Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10 A
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009
Obituary
T.R. Lewis
T.R. Lewis, 68, of
Hoschton, died Wednesday,
December 31, 2008, in
Augusta.
Born in Butts County, he
had lived in Hoschton for
a number of years. He was
the son of the late Aaron
and Myrtle Lewis and was
preceded in death by a sister,
Agnes Baxter.
Survivors include chil
dren, Michael and Sarah
Lewis, Madisonville, Tenn.,
Marshelle and Eddie Savage,
Neshell and Steve Buice, all
of Dawsonville, Thomas
Lewis, Hoschton; sister,
Elizabeth Stapler, Cumming;
brothers, J.W. Lewis and
Macarthur Lewis, both of
Cumming, Ronald Lewis,
Jackson, Richard Lewis,
Sugar Hill; eight grandchil
dren; three great-grandchil
dren; and a number of other
relatives.
Funeral services were held
Monday, January 5, in the
chapel of Bearden Funeral
Home with the Rev. Wayne
Mulligan officiating. Burial
was in the Old Big Creek
cemetery.
Bearden Funeral Home,
Dawsonville, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Cody Minish
Cody James Minish, 41, a
resident of Jackson County,
died Friday, January 2,
2009.
Memorial services will
be held Friday, January
9, at 1 p.m., at the First
United Methodist Church in
Commerce.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Ruth Smith
Ruth Smith, 81, of
Maysville, died Saturday,
January 3, 2009, at Hill
Haven Nursing Facility.
She was a homemaker and
was Baptist. Mrs. Smith was
preceded in death by her
husband, J.W. Smith.
Survivors include a sis
ter, Betty Kirkpatrick,
Commerce; brothers. Pars G.
Gravley, Woodstock, John
Gravley, Mississippi, George
Bunch and Jim Bunch, both
of Marietta; and a host of
nieces, nephews, cousins
and friends.
Funeral services were held
Monday, January 5, at the
Sosebee Memorial Chapel
with the Rev. Racheo Lacey
officiating. Burial was in
Cherokee Memorial Park.
Sosebee Funeral Home,
Canton, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Norris Mack
Norris Mack, 59, of
Statham, died Thursday,
December 25, 2008.
Born in Barrow County, he
was the son of Lenora Brown
Mack of Statham and the late
Randolph Mack. He was a
farmer and a retired machine
technician. He was a member
of the Greater Barbers Creek
Missionary Baptist Church,
where he served faithfully as
a deacon.
Survivors in addition to his
mother, include his loving
wife, Verice “Vera” Collins
Mack, Statham; a daugh
ter and son-in-law, Nedra
and Harrison Gresham,
Grovetown; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Rico and Nathalie
Mack, Athens, Carlo and Kim
Mack, Buford, Fernando and
Mary Mack, Winder; sisters,
Efferie Bradley, Ohio, Bertha
Mae Batton, Decatur, Gertie
Sims, Winder, Jeanette
Green, Carolyn Thomas
and Juanita Mack, all of
Statham, Patricia Coleman,
South Carolina; brothers,
Lamar Mack, Uranius Mack,
James Mack, all of Statham,
Guestus Mack, Atlanta,
Walter Mack, Winder;
adopted in love as children,
Lambert J. Tory and Lionel
Tory, both of Jefferson; and
10 grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday, December
30, at The Greater Barber
Creek Missionary Baptist
Church with the Rev.
Leonard Summerour offici
ating. Burial was in Barrow
Memorial Gardens in
Winder.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Diane Matthews
Diane Matthews, 66, of
Nicholson, died Thursday,
January 1, 2009, at her resi
dence.
Born in Jackson County,
she was the daughter of
the late Raymond and Evie
Campbell Stewart. She was
a homemaker and was pre
ceded in death by a son,
David Matthews.
Survivors include her hus
band, John R. Matthews,
Nicholson; a daughter and
son-in-law, Lisa and Danny
Smith, Gainesville; sons and
daughters-in-law, James and
Angel Matthews, Nicholson,
and Joey and Angela
Matthews, Athens; sis
ter, Linda Lee, Commerce;
brothers, Gary Stewart,
Flowery Branch, Bobby
Stewart, Hoschton, Merlin
Stewart, Commerce, Ronny
Stewart, Atlanta; and seven
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Saturday in the chapel of Ivie
Funeral Home. Burial was in
the Walnut Fork Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Roy Maxwell
Roy Maxwell, 97, of
Commerce, died Wednesday,
December 31, 2008, at his
residence.
