1 son, Bri an Spikes; and his parents, Sylvester and Eva Spikes. His family includes 1 grandson, Erik H. Spikes and wife Kristin ofVidalia; and 1 brother, Randy M. Spikes and wife Cherrald of Albany, OR. There will be no ser vice. In lieu of flowers, me morial contributions may be made to the Sweet On ion Animal Protection So ciety, P.O. Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475. Ronald V. Hall FUNERAL HOME "Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"