Newspaper Page Text
Page 6B
The Braselton News
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Obituaries
Ruth Ella Aker
JEFFERSON — Mother Ruth Ella Aker, 93, Jeffer
son, passes away on Sunday, December 11,2022.
Funeral service: Thurs
day, December 15, 2022,
at 1 p.m. at Poplar Springs
Baptist Church, 4214 Ath
ens Hwy., Jefferson, Ga.
30549, with Pastor Ken
neth B. Sims, and Rev.
David Aker, eulogist. In
terment will follow in the
church cemeteiy.
Family to receive
friends: Wednesday, De
cember 14, 2022, from
4-7 p.m. at Sardis Presby
terian Church, 652 Gordon St., Jefferson, Ga. 30549.
Final arrangements entrusted to Willie A. Watkins
Funeral Home, CaiTollton Chapel. 770-836-0044.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Laurence “Larry” Preston Avants
GAINESVIFFE — Faurence “Harry” Preston
Avants, 82, of Gainesville, passed away on Saturday,
Dec. 17,2022.
Fairy was bom on Oc
tober 13, 1940, in Orange,
Calif., to the late Tanas
Malvin Avants and Jan
ice Preston. Fairy was a
teacher and had earned
Bachelor of Aits Degree in
Physical Education from
California State Univer
sity and a Master of Arts
Degree in Special Educa
tion from Azusa Pacific
University. After retire
ment, Fairy became a bus
driver for the Barrow County School System. Along
with being a member of Calvary Chapel, he loved Bible
study. Fairy was a sports lover and had played minor
league baseball for the Dodgers. He was also a guitarist
and had a love for music.
Along with Fairy’s parents, he is preceded in death
by his wife Shirley Sheets Avants. Fairy is survived by
his six sons: Gary Avants (Faura) of Menifee, Calif.,
Ronald Avants (Kaysi) of Moreno Valley, Calif., James
Howard of Gainesville, Geny Howard of Gainesville,
Joe Howard of Bullhead City, Aik., and David Felt of
Winder; four daughters: Melinda Hunsicker of Nuevo,
Calif., Trish Redfem (Tom) of Buford, Feila Tyner (Jeff)
of Gainesville, and Brittany Howard of Surprise, Ark.;
brother Dan Avants (Kathy) of Yorba Finda, Calif.; three
sisters: Suzanne Gilbert of Clovis, Calif., Yvonne Bon
of Eos Angeles, Calif., and Tami Avants of Chattanoo
ga, Tenn; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Wednesday, Dec. 21,2022 from 12-2 p.m.
at Smith Funeral Home, 755 Atlanta Hwy SE, Winder,
GA.
Funeral service: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at 2 p.m.
in Smith Memoiy Chapel with Pastor Mark Byrd offi
ciating. The burial will immediately follow the funeral
service in Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Donations in Carry's memoiy may be made to the
Golden Rule Hospice.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Nancy Sue Barnes
WINDER — Nancy Sue Barnes, 74, Winder, passed
away Tuesday, December 13,2022.
She was a lifetime resi
dent of Winder and a grad
uate of Winder-B arrow
High School. Nancy went
to business school at Ath
ens Technical College and
retired from Smith Funer
al Home as their beloved
office manager after near
ly 20 years of serving their
families.
Nancy had a deep love
for the Ford and was a
member of Bear Creek
First Baptist Church. She loved going to the beach and
looking at lighthouses and especially loved being a
grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert
and Mary Sue Magness Sauls; brothers, Kenneth and
Jimmy Sauls; sister, Reba Elrod; and her beloved son,
Michael Barnes.
Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 51 years.
Kirk Barnes. Winder; three grandchildren, Austin, Cole
and Dylan Barnes. Winder; a brother, Bobby Sauls,
Carrollton; sister-in-law, Marie Sauls, Winder; and sev
eral nieces and nephews.
Funeral service: Friday, December 16,2022, at 2 p.m.
in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home, Winder, with the
Rev. Johnny Wright officiating. Interment will follow
the service in the White Plains Baptist Church Ceme
teiy.
Family to receive friends: Friday, December 16,2022,
from 12-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations in Nancy’s memoiy may be made to The
American Kidney Fund at www.kidneyfund.org.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrange
ments.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Berdie Linette “Lynn” Bonner
Berdie Finette “Fynn” Bonner peacefully left this
earth for her heavenly home on Sunday, December 11,
2022.
She was born in Campton on November 5, 1928.
She was the daughter of Feroy and Willie Daniel and
the oldest of four girls. She married Daniel W. Bonner
Sr. on December 24, 1948 and they enjoyed almost
70 years of marriage before his passing in 2018. She
was the loving mother of Finda Beeiy, Danette Jen
nings and Daniel Bonner and the proud grandmother
of six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 5
great-great-grandchildren.
She began her own business in 1959, a well-known
salon in Winder called Fynn’s Beauty Shop. She faith
fully served the people in this community until retiring
at the age of 71. She was dearly loved by all who knew
her.
Dan was the love of her life and after retirement they
traveled across the country and cruised on the ocean.
Fynn loved to travel and she and Dan spent their retire
ment years on cruises and traveling all over the country.
She was a woman of style and strength. Her energy and
excitement were contagious.
Her love for running developed in her middle adult
years including races and marathons. She ran her last
5K at the age of 82. Her greatest endurance race was
the one she ran for the Ford so well. Her life will be
remembered as one who lived to bring glory and honor
to her Ford and Savior Jesus Christ.
She is survived by sisters, Edie Orvis (Dennis) and
Peggy Chalfant (Mike); her children, Finda Beeiy
(Chase), Danette Jennings (Tommy) and Dan Bonner
(Beverly); six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren;
and five great-great- grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother; father; sis
ter, Catherine; and loving husband, Dan.
