Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017 MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS
PAGE 15A-J
Obituaries
Agnes
Revonda Beard
COLBERT Agnes
Revonda Beard, 74, passed
away on Sunday, October
15, 2017, at Piedmont Ath
ens Regional in Athens.
Ms. Beard was born in
Danielsville on February 22,
1943, the daughter of the
late Keifer O’Dell Beard and
Ella Mae Carithers Beard.
She was a business man
ager having worked at the
University of Georgia Postal
Service and a member of
Danielsville Evangelical
Church. She was preceded
in death by brothers, Ken
neth Beard and Ray Beard;
and sisters, Thelma Con-
well, Nellie Ruth Spelce and
Fanida Caudelle.
Survivors include her
daughters and sons-in-law,
Cassonja and Jay Prid
gen, Hull, and Sebrena and
Charles Braswell, Colbert;
grandchildren, Cassidy (Jus
tin) Sorrow, Jayson (Aman
da) Pridgen, Hunter Pridgen,
Cheyenne Pridgen, Makayla
(Kristen) Mason, Amber
Braswell and Courtney
Braswell; great-grandchil
dren, Jayden Pridgen, Kay-
dence Pridgen, Beau Sorrow
and Addyson-Grace Sorrow;
brothers, Mitchell Beard,
Atlanta, and Wendell Beard,
Danielsville; sisters, Polly
Berryman, Danielsville,
Oneida Horne, Commerce,
Gatha Kerr, Hartwell, and
Grace Carey, Kannapolis,
N.C.
Funeral services were
held at Danielsville Evan
gelical Church on Wednes
day, October 18, with the
Revs. Billy Frank Carey,
Dwayne Dickerson and Pas
tor John Ingham officiating.
Interment was in the church
cemetery.
Memorials may be made
to the Danielsville Evangeli
cal Church for new build
ing and cemetery fund, 25
Evangelical Church Road,
Danielsville, GA 30633.
Online condolences may
be made by visiting www.
pruittfhroyston.com.
Pruitt Funeral Home in
Royston was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12407))
Rhondal Ferguson
Rhondal Harley Ferguson,
78, entered into the pres
ence of his Lord on Monday
October 9, 2017, at his resi
dence.
A native of Barrow Coun
ty, Mr. Ferguson was the
son of the late William Carl
and Adelle
Hammond
Ferguson. He
was a member
of Eastside Baptist Church
and was retired from Gen
eral Motors. Mr. Ferguson
proudly served in the United
States Navy.
Survivors include his
wife, Debbie Smith Fer
guson; daughters and son-
in-law; Vicki Asbury and
Alishia (Darrell) Moss; sons
and daughters-in-law; Barry
(Michelle) Ferguson, Tracy
(Nancy) Ferguson, Richey
(Tonya) Ferguson, Sandy
Ferguson; brother, Phil
lip (Ann) Ferguson; sisters,
Linda (Charles) Walden and
Kathie (Tommy) Ledbet
ter; 10 grandchildren; and a
number of nieces and neph
ews.
Funeral services were
held Thursday October 12,
in the Smith Memory Cha
pel. Burial was at Chapel
Christian Church Cemetery.
The Rev. Darrell Gilmer
officiated.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12690)
Barbara Huff
BOGART - Barbara
Huff, 72, formerly of Wind
er, passed away Monday,
October 9, 2017.
A native of Marietta, Ga.,
she was the daughter of the
late Fred and Bessie Hud
son Newton. Mrs. Huff was
preceded in death by her
husband, Nelson Huff. She
was a member of Morning-
side Baptist Church and was
a homemaker.
Surviving are children,
Johnny (Ashley Powell)
Huff, Jefferson, Rosalind
(Neal) McElroy, Bogart,
and Michael Huff, Winder;
grandchildren, Brandon
Huff, Chad Huff, Dustin
Huff, Justin Huff, Joshua
Huff, Shane Huff, Brittany
McElroy and Mason Huff;
great-grandchildren, Chan-
ning Wade, Tinsley McEl
roy, Cameron Huff, Tyler
Huff, Logan Huff, Ashton
Huff, McKenzie Huff and
Kiley Huff; and siblings,
Brenda Redmon, Margaret
Woody, Johnnie Croft and
Jack Newton, all of Mari
etta.
A funeral service was held
Friday, October 13, at the
Chapel of Carter Funeral
Home with the Rev. Tim
Aaron officiating. Pallbear
ers were Chad Huff, Bran
don Huff, Josh Huff, Travis
Brown, Jason Moon and
Johnny Huff. Interment was
in Barrow Memorial Gar
dens.
Carter Funeral Home,
Winder, was in charge
of arrangements, where
online condolences may be
expressed at www.carterfh-
winder.com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12571)
Rev. ‘Don’ Leaptrott
ATHENS - Rev. Jesse
Donald “Don” Leaptrott, 86,
passed away Saturday, Octo
ber 7, 2017.
Born in Wadley, Ga., he
was the son of the late Jessie
James Leaptrott and Mary
Lou Shurling Leaptrott. Don
attended the University of
Georgia, where he met his
wife of almost 66 years,
Miriam Louise Davis Leap
trott. Following his gradu
ation, he joined the United
States Navy
where he
served in the
Korean War.
