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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017 MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS PAGE 11-R
Obituaries
Alton Cooper
FLOWERY BRANCH,
GA - Alton Randall Coo
per, 72, entered into rest
Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
Mr. Cooper was born
in Pender
grass, the
son of the
late Dewey
Alton Coo
per and
Thelma
Lois Thom
as Cooper.
He was a
member of
Mountain Creek Baptist
Church and was a retired
machinist with major tool
ing. He was preceded in
death by a sister, Runette
Durrett; and a brother, Gary
Cooper.
Survivors include his
wife, Margie Ruth Bowen
Cooper, Flowery Branch;
daughter, Laura Cooper
Norris and her husband
Kenny, Commerce; stepson,
Jeff King and his wife Lynn,
Hoschton; sister, Katherine
Pennington, Pendergrass;
and four grandchildren,
Sgt. Clay Gooch (U.S. Air
Force) and his wife Debra,
Curtis Gooch, Ashley and
Bryson King.
Funeral services were
held Saturday, May 27,
from the Mountain Creek
Baptist Church with the
Rev. Tim Strickland offi
ciating with burial in the
Mountain Creek Baptist
Church Cemetery. Gentle
men honored as pallbearers
were Jimmy Harris, Grady
Sullens, Jimmy Stowe, Eric
Pennington, Ricky Penning
ton, Shannon Bruce and
Raymond Smith served as
an honorary pallbearer.
Evans Funeral Home, Jef
ferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
Online condolences at
www.evansfuneralhomeinc.
com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12588)
Belvia Gilbert
WINDER Belvia
Owens Gilbert, 82, passed
away on Monday, May 22,
2017, at Gentiva Hospice in
Athens.
Mrs. Gilbert was born on
April 20, 1935, in Mount
Vernon, Ky„ the daughter
of the late Carter and Velma
Owens. Mrs. Gilbert was a
member of the First Baptist
Church in Atlanta. She was
preceded in death by her
brother, Terrell Owens.
Survivors include her
husband, Clyde Gilbert,
Winder.
Burial services were held
on Wednesday, May 24, in
the Crestlawn Cemetery in
Atlanta.
Carter Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
L A. Gulley
CARLTON - Mrs. L A.
Gulley, 96, passed away on
Thursday, May 25, 2017, at
the Spring Valley Nursing
Home in Elberton.
Mrs. Gulley was born in
Comer on January 10,1921,
the daughter of the late Les
ter Seymour and Edda Mae
Christian Seymour. She was
a homemaker and was a
member of the Vineyards
Creek Baptist Church in
Comer. She was preceded in
death by her husband, John
Allen Gulley; five brothers;
and one sister.
Survivors include her
daughter, Norma Moon,
Carlton; one grandson;
brother, Alfred Seymour,
Carlton; and sister, Mary
Etta Rachels, Greenwood,
S.C.
Funeral services were
held Saturday, May 27, at
the Pruitt Funeral Home
Chapel with the Rev. Robby
Brown officiating. Inter
ment was in the Colbert
City Cemetery in Colbert.
Online condolences may
be made by visiting www.
pruittfhroyston.com.
Pruitt Funeral Home,
Royston, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12407)
Linda Haley
WINDER - Linda Joyce
Haley, 69, passed away
Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
She was of the Christian
denomination. Linda was
the owner operator of A &
L Tax Accounting and she
was the founder of Hope
for Tomorrow, a non-profit
organization to help families
in need. She was preceded
in death by her parents; a
son, Charles William Kline;
and a daughter, Ann Overby.
Survivors include her hus
band, Richard Haley, Wind
er; two daughters, Stephanie
Rector, Richmond, Va. and
Angela Morris, Chester
field, Va.; a son, Christopher
Allen Mabe, Brunswick;
and eight grandchildren;
and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was
held Friday, May 26, in the
chapel of Smith Funeral
Home with Revs. Maurice
Graham and Jimmy Morris
officiating.
