About The Forest-blade. (Swainsboro, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2021)
The Forest-Blade • ummiEmamielCoimtyLive.com • Swainsboro, Georgia • March 3, 2021 5A May Jones Hooks slipped peacefully from this troubled world to be welcomed at Heaven's Gate by her Savior, her loving husband, and family members who had gone before on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Due to COVID restrictions, a private family memorial service is planned for a later date. Ms. Hooks was born at home in Candler County on July 22' 1926, the third of four daughters to Carson and Patriel May Jones. The four girls grew up on the family farm, sharing one bedroom. After graduation from Metter High School in 1943, May attended Georgia State College for Women (Georgia College), where she enjoyed participating in the College Choir Guild and was chosen for the school Acapella Choir which toured all over the country. The follow ing year, she married her handsome suitor, Vendie H. Hooks Jr. of Texsy, who at the time was serving in the US Coast Guard. In later years, V.H. proclaimed that if he had a daughter, she would NEVER attend Georgia State College for Women, where although they were married, he and May could not leave campus without a chap erone! Shortly after her graduation, V.H. complet ed his military service, and the couple moved to Nashville, TN where V.H. began his studies at Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science. After his graduation, May and V.H. returned to Metter and established Hooks Mortuary after initial ly purchasing Kingery Funeral Home, and later Johnson Funeral Home in Metter. After the arrival of May Jones their two sons—Vendie in 1948 and Jones four years later—May began to realize that starting a business and serv ing the public would require some sacrifices. It was during this time that May succeeded in becoming one of the first female licensed funer al directors in the state. Although a private per son, May found herself in a very public arena. She worked hard to main tain her home (above the Funeral Home) as her pri vate space, while keep ing the business down stairs. In her profession, she found herself busy in community leader ship roles: the American Region Auxiliary, the Georgia Funeral Directors Association Auxiliary, and Advisor for the Candy Stripers Program at Candler County Hospital, to name a few. She was an active member of First Baptist Church. Tong before magazine articles were written about achieving “bal ance", May pursued balance in her marriage, in motherhood, and in her profession. She was a breast cancer survi vor, but did suffer from lymphedema in her arm following her initial treatment. Because of her personal experience, and through her own research, she traveled to Princeton, New Jersey and learned of what, at that time, was revo lutionary treatment for lymphedema. After her return, she met with the boards of University and Saint Joseph's Hospitals in Augusta, and was responsible for both insti tutions implementing lymphedema treatment programs. May and V.H. faith fully served friends and Hooks, 94 neighbors "offering the kind of service we would desire" until 1991, when they retired and moved from the funeral home to Willow Take Drive. As "general contractor", May lovingly attended to each step of the design, construction, furnish ing, and landscaping of their new home. She had finally found her secret garden and cherished her privacy. As unique an individ ual as God ever creat ed, folks familiar with May would say she had a few 'favorite things": the color PINK, all things Asian, gadgets—May was an "early adopter", shopping, landscap ing, fashion and build ing/design magazines, sweets, AND of course, her family—her adoring husband, those special sons, daughters-in-law who became her daugh ters, six grandchildren, and eventually eleven great-grands. By her grandchildren, Grandmommie will for ever be remembered as a fun-loving grandmother who cackled uproarious ly during a funny movie (legend has it she was more fun to watch than the movie!), loved hav ing her family all togeth er under one roof, was a wonderful cook, and also to the great delight of her grandchildren, was an easy target for fun-spirit ed practical jokes! May will be remem bered by all as kind-heart ed and caring, a sweet gentle spirit with a conta gious laugh and smiling eyes, always thinking of others first. Now you see through a glass, darkly, but someday you will see Me face to face. Then you will know fully how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you. I Corinthians 13:12 David Stan Brown, Tr., 72 David Stan Brown, Jr., 72, passed away February 23, 2021. Funeral services were Sunday, February 28, at 1 p.m. in the Swainsboro City Cemetery with Rev. Charles Holloway as Eulogist. Mr. Brown, better known as "Nan", was born January 29, 949, in Johnson County to the late David Brown, Sr. and Sarah Washington Brown. Early in life, David joined the United States Army where he proud ly served his country during the Vietnam War. Following his enlistment, David moved to Alexandra, VA where he worked at the Headquarters of Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. David returned to his hometown of Swainsboro and start ed working with GCI in Reidsville for sever al years. He also man aged RACO and was later employed by the Sanitary Market. Mr. Brown became ill and lived at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center BROWN in Dublin for several years. His wish was granted to come back and live at home. Mr. Brown