Don and
Miriam moved to Athens in
1959, where he became the
pastor of Green Acres Bap
tist Church. He remained
at Green Acres for over 20
years, and then moved to
Zion Baptist Church in Bra-
selton and from there he
went to Mars Hill Baptist
Church in Watkinsville. Fol
lowing his time at Mars Hill,
Don went to East Athens
Baptist Church then to Lex
ington Baptist Church and
finally, he moved back to
East Athens Baptist Church
where he remained until
retirement. He was preceded
in death by his daughter,
Mary Lynn Leaptrott.
Survivors in addition to
his wife include two sons,
David James Leaptrott (Les
lie Thurmond) and Michael
Lee Leaptrott (Veronica);
five grandchildren, Katie
Leaptrott, Casey Mahon,
Stephen Mahon, Brad
Thurmond and Donovan
Thurmond; and eight great
grandchildren, Destiny,
Amber, Corby, Hunter, Kay-
lee, Aubrey, Madison and
Alexis.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, October 14, at
East Athens Baptist Church
with the Rev. Dan Fuller
officiating. Interment was at
Athens Memory Gardens.
Donations may be made
to the American Heart Asso
ciation, 1353 Jennings Mill
Road, Bogart, GA 30622.
Lord and Stephens Funer
al Home, East, was in charge
of arrangements.
www.lordandstephens.
com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12635-58.45)
Franklin Ledford
TALMO - Franklin Dela
no Ledford, 81, passed away
Tuesday, October 12, 2017,
surrounded by his family
and friends.
He was born in Jackson
County on February 27,
1936, the son of the late
Ollie Andrew and Lillie
Jane Ledford. Mr. Ledford
was a dedicated employee
of Mar Jac Poultry for 38
years. He loved gardening
and visits from his chil
dren, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. He was
a deacon at the Church of
God in Commerce for over
25 years. He was preceded
in death by his brothers,
Clomer “Slim” Lamar Led
ford, Newt “Shorty” David
Ledford, Charlie R. Ledford
and William Horace Led
ford; and sisters, Ollie Jane
Ledford and Cynthia Mae
Ledford.
Survivors include his
wife, Violet Ann Ledford;
sons and daughters-in-law,
Tracy and Hilda Ledford,
and Michael and Tammy
Ledford; grandchildren,
Tabitha and Jeremy Kitch
ens, Selena Ledford, Tyler
Ledford and Savannah Led
ford; great-grandchildren,
Emory and Mason Kitch
ens and Mechyna Ledford;
brothers-in-law, Lee Shel
ton, Jim and Evelyn Bur
nette; and sisters-in-law,
Janice and Swain Lewallen
and Iris Martin.
Funeral services were
held Thursday, October
12, in the chapel of Ward’s
Funeral Home.
Condolences may be
made online at wardsfti.com
Ward's Funeral Home,
Gainesville, was in charge
of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
Leonard Powell
McElhannon, Sr.
UNION POINT, GA
Leonard Powell McElhan
non, Sr. passed away on
Wednesday, October 11,
2017, at Boswell Parker
Health & Rehabilitation in
Greensboro, Ga. at the age
of 79.
Leonard was born in
Greensboro, Ga. on Octo
ber 6, 1938, the son of the
late Johnny McElhannon
and Ursula Weatherford
McElhannon. He attended
Greensboro High School
and on October 11, 1959,
he married the former Sarah
Sellers. He worked for Ath
ens Regional Engineering
Department as a painter. He
loved to travel, especially
in the mountains, watch
ing sports, and NASCAR.
Leonard was a member of
the Union Point Worship
Center. He was preceded
in death by his son, Ste
phen Michael McElhannon;
mother, Ursula McElhan
non; father, Johnny McEl
hannon; and brother, Wil
liam McElhannon and his
wife Ruth.
In addition to his wife,
Sarah Sellers McElhannon
of Union Point, he is sur
vived by his son, Leonard
Powell McElhannon, Jr. and
wife Ashley, Between, Ga.;
daughter, Stephanie Ward
and her husband Gregg,
Athens; six grandchildren,
Suzanne, Alexander, Mia,
Charles, Leia and Sophia;
great-grandchild. Chase; and
other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, October 15, at the
Union Point Worship Center
in Union Point, Ga., with
the Revs. Dennis Mitchell
and Brenda Vandiver offi
ciating. Interment was in
the Greenlawn Cemetery in
Union Point. Serving as
pallbearers were Alex McEl
hannon, Andrew McElhan
non, Derek Wynne, Devin
Mitchell, Christian Heiss,
and Stephanie Ward.
Callaway Funeral Home,
Union Point, was in charge
of arrangements. Visit us
at www.mccomonsfuneral-
home.com to sign the online
guest register.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
‘Tommy’ McElreath
STATHAM - John
“Tommy” Thomas McEl
reath, 69, passed away
peacefully on Friday, Octo
ber 13, 2017, surrounded by
his