Newspaper Page Text
The ADVANCE, August 23, 2023/Page 8A
aHie Ahuance
Obituaries
Miss Betty Jo Fountain
Miss Betty Jo Foun
tain, age 83, of Mt. Vernon,
died Saturday, August 19,
2023, at Northeast Georgia
Medical Center in Gaines
ville, following a brief ill
ness. She is preceded in
death by her parents, Can-
nie B. Fountain and Mar
tha Palmer Fountain; two
brothers, David Fountain
and an infant brother, The
odore Fountain; and three
sisters, Helen Fountain
McArthur, DeAlva Foun
tain, and Anita “Ludy”
Fountain Barlow Thomp
son. She was a lifelong
resident of Montgomery
County and a 1958 gradu
ate of Montgomery Coun
ty High School. She gradu
ated from Brewton-Parker
College in Mt. Vernon in
1960, with an Associate
degree in Education and
from Georgia Southern
College with a Bachelor’s
degree in Elementary Edu
cation. She taught in Glynn
County and then returned
to Montgomery County
where she taught Elemen
tary Education for twenty-
nine years. During these
years, she developed a
closeness to basketball and
baseball. She kept score
for these teams for twenty-
five years, and was an avid
Atlanta Braves fan. After
retiring from Montgom
ery County schools, she
taught at Robert Toombs
Christian Academy for the
next twelve years. Betty Jo
especially enjoyed working
with animals. She had cats
and dogs all of her life; each
one was very special, in
cluding her current special
furbaby, Megan. She en
joyed gardening and grow
ing plants of all kinds. She
enjoyed vegetable garden
ing, and raising and grow
ing their own vegetables.
She was a member of Ailey
Baptist Church.
Her family includes
one sister, June Fountain
of Mt. Vernon; and sev
eral wonderful nieces and
nephews.
Pallbearers are Marlen
Ethredge, Pat Ethredge, By
ron Fountain, Joey Foun
tain, Milton Fountain, and
Matt Waller.
The funeral service
will be Wednesday morn
ing, August 23, at 11:00
in the chapel of Ronald V.
Hall Funeral Home, with
Pastor Luis Gonzales and
her great-nephew, Pastor
Thomas Rhodes, offici
ating. Burial will follow
at Mt. Vernon Memorial
Cemetery.
Those desiring may
make memorial contri
butions to Ailey Baptist
Church, 327 South Broad
St., Ailey, GA 30410, or St.
Jude Children’s Research
Hospital by visiting their
website at Stjude.org.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Mr. Frank Wright
Mr. Frank Wright,
age 82, of Lyons, died on
Tuesday, August 15, 2023,
at Pleasantview Nursing
Home in Metter after an
extended illness.
Mr. Wright was a na
tive of Toombs County,
and lived near Lyons all of
his life. He was a 1959 grad
uate of Lyons High School,
where he played football,
baseball, and ran track.
He was a longtime mem
ber of Hammonds Baptist
Church and was a former
Sunday school teacher. He
worked as construction
superintendent for Coite
Sumner Construction and
McDonald Construction
for many years. Preced
ing him in death were his
parents, Teddy Quitman
Wright and Farrie Ann
Garrett Wright; and 1
brother, Pete Wright.
His family includes 1
brother, Howard Wright
and wife Vivian of Lyons;
1 sister, Elaine Wright
Mauldin and husband Da
vid of Scottsdale, AZ; and
several nieces and neph
ews.
A graveside funeral
service was Thursday after
noon, August 17, at 1:00, at
Lakeview Memorial Gar
dens, with Pastor Daniel
Caraway officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the
family suggests memo
rial contributions be made
to Hammonds Baptist
Church, 650 Hammonds
Church Road, Lyons, GA
30436.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Lowry
continued from page 7A
households in New York
State headed by immigrants
use at least one welfare pro
gram. Even if illegal immi
grants aren’t technically eli
gible for some of these pro
grams, their U.S.-born chil
dren are. And as we see in
the current crisis, if people
show up who need hous
ing, medical care, and edu
cation, no one is simply go
ing to say no.
To his credit, Mayor
Adams has been focusing
more attention on the fed
eral failures at the border,
but a key component of the
Adams immigration plan
was blocking federal en
forcement.
Now, immigration en
forcement by the feds isn’t
such a bad thing. What
New York City is seeking,
after all the rote invoca
tions of the Statue of Lib
erty, is fewer migrants com
peting with people already
living in the city for re
sources and attention.
That really shouldn’t
be too much to ask. Wel
come to reality, Mayor Ad
ams.
Rich Lowry is editor of the
National Review.
(c) 2023 by King Features
Synd., Inc.
Mr. Douglas McCusker
Douglas Arthur Mc
Cusker, respected and
loved by all who knew him,
passed away surrounded by
family on Friday, August
11,2023.
