Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
The Braselton News
Page 9A
Obituaries
Mervin Lamar Perry
ILA— Mervin Lamar Perry, 74, Ila, passed away on Tuesday,
August 22, 2023.
Anative of Banks County, he
was the son of the late Mervin
Lyle and Icie Jean Mealor Per
ry. He was preceded in death
by his wife of 27 years, Nettie
Jo Hoyle Perry; siblings, James
Michael Perry, Dennis Owen
Perry and Debra Jean Perry;
and a step-son. Jack D. Culpep
per.
Lamar was a proud veteran of
the Vietnam War, having been
drafted into the United States
Army soon after high school.
He was a member of the 101st
Airborne Division, also known
as the “Screaming Eagles.” He was honorably discharged in April
1975. He was involved in veterans support via the Athens V.A.
clinic and L.Z. Friendly in Danielsville, an organization devoted
to providing a social outlet and support for Vietnam veterans.
He was baptized into Christ on October 5, 1997, at Campus
View Church in Athens.
Lamar was a skilled electrician and mechanic. He spent much
of his career at Noramco in Athens, a Johnson and Johnson com
pany. He retired in 2006.
He enjoyed a quiet retirement at his country home just outside
of Ila with his wife Jo and their many rescued cats and dogs. He
was an avid outdoorsman, birdwatcher, reader and wood carver.
In his younger years he was a hunter, but lost interest in it as he
aged, saying “I just don’t want to kill anything anymore.”
He had a strong sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke, espe
cially of the Far Side variety. He was a gentleman, always polite
and gracious, even ‘til the very end, always expressing gratitude
to his family and others who cared for him. He was dearly loved
and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his step-daughters, Jolyn Culpepper, Ila,
Pat Culpepper, Winterville, and Myra (Phil) Morris, Winterville;
daughters, Rhonda (Ryan) Pumpkin and Rita Spears; a sister,
Donna Kay Perry; grandchildren Abbie (Tad) Russell, Chattanoo
ga, Tennessee, Joseph Morris, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jessica
Spears and Katelyn Spears; and a great-granddaughter, Rosie
Russell.
A private celebration of life and burial are planned. Tamar will
be interred at Athens Memory Gardens, 5195 Pexington Road.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Madison-Ogletho-
rpe County Animal Shelter (MOAS) or your local veterans sup
port group. Condolences may be sent to PO. Box 196, Ila, Ga.
30647.
Ford & Stephens East in Athens is in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 2 7-September 2
Christine Jones Sharpton
WINDER — Christine Jones Sharpton, 95, Winder, went home
to the Ford Friday, August 18, 2023.
Christine is preceded in
death by her parents, Alvin and
Alma Jones; her husband, Em
ory M. Shaipton Jr.; her son,
Emory M. Shaipton III; her sis
ter and brother-in-law, Evelyn
and Marvin Farmer; her brother
and sister-in-law, Alvin and Ce
lia Jones; and sister-in-law Pat
Glen Farmer.
Christine grew up in Rock
dale County where her parents
farmed before moving to At
lanta. After graduating Rock
dale High School she attended
the Greenleaf Business School
in Atlanta.
Upon graduation, she worked for Estes Surgical Supply, the
Mclver Evans Company, and the Trust Company of Georgia
in the 1950’s, directed the Moorhead Kindergarten and Bonner
Kindergarten in Decatur in the 1960’s, attended DeKalb Junior
College and Georgia State University earning degrees in educa
tion including a Master’s of Education and a Reading Specialist
degree.
Christine taught school for 21 years at Dunaire Elementary in
DeKalb County.
She was a Sunday School teacher since age 16, and most re
cently attended First Christian Church in Winder. Christine was
the founding leader of Brownie Troop 316 at Toney Elementary,
Decatur, and remained a leader for several years. She stalled and
directed the Girl Scout Summer Day Camp at Exchange Park,
Decatur.
She loved gems and minerals, was a member of the Georgia
Mineral Society, and a GIA Graduate Gemologist. She was a
member of the East Georgia Genealogy Society and also enjoyed
studying stamps and coins.
