Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8A-J
MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010
Obituaries
Bessie Accetturi
HULL - Bessie Evelyn
Geeter Accetturi, 84, died
Thursday, February 25, 2010, at
Family Life Enrichment Center
in High Shoals.
She was the daughter of
the late William and Queenie
Geeter. Mrs. Accetturi was pre
ceded in death by her husband,
Louis Accetturi.
Survivors include a daugh
ter and son-in-law, Glenda and
Andy Weaver, Hull; grand
daughter, Melanie Tumblin,
Hull; great-granddaughter,
Ashley Tumblin, Hull; brother,
Henry Lee Geeter, Arnoldsville;
and a number of nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services were held
Monday, March 1, in the chapel
of Bridges Funeral Home with
the Rev. Jonathan Tolbert offi
ciating. Burial was in Evergreen
Memorial Park.
Bridges Funeral Home,
Athens, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(19076)
Judy Brooks
NICHOLSON - Judy O.
Davis Brooks, 63, died Saturday,
February 27, 2010, at Emory
University Hospital.
Born in Clarksburg, W.
Va., she was the daughter of
the late Don L. and Ruby E.
Hawkinsberry Davis. She was a
member of Cartersville Church
of God and was a personal
care provider. Mrs. Brooks was
preceded in death by brothers,
Carson, Gary and Bob Davis;
sisters, Agnes Martin and Ellen
Jarvis; and a special friend,
Simone Waeger.
Survivors include her
husband, Donald Brooks,
Nicholson; daughter and son-
in-law, Penny and Richard
Earnest, Clarksburg, W. Va.;
sons and daughters-in-law,
Reno Moats and Kim Hayes,
Nicholson, Donnie and Leslie
Brooks, Nicholson, Scott and
Emily Brooks, St. Louis Mo.;
brother, Jack Davis, Clarksburg,
W. Va.; grandchildren, Jonathan
and Shane Earnest, Chuck and
Tana Matheny, Bailey, Peyton
and Mattie Brooks; great-grand
children, Stacia and Camden
Matheny; and special friend,
Hattie Barrett.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, March 2, from Center
Baptist Church with the Rev.
Gary Prater officiating. Burial
was at the Brooks Family
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(622)
Julius Crocker
Julius Lewis Crocker, 85,
beloved husband, father, grand
father and great-grandfather,
died Monday, February 22,
2010.
Born on June 25, 1924, in
Spartanburg, S.C., he was the
son of the late Lewis and Mary
Etolia Craig Crocker. He was a
graduate of Mars Hill Jr. College
and Clemson University, class
of 1950. He served the commu
nity around as Commissioner
of Columbia Zoological
Park/Riverbank, member of
Toastmasters International,
serves as Deacon for North
Trenholm Baptist
Church and was
a lifetime mem
ber of the State
Agriculture and
Mechanical Society of South
Carolina. He worked for Purina,
IDS and the Richland County
Building/Planning/Zoning
Department before retiring as
a Zoning Consultant. However,
the focus of his life and largest
source of interest and enjoy
ment was always his family and
their activities.
Survivors include his wife
of 57 years, Billie C. Crocker,
Jefferson; children, Lynne C.
Pharris, Norcross, Bruce W.
Crocker, Jefferson, David L.
Crocker, Lexington, S.C.; broth
er, Forrest J. Crocker; grandchil
dren, Jessica A. Peterson, Jesse
C. Woodward IV, Chandler L.
Crocker, Chelsea N. Crocker,
C. McKenzie Crocker, Dylan
R. Crocker and Forrest L.
Crocker; great-grandchildren,
Alex J. Woodward and Joshua
C. Woodward.
Memorial services were held
Wednesday, February 24, in the
First Baptist Church of Winder.
A second memorial service was
held Friday, February 26, in the
First Baptist Church in Fountain
Inn, S.C. The family plans for
burial in Arlington National
Cemetery to honor his life's
military service during World
War II,
He was a kind and gentle
man who never met a stranger.
He never saw a child that he did
not instantly love. The number
of people whose life that he
touched are immeasurable. As a
young man, he served God and
country with honor and distinc
tion. We shall miss him, we
shall celebrate his life and in
a time honored tradition, wish
him fair winds and following
seas!