Doug, age 78, a resi
dent of Cleveland, GA, was
born on August 13, 1944,
in Savannah, Georgia, to
the late Vincent and Mar
garet Sweatt McCusker.
In addition to his parents,
Doug was preceded in
death by his siblings, Paul,
Michael, and Patricia.
He was a graduate
of Benedic-
tine Military gHa,
School and \
a veteran of \
the United '
States Navy.
Doug was a member of St.
Paul the Apostle Catholic
Church in Cleveland and
former member of Sacred
Heart Catholic Church in
Vidalia, GA. He became
involved with the Spe
cial Olympics through
his membership with the
Knights of Columbus, was
a foster parent for more
than 25 years, and was
dedicated to his children’s
extracurricular activities,
volunteering as a coach and
scout leader. Doug worked
with Chicago Bridge and
Iron, where he helped
build Carter’s Dam. In
1972, he started with Plant
Hatch in Baxley, GA, and
retired after 30 years as a
respected Quality Control
Supervisor.
Doug is survived by a
large family, most of whom
were at his bedside in his
final hours. Survivors in
clude his wife of 56 years,
Ella; Marlene Vargo (Mi
chael), Cheline Lincoln
(Thomas), Sean (Karen),
Josh, Zane (Tiffany),
Megan (Jessie), Ashley;
Jonathon (Jessica), Tyee,
Dustin, Ethan, Dani, Alex,
Ellee, Morgan, Olivia,
Alba, Donavan, Alyssa,
Kalan, Ashlan, Korbin, Ju
lian, Milla, Journey, Avery,
Kearah, Maddie, McKen
zie, Bella, Crystal, Tiffany,
Meredith, Veronica; and
siblings, Eddie, Terri, Gerri
(Brian), Kevin, and Andy
(Nancy).
A rosary service will
be held at 5:45 and visita
tion from 6-8 p.m. on Fri
day, August 25, at Barret’s
Funeral Home www.bar-
rettfh.com. Mass will be
held Saturday, August 26
at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul the
Apostle https://stpaulc-
leveland.com, followed by
a Celebration of Life recep
tion in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, the
family requests that dona
tions be made to the Mc
Cusker Family Scholarship
Fund - www.bold.org/
funds/the-mccusker-fam-
ily-scholarship-fund/ es
tablished in honor of Doug
and Ella McCusker’s work
with foster care and will
provide financial assistance
to students who are pursu
ing a career in social work.
To share a memory, or
to leave an online condo
lence for the family, please
visit www.barrettfh.com.
Barrett Funeral Home
of Cleveland.
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Shirley Odum
Shirley Mae Cheeley
Odum, 84, passed away on
Friday, August 18, 2023.
Throughout recent years
she bravely fought multiple
chronic illnesses and the
Lord called her home to
rest eternally. She was born
of October 18, 1938, in St.
Louis, MO, the daughter of
John Thomas Cheeley and
Effie Mae Rodgers Chee
ley.
Shirley became a
Christian at the age of 10
and loved the Lord her
entire life. A charter mem
ber of The Oaks Baptist
Church in Lyons, Georgia,
she was a Deacon Servant,
Sunday School teacher and
faithfully served in any ca
pacity there was a need.
The children of the church
loved “Miss Shirley.” She
spent hours studying and
reading her Bible in a de
sire to grow in wisdom,
guidance and strength.
Shirley was passionate
about reading and con
sumed hundreds of books
every year. Quilting, cook
ing, watching old movies
and spending time with
family were some of her
favorite things. She was full
of joy and cherished her
family and friends.
Survivors include her
love of 64 years, Edwin
Lawton “Sonny” Odum;
daughters, Cynthia Leigh
Odum (Donnie) Scott, Pal
myra, VA, Charlotte Marie
Odum (Brian) Sauer, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL; six grand
children, Matthew Lawton
(Nicole) Scott, Bumpass,
VA, Kathryn Rachel Scott
(Travis) Brent, Palmyra,
VA, Benjamin Donlee
Scott, Louisa, VA, Kimber
ly Marie Sauer, Gainesville,
FL, Lindsey Nicole Sauer,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Kristin
Alyse Sauer, Lexington,
KY; four great-grandsons,
Colton Ray Scott, Ja
son Michael Scott, Da
kota Reid Scott, Asa Lynn
Brent; sisters, Bernice Inez
Cheeley (John) Rogers,
Cleveland, GA, John Susan
Cheeley (James) Mitchell,
Sautee Nacoochee, GA;
and numerous nieces and
nephews. Her parents and
sisters, JoAnn Cheeley
Ealick and Frances Louella
Cheeley Johnson prede
ceased her.
