Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 7A
Obituaries
Online condolences may be made at www.iviefuneralhome-
commerce.com. Arrangements are in the care of Ivie Funeral
Home, Commerce, Ga.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Wyvonnia May “Bungie” Morgan
TALMO — Wyvonnia May “Bungie” Morgan, 70, Tal-
mo, passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2021.
Mrs. Morgan was bom in
Plant City, Florida, a daugh
ter to the late Lloyd Hayes
Lester and the late Katie
May Morris Lester. Mrs.
Morgan was formerly an
employee of Mansfield Oil
Company for many years
and had recently served as
the office manager for D &
J Plumbing in Commerce.
In addition to her parents,
Mrs. Morgan was preceded
in death by her nephew, Jer
emy Lester.
Survivors include her brother, Ray Lester and his wife
Kathy, Carnesville; sister, Wanda Bruce, Talmo; neph
ew, Joseph “Joey” Lester and his wife Chrissy, and step
son, Wayne Morgan, Colorado, both of whom she loved
like sons; nephew, Sammy Bruce and his wife Rachel;
grandchildren. Autumn Lester, Brooke Wilbanks and her
husband Seth, Samantha Bruce and Cole Bruce; and a
great-grandchild, Josie Wilbanks also survives.
Celebration of life service: Monday, August 9, 2021 at
2 p.m. in the chapel of Evans Funeral Home.
Family to receive friends: Monday, August 9, 2021 prior
to and following the celebration of life service at Evans
Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial gifts
be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia, 41 Pe
rimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta, Georgia 30346 or
at https://www.alz.org/georgia.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jef
ferson, Georgia. Online condolences at www.evansfuner-
alhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Jeanette Mann Reiser
STATHAM — Jeanette Mann Reiser, 81, Statham,
passed away Tuesday, August 3, 2021.
She was bom August 1,
1940 in Royston to the late
Oscar and Darline Wall
Mann. Mrs. Reiser had re
sided in Barrow County for
most of her life and was a
member of Calvary Baptist
Church. She was preced
ed by her husband, Emory
Reiser; grandchild, Corbin
Weston Wilson; brother,
Billy Mann; sister-in-law,
Hazel Mann; and daughter-
in-law, Victoria Rosser.
Surviving are children, Ron (D. J.) Kinney, Charles El
rod Jr., Jennifer (Chris) Wilson, Jan (Mike) Jordan, Su
san (Corey) Pruitt and Michael Rosser; brothers, Carl E.
Mann and David (Joyce) Mann; sister-in-law, Iris Mann;
11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, August 5, 2021
from 5 until 8 p.m. at Carter Funeral Home.
Funeral service: Friday, August 6, 2021 at 11 a.m. from
Calvary Baptist Church with Phillip Suertefelipe officiat
ing. Mrs. Reiser will lie in state at the church at 10:30 a.m.
Friday. Interment will be in Calvary Baptist Church Cem
etery.
Carter Funeral Home of Winder is in charge of arrange
ments where online condolences may be expressed at
www.carterfhwinder.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Eugene "Gene” Albin Sapp
On Sunday morning, August 1, 2021, our wonder
ful, precious Dad, Eugene “Gene” Albin Sapp, 88, went
to Heaven. He passed peacefully at his home in Athens,
where he and mom lived together for almost 69 years.
Gene was born on Octo
ber 17, 1932 to Vincent and
Desma Sapp of Cary. He
was the fourth of live chil
dren. All have passed now,
but many nephews and niec
es remain. Being raised on a
small farm in rural Georgia
during the depression, Gene
was taught the values of
hard work, a job well done,
honesty and determination.
These would serve him well
in the years to come.
After he graduated from high school, he joined the Army
and served his country during the Korean Conflict. Dis
charged from the Army, he married Mary Lou Kesler, from
Athens, where they lived together for almost 69 years.
During those early years, Gene worked as a body repair
man for a local auto dealership. At the same time, he at
tended the University of Georgia night school, graduating
in 1964 with a degree in business administration. In 1972,
Gene along with his four sons and a brother-in-law, started
the family run business, Modem Body Shop, which contin
ues to serve the Athens area.
Dad was a strong, faithful Christian man. He loved his
savior, Jesus Christ. As an elder at Crossroads Community
Church, he attended and served faithfully with his family
for over 50 years. He was a true ambassador for Christ. His
smile and laughter were infectious. He loved people and
enjoyed helping all that he could. He was the greatest Dad
anyone could ever want. He loved our mother with all his
heart, loved his kids, grandkids and great- grandkids to the
very end. His strong admonition was to give your heart to
Jesus, love Him with all your might, and someday you will
get to go live with Jesus, just as our Daddy did this past
Sunday morning.
