Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010
MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS
PAGE 11A-J
Obituaries
James Acrey
CORNELIA - James
Robert Acrey, 78, died
Wednesday, April 28, 2010.
Born in Banks County on
November 5, 1931, he was
the son of the late Kelsey
John David and Cora Gailey
Acrey. Mr. Acrey was pre
ceded in death by a sister,
Minnie Lee Aikens; and
brother, Everett “Buck”
Acrey. He was
a member of
B.C. Grant
Baptist Church
where he served as a deacon,
trustee, choir director and
Sunday School Teacher. He
was a life member of Grant
Reeves V.F.W. Post # 7720,
and was a veteran having
served in the United States
Army during the Korean
Conflict. He was a retired
maintenance supervisor
with Baycor Manufacturing
Company and was formerly
employed with Chicopee
Manufacturing with 25
years of service. He was
best known for his love of
farming, gardening and rais
ing cattle.
Survivors include his
wife, Louise Gerrin Acrey,
Cornelia; daughter and son-
in-law, Nancy and Ronnie
Crocker, Alto; son, Jimmy
Acrey, Cornelia; brother,
Richard Acrey, Gainesville;
grandchildren and spouses,
Christy and Trent Goss,
Alto, and Angela and
George Catchings, Decatur;
and great-grandchildren, Eli
and Sarah Grace Goss.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, May 1, at B.C.
Grant Baptist Church with
the Revs. Doyal Conley and
Austin Kelley officiating.
Burial was in the V.F.W.
Memorial Park with Pastor
James Franklin officiating at
the graveside.
Memorials may be made
to a charity of one’s choice.
Whitfield Funeral Home,
South Chapel, Baldwin, was
in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(499)
Jimmy Atkinson
ROYSTON - Jimmy
Marion Atkinson, 70, died
Monday, May 3, 2010, at
the Cobb Memorial Hospital
in Royston.
Born in Franklin County
on June 21, 1939, he was
the son of the late W.T.
and Martha Ann Bailey
Atkinson. He was retired
from Beaulieu of America
and was a member of the
Bowersville Church of
God.
Survivors include his wife,
Helen Atkinson, Royston;
sons, Stoney Norris,
Royston, and David Norris,
Danielsville; daughters,
Gwen Duncan, Royston,
and Tina Headen, Toccoa;
brothers, Billy Atkinson
and Tony Atkinson, both
of Royston; sisters, Karen
Coile, Comer, and Daphne
McCarty, Royston; eight
grandchildren; and six great
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be
held Thursday, May 6, at 11
a.m., from the Bowersville
Church of God with the Revs.
Gettis Allen and Sammy
Cutshall officiating. Burial
will be in the Rose Hill
Cemetery. The body is at the
funeral home where the fam
ily will receive friends from
7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May
5. The body will be placed
in the church at 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 6. The fam
ily is at home.
Pruitt Funeral Home,
Royston, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 12, 2010.
060)
Bertha Beard
DANIELSVILLE
Bertha Lunsford Beard, 93,
died Saturday, May 1, 2010
at her home.
Born in Royston on May
25,1916, she was the daugh
ter of the late Cornealious
and Estelle James Lunsford.
She was a homemaker and
member of the Bluestone
Baptist Church. Mrs. Beard
was preceded in death by her
husband, Dupree Beard; son,
Garland Beard; son-in-law,
Jerry Hart; brothers, Albert,
Robert and Ralph Lunsford;
and sisters, Agatha Crump
and Ella Mae Bray.
Survivors include daugh
ter, Elena Hart, Danielsville;
grandchildren and spous
es, Brian (Karen) Beard,
Gregory (Janet) Beard and
Karen Hart Myers; step-
grandchild, Steven Fleeman;
great-grandchildren, Nathan
(Leigh Anne) Myers,
Brandon Myers, Matthew
Beard, Gage Beard and
Cade Beard; brothers, Julian
Lunsford, Kannapolis, N.C.
and Woodrow Lunsford,
Canon; and sister, LaRue
Orr, Winder.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday, May 4, at the
Pruitt Funeral Home Chapel
with the Rev. Susan Taylor
officiating. Burial was
in the Pennington Chapel
United Methodist Church
cemetery.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Jones
Chapel UMC, 5601 Highway
29 North, Danieslville, GA
30633
Pruitt Funeral Home,
Royston, was in charge of
arrangements
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(160)
Gloria Jean Cannon
DECATUR - Gloria Jean
Cannon, 68, died Saturday,
May 1, 2010, at her daugh
ter’s residence following an
extended illness.