Christine and Emory enjoyed travel and saw most of the 50
states, parts of Canada and Mexico, Australia, and several coun
tries in Europe.
She leaves children, Carol Wells (Gene) and Mary Alma Mar
tini (Bob); daughter-in-law, Michelle Shaipton (Emory); grand
children, Erica Wells, Haley Wells, Derek Wells (Elina), Jay
Shaipton and Katie Shaipton; six nieces and nephews; and many
great-nieces and nephews. Additionally, loving and compassion
ate daily care has been provided by Debora Houser and Brenda
Thomas for over seven years.
Funeral service: Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 12 p.m. in
the First Christian Church, Winder, with burial following at Rose
Hill Cemetery, Winder.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, September 16, 2023, from
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at First Christian Church Winder.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Christian
Church of Winder, 275 North 5th Ave., Winder, Ga. 30680.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at
www.SmithMemoryChapel.com for the Shaipton family.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 2 7-September 2
Delores Smith
COMER — Delores Smith, 84, Comer, died Thursday, August
17,2023.
Bom in Commerce, Cecelia Delores Smith, was a daughter of
the late Cecil and Lucille McCoy Dyer and was preceded in death
by her sister, Mickey Harrison.
Mrs. Smith was retired from the Clarke County School System
and together with her husband, was an avid antique dealer.
Survivors include her husband. Sylvan Smith, Comer; daughter,
Pam Campbell, Comer; son, Sam Smith, Colbert; grandchildren.
Brandon Walker and John Walker; and great-grandchildren, Alex
and Nate Walker.
No service is scheduled at this time.
Arrangements by Lord and Stephens, East.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 27-September 2
Harvey Jack "Buddy" Stephens
NICHOLSON — Harvey Jack “Buddy” Stephens, 52, Nichol
son, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
Bom on December 9, 1970,
in Toombs Comity, Mr. Ste
phens was the son of the late
Jack Stephens and Patsy Higgs
Williams. He was a journeyman
lineman with the IBEW Union
and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife,
Debra Fortson Stephens;
daughter, Heather Stephens;
son, Tyler Stephens; sister,
Deanne Bridges; brother, Eddie
Stephens; and nephews, Mat
thew Tidwell and Coley Purcell.
Fimeral service: Friday, Sep
tember 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the
Ivie Fimeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Walt Coley officiating.
Family to receive friends: Friday, September 1, 2023, from 1
until 2 p.m. at the fimeral home.
Arrangements are in the care of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
Ga. Online condolences may be made to www.iviefimeralhome-
commerce.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspaper, INc.
Week of August 27-September 2
Robert "Bot
BRASELTON — Robert “Bob
Thursday, August 17, 2023, at his 1
Bob was bom on September
26,1938, in Stanley, Wisconsin,
to Joe and Ginny Stringer. The
eldest of the three Stringer chil
dren, he was an accomplished
athlete excelling at football,
hockey and golf which re
mained a passion throughout his
life. He attended the University
of Wisconsin where he graduat
ed with a Bachelor of Science in
Electrical Engineering.
He began a lifelong career
with Hewlett-Packard upon his
graduation, hired by the com
pany founders themselves. He
began his career as a bench technician and steadily rose through the
venerable company reaching senior executive levels as a national
sales manager. His time at HP was highlighted by many successes,
world travel and lifelong friendships, as is the HP way. The people
of HP remained in his life to his very last day. He retired from HP in
1999 as the head of telecom sales for the Americas and was always
happy to discuss his time at HP.
In 1982 he married the love of his life, Darlene Kline. The two
spent over four decades together building their life, traveling the
world and enjoying many great times with their family.
In his retirement years Bob enjoyed endless rounds of golf with
his son and friends, weekends on the lake boating and fishing with
his granddaughters, cruising the open seas with his wife and caring
for his many beloved fur babies.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Stringer; moth
er, Ginny “Virginia” Stringer (Miley); and sons, Michael Stringer
and Daniel Stringer.