is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Larry Brown and Jimmy Lee Brown. Survivors include sisters, Mary Brown, Marion (Jerry) Williams, and Katherine (Charles) Jackson, all of Swainsboro, Glenice (Hosea) Wynn of Savannah, and Eleanor Taylor of Macon; two- adopted sisters, Tammy Johnson of Columbus and Latosha Madison of Vidalia; four step-chil dren;, several close rel atives; nieces, nephews, and many friends. Mosley's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. It is always wise to think before we talk and ask Good to guide our words. And it is important to look to the Lord for insight before we leap into the unknown. It is certainly critical to pray before we proceed with any plan. If we ever fear we are failing it's time to fall on our knees and ask God to come to our rescue. Looking to the Lord for His directions will give us confi dence that we are following His will for our lives and can then count on His presence. To make the right choice we must listen for God's voice. Not only is God interested in who we are but what we do. He is no more interested in the mis sionary than he is the mechanic. He is no more concerned for a preacher than He is a politician. We read in His Word that "God so loved the world" - and that means everyone on it! That assures us that He has a plan for every life and will reveal His plan to those who willingly search for it and carefully follow it. But one plan does not fit all any more than one size fits all. He has a different plan for each of us and various methods to speak to us. For some it may be a sermon, for others a passage of Scripture. He may speak quietly during a moment of worship or bolaly during a time of sickness. We must always be alert for His voice. He constantly speaks to each of us and wants to lead us on the path He has designed for us. As He was with the Isra elites then so He is with us now: "He guided with a cloud by day and light from a fire all night© His presence is constant. In daylight or darkness, He waits to be our guide. Visit us at: SowerMinistries.org PS 181 yt)0insbos o LINCOLN A member of TE Redding Enterprises, LLC - & Metter Ford 122 Kile Road, Swainsboro 237-7811 Toll Free 1-866-889-FORD Judy Fagler, 70 HOOKS Ms. Hooks is preceded in death by her parents; husband; and two sisters, Katrina Jones Mills and Madge Jones Trapnell. She is survived by her sons, Vendie Hudson Hooks III, MD (Carolyn) of Augusta and Carson Jones Hooks (Stephanie) of Jekyll Island; six grand children, Vendie Hudson Hooks IV (Lauren), Susanna Hooks Sayer (Jason), Carson J. Hooks Jr. (Julia), David B. Hooks (Clare), Christopher Hooks (Elizabeth), and Katherine W. Hooks ; eleven great-grandchil dren, Anna Logan Hooks, Virginia Hooks, Riley Sayer, Caroline Sayer, Davis Hooks, Hudson Hooks, Ella Marie Hooks, Lucy Hooks, Margaux Hooks, Brer Hooks, and John Hudson Billings; and a sister, Nancy Jones Lanier. The family wish es to thank the staff of Azalea Nursing and Rehabilitation in Metter and The Lodge at Bethany in Statesboro for their professional care and concern for May during her residencies there. Memorial gifts may be offered to: Metter First Baptist Church, 50 S. Rountree St., Metter, GA 30439 or to the Foundation for Public Education in Candler County, P. O. Box 21 Metter, GA 30439. Kennedy Funeral Home Hooks Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Ms. Judy Fagler, 70, of West Palm Beach, Flori da, passed away Febru ary 21, 2021. Memorial service was held Friday, February 26, at 6 p.m. at the Chapel of Chapman Funeral Home with Pastor Nick Robertson officiating. The family received friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb ruary 26, at Chapman Funeral Home. In com pliance with the guide lines set by the CDC, 6-feet rule was enforced during visitation and service. Ms. Fagler was born September 29, 1950, in Lake City, Florida, to Walter and Dorothy Fagler. She was a 1968 graduate of Swains boro High School, went to cosmetology school in Atlanta, and was a hairdresser for years in Swainsboro and Met ter. A change in career choices led her to attend Armstrong State Col lege, where she grad uated with a degree in radiology. Over the next thirty-eight years, Judy worked in some capacity of radiology and retired after thirty years as an MRI tech nologist. Ms. Fagler loved reading in her free time, and would read hundreds of books yearly. She was also an avid seashell collec- FAGLER tor. From her walks on the beach, she would find the best and most unique shells to display at her house. Judy loved her daughters and her grandchildren, and would travel to visit them for the holidays and their birthdays. Ms. Fagler is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Tony Fagler; and sister, Patti Fagler. Survivors include her daughters, Holly Hall and Heidi Hall; grand children, Devin, Chris- tabella, Portia, Valenti no, Jaden, Halo, Tenli, and Zeus; brother, Mike (Hope) Fagler; sister-in- law, Jana Fagler Nunn; and companion, Rick Bywater. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Lung Asso ciation or PulmonaryFi- brosis.org. Chapman Funer al Home of Swains boro was in charge of arrangements. A Great Place For Seniors! Swainsboro Presbyterian Apartments 310 Mary Ann Street • Swainsboro, Georgia •Low rents that include basic utilities •1 & 2 bedroom apartments •Full kitchens & baths •Central A/C & heat •Must be 62 478-237-3511 £ Merrill welcomes Mike Thompson to Manack, Campbell & Associates as our newest financial advisor. 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