Born on September 24,
1941, in Roberta, she was the
daughter of the late Joseph
and Ruth Harrison Irvin.
She worked at McKesson as
a customer service represen
tative and was of the Baptist
denomination. Mrs. Cannon
was preceded in death by a
brother, Charles Irvin.
Survivors include her
husband, Hoyle Cannon,
Decatur; daughter and son-
in-law, Tanya and Kris
Schwab, Braselton; step
brother, Dennis Irvin, Mauk;
sister, Rachel Vines, Temple;
and grandchildren, Lindsey
and Kristina Schwab.
Funeral services will be
held Wednesday, May 5, at
3:30 p.m., at Memorial Park
South Funeral Home Chapel
with the Rev. Jeff Benefield
officiating. Burial will be
in Memorial Park South
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, con
tributions may be made
to Relay for Life, 4841
Union Church Rd., Flowery
Branch, GA 30542.
Memorial Park South
Funeral Home, Flowery
Branch, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(19078)
Angela Counts
BRASELTON - Angela
Dianne Wilkerson Counts,
40, died Monday, May 3,
2010.
She was the daugh
ter of Wayne and Brenda
Wilkerson of Lawrenceville
and was a member of New
Canaan Baptist Church.
Survivors in addition to
her parents include chil
dren, Jeremy Scott Towe,
Haley Michelle Towe,
Courtney Taylor Counts, all
of Braselton; brother and
sister-in-law, Marty and
Michelle Wilkerson, Talmo;
sister and brother-in-law,
Stacy and Steve Johnson,
Braselton; boyfriend, Bobby
Tipton, Braselton; and sev
eral nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will
be held Thursday, May
6, at 2 p.m., from New
Canaan Baptist Church
in Lawrenceville with the
Revs. Michael Soop, Roland
Jackson and E.N. Brady
officiating. Burial will be in
East Shadowlawn Memorial
Gardens. The family will
receive friends at the funeral
home Wednesday, May 5,
from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tim Stewart Funeral
Home, Lawrenceville, is in
charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(19126)
Richard Durnell
BETHLEHEM - Richard
Eugene Durnell, 70, died
Saturday, May 1, 2010.
A native of New Castle,
Pa. and a retired truck driv
er, he was the son of the
late Lawrence and Ellen
Carlstrom Durnell. Mr.
Durnell was preceded in
death by a daughter, Julie
Ann Durnell, and a brother,
Gary Durnell.
Survivors include his wife,
Barbara Durnell, Bethlehem;
daughters, Carrie O’Neill
and Amy Harrison, both
of Suwanee; son, Richard
E. Durnell, Jefferson; and
seven grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Monday, May 3 from
the chapel of Carter Funeral
Home with the Revs. Robert
Whatley and Jamie Butler
officiating. Burial was in
White Chapel Memorial
Gardens, Duluth.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Brain
Injury Association, 1608
Spring Hill Road, Suite 110,
Vienna, VA 22182.
Carter Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(19080)
Eleanor Hood
WINDER - Eleanor
Hood, 85, died Sunday, May
2,2010.
She was the daughter of
the late Carl E. Wade and
Inez Wade Evans of Phenix
City, Ala., and was a home
maker and of the Baptist
denomination. Mrs. Hood
was preceded in death by
husbands, Brady B. Bynum
and Ben Hood; and a broth
er, Joseph Wade Sr.
Survivors include daugh
ters and sons-in-law, Patricia
A. and Ronald Offutt;
Yvonne L. and Leonard
Guy, all of Hoschton, and
Karen E. and Marty Wood,
Morganton, N.C.; sister,
Faith Edwards, Columbus;
grandchildren, Ryan L.
Offutt, Winder, Jason S. and
Andraya Offutt, Bend Ore.,
Jennifer L. and William
David, Braselton, Julie A.
and Carlos Munoz, Winder,
Michael D. and Crissy
Fincher, Nebo, N.C.; great
grandchildren, Rhianna
Kennedy, Braselton,
Mackenzie Fincher, Nebo,
N.C., Ethan Offutt, Emily
Munoz and Kaitlyn Offutt,
all of Winder and Tatum
Offutt, Bend, Ore.
Private memorial services
will be held at a later date.