Memorials may be made to
Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce,
200 Bolton Dr., Commerce, GA
30529.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Loyd Cook
HOSCHTON - Loyd
Thurman Cook, 67, died Sunday,
February 28, 2010, at Athens
Regional Medical Center.
Born in White County, he was
the son of the late Clinton and
Nellie Dalton Cook. He was
retired from Wayne Farms.
Survivors include his wife,
Lee Anne Cox Cook, Hoschton;
son, Danny Cook, Nicholson;
daughter, Kimberlee Garcia,
Hoschton; sisters, Doris Roach,
Commerce, and Barbara Stewart,
Cornelia; three grandchildren;
and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held
Tuesday, March 2, from the
chapel of Little-Ward Funeral
Home with the Rev. Calvin
Gooch officiating.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(622)
‘Ronnie’ Cook
PENDERGRASS - Ronald
Herman "Ronnie” Cook, 56,
died Sunday, February 28,
2010.
Born on March 25, 1953, in
Hall County,
he was the
son of the
late Ted and
Virginia
Payne Cook.
He was
employed
by Morris-
McClure
Distribution,
was a mem
ber of the Mountain Creek
Baptist Church and was an avid,
#1, most optimistic Bulldog
fan.
Survivors include sisters
and brothers-in-law, Debbie
and David Jackson, Jackie and
James Buffington; nephews,
Kirk Jackson, Tom Buffington;
and a niece, Kathy Buffington,
all of Pendergrass.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, March 3, in the
Mountain Creek Baptist Church
with the Rev. James McNeal
officiating. Burial was in the
Mt. Creek Baptist Church
Cemetery. Honored as pallbear
ers were Kirk Jackson, Tom
Buffington, Mike Cook, Joe
Cook and Donald Cooper.
Memorials may be made to the
Mountain Creek Baptist Church
Building Fund, 1116 Mountain
Creek Rd., Pendergrass, GA
30567.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(S75)
Betty Ann Cronic
WINDER - Betty Ann Cronic,
76, died Sunday, February 28,
2010.
A native of Hall County,
she was the daughter of the
late Clarence and Ethel Martin
Tomlin. She was preceded in
death by her husband, Bobby
R. Cronic; and siblings Abbey
Kemp and Billy Joe Tomlin.
She was a member of Center
Union Baptist Church.
Survivors include children,
Joey Cronic, Cleveland, Bobbie
Jean Cronic and Marty S. Mote,
both of Winder, and Terry Troy
Cronic, Hoschton; nine grand
children; 11 great-grandchil
dren; and a brother, Talmadge
"Tip” Tomlin, Braselton.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, March 3, from the
Chapel of Carter Funeral Home,
with the Revs. W. A. Jenkins,
Truman Humphries and Everest
Carlisle officiating. Burial was
in the New Liberty United
Methodist Church Cemetery.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder,
was in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010
(19080)
‘Granny Stamps’ Dean
COMER - Addie Mae
"Granny Stamps” Dean, 96,
died Wednesday, February 24,
2010, at the Cobb Health Care
Center in Comer.
Born in Madison County on
August 27, 1913, she was the
daughter of the late William
Lloyd and Mary Lula Moon
Smith. She was a former day
care owner and operator and was
a member of the Danielsville
Baptist Church. Mrs. Dean
was preceded in death by her
husband, Robert Dean; a son,
James Howard Stamps; stepson,
Carlos Dean; four stepgrand-
children; brother, William
Mitchell Smith; and a sister,
Mattie Sue Hinsley.
Survivors include a son, Alvin
Stamps, Danielsville; stepson,
Willie Paul Dean, Danielsville;
stepdaughters, Sara Nitkowski,
Heathrow, Fla. and Sylvia Dean,
Lavonia; four grandchildren;
seven great-grandchildren; four
step-grandchildren; and five
step-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were
held Friday, February 26, at
the Meadow Baptist Church
Cemetery with the Rev. Ben
Smith officiating.
PruittFuneral Home, Royston,
was in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(J60)
Larry Dowdy
JEFFERSON - Larry
Thomas
Dowdy,
60, died
S aturday,
February 20,
2010.