Funeral service: Saturday, Decembeer 17, 2022, at
1 p.m. at Winder Wesleyan Church. The family grave
side service will follow at Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, December 17,
2022, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Smith Funeral
Home in Winder.
In lieu of flowers, Fynn expressed a desire for any
gifts to be given to Winder Wesleyan Church or The
Gideons International.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrange
ments.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
David “Don” Donald DeLay
DANJEESVIFFE — David “Don” Donald DeFay,
76, Danielsville, passed away on Monday, December
12,2022.
Born on December 9,
1946, he was the son of
the late James C. DeFay
and Mary Virginia Nelms
DeFay.
Known to many as “Don
the locksmith”, he was a
locksmith in Athens, then
Madison County Fock
and Key in Danielsville
for over 50 years. He was
a member of Cornerstone
Church in Athens.
In addition to his par
ents, he was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ron
ald DeFay.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years. Rebecca
“Becky” DeFay; daughter, Michelle Delay (Antony
Smithie); step-son, John Paul Bacon; grandchildren,
Katie Ann Russo and Olivia Grace Russo; sisters, Janet
DeFay Epps and June DeFay Burkes; five nieces and
nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral service: Thursday, December 15, 2022, at
1 p.m. in the chapel of Ford and Stephens Madison
Chapel with Pastor Mike Epps officiating with Buck
Bacon, Joel G. Bacon, Phil Gaines, Dick Perpall, Gun-
jahn Talati and Jimmy Tyner serving as pallbearers.
Interment to follow the service at Evergreen Memorial
Park.
Family to receive friends: Wednesday, December 14,
2022, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be
made to the Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter at
https://www.moaspets.com/donate.
Ford and Stephens Funeral Home, Madison Chapel,
is in charge of arrangements, www.lordandstephens.
com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Randall “Randy” H. Gary
RAYLE — Randall “Randy” H. Gary, Rayle, went
home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 11,
2022.
Bom in Atlanta, Randy lived for many years in
Jackson County before moving to Rayle, where he
lived for over 20 years. Early in his life he spent time
in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves. In 1998 Ran
dy became permanently disabled in an auto accident.
Since 2005 he has been a full-time caregiver for his
son who was also dis
abled in a car accident.
Survivors include his
son, Jeffery Gary (Men-
dy); Gene Amos (Shan
non), Allyson Compton
(Chris), Christopher
Amos, Brian Rice; broth
ers, Paul Gary (Bonnie)
and John Gary (Clara);
sister, Paulette Gary
Thompson (Steve); 10
grandchildren, Johna
than, Jessica, Joshua, Hannah, Christopher, Saman
tha, Drew, Zack, Bailey and Trinity (Kimmie).; five
great-grandchildren; and extended family members,
Bobby, Sandy and Donna Me Waters.
Randy was preceded in death by his father, Paul
Gary; mother, Marian Rolader; and brother, Allen
Gary.
Funeral service: Friday, December 16, 2022, at
2 p.m. in the Lord and Stephens, East Chapel with
Pastor Clark Kesler officiating. Interment will follow
the funeral service at Athens Memory Gardens. Serv
ing as pallbearers will be Jeffery Gary, Gene Amos,
Chris Compton, Christopher Amos, Kevin Ashe and
Jeremiah Botkin.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, December 15,
2022, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the
Amvet Riders Chapter 10, c/o Jeremiah Botkin, 2010
Donaldson Rd., Anderson, S.C. 29621.
Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens,
Ga., is in charge of arrangements, www.lordandste-
phens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Bell Gilliland
WINDER — Bell Gilliland, 90, Winder, passed away
Saturday, December 10,2022.
She was born July 23,
1932 in Braselton, to the
late Hoyt and Thelma
Manus Wood. Mrs. Gilli
land was preceded by her
husband, Sam Gilliland;
sister, Betty Wood Thom
as; and brother, Donald
Wood.
She is survived by 10
nieces and nephews; 24
great-nieces; and 31 great-
great-nieces and nephews.
Family graveside ser
vice: Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 11 a.m. from the
New Fiberty United Methodist Church Cemeteiy with
the Rev. Pat Sutherland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs.
Gilliland’s memory to New Fiberty United Methodist
Church, 17 Thompson Mill Road, Braselton, Georgia
30517.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge or arrange
ments. Online condolences may be expressed at www.
carterfhwinder.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24
Yancey Lee “Skip” Hill
AUBURN — Yancey Fee “Skip” Hill, 45, Auburn,
entered rest Sunday, December 11,2022.
Mr. Hill was bom in
Duluth, a son of the late
Albert Hill Jr., and Regina
Gail Casper Sutton. Mr.
Hill was self-employed in
the landscaping business.
In addition to his father,
Mr. Hill is preceded by a
sister, Patricia Hill.
Survivors include a
daughter, Savannah Wad
dell, Commerce; mother,
Regina Sutton (Steve),
Pendergrass; sisters,
Kristy Hill Fuller (Brad), Winder, Victoria Sexton
(Wayne), Dalton, and Pamela Rogers, Dalton; brother,
Terry Garrett, Jefferson; grandson, Rayland Standridge,
Commerce; and girlfriend, Kristi Hollis, Hoschton.
Funeral service: Friday, December 23,2022, at 2 p.m.
from the chapel of Evans Funeral Home with Brad Full
er officiating with burial to follow in Woodbine Ceme
teiy, Jefferson.
Family to receive friends: Friday, December 23,2022,
from 12-2 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home.
Flowers are optional, those desiring may wish to
make memorials to the Rayland Standridge College
Fund, c/o South State Bank, 71 Memorial Drive, Jeffer
son, Georgia 30549.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway,
Jefferson, Georgia, 706-367-5467. Online condolences
at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 18-24