We are thankful for all he taught us, the example he set
before us and how to live a faithful and true life. We are
grateful for his never-ending love, his generosity, kindness
and care for all his family. We know Dad heard these words
from His Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant. En
ter into the joys of your Lord.”
Thank you, Daddy, you are the best. We all love you so
much.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Kesler Sapp; four
sons and four daughters-in-law (whom he called daugh
ters), Morris and Joy Sapp, Lamar and Tracie Sapp, David
and Cathy Sapp and Jeff and Carol Sapp; 11 grandchildren,
Kellie and Adam Speir, Kerrie and Matt Lang, Whitney
and Briana Sapp, Taylor and Charles Merritt, Andrew and
Kari Sapp, Amanda and Gabe Martin, Nate and Christy
Sapp, Lauren and Kevin Cash, Todd and Jennifer Sapp,
Vince and Jenna Sapp and Jake and Annie Kate Sapp; and
25 great-grandchildren.
Funeral service: Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 2 p.m. at
Crossroads Community Church, 550 Harve Mathis Road,
Athens, Ga. 30601. The burial will take place at New Hope
Worship Center, just south of Royston on U.S. 29.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, August 5, 2021
from 12 to 2 p.m. at the church, at 12 noon.
Flowers are accepted or in lieu of flowers, donations may
be made to Crossroads Community Church Children’s De
partment, 550 Harve Mathis Road, Athens, Ga. 30601.
Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements.
www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Wendell Simmons
ALTO — Wendell Simmons, 51, Alto, passed away on
Monday, June 14, 2021.
Bom in Banks County
on April 21, 1970, he was a
son of the late Emily Sim
mons. Mr. Simmons was
employed with Amazon in
Jefferson and was owner of
Wendell’s Wholesale Pets
of Alto. He was an avid
animal lover who enjoyed
raising birds, horses, rab
bits, quail, fish, guinea pigs,
rats and his dog. He was of
the Baptist faith and attend
ed Mountain View Baptist
Church.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by
his sister, Kay Simmons Cochran; niece, Kristen Rose
Simmons; and nephew, Eli Simmons.
He is survived by his brother, Kenneth Simmons, Bald
win; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Kevin Pope, Jef
ferson; nieces and their spouses, Erin Simmons, Kimberly
and Scott Holder, Christy and Jesse Holman and Pamela
Cochran; nephews and their spouses, Branson and Laura
Simmons and Kristopher and Marybeth Pope; great-niec
es and great-nephews, Brystol Pope, Dawsyn Pope, Ryder
Pope, Chetson Holder, Makya Adams, Paisley Mealor, Jay
Mealor, Dakota Holman, Breanna Holman, Dillon Lack-
ner, Nathan Cochran and Aiden Cochran; aunts, Florence
Payne, Baldwin, and Eula Cheek, Clarkesville; and several
other relatives and friends.
Memorial service: Saturday, August 14,2021 at 1 p.m. at
Mountain View Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Ma-
ness officiating.
Those in attendance are asked to adhere to public health
and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed
at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com. McGahee-Griffin
& Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia, 706-778-
8668, is in charge of arrangements.{/span}
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Perry Allen Thompson
Perry Allen Thompson passed away peacefully at his
home on Monday, July 26, 2021, after a valiant battle with
Frontotemporal Dementia.
Perry, a fraternal twin,
was born on September 13,
1946, to Roland and Thelma
Thompson of Marked Tree,
Arkansas. Mary, his twin
sister, never let Perry forget
“she was first.” Tragically,
she passed away from de
mentia in 2020.
The family was large, 13
children, and the home was
filled with love and laughter
with Perry being the chief
instigator of mischief. As a
boy, he dreamed of flying,
and with encouragement from his mother, he left home
and joined the Army where he fulfilled his dream of fly
ing, becoming a helicopter pilot and honorably serving for
32 years. One of his proudest military achievements was
his selection to the first Warrant Officer Five class; only 30
Warrant Officers were selected from the hundreds of eligi
ble CW4s. His selection was clear evidence of his skills,
expertise and dedication to duty and his country. Perry is
a true hero, a veteran of Vietnam and Desert Shield, and
during his illustrious military career was awarded the Le
gion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze
Star, Meritorious Service Medals and the Purple Heart, to
name but a few. Retirement was not for Perry, and he would
go on to work for a military contractor at Ft. Hood, Texas,
and then as the Safety Officer at the Navy Supply Corps
School in Athens, up to its eventual closing.