Survivors
include his
wife, Sheila
Dowdy;
sons, Jason
Pittman,
Travis Keith, Dwight Bush,
Malcom Dowdy; daughters,
Sheprentice Dowdy, Xernona
Berry, Deaysha Dowdy; bother,
John Dowdy; sisters, Josephine
Harris, Janice Dowdy; seven
grandchildren; one godson; and
other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, February 27, from the
Summer Hill Baptist Church
in Jefferson. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Janet Galloway
MAYSVILLE - Janet Marie
Galloway, 50, died Wednesday,
February 24, 2010, at Northeast
Georgia Medical Center in
Gainesville.
She was born in Fulton
County, the daughter of Jeanette
Burdette Amos of Maysville and
the late Mark Johnson. She was a
member of Grove Level Baptist
Church and was the director
of the Banks County Senior
Citizens Center. Mrs. Galloway
was preceded in death by her
husband, Henry Galloway.
Survivors in addition to her
mother include sons, Steve
Chapman and Robert Chapman,
both of Maysville; a sister,
Tammy Banks, Commerce; six
grandchildren; two nieces; and
two nephews.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, February 27, at Grove
Level Baptist Church with the
Revs. Jeff Appling and John
Wood officiating. Burial was in
Banks Memorial Gardens.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(622)
Ray Gearing
NICHOLSON - Ray
Benjamin Gearing, 64, died
Saturday, February 27, 2010, at
his residence.
Born in Horry County, S.C.,
he was the son of the late F. and
Annie Scarborough Gearing. He
owned his own stump grinding
business.
Survivors include his wife,
Shirley Duncan Gearing,
Nicholson; stepson, James Davis,
Lexington; stepdaughters, Tracy
Mallory, Eastville, and Shelia
Underwood, Decatur.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, March 2, from the
chapel of Little-Ward Funeral
Home with the Rev. Dennis
Kesler officiating. Burial was
at the Center United Methodist
Church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(622)
Harold Gillispie
HULL - Harold Lee Gillispie,
65, died Sunday, February 28,
2010, at his residence from a
massive heart attack.
His death occurred exactly as
his father’s, on the same date 20
years later. He coached with the
Madison County recreational
department and was employed
with the University of Georgia
for a number of years.
Survivors include his wife
Carol Gillispie; and sons, James
Gillispie and Brian Gillispie;
and brothers, Frank and Howard
Gillispie.
The family will receive
friends at the funeral home
Thursday, March 4, from 12:30
to 2 p.m. with a memorial ser
vice to follow at 2 p.m. His
often expressed wish for a cre
mation will be honored.
Lord & Stephens Funeral
Home, Madison Chapel,
Danielsville, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Dean Green
Parents, Mozelle P. Green
and Norman
B. Green Sr.
announce
the sudden
and tragic
death of
their son,
Joseph
Dean Green
on Friday,
February 5,
2010.
Survivors include a sis
ter, Norma Green; brothers,
Norman B. Green Jr., Bryan
and Kevin Contardi, and their
families. Other relatives include
Ms. Clara Green; Mrs. Roberta
Green Sims; Quenton, Lora and
Phil Pittman and their families.
He graduated from Lakeside
High School as a state cham
pion football player and then
attended Samford University
graduating with a Bachelor's
of Science in Pharmacy. There
he was Warden of Pi Kappa Phi
Fraternity and President of the
Interfraternity Council. He has
been a faithful and long-term
member of First Baptist Church
of Atlanta for about 35 years
with recent involvement in some
of their mission projects. He has
also given financial support to
two of his favorite local min
istries: the Atlanta Pregnancy
Resource Center, Tucker and
Eagle Ranch in Chestnut
Mountain. Professionally, Dean
served as a leading Pharmacy
Manager with several national
retail companies working in the
Northlake and Toco Hills areas.
Dean was also pursuing his pas
sion as a Real Estate Investor
and Residential Builder.
A memorial service was held
Friday, February 26, in the cha
pel of the First Baptist Church of
Atlanta. Dean's family, friends,
and associates were all welcome
to attend.
A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur,
was in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Otis
LENOIR,
Greene, 78,
died Friday,
February
26, 2010,
at Catawba
Valley
Medical
Center.
Born in
Caldwell
County he
was the son
of the late W.B. and Wilma
Moore Greene. Mr. Greene was
preceded in death by a broth
er, Forrest Greene. He was a
division manager for Blue Bell
Inc., where he retired after 35
years of service, and was also a
member of Lower Creek Baptist
Church.