A worship service cel
ebrating Shirley’s life will
be held on Saturday, Au
gust 26, 2023, at The Oaks
Baptist Church, Lyons,
Ga. Visitation will begin at
11:00 a.m. with the service
to follow at 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, do
nations may be made to
The Oaks Baptist Church.
The family wishes to
thank all those who loved
and cared for her.
Full Paid Obituary
Mrs. Anice McArthur
Bessie Anice Willcox
McArthur died peacefully
in Vidalia, Georgia, on Au
gust 18, 2023, at the age of
96.
Anice is survived by
her children, John William
McArthur, Jr., and his wife
Elizabeth Harper Scheetz
McArthur of New Flor
ence, Pennsylvania, Dr.
Thomas Reid McArthur
and his wife Lettie Mar
garet Wheat McArthur
of Vidalia, Georgia, and
Genevieve Jarvis McAr
thur Betts and her hus
band Donald Samuel Betts
of Ailey, Georgia; seven
grandchildren, Lettie Eliza
McArthur Murray and her
husband Matthew Clay
Murray of Atlanta, Thomas
Reid McArthur, Jr., and his
wife Lori Hanna McAr
thur of Athens, GA, Gen
evieve Floy Betts Gardner
and her husband George
Grant Gardner of Doug
las, GA, Mary Anice Betts
of Atlanta, Drury Kather
ine Betts of Atlanta, GA,
John William McArthur
III of Washington, DC,
Andrew Larson McArthur
of Washington, DC.; and
four great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death
by her husband, John Wil
liam McArthur, and sib
lings Drury Reid Willcox,
Eli Kennedy Willcox and
Mary Louise Willcox.
Anice was born in
Scotland, GA, and grew up
in Lumber City, GA. She
attended Wesleyan College
in Macon. She was grate
ful for her many years as a
middle school teacher in
the Montgomery County
and Vidalia school sys
tems, as she believed in
every young student. She
also enjoyed her career
change, with her owner
ship of a real estate broker
age business, McArthur
Realty. She was a lifelong
member of the Methodist
Churches of Lumber City,
Mount Vernon, and most
recently Vidalia Corner
stone Church.
However, many people
remember Anice for her
engagement with chari
table, community and not-
for-profit organizations,
which contributed to her
being named in 1989 by
the Vidalia Chapter of Beta
Sigma Phi as Lady of the
Year and in 1994 as Mont
gomery County Citizen of
the Year. She served on the
original Board of Direc
tors of First Community
Bank (later BB&T and cur
rently Truist) and as chair
person of the Compliance
Committee. She was also
a founding member of the
Meadows Regional Hospi
tal Foundation.
In the area of arts and
education, she served on
the Brewton-Parker Col
lege Board of Visitors, the
Montgomery County Li
brary Board, as First Vice
Chairperson of the Board
of Directors of Southeast
ern Technical Institute, and
as a member of the Mont
gomery County Adult
Literacy Committee. She
served on the committee
to form the Ohoopee Re
gional Council for the Arts
and as a member of the
steering committee which
established the Altama
Gallery and obtained the
Brazell House as its head
quarters. She was also a
charter member of Friends
ofVidalia-Toombs County
Libraries.
Her curiosity for and
interest in historical pres
ervation was evident from
her work as a member of
the Georgia Trust for His
toric Preservation, her vital
role in the restoration of
the Montgomery County
Courthouse, as a mem
ber of the Montgomery
County Historical Society,
her help in restoring the
Cooper-Conner House
(spearheading the move
with Don McArthur to do
nate the home to Brewton-
Parker College), her plan
ning and orchestration of
the Montgomery County
Bicentennial and as past
regent of the Daughters of
the American Revolution.
Anice was also in
volved in many communi
ty development activities,
including as a member of
the Board of Directors of
the Montgomery County
Chamber of Commerce, as
a President and member of
the Altamaha Basin Board
of Realtors, as a member of
the Strategic Planning Task
Force of Meadows Memo
rial Hospital, and as a char
ter member and President
of the Pilot Club ofVidalia,
numerous years with the
Vidalia Rotary Club and
her longstanding support
of the Salvation Army’s
work in Vidalia.
A memorial service
is scheduled for Saturday,
August 26, at 11:30 a.m.
at Vidalia Cornerstone
Church, with visitation in
the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m.
All are welcome to attend
and celebrate Anice’s life.
In lieu of flowers,
please send donations to
one of these special proj
ects that she so loved:
Friends of the Vidalia-
Toombs County Librar
ies at 610 Jackson Street,
Vidalia, GA 30474; Pres
ervation of the Cooper
Conner-House at Brew
ton-Parker College, Make
checks payable to Brew
ton-Parker College, P.O.
Box 197, Mount Vernon,
GA 30445 (please include
Cooper-Conner House in
the memo line); or The Al
tama Gallery, 611 Jackson
St., Vidalia, GA 30474.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
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