Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 3B
Obituaries
William “Mark” Barnes
NICHOLSON — William “Mark” Barnes, 57, Nichol
son, passed away on Friday, September 10, 2021.
Bom on October 6, 1963
in Commerce, Mr. Barnes
was the son of Loretta
Crumley Barnes and the
late Travis Barnes. He was
a U.S. mail carrier in Athens
and a member of Brockton
Road Baptist Church.
Survivors, in addition
to his mother, include his
wife, Dawn Martin Barnes,
of the home; sons, William
(Baileigh) Barnes and Tren
ton “Cody” (Taylor) Baker;
daughter, Caroline Barnes
and fiance Raymond Overstreet; sisters, Amanda Baker
and Myra David; grandchildren, Barrett, Hallie, Landon
and Forrest.
Graveside service: Sunday, September 12,2021 at 2 p.m.
at Jackson Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Roger Hardy
officiating.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, September 11, 2021
from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at www.iviefuneral-
homecommerce.com. Arrangements are in the care of Ivie
Funeral Home, Commerce.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Martha Jo Blackstock
JEFFERSON — Martha Jo Blackstock, 103, Jefferson,
passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 in
the same house in which she was bom January 30,1918.
She was the oldest daugh
ter of the late Clarence Mil
lard Blackstock and the late
Leila Mae Bailey Black-
stock. She was preceded in
death by her sister, Hilda
Sue Blackstock Tonge; and
her nephew, Walter Hodges
Tonge.
Her parents valued edu
cation and found a way to
send both girls to college
despite the depression, a gift
Martha Jo remained grateful
for her entire life. She grad
uated from Martin Institute in 1930 and went on to attend
Piedmont College obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with an eye
on teaching. In 1938, she began her career in education at
Lakemont High School in Lakemont. Some of her students
were older than she was!
Two years later she was recruited by Mr. Henry Ash
to return to the Jefferson City School System where she
taught whatever subject was needed, including French(!)
but found her greatest satisfaction as a high school math
teacher. She led her classroom with kindness, devotion and
fairness, earning the respect and love of her students. In
1962 she earned her Master’s Degree in education from the
University of Georgia and was promoted to school admin
istration becoming one of the first female high school prin
cipals in Georgia. As principal, she tirelessly attended every
event, collecting admissions, supporting the school and, of
course, maintaining order. Still, she did miss the classroom
experience of teaching students one-on-one.
After 38 years in education, Martha Jo retired to care for
her aging relatives. Although never married, she was an ac
tive aunt, great-aunt and even great-great-aunt. She and her
sister lived together, splitting responsibilities. Hilda tended
the vegetable garden and did the cooking, while Jo mowed
the grass, tended the flowers and cleaned the house. She
never missed her daily walk. She continued to teach, tutor
ing children and supervising homework until her eyesight
began to fade.
Martha Jo was a long-time member of Academy Baptist
Church, serving as the pianist for many years and complet
ing a written history of the church at age 96. She enjoyed
many deep friendships with people of all ages and had an
ability to connect with others through conversation. She
could change gears easily from reminiscing to discussions
of current events. Her insight was sharp and she embraced
change, even learning to operate a cell phone at the age of
100. Martha Jo was a unique window into an earlier time.
Her values were an example to those around her. She in
spired people to be better and do better. She touched many,
many people during her lengthy life and her legacy lives on.
The family is forever grateful for the loving, faithful care
provided by Misty Griffith, her caregiver, over the last five
years. Martha Jo counted her as one of her most special
blessings. Also appreciated was the friendship provided by
Jack Purcell. Together, they spent many enjoyable hours
reading books and The Jackson Herald articles.
Miss Blackstock is survived by her first cousins, Ste
vie Gower, Jane Davis, Hugh Blackstock Jr. and Martha
Chapman; her great-niece, Suzy Perry; great-nephew, Andy
Tonge (Martha); great-great nieces, Brooke Streetman,
Kara Waldrop (Dustin) and Kadi Barber (Zach); and great-
great nephews, Tan, TJ and Drew Tonge. Miss Blackstock’s
niece by marriage, Betty Tonge, also survives.
Graveside service: Saturday, September 18, 2021 at
10 a.m. in the Academy Baptist Church Cemetery with the
Reverend Eric Shelton officiating.