Survivors include is loving
wife of 58 years, Nell McCall
Greene; daughters and son-in-
law, Sandy and Keith Massey and
Lynn Greene , all of Commerce,
brothers, Banks Greene and
Roger Greene, both of Lenoir,
N.C.; a sister, Lorraine Woods,
Collettsville; grandchildren,
Josh Massey and wife Molly,
Brandy Martin and husband
Mark, Kyle Massey and wife
Liz, Heather Jarrett and hus
band Josh, Taylor Massey and
Zack Ingram; great-grandchil
dren, Channing Martin, Tyler
Jarrett, Landry Kate Martin,
Blakely Massey, Israel Jarrett,
Mackenzie Massey, and Cooper
Massey.
Funeral services were held
Monday, March 1, at Lower
Creek Baptist Church with
Pastor Todd Braswell officiat
ing. Burial was at Blue Ridge
Memorial Park. Serving as pall
bearers were Josh Massey, Kyle
Massey, Taylor Massey, Zack
Ingram, Josh Jarrett and Mark
Martin. Honorary pallbearers
were Don Burchett and Ray
Eller.
Memorials may be made to
the American Cancer Society
at 500 East Morehead St., Suite
211, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Pendry's Funeral Home,
Lenoir, N.C., was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
‘Mildred’Griffith
WINDER - Willie “Mildred”
Watson Griffith, 88, died Friday,
February 26, 2010.
She was the daughter of the
late Lloyd “Bluehammer” and
Ruth Allen Watson. Mrs. Griffith
was preceded in death by her
husband, George "GB” Griffith;
brother, Harold Watson; son-
in-law, Kenneth Williams; and
daughter-in-law, Betty Griffith.
A homemaker, Mrs. Griffith was
a member of Galilee Christian
Church in Jackson County.
Survivors include daugh
ter, Brenda Williams, Winder;
son, George Griffith, Winder;
grandchildren, Melode and
Kevin Rollison, Carla and
Robert Allen, Michael and
Meagan Griffith, Amy and Tim
Johnson, Amanda Peppers, and
Lacy and Randall Thomason;
great-grandchildren, Joshua
and Amber Headrick, Lauren
Williams, MG Griffith, Madison
Griffith, Gracie Griffith, Kassi
Jenkins, Dawson Johnson and
Caden Thomason; and great-
great-grandson, Elijah Ryan.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, February 28, from
the Chapel of Carter Funeral
Home, with the Rev. Johnny
Wright officiating. Burial was
in Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder,
was in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(19080)
Noah Harrison
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -
Infant Noah Jeremiah Harrison,
died Wednesday, February 17,
2010.
He was the son of Willie F.
"Will" Harrison Jr. and Brandi
Harrison of Birmingham, Ala.
Survivors in addition to
his parents include a brother,
Willie F. “Tra” Harrison III,
Birmingham, Ala.; grandpar
ents, Willie Floyd Sr. and Glenda
Harrison, Maysville, and Marty
Dunham Sr. and Janet Dunham,
Brunswick; great-grandparents,
Herman and Ruby Johnson,
Jefferson, and Mary Louise
Carter, Brunswick; and other
relatives and friends.
Graveside services were
held Sunday, February 21, at
Hurricane Grove Baptist Church
Cemetery in Commerce.
Gardenview Funeral Chapel,
Athens, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Eric Hesselgrave
HOMER - Eric Brandon
Hesselgrave, 25, died
Wednesday, February 24, 2010,
at his residence following a sud
den illness.
Born on May 21, 1984, he
was the son of Richard Allen
and Pamela Allen Hasselgrave
of Homer. Mr. Hasselgrave was
preceded in death by his grand
mother, Sarah Allen.
Eric was our son and brother.
He was uncle to one, nephew to
many. But he was more friend
and companion than anything
to us. He amazed us with his
numerous and various passions
but understanding him fully
evaded us. He could master
anything he set his mind to
and then discard it so easily for
the next challenge. It was as if
the mastery of a thing was too
great a burden to bring along.
Compassionate and giving, his
Homer neighbors called on
him frequently for “handyman”
work and his company. Of late,
he was a master craftsman at
landscaping. Just yesterday he
was that passionate computer
gaming wizard whose team
mates were from all over the
world. Just yesterday he amazed
us jumping dirt trails and now
his bikes are repaired no more.