Donations may be made
to St. Jude’s Hospital in
memory of Linda.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was entrusted with
the arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31 2017.
(12690)
Marcus Haney
Marcus David Haney, 54,
died Friday, May 26, 2017.
Mr. Haney was the son
of the late James Curtis and
Virginia Rainey Haney.
Survivors include his
wife, Sherry Turner Haney;
sons, Curtis Melvin Haney
and Stephen Marcus Haney;
brother, Sam C. Haney;
sisters, Leonia Barlow and
Rebecca Haney; and seven
grandchildren.
Memorial services will
be held on Saturday, June
3, at 2 p.m., in the Smith
Memory Chapel. The family
will receive friends from 12
p.m. until service time.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12690)
Mary Ann Hogan
HOMER - Mary Ann
Ledford Hogan, 69 entered
into rest Saturday, May 27,
2017.
Mrs. Hogan was born in
Talmo, the daughter of the
late Newt David Ledford
and Mary Cruce Ledford.
Mrs. Hogan was formerly a
longtime employee of Fawn
Togs in Braselton. She was
preceded in death by her
husband, Larry Paul Hogan;
and a brother, Newt David
Ledford, Jr.
Survivors include three
daughters, Becky Lee,
Buford, Katie Hogan,
Columbus, and Carol Poole,
Gainesville; sister and
caregiver, Thelma Pierce,
Homer; brother, Marvin
Ledford, Homer; five grand
children; and four great
grandchildren.
Graveside services will
be held at 2 p.m., Thurs
day, June 1, from the White
Plains Baptist Church Cem
etery with Mr. Jeffery Bell
officiating. The family will
receive friends at the funeral
home 7 to 9 p.m. Wednes
day, May 31.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, is in charge of
arrangements.
Online condolences at
www.evansfuneralhomeinc.
com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2917.
(12588)
Elizabeth Holliday
JEFFERSON Eliza
beth Ann Holliday, 85,
entered into rest Tuesday,
May 23, 2017.
Mrs. Holliday was bom in
Winder, the
daughter of
the late A.L.
and Viola
Skinner Dal
ton. Mrs.
Holliday
was retired
from the tex
tile industry
in Jefferson,
where she worked all of
her life, and was a mem
ber of the Lebanon United
Methodist Church. She was
preceded in death by her
husband, John Holliday;
grandson, Dillon Holliday;
sister, Dorothy Owensby;
and brothers, Roger Dalton
and Larry Dalton.
Survivors include her
children, Shirley Chastain,
Kathy Hardesty, Jeff Hol
liday, Johnny Holliday and
Angel, Karen Wilson and
husband Timothy, Leslie
Duck and Michael Tate, all
of Jefferson; sisters, Barbara
Gordon, Royston, Rebecca
Standridge, Martin, Angie
Hernandez, Gainesville,
Norma Cromer, Spartan
burg, S.C., and Margie
Fitzpatrick, Danielsville;
brother, Merel Dalton, Jef
ferson; grandchildren,
Donna Moore, Deborah
Vasquez and her husband
Joel, Misty Holliday, Perry
Holliday, A.J. Twiss, Brian
Holliday, John Carter, Joe
Duck, Lacey Duck, Cue
Holliday, and Tonya Hill;
17 great-grandchildren; 14
great- great-grandchildren;
and numerous nieces, neph
ews and cousins.
Funeral services were
held on Saturday, May 27,
in the Chapel of Evans
Funeral Home with the
Revs. Palmer Pace and Story
Tate officiating. Gentlemen
honored as pallbearers were
Joel Vasques, Steve Beard,
Ricky Bennett, Wesley Ben
nett, Danny Owensby and
Mitchell Owensby. The
burial was in the Lebanon
United Methodist Church
Cemetery.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
Online condolences at
www.evansfuneralhomeinc.
com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12588)
‘Rocky’ Howland
HOSCHTON - Harry
“Rocky” Howland, 63,
passed away peacefully
Sunday, May 21, 2017,
while at home in hospice
care.