Bob is survived by his wife of 41 years, Darlene Kay Stringer
(Kline); sons, David (Kathy) Stringer and John (Christina) Abrams;
daughter-in-law, Dr. Perri (Desmond Kilcoyne) Kauls; grandchil
dren, Kaitlin (Brandon) Tewksbury, Alissa (Lucian) Fox, and Ju
liana and Henry Kilcoyne; great-grandchildren, Cooper and Riley
Tewksbury; sisters, Judith Dunlap and Jane Stringer; and a multi
tude of friends whom he loved as family.
A private service was held for the family earlier this week.
Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway,
Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542, is in charge of arrangements.
Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfimeralhomes.
com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 27-September 2
” Stringer
' Stringer, 84, passed away on
ome in Braselton.
Brenda Gail Standridge Thomas
Brenda Gail Standridge Thomas, 78, passed away peacefully at
home on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
She was bom on March 31,
1945, to Kelley Boyd Stan
dridge and Janie Louvenia
Phillips Standridge as their first
bom.
Brenda eloped June 24,1961,
and married Roy Junior Thom
as, her best friend and love, at
the home of the Rev. Garland
White. They were married 57
1/2 years before his passing
September 27, 2018.
Brenda loved people and
never met a stranger. She picked
cotton for most of her young life
on the family farm in Alto.
At 12 years old, she went to work for Finley’s Grocery in Alto, to
help support her family. Mrs. F inley made sure she had many pretty
dresses to wear. Finley’s is where she met the love of her life, Roy.
She was very active in her life until a massive stroke put her in
her wheelchair, “Jazzy”, December 19,2003. At this time, she took
on watching TV preachers and her main goal was for everyone be
saved. John 3:16 being her favorite verse.
She started out as a homemaker and raised their four children.
She loved to sew her “masterpieces” during this time for family
and the public.
Her biggest passion was photography. She bought her first cam
era in 1959 at the age of 14, which she still has to this day. When
the children were all in school, she went to work for The Times of
Gainesville as a delivery driver. Her skills with the camera along
with her time on the road led her to taking many pictures of the
community, wrecks and interesting items. These pictures were pub
lished by the The Times and The Northeast Georgian papers.
She went back to school and took classes in photography which
led to her buying her own darkroom equipment so that she could
take her own pictures then develop them. She called her business
“Images by Brenda”. The local law enforcement would use her to
photograph crime scenes. All this led to her being promoted to re
porter with The Times for many years.
She was then offered a position by WNEG-32 TV in Toccoa. She
worked for WNEG for many years as a sales representative selling
commercials for all of Georgia and South Carolina.
When computers first came out, she taught herself to operate and
build computers. She was very independent.
When her family opened Chattahoochee Contracting, building
cell phone towers in the 1990’s, she then became their office man
ager until her stroke in 2003. The stroke changed her life as she
knew it forever. She has been wheelchair bound for 20 years now.
Brenda is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Lar
kin and Viola Faulkner Phillips; paternal grandparents, George
Thurmond, and Carrie Evans Standridge; parents, Kelley Boyd and
Janie Phillips Standridge; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred Stan
dridge and Howard Ivester; and brother, Wayne Standridge.
Surviving are four children and spouses, Danny and Rhon
da Thomas, Flintstone; Susan and Donald Wade, Alto; Scott and
Amy Thomas, Mt. Airy; and Brian and Tawana Thomas, Cornelia;
five grandchildren, Brandi and Michael Worsham, Alto, Brent and
Noel Wade, Alto, Autumn Rogers, Alto, Nicolas Thomas, Mt. Airy,
and Danae’ Smith, Cornelia; eight great grandchildren, Serenity
Wade, Gage Wade, Abigail Wade, Jordan Herron, Alivia Worsham,
Brinley Worsham, Asher Rogers and Jackson Jeeves; sister, Joyce
Standridge Gibbs, Cornelia; brother, Wendell Standridge, S.C.;
special friend, Elia Leticia Torres, Hidalgo, Texas; sisters-in-law
and spouses, Pat and Charles Turpin, and Linda and Garnett Smith,
all of Lula; great-aunts, Edna Higgins and Mary Alice Bedenbaugh,
both of Lincolnton, N.C.; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A special thank you to Serenity Wade for all the nights she spent
with Nanny since Poppys passing. Serenity has entertained her,
made her laugh, wiped her tears, and held her hand when she need
ed it from the time you were 12 years old until now at 17. Your
love, passion and empathy for Nanny will never be forgotten. You
have watched many old shows and even the late-night polka parties
with Nanny to keep her happy.