He never stayed with something
long. What drove him is a mys
tery to us. Now his jar of clay
is broken. The treasure it con
tained is now fully redeemed.
He goes where we cannot fol
low. We peer through a dark
glass trying to see his passing
but he is more blurred now. His
insatiable inquisitiveness, that
excelling nature and appetite for
the "next challenge” can only
linger in memory. His searching
is ended. No more mysteries to
uncover. Nothing of earth left
him to master. There are no
more challenges. Now he sees
“face to face” the One Who
holds all the answers, where the
mystery is solved, whose very
presence is challenge enough
for Eric's complex soul.
Survivors in addition to his par
ents include a brother, Gregory
Aaron Hasselgrave; grand
parents, Richard and Shirley
Hasselgrave, Murrayville.
Funeral services will be held
Saturday, March 6, at 11 a.m.,
from the chapel of Memorial
Park Funeral Home with the
Rev. John Boyd officiating. The
family will receive friends at the
funeral home Friday, March 5,
from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorial Park Funeral
Home, Gainesville, is in charge
of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
(19075-54.95)
Col. Thomas
H. Holbrook
Col. Thomas H. Holbrook,
USAF (Ret.) died on Saturday,
February 13, 2010 at 7:40 p.m.
of age-related causes. He was
93.
Tom was born on March 6,
1916 in Commerce. As a lad,
he worked on the family farm
located just out of town. He
interrupted his college educa
tion at the University of Georgia
to join the US Army Air Corps
in 1938, almost a decade before
it became the US Air Force.
Tom met his wife, Vivian
Smith of Portland, Ore., while
stationed at Wheeler Field in
Hawaii in 1940.
They courted
for a year and
returned to the
States shortly
before the Pearl Harbor attack,
and were married on January 3,
1942. Tom trained as a fighter
pilot and moved to bombers in
the lead-up to WWII. During the
War he was assigned to the 8th
Air Force’s 95th Bomb Group,
based in Horham, England. He
planned and provided air sup
port for the D-day invasion and
led the 95th in the Warsaw air
drop. In all, he flew 29 missions
with 245 hours of combat flight
time. Shortly after the War, he
returned home to complete his
BA in Business at the University
of Georgia. He returned to the
military and served a total of
31 years in the Air Force. Some
of his assignments included the
Pentagon, SHAPE Headquarters
in Paris, Andrews AFB, MD and
Clark AFB in the Philippines,
wrapping up at Barksdale AFB
LA. Among many medals Tom
was awarded over his three
decades of service, those that
meant the most to him were the
Distinguished Flying Cross and
Legion of Merit, both awarded
twice, the Meritorious Service
Unit Insignia, and the Polish
Cross of Valor. Upon retirement,
he moved back to his hometown
area and ran a sporting goods
store in Athens. After several
years he sold the business to
concentrate on his favorite pas
times, golfing and gardening.
He and Vivian relocated to San
Antonio in the autumn of 1988,
where they lived many happy
years together. His wife, Vivian
preceded him in death in July
2001.
Survivors include three
children, Nancy Megley,
Philadelphia, Pa., Tom
Holbrook, Jr., Smyrna, and
Larry Holbrook, Eugene, Ore.;
a nephew, Billy White, Chino
Valley, Ariz.; and niece, Jean
Campbell, St. Peters, Mo.
Memorial services will be
held Thursday, March 4, at 10
a.m., at High Flight Chapel at
Air Force Village II, 5100 John
D. Ryan Blvd., San Antonio, TX
78245. An inurnment service
will be held Friday, March 5,
at 10 a.m. at Fort Sam Houston
National Cemetery with full
military honors, 1520 Harry
Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio,
TX 78209, with Chaplain Bill
Jacobs officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memo
rial contributions may be made
to the AFV Widows in Need
Endowment, 5100 John D Ryan
Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78245,
Alzheimer's Disease Research,
22512 Gateway Center Dr.,
Clarksburg, MD 20871 or the
Alzheimer's Association, 7400
Louis Pasteur Suite # 200 San
Antonio, TX 78229.
Porter Loring Mortuary, San
Antonio, Texas, 210-227-8221
is in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
March 3, 2010.
Buckle Up Georgia!
It's a Law We
Can Live With.
continued on following page
Greene
N.C. - Otis H.