In keeping with Martha Jo’s concern for COVID-19,
please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts
in memory of Miss Martha Jo Blackstock, be made to the
charity of one’s choice.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jef
ferson, Georgia. Online condolences at www.evansfuner-
alhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Austin Lee Fontes
COMMERCE — Austin Lee Fontes, 17, Commerce,
passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
Bom on September 28,
2003, he was the son of Da
vid Denton and Tonia Clark
Hudson Fontes. Austin was
a senior at Banks County
High School.
Survivors in addition to
his parents include brothers,
Benjamin Gene Hudson and
fiance Kristen Elliott, Bob
by Alan Hudson and Robert
Logen Hudson; grandpar
ents, Jackie Denton, Dean
Walker, Randall and Bar
bara Clark; and a nephew.
Dean Cliff Hudson.
Memorial service: Monday, September 13,2021 at 2 p.m.
in the Ivie Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Duane Eller
officiating.
Family to receive friends: Sunday, September 12, 2021
from 2-7 p.m. and Monday, September 13, 2021 from
11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at www.iviefuneral-
homecommerce.com. Arrangements are in the care of Ivie
Funeral Home, Commerce, Ga.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Ashley A. Gilbert
COLBERT — Ashley A. Gilbert, 34, Colbert, passed
away on Friday, September 3, 2021.
Bom in Mount Holly, New
Jersey, she was a daughter
of Cindy Wells Gilbert and
the late Ed Gilbert Jr. Ash
ley enjoyed shopping and
playing board games and
most importantly, she loved
her family and cherished
her children. In addition to
her father, she was preceded
in death by her grandfather,
Wayne Wells.
Survivors, in addition to
her mother, include her chil
dren, Jacob Evans, Isaiah
Evans and Teagan Evans; siblings, Amanda McCannon
(Jason), Amber Guzman (Roberto) and Lil Eddie Gilbert
(Beth); grandmother, Pearl Wells; nieces, Gabriella Guz
man, Amrosa Guzman and Jazlynn McCannon; nephews,
Cohen Gilbert, Connor Gilbert and Corbin McCannon and
numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, September 9, 2021
from 5 until 7 pm at the funeral home. Masks will be re
quired. Graveside services will be private.
Lord and Stephens, Danielsville is in charge of arrange
ments. www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Rembert Lee Hall Jr.
HOSCHTON — Rembert Lee Hall Jr., 82, Hoschton, en
tered into rest Monday, September 6, 2021.
Mr. Hall was bom in Cal
houn, a son of the late Rem
bert Lee Hall Sr. and the late
Ruby Clements Hall. Mr.
Hall was a member of the
Georgia National Guard and
Galilee Christian Church
and was retired from Colo
nial Baking Company.
In addition to his par
ents, Mr. Hall is preceded
by brothers, Joe Chadwick,
Charles Lamar Hall and
James Felton Hall; sisters,
Betty Lee Hall Walraven
and Will Nell Hall Serritt.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Carol Bennett Hall,
Hoschton; son, David Lee Hall (Drucilla), Danielsville;
three grandchildren, Jessica Lee Hall Rampley (Justin),
Megan Marie Hall and Averyanna Faith Hall Calloway
(Chandler); two great-grandchildren, Corbin Brian Callo
way and Ricky Eugene Rampley; former daughter-in-law,
Lori Murray; and one brother, Larry Steven Hall also sur
vives.
Funeral service: Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 11 a.m.
from the Galilee Christian Church with Ministers Nick Vip-
perman and Tom Plank officiating. Burial will follow in the
Galilee Christian Church Cemetery.
Family to receive friends at the church. Those attending
are asked to wear protective masks and maintain safe social
distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gali
lee Christian Church Building Fund, 2191 Galilee Church
Road, Jefferson, Georgia 30549.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jef
ferson, Georgia. Online condolences at www.evansfuner-
alhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Robert “Kent” Harrison Sr.
MABLETON — Robert “Kent” Harrison Sr., 84, Mable-
ton, passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday,
September 8, 2021.
Kent was a native of Bethlehem and graduated from
Winder-Barrow High School, Class of 1955. During his
high school years, Kent was a football star that held the
record for rushing yards until it was broken in the 1990’s.
After graduation, Kent went on to work with CSX in dif
ferent capacities and retired as a yard master after 44 years
of service.