Carter Funeral Home,
Winder, is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(19080)
Irene Lemley
GAINESVILLE - Irene
Lemley, 90, died Friday,
April 30, 2010, following a
period of declining health.
Born in Jackson County
where she had lived most
of her life, she was the
daughter of the late William
Monroe and Jessie Freeman
Mote. She was retired from
Wilkens Industries and
was a member of Oconee
Baptist Church. She was a
loving mother and grand
mother loved ones stated.
Mrs. Lemley was preceded
in death by her husband,
Woodrow Lemley; daugh
ter, Doris Lord; and two
grandchildren.
Survivors include daugh
ters and sons-in-law,
Peggy and Robert Smith,
Gainesville, Martha Jo and
Lester LeCompte, Plainfield,
Ind.; brother, Ralph Mote,
Pendergrass; sisters, Selma
Sexton, Cumming, Mildred
Brumbalow, Pendergrass;
11 grandchildren; 19 great
grandchildren; and 12 great-
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, May 2, from the
chapel of Ward’s Funeral
Home with the Revs. Milton
Harris and Douglas Merck
officiating. Burial was in
Center Grove B aptist Church
Cemetery.
Ward’s Funeral Home,
Gainesville, was in charge
of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
‘Billie’Nunnally
BOGART - Jessie W.
“Billie” Nunnally, 86, died
Wednesday, April 28, 2010.
A native of Bogart, she
was the daughter of the
late Gordon and Pearl Teal
Watson. She was a graduate
of Bogart High School and
Athens Business College,
retired from the University
of Georgia Cooperative
Extension Service and
was a longtime member
of Bogart Baptist Church.
Mrs. Nunnally was pre
ceded in death by her hus
band, Gilbert Nunnally;
son, Ronnie Nunnally;
sisters, Helen Payne and
Rudy Watson; and brothers,
Garrell and Julian Watson.
Survivors include sons and
daughters-in-law, Bill and
Melissa Nunnally, Winder
and Wesley and Becky
Nunnally, Watkinsville;
grandchildren, Grant and
Tess Nunnally, Allison and
Scott Kirk, Cassie and Chris
Ruis; great-grandchildren,
Seth Kirk, Ansley Nunnally,
Will Nunnally and Reese
Ruis; and niece Paula
Payne.
A graveside service was
held Friday, April 30, at
Bogart Baptist Church
Cemetery with the Rev. Ted
Tedder officiating.
Memorials may be made
to Bogart Baptist Church.
Oconee Chapel Funeral
Directors, Watkinsville, was
in charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010
Janice Phillips
DANIELSVILLE
Janice Elaine Forrester
Phillips, 45, died Thursday,
April 29, 2010, at her resi
dence.
Born in Tate on September
24, 1964,
she was
the daugh
ter of the
late Ray
and Martha
Cox
Forrester.
She was a
homemak
er and caregiver and mem
ber of the Corinth Baptist
Church in Marble Hill.
Survivors include her hus
band, Duane Kelly Phillips,
Danielsville; sons and
daughter-in-law, Colby and
Tiffany Phillips and Tyler
Phillips, all of Danielsville;
brother, Jeff Forrester,
Canton; sisters, Amy Isley,
Canton, and Penny Barnes,
Marble Hill.
Funeral services were
held Sunday, May 2, at the
Corinth Baptist Church in
Marble Hill with the Rev.
LeeRoy Kelley officiating.
Burial was in the church
cemetery.
Memorials may be made
to the Corinth Baptist
Church, c/o Jerry Brooks,
239 Sutalee Place, White,
GA 30184.
Pruitt Funeral Home,
Royston, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(160)
‘Billy’Plank
William Gene “Billy”
Plank was born in Salem,
Mo., April 30, 1935. He
was the son of Theodore
Roosevelt and Virginia
Capps Plank. A brother,
Thomas, blessed the fam
ily with his arrival a few
years later and thus com
menced many happy years
of family life in Salem. Bill
was possessed of a quick
wit and an insatiable curios
ity for all things academic.
He went off to University
of Missouri at Columbia at
the age of 17 and embarked
upon a lifetime of learning
and teaching. After earning
a Master’s Degree in French
at the University, Bill decid
ed to fulfill his dream of
living in the Wild West and
obtained a teaching posi
tion in Hardin, Montana.