Funeral service: Thursday, August 24, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Alto
Congregational Holiness Church in Alto. Burial will be in West-
view Cemetery in Lula. The Rev. Donald Wade and Debra Gentry
will be officiating. Pallbearers are Brent Wade, Gage Wade, Jordan
Herron, Michael Worsham, Nicolas Thomas and Barry Lewallen.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, August 24, 2023, from 12
until 2 p.m. at the church.
Flowers may be sent to 143 Bennett Street, Alto, Ga., where the
family is residing.
Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road,
Gainesville, Ga. 30504, is in charge of arrangements. Send online
condolences to www.memorialparkfrmeralhomes.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 27-September 2
Albert Daniel "Danny" Watson
DANIELSVILLE — Albert Daniel “Danny” Watson, 69, Dan
ielsville (formerly of Lilbum) died peacefully in his home on
Thursday, August 17, 2023.
Bom March 7, 1954, he was
the middle child and only son of
the late Ben and Barbara Wat
son. He graduated from Hen
derson High School in DeKalb
County in 1972. He spent his
professional life in various in
dustries and retired from pest
control management in 2022.
Danny was a kind and gentle
soul who never met a stranger.
He loved a good laugh and pro
vided many in return. He was
an avid outdoorsman who loved
sports of any kind and especial
ly UGA football.
He was generous with his time and talent, volunteering countless
hours with Trinity Soup Kitchen in Atlanta and numerous other
organizations and charities. Whenever asked and wherever he saw
a need, Danny was always there. He was a true friend to everyone.
Danny shared his life with his wife of 35 years, Joyce Hanvey
Watson who preceded him in death in 2021. He was also preceded
in death by their son, Christopher Brown.
Danny is survived by his sisters, Beverly Trott (Ray) and Brenda
Watson; in-laws, Jimmy Hanvey (Maggie), Joan Hanvey Young
(Terry) and Judith Hanvey Craig; and numerous nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and great-nephews, all who loved him dearly.
Funeral service: Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Tom
M. Wages Funeral Service, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, Ga.
30039.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, September 9, 2023, from
1-2 p.m. at the fimeral home. We invite all family and friends to
attend and share their stories and memories of Danny.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Athens Com
munity Council on Aging, 135 Hoyt Street, Athens, Ga. 30601, ac-
caging.org, or Bridgeway Hospice, 105 Westpark Drive, Suite A,
Athens, Ga. 30606. Please reference memorial for Danny Watson
in your contribution.
Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, is in charge of
arrangements, www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 27-September 2
Rilla Faye Whitlock-Banks
STATHAM — Rilla Faye Whitlock-Banks, 87, Statham, passed
away on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Faye was a lifelong resident
of Statham. She was a member
of Calvary Baptist Church for
over a decade. She loved going
to church and attending Gospel
singings.
Family was very important to
her and she loved looking after
her family and hosting them
during special occasions and
holidays.
Mrs. Faye worked at Bi-Lo
grocery store for over 32 years
and retired in the early 2000s.
She volunteered at the Winder
hospital every Wednesday for
more than 10 years.
Mrs. Faye was preceded in death by her parents, Reba “Lucille”
Porter and Dessie L. Baker; her son, Tony Johnson; brother. Perry
Baker; and her great-grandson, Michael Mathis.
She is survived by her husband, John Tate Banks; children,
Mike Johnson, Winder, Michelle (Jody) Seawright, Statham, Terri
Jones, Statham, Cindy Ensley and Evans, Lisa Ledford and Alan,
and Chris Banks and Shannon; brothers, Robert Baker, Winder,
Jack (Pat) Baker, Atlanta and Statham; sisters, Inez Gilreath and
Diane (Ron) Ratliff; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandehildren:
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at
www.SmitliMemoryChapel.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 2 7-September 2