A story Kent loved to tell, and something that made him
very proud, was his ability to quit smoking cold-turkey af
ter his retirement. It struck him one day to quit, and his
strong will allowed him to go from decades of smoking to
cigarette-free.
In his retirement, Kent and Martha (“JoJo”) spent many
weekends at their lake home in Alabama. He was an avid
outdoorsman and loved to fish with his cabin neighbors.
Once all of his fishing friends had passed, Kent sold the
cabin; fishing isn’t as fun unless you have good friends to
share it with.
Kent is preceded in death by his parents, Emory Carson
and Nannie Ree Harrison; his baby son, Marty Shane Har
rison; and brothers, John Hillary “Hilly” Harrison and Em
ory Charles “Red” Harrison.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Martha
Jo Harrison; children, Robert “Bob” Harrison (wife, Beth),
Dallas, and Beverly Plymel (husband, Roger), Douglas-
ville; grandsons, Randy Brown (wife, Jennifer), Dallas,
Cory Harrison (wife, Myra), Navarre Beach, Fla., and Ken
ny Brown (wife, Brittany), Douglasville; and great-grand
children, Aden Brown, Raylie Brown, Trey Brown, Mack
Brown and Bree Brown.
Funeral service: Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 2 p.m.
at Davis-Struempf Chapel with the Rev. Richard Wilkins
officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mozley Me
morial Gardens.
Family to receive friends: Friday, September 10, 2021
from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made
to Wellstar Community Hospice, c/o Wellstar Foundation,
805 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 100, Marietta, Ga. 30066
For anyone wishing to view the service virtually, it will
be live streamed at the above listed time on Kent’s tribute
page at the above-listed service time at www.davisstrue-
mpf.com.
Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory, Austell is
in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Shannon Allen Jackson
JEFFERSON — Shannon Allen Jackson, 46, Jefferson,
died Sunday, September 5, 2021 at Northside Hospital.
Mrs. Jackson was born in Commerce to Jackie Laverne
Standridge Allen of Commerce and the late Robert Richard
Allen. She was employed with Eagle Ranch as a photog
rapher.
In addition to her mother, Mrs. Jackson is survived by her
husband, Joseph Heath Jackson, Jefferson; sons, Carson
Jackson and Cooper Jackson, both of Jefferson; and broth
er, Derrick Allen. Commerce.
Funeral service: Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 3 p.m.
in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Revs.
Mark Mobley, Nick Dalton and Andy Nelson officiating.
Interment will follow in Jackson Memorial Gardens.
Family to receive friends: Wednesday, September 8,2021
from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Eagle Ranch,
P.O. Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, Ga. 30502 or gift cards
for her children.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Daisy Nell Brown Jones
GILLSVILLE — Daisy Nell Brown Jones, 73, Gillsville,
passed away on Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Bom on January 23, 1948
in Maysville, Mrs. Jones was
the daughter of the late Tom
and Nellie McCoy Brown.
She was the widow of James
“Bill” Jones, a sales associ
ate with Hewell’s Pottery,
and was preceded in death
by a brother, Dean Brown.
The family would like to
express special thanks to
her caregivers Tammy and
Whitney Jones.
Survivors include a son,
Wesley (Vanessa) Jones;
brother, Tommy Brown; sisters, Mary (Robert) Rylee, Ra
chel Burtchaell, Jane Brown and Mitti Morris; and a grand
daughter, Whitney Jones.
Funeral service: Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at
2 p.m. at Redeemed Baptist Church with the Revs. Phil
Parks, Randolph Batey and Robbie Ledford officiating.
Burial will follow at Diamond Hill Cemetery.
Family to receive friends: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Re
deemed Baptist Church, 805 B. Wilson Rd., Commerce,
Ga. 30529.
Online condolences may be made at www.iviefuneral-
homecommerce.com. Arrangements are in the care of Ivie
Funeral Home, Commerce, Ga.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of September 12-18
Melvin Douglas Morris
LULA — Melvin Douglas Morris, 67, Lula, passed away
on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
Bom on November 17,
1953 in Banks County, Mr.
Morris was the son of the
late W.S. and Martha Rose
Sims Morris. He was the
widower of Cyndi Lou Wil
liams Morris, was retired
from Lucent Technologies,
was of the Christian faith,
and was preceded in death
by a sister, Linda Fowler.
Survivors include daugh
ters, Tracy Arrowood, Kasie