Perry was a man of honor, service and bravery, but he was
more than that: He was a family man who loved fiercely
and unconditionally while being silly and funny as well as
firm and stem. Though most of all, he was a loving, car
ing husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend;
he was everyone’s “favorite." He will be remembered for
his life-long love affair with ice cream, specifically Nutty
Buddies and Blue Bell, for opening his heart and home to
any found stray animals and for spinning yams, which he
enjoyed retelling often, of truth and possibly even more fic
tion.
He is preceded in death by his parents; Mary May, his
twin sister; sister, Jannie Deaton; and brothers, Bobby
Gene, Eugene and Freddie Thompson.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda; son, Jason
Thompson, San Antonio, Texas; daughter, Kerry Doke
(Brett), McKinney, Texas; step-sons, Patrick McGahagan,
Savannah, and Michael McGahagan (Annemarie), Little
Rock, Arkansas; four adored grandchildren, Carson Doke,
Taylor and Fischer McGahagan and Parker McGahagan,
who all will truly miss their “Papa.” Additionally, he is sur
vived by his siblings, Kathy Lee (Jerry), Joann Ott, Becky
Lawson, Susan Kennedy, Joyce Kennedy (Bobby), Roy
Lee Thompson (Bettye) and Robert Thompson (Dianne),
all of Arkansas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family is forever grateful to those who cared for him
and eased his burden this past year, Maurice Walker of Vis
iting Angels, Mikella Procopio, RN of St. Mary’s Hospice,
and all the friends and neighbors who came by offering
support and to chat and visit.
Graveside service: Saturday, August 7,2021 at 10 a.m. at
the Athens Memory Gardens on Lexington Road, Athens.
Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, is in
charge of arrangements, www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Van Owens Williams
CARNESVILLE — Van Owens Williams, 90, Cames-
ville, passed away Tuesday morning, July 20, 2021.
Bom October 23,1930 in Carnesville, she was the daugh
ter of the late Adger Howard and Ana Payne Owens. She
was the widow of the late Lee Johnson Williams; and sister
of the late Alberta Santmyres, Harold Owens, Troy Owens,
Susie Sumner and Bill Owens.
She taught high school in Madison County for many
years and was once selected Teacher of the Year. She was
a member of the Madison County Retired Educators, Delta
Kappa Gamma Society International and was a member of
the Eastern Star. She was a member of the Cross Roads
Baptist Church.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews; and sisters-
in-law, Jean Owens, Tootsie Andrews and Mary Williams,
all of Carnesville.
Funeral service: Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the Cross
Roads Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy Cleveland of
ficiating with interment in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to make memorials please do so to the
Cross Roads Baptist Church, 16144 Ga. Hwy 59, Cames-
ville, Ga. 30521.
Condolences may be left at ginnfuneralhome.com. Ginn
Funeral Home, Carnesville is in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
Lottie R. Wilson
COMMERCE — Lottie R. Wilson, 98, Commerce,
passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
She was bom in the Brockton community to William G.
and Ruby Ray. She graduated from the Martin Institute, Jef
ferson. Around age 20-21 she moved to Atlanta and worked
for WPA, War Assets.
She met and married Robert R Wilson, who preceded her
in death in 1964 in Jefferson.
Around 1949 or 50, she moved to Kansas City, Missou
ri, and then in 1952 to San Francisco, California. In 1957
she moved to Detroit, Michigan, and returned to Jefferson
in 1964. From 1965-1967 she worked in administration and
bookkeeping at The Jackson Herald. In order to provide
more opportunities for her children, she relocated to Deca
tur in 1967 and remained there until 2020 when she moved
with her son to Commerce.
Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Jefferson First United
Methodist Church, where she met the Buffingtons, owners
of The Jackson Herald.
She also worked for the U.S. Selective Service, Jefferson,
before transferring to the Selective Service in Decatur until
reorganization consolidated county boards into one central
Atlanta Office.
Mrs. Wilson worked for the National Medical Audiovisu
al branch of the CDC for a couple of years and then the Bu
reau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms until retiring in 1984.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings,
Reba Ray, Edward Ray, Harold Ray, Frances Ray Willis Da
vis Finch and Margaret Ray Duke Medsker.
Survivors include, Roberta Pegueros, New Mexico, Wil
liam Wilson, Arizona, and James Wilson and Nancy, Com
merce; along with many nieces and nephews, all of whom
miss her very much.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Evans Funeral
Home, Jefferson, Georgia.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 8-14
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