After a year there, he was
off to California, even fur
ther west, and taught in
various elementary schools,
eventually securing a three-
year position teaching high
school in the Yakima Valley.
Wishing to pursue further
studies in French, Bill
applied to and was accepted
into the French Literature
program as a doctoral can
didate at the University of
Washington in Seattle. He
was awarded his Ph.D. with
highest honors in 1972.
Having finished all of his
studies, Bill remained at
Montana State University-
Billings for forty-plus
years, teaching over 5,000
students, many of whom
greeted him in the streets
of Billings or at the gro
cery store having remem
bered with great fondness
their classes with him even
30 or 40 years previous.
Bill was first and foremost a
teacher, but his many schol
arly pursuits include three
published books, Sartre and
Surrealism, Gulag 65, and
Quantum Nietzsche, along
with almost 300 research
papers which he presented
through the years around the
country.
At Montana State
University, Bill conceived
of a program to bring lec
turers of world-class qual
ity to Billings. He had a
way with words and always
an offer of a trip through
Yellowstone Park and man
aged to gift Billings with the
presence of outstanding vis
iting scholars. The lectures
became a fixture on campus
and the program went on for
eleven years until ill health
forced Bill to give up his
participation.
At a time of financial dif
ficulties for the state, Bill
proposed a reorganization
of the University system,
which at that time was com
posed of five major units
and several community col
leges. The changes Bill pro
posed went into effect, and
the present Montana State
University-Billings owes
its name to Bill who came
to the institution when it
was named in fact “Eastern
Montana College.”
Many wonderful friends
survive Bill. Richard
McKamy, his mountain
climbing buddy, Robert
Garretson, a fellow wilder
ness lover, Tom Regele, Bill
Gibson and Neil Jussila.
Bill's very best friend, his
dog, Django (named after
the famous guitarist Django
Rinehart), survives him but
barely. His beloved upright
piano afforded Bill many
happy hours both in the
company of his good friends
and during solitary hours at
home. He was a gifted and
knowledgeable pianist who
played entirely by ear and
could answer almost any
request to play an old song
or ditty.
Bill passed away Tuesday,
April 27, 2010, and leaves
behind his wife, Darrah Link
Plank; his son, Theodore R.
Belcher; daughter Bianca;
daughter Shannon; son
Gabriel Louis (Renee);
daughter Darrah Anne; and
brother, the Rev. Thomas
Plank (Carol) of Jefferson.
Grandchildren Hawkeye,
Thorne, Meadowlark, and
Floriane and niece Andrea
and nephews Christopher
and Michael also survive
Bill. Aunt Pearl Wells and
Uncle Cleo Plank survive
their nephew, Bill.
A memorial service in
Salem will be held Saturday,
May 29, 2010, at Cedar
Grove Cemetery at 4 p.m.,
with dinner to follow.
In honor of Bill's academic
life, gifts may be sent to the
Montana State University-
Billings Foundation, 2615
Virginia Lane, Billings,
Montana 59101. Michelotti-
Sawyers Mortuary in
Billings, Montana was in
charge of arrangements and
condolences may be left for
the family at www.michel-
ottisawyers.com.
Michelotti-Sawyers
Mortuary, Billings, Mont., is
in charge of arrangements
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
‘Josh’Small
BUFORD - Joshua Allen
“Josh” Small, 26, died
suddenly at his residence
Tuesday evening, May 4,
2010.
He was the son of father
and stepmother, David E.
and Susan Small of Jefferson
and mother, Mary Ann Small
of Buford.
Arrangements will be
announced at a later date.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
‘Mama Ann’ Spires
HOMER - Elizabeth
“Mama Ann” Spires, 66,
died Wednesday, April 28,
2010, at BJC Hospital in
Commerce.
Born in Bibb County,
she was the daughter of the
late T. Hobart and Margaret
Elizabeth Terry Durden.
Mrs. Spires was preceded
in death by her husband,
Michael Gregory Spires.
Survivors include a sister,
Rebecca
Simmons;
nieces and
nephew,
Sheila
Dixon,
Kristin
Simmons
and Jason
Kennedy;
four great-nieces and neph
ews; and good friends Jo
Anne Tomlinson, Winford
Bales, Wayne Dixon and
Tony Meeks.
Memorial services were
held Saturday, May 1, from
the Community Chapel
Church in Jefferson with
Loy Reed officiating. The
body was cremated.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
May 5, 2010.
(476)
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