Mr. Maxwell was born in
Madison County to the late,
James Allen
and Lou Cora
Streetman ~~
Maxwell. He
was a member of Blacks
Creek Baptist Church and
was a United States Army
Veteran of World War II.
Mr. Maxwell was preceded
in death by his wife, Annie
Mae Lord Maxwell.
Survivors include a sister,
RebaBarrettofFlorence,S.C.;
nieces and nephews, Glenda
Ernest and Joyce Kellar,
both of Toccoa, Carolyn
Hudson, Milton, N.C.,
Debbie Barrett, Florence,
S.C., Doyle Maxwell,
Atlanta, Royce Maxwell and
Donald Maxwell, both of
Thomasville, N.C.; a num
ber of great-nieces and neph
ews; step-daughter, Robin
Hawkins, Colbert; caregiv
ers, Tim and Cindy Golden,
Commerce; and close
friend, William Cromer,
Commerce.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, January 3, 2009,
at the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with the
Revs. Bill Carpenter and Lee
Hunter officiating. Interment
was in Grey Hill Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Joyce Bullock
Joyce Audrey Bullock, 75,
of Braselton, died Friday,
January 2, 2009, following
an extended illness.
She was born on February
8, 1933, in Murphy, N.C.,
and had lived most of her
life in Hall County. She
was the daughter of the late
James and Faye Dockery
and was retired from AT&T
with 39 years of service. She
attended Warhill Christian
Fellowship in Dawsonville.
She was a loving wife,
mother and grandmother and
was a very kind and giving
person who will be missed
by many, loved ones stated.
Mrs. Bullock was preceded
in death by her husband,
Stanley Bullock; brothers,
Pearlie Dockery and James
Hobert Dockery; and a sister,
Dorothy Waters.
Survivors include a daugh
ter, Kelly Bullock-Parden,
Braselton; grandson, Dylan
Parden, Braselton; and sev
eral nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, January 4, in the
chapel of Memorial Park
Funeral Home with the Revs.
Don Allen and Gary Wilson
officiating. Burial was in
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions
may be made to Northeast
Georgia Hospice, 743 Spring
St., Gainesville, Ga. 30501-
9841, or Eagle Ranch, 5500
Union Church Rd., Flowery
Branch, Ga. 30542.
Memorial Park Funeral
Home, Gainesville, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Marvin Dispain
Marvin Hoyt Dispain, 61,
of Braselton, died Friday,
January 2, 2009.
Born in Duluth, he was
the son of Hoyt William
and Thelma Louise Wehunt
Dispain of Duluth. He was a
member of Concord Baptist
Church in
Alpharetta
and was a
veteran of the
United States
Army.
Survivors
in addition
to his parents, include his
wife, Mary Green Dispain,
Braselton; daughters,
Marvene Dispain Kuczka,
Marsha Dispain Strickland,
both of Braselton; sisters,
Linda Williams, Duluth,
Debra Wilson, Buford, and
Patricia Patterson, Toccoa;
brother, Michael Dispain,
Buford; grandchildren, Tori
and Grant Strickland; and
several nieces, nephews and
sons-in-law.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, January 4, in the cha
pel of Evans Funeral Home
with the Revs. Raymond
Wilson and Michael Purdue
officiating. Burial was in
Evans Memory Gardens in
Jefferson.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Jewell J\ Varner
Reba Jewell Jones Varner,
81, of Commerce, died
Friday, January 2, 2009, at
Athens Regional Medical
Center in Athens.
Born in Banks County, she
was the daughter of the late
Joseph Dayton and Fannie
Power Jones. She was a
member of the Bold Spring
United Methodist Church.
She was a homemaker and
was also employed as a Wal-
Mart Associate. Mrs. Varner
was preceded in death by her
husband, W.T. Varner.