Rocky was bom on
December 28, 1953, in
Evanston, Ill., and attended
Covenant College in Chat
tanooga, Tenn., where he
met his bride, Debbie. He
graduated with a degree in
Greek in 1981.
On July 10, 1982, he
and Debbie were married
and had their first child on
November 3, 1983. Eventu
ally, the family moved to
Debbie’s family’s farm in
Hoschton in 1996, where
Debbie and five of their
children still reside. Mr.
Howland was preceded in
death by his father, Harry
K. Howland, Sr.; mother,
Dorothy Howland; and his
brother, Thressen Howland.
Rocky was a devoted
husband, father, and lover
of his savior, Christ Jesus.
He was actively involved
at Covenant Presbyterian
Church, in Buford, Ga.,
leading music for Sunday
evening worship services
and hosting the church’s
annual Memorial Day pic
nic. He sought the Lord in
ardent prayer and encour
aged those in his church to
do the same. He was loved
and respected by all and
showed those who visited
him in his final weeks what
it means to die well, fixing
his eyes on, and placing his
hope in, Christ Jesus.
Survivors include his
wife, Debbie; his children,
Jack Howland, Dorothy
Forrester, Gabe Howland,
Sarah Keister, Michael
Howland, Laura Howland,
Hannah Howland, Mar
jory Howland, and Alaina
Howland; six granddaugh
ters; two grandsons; sisters,
Laura Lee Howland, Sara
Howland, and Kiki Gibson;
and his brother, Luke How
land.
Carter Funeral Home,
Winder, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12571-58.00)
Sara Mason
HOMER - Sara Pau
line Brown Mason, 97, died
Monday, May 22, 2017, at
her residence.
Mrs. Mason was born
in Com
merce, the
daugh
ter of the
late John
Harvey
and Ethel
Chambers
Brown.
She was
a mem
ber of Homer Presbyterian
Church for over 86 years,
and retired from Banks
County Board of Education,
having served for 41 years.
Mrs. Mason was preceded
in death by her husband,
Richard Mason; and her sis
ter, Lucille Brown Mabry.
Survivors include her
son, Danny Mason, Homer;
two grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Thursday, May 25, at
Homer Presbyterian Church
with the Revs. Alex Stevens
and Mark Tjepkema offici
ating. Interment was in the
church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral
Home, Commerce, was in
charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
Warner Jackson
McBrayer, III
Warner Jackson McBray
er, III, known to his family
and friends as Chuck, has
passed away.
He was born on August
6, 1946, in Rome, Ga. and
spent his childhood years
in Winder.
He attended
Darlington
School in
Rome and Georgia Military
Academy in Milledgeville,
Ga. He attended the Univer
sity of Georgia and went on
to serve in the United States
Air Force - doing a tour in
Vietnam with the 315th Air
Commando Wing followed
by an assignment with the
Special Activities Squadron
under NORAD with Top
Secret clearance. After sev
eral years as a law enforce
ment officer, Chuck became
a private investigator, work
ing for several firms before
opening his own company.
The McBrayer Group spe
cialized in undercover sur
veillance, labor strike and
corporate security, hostage
negotiations and domes
tic crisis intervention. He
was an instructor for the
government in firearms and
weapons training. He did
presentations of seminars on
anti-terrorism, workplace
violence, and self-protec
tion. His quest for knowl
edge was insatiable and his
personal library included
thousands of books on every
subject imaginable. He
was a scholar, an athlete, a
nature lover, a student of the
night sky, a true patriot, a
man of strong faith, a con
summate gentleman and, by
every standard, a steadfast
and loyal friend.
Chuck was preceded in
death by his parents, Jackie
McBrayer Primm and W.J.
McBrayer, Jr.
He leaves behind to
remember his kind and gen
tle spirit a daughter, Jenifer
Oakley (Ryan); two grand
children, Luke Somervold
and Autumn Elizabeth Oak
ley; a sister, Diane Holland
(Dennis); and his beloved
soul mate, Liz Smith.
A private celebration
of Chuck’s life was held
Thursday, May 25, at Ft.
Yargo State Park.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
Johnnie Murray
Johnnie Rufus Murray,
Sr., 87, died Thursday, May
25, 2017.
A native of Madison
County, he was the son of
the late Willie Thomas and
Irene Strickland Murray.
He was a retired district
manager with A&P Food
Stores. Mr. Murray was a
longtime member of Pleas
ant Grove Baptist Church,
where he served as deacon.
Survivors include his
wife, Margie Fielding Mur
ray; children, Pam Parks
(Larry), Cheryl Crumb-
ley, and Johnnie Murray,
Jr. (Lynne); grandchildren,
Victoria Duckworth (Jeff
Bowen), Kimberly Futrell
(Chase), Dru Crumbley,
Abby Crumbley, Taylor
Oren (Chris), Torie Smith
(Tyler) and Christine With
ers (Rick); great-grandchil
dren, Jackson Duckworth,
Hadley Withers, Adaline
Oren and Ryleigh Smith;
and a number of nieces and
nephews.
A reception was held Sat
urday, May 27, at Pleasant
Grove Baptist Church fol
lowed by memorial servic
es. The Revs. Lee Hunter
and Jennifer Horton offici
ated. Interment was private.
Memorials may be made
to Pleasant Grove Ceme
tery Fund, 2291 Diamond
Hill-Neese Road, Hull, GA,
30646, or St. Mary’s High
land Hills Hospice House,
c/o St. Mary’s Foundation,
PO Box 6588, Athens, GA
30604.
Arrangements were by
Lord and Stephens, WEST.
www.lordandstephens.com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12635)
Reba Jo Palmer
Reba Jo Palmer, 73, died
Friday, May 26, 2017.
A native of Morgan
County, Mrs. Palmer was
the daughter of the late
Perry Dial Sims, Jr. and
Leona Long Sims. She was
a member of Calvary Bap
tist Church.
Survivors include her
husband of 56 years, Den
nis Joe Palmer; children,
Warren (Jan) Palmer and
Lisa (Mike) Aaron; broth
er, Wendell Sims; sisters,
Louette Manders, Nancy
Faulkner, Pat Porter; grand
children, Jessica Palmer
Harbin, Austin Palmer, Rob
Aaron, Mackenzie Aaron;
and great-grandchild, Zoey
Harbin.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday May 30, at
Calvary Baptist Church.
The Revs. Ronnie Healan
and Matt Dibler offici
ated. Burial was at Barrow
Memorial Gardens.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12690)
‘Sue’Puckett
BUFORD, GA - Ruth
Evelyn “Sue” Martin Puck
ett, 88, passed away Mon
day, May 22, 2017, fol
lowing a
struggle
with can
cer.
She was
preceded
in death
by her
husband,
Harold
O d u s
Puckett; parents, Elmo and
Mary Lou Martin; sisters,
Eula Mae Hulsey, Eva Beard
and Madge Mayfield; and
brothers, Fred and Frank
“John D.” Martin.
Survivors include her
daughter and son-in-law,
Jill and R. Garry Glenn,
Oakwood; grandson and
granddaughter-in-law, Mor
gan and Heather Glenn,
Hoschton; grandson, Mason
Glenn, Los Angeles, Calif.;
great-grandsons, Blake and
Logan Glenn, Hoschton;
brother, Walter “Sparky”
Martin, Sugar Hill; sister-
in-law and brother-in-law,
Runell and Ben Young
blood, Buford; sisters-in-
law, Virginia Bagley Puck
ett and Judy Puckett Mar
tin, Buford; special niece.
Nan Smith Beard, Flowery
Branch; and numerous niec
es and nephews.
Mrs. Puckett was born
September 22, 1928, in
Buford. She was a gradu
ate of Flowery Branch High
School, and worked for the
City of Buford for a number
of years before becoming a
full-time homemaker after
the birth of her daughter.
She was a longtime mem
ber of New Bethany Baptist
Church aka Lanier Islands
Community Church in
Buford.
Mrs. Puckett was a com
petitive athlete in basketball
and softball, as well as being
a championship bowler in
leagues for 52 years with a
high game of 268. She was
also a skilled cook, win
ning the 1988 WSB Radio
Ludlow Porch Show’s Gold
Medal Flour contest for her
French coconut pie recipe.
She delighted her family
and friends with her pound
cakes and teacakes.
She was an avid sports
fan and especially enjoyed
watching the Atlanta
Hawks, Braves, Falcons and
Georgia Bulldogs on televi
sion. She was also a big fan
of “Wheel of Fortune” and
was quite skilled at solv
ing the puzzles. Known as
“Mama Sue” to many, Mrs.
Puckett loved her Lord, her
family, and her friends and
will be greatly missed.
Funeral services were
held Sunday, May 28, in the
chapel of Flanigan Funeral
Home in Buford with the
Rev. Danny Ashworth offi
ciating and R. Garry Glenn
giving the Eulogy. Pallbear
ers were R. Garry, Morgan
and Mason Glenn, Danny
Beard, Nick and Jake Wil
liams. Interment was at
Broadlawn Memorial Gar
dens in Buford.
Memorials may be made
to CrossView Church, 1219
Highway 124, Hoschton,
GA 30548, or to Eagle
Ranch, P.O. Box 7200,
Chestnut Mountain, GA
30502, in memory of Sue
Puckett.
To express condolences,
please sign our online gust
book at www.flaniganfuner-
alhome.com.
Flanigan Funeral Home,
Buford, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12903-80.20)
Alfred Skinner Jr.
Alfred Leon Skinner, Jr.,
59, died Tuesday May 23,
2017.
Mr. Skinner was preced
ed in death by his father,
Alfred Leon Skinner, Sr.;
sister, Angie Wood; and a
grandchild.
Survivors include his
children, Candice Mobley,
Brandi Knight, Michelle
Barrett; mother, Sara
Carithers Skinner; brother,
Greg (Janell) Skinner; and
ten grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held at Smith Memory Cha
pel on Friday, May 26. Buri
al was at Barrow Memorial
Gardens.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12690)
Betty Smith
STATHAM Betty
Joanne Smith, 82, passed
away on Wednesday, May
24, 2017.
Born July 24, 1934, in
Lawrenceville, she was the
daughter of Junior Pierce
and Susie Pierce.
Survivors include two
daughters, Diane Gower,
Oxford, Ga. and Deborah
Coffey, Statham; four sons,
Greg Smith, Oxford, Gary
Smith, Doraville, Todd
Smith, Monroe, and Brad
ford Smith, Fort Collins,
Colo.
A graveside service was
conducted Sunday, May 28,
at Barrow Memorial Gar
dens in Winder.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
(12690)
Jimmie Ward
ASHBURN - Jimmie
Ann Ward, 79, passed away
Monday, May 22, 2017, at
her residence.
Mrs. Ward was bom on
September 28, 1937, the
daughter of the late Robert
E. and Mary Lucile Spinks
Patton. She was the owner
and operator of Ward Land
Company and a member of
Oak Grove Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, Marvin
Embry Ward; and her sister
Marie Maynard.
Survivors include her son,
Michael (Jennifer) Ward,
Ashburn; brother, Charles
(Therisa) Patton, Hawkins-
ville; sister. Sue (Wayne)
Barber, Athens; grandchil
dren, Reagan Ward, Dillan
Rose Ward, Maddox Ward
and Miller Ward, all of Ash
burn; and several nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services were
held Thursday, May 25, at
Oak Grove Baptist Church
with interment at Rose Hill
Cemetery.
Perry Funeral Home,
Ashburn, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 31, 2017.
FAX Obits to:
706-62 1-4 1 1 3 .
Mail to: P.O. Box 908
Jefferson, GA 30549
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