Survivors include sons and
daughters-in-law, Stan and
Claudine Varner, and Dan
and Alicia Varner, all of
Commerce, Doug and Renee
Varner, Carnesville; daugh
ters and son-in-law, Kathy
Varner, Duluth, Sharon and
Dave Tonge, Waycross;
sisters and brother-in-law,
Thelma Varner, Carnesville,
Ruth Cain, Savannah,
Jane and Aubrey Varner,
Fayetteville; brother-in-law
and wife, Roy and Charlene
Varner, Covington; sister-in-
law and husband, Frances
and Bruce Armstrong, Hull;
14 grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Monday, January 5,
at the Bold Spring United
Methodist Church with the
Rev. George Wright officiat
ing. Interment was in the
church cemetery.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Bold
Spring United Methodist
Church Cemetery Fund,
330 Bold Spring Road,
Carnesville, GA 30521.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Howard
Johnson
Howard A. Johnson, 74,
of Elberton, died Sunday,
January 4, 2009.
He was the son of the late
James B. and Mauzee Belk
Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was the
father of Eddie B. Johnson
of Commerce.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 6, in the
chapel of Lord & Stephens
Funeral Home with the Revs.
Dennis R. Campbell and G.
Mark Palmer officiating.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Daniel Dills
Daniel Dills, 35, of
Arcade, died Friday, January
2, 2009.
Born in Commerce, he
was an insulation installer
with Porter
Insulation
Company.
Survivors
include his
companion,
Pamela Bray
Gill, Jefferson;
daughter, Christina Griffith,
Statham; mother and stepfa
ther, Connie and Steve Booth,
Danielsville; father and step
mother, Jerry and Dottie
Dills, Jefferson; brothers,
Ricky Dills, Bethlehem, and
Jeremiah Dills, Jefferson;
sisters, Christy Thurmond,
Arcade, and Lori Fields,
Statham; and many nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, January 7, in
the chapel of Evans Funeral
Home with the Revs. David
Carey and David Staton
officiating. Burial was in
Evans Memory Gardens
in Jefferson. Pallbearers
were Chase Brown, Jeremy
Aaron, Todd Foster, John
Dills, Mike Thurmond and
Anthony Thurmond. Jodie
Fields served as honorary
pallbearer.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Paid obit
Richard
Eugene Keyes
Richard Eugene Keyes, 82,
of Jefferson, Georgia, passed
away on December 25, 2008,
at Northeast Georgia Medical
Center from complications
following sur
gery.
Mr. Keyes,
or “Papa”
as his fam
ily affection
ately knew
him, was born
on March 19, 1926, in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Upon his high school gradu
ation in 1943 he proudly
joined the United States
Navy. As a brave member of
the crew of the USS LSM-
381, Mr. Keyes served in
the Asiatic-Pacific campaign
during World War II in the
Philippines and Okinawa.
As a civilian, he attended
the Arlington Academy of
Music and graduated in
1951. Mr. Keyes shared his
love of music in all aspects
of his life: by day, he worked
for Decca Records and MCA
Records over a 25 year span,
and by night he delighted in
playing the drums in Boston
area nightclubs. This love of
music lead him to meet his
soul mate, Elizabeth Jones,
who caught his eye with her
innate rhythm and grace dur
ing one of his performances.
Together, they raised nine
children over the span of
their marriage. His wife pre
ceded him in death in 1975
following a courageous bat
tle with cancer. He loved her
for the rest of his life, never
remarrying.
Upon retirement from the
music business, Mr. Keyes
worked for 7 years with Kmart
Corporation until moving to
Stone Mountain, Georgia
to live with his daugh
ter, Michelle, son-in-law
William, and granddaugh
ters Jessica and Jennifer.
Richard kept active working
as a fireman for the Stone
Mountain Park Railroad.
After another 7 years of
employment, he decided to
officially retire and focus on
the hobbies he loved: camp
ing at the beautiful state
parks of Georgia, attending
NASCAR races with his
children, and spending time
with his grandchildren and
grand pets. He lived out his
final years with his loving
daughter Michelle Keyes
Elam and beloved son-in-
law William Elam after mov
ing with them to Jefferson,
Georgia. Mr. Keyes is sur
vived by his children and
their spouses: David Keyes,
Donna Keyes Desrosiers and
Wayne Desrosiers, Roderick
Keyes, Michelle Keyes Elam
and William Elam, Richard
Keyes, Robert Keyes and
Terri Knight, Daniel Keyes,
James Keyes and April
Meadows Keyes, andMichael
Keyes; his grandchildren
and their spouses Jessica
Elam Moffett and Gregory
Moffett, Jennifer Elam and
Frank Hantke, Matthew
Keyes, Ryan Keyes, Justin
Keyes, Jaime Lynn Keyes,
and Joseph Keyes; and his
first great-grandchild, Hailey
Elizabeth Moffett. Evans
Funeral Home in Jefferson,
Georgia provided crema
tion services. Per his wishes,
his ashes will be returned
to Boston, MA to be buried
next to his beloved wife.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Paid obit
Richard
Joseph Keyes
Richard Joseph Keyes, 48,
of Stone Mountain, passed
away on January 5, 2009.
Born on August 27, 1960,
in Boston, Mass., he was
the son of the late Richard
Eugene and Elizabeth Jones
Keyes. He was a mainte
nance engineer for a video
display company.
Survivors include sisters
and brothers, Michelle Elam,
Jefferson, Donna Keyes-
Desrosiers, Bellingham,
Mass., James Keyes,
Jefferson, Robert Keyes,
Nashville, Tenn., Rod Keyes,
Jefferson, Michael Keyes,
David Ray Keyes and Daniel
Edward Keyes; longtime
girlfriend, Nina Glade, Stone
Mountain.
A memorial service will be
held on Thursday, January 8,
at 1 p.m. at the residence.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Mike’Ledford
James Michael “Mike”
Ledford, 56, of Jefferson,
died Tuesday, January 6,
2009.
Born in Clarke County,
he was the son of the late
John Otis and Claudine
Rogers Ledford. He was a
Technician with Jefferson
Heating and Air Company
and was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife,
Elaine Shumake Ledford,
Jefferson; daughters and
son-in-law, Lisa Ledford
and Chris Begina, Jefferson,
and Melisa Ledford Levy,
Atlanta; sister and brother-
in-law, Judy Ledford and
John Jackson, Maysville;
brother and sister-in-law,
Jerry and Nancy Ledford,
Commerce; grandchildren,
Abby and Blake Begina; and
several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be
held Thursday, January 8,
at 11 a.m., in the chapel of
Evans Funeral Home with
the Revs. Lee Hunter and Joe
Hardy officiating. Burial will
be in Evans Memory Gardens
in Jefferson. Pallbearers
will be Ricky Brown, Jeff
Shumake, Troy Shumake,
Lee Shumake, Tommy
Pruitt and Scotty Chatham.
Honorary pallbearers will
be Dewitt Johnson and Tim
Fowler. The family will
receive friends Wednesday,
January 7, from 2 to 4 p.m.
and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral
home.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7, 2009.
Jean Hix
Jean Vaughn Hix,
86, of Commerce, died
Monday, January 5, 2009,
at BJC Nursing Home in
Commerce.
Born in Banks County,
she was the daughter of the
late David and Bertha Byrd
Vaughn and was a home
maker. Mrs. Hix was the
wife of the late Donald Hix.
Survivors include a num
ber of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be
held Thursday, January 8, at
11 a.m., in the chapel of Ivie
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Carlton Allen officiating.
Burial will be in the Grey
Hill Cemetery. The family
will receive friends at the
funeral home Wednesday
from 6 to 8 p.m.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Evelyn Purgason
Evelyn Waldrip Purgason,
72, of Commerce, died
Tuesday, January 6, 2009, at
BJC Hospital in Commerce.
Born in Gwinnett County,
she was the daughter of the
late Minor and Annie Bell
Mayfield Waldrip.
Mrs. Purgason was preced
ed in death by
her husband,
Jesse William
Purgason; a
daughter, Tina
Purgason; five
brothers; and
two sisters.
Survivors include chil
dren, Jesse Purgason,
Commerce, and Kathy
Purgason, Franklin; broth
ers, James Waldrip, Lilburn,
and Nathaniel Waldrip,
Lawrenceville; grandchil
dren, Jason Purgason and
Christina Purgason; great
grandchildren, Ansley
Purgason, Kayli Purgason,
Dalton Purgason, Logan
Purgason and Hunter
Purgason; and nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services will be
held Friday, January 9, at 11
a.m., in the chapel of Ivie
Funeral Home with the Revs.
Howard Spruil and Perry
Smith officiating. Burial will
be at 3 p.m. at the Unity
Baptist Church Cemetery in
Roosterville, Ga., in Heard
County. The family will
receive friends at the funeral
home Thursday, January 8,
from 6 to 9 p.m.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Jackson Herald, January 7 2009.
Obits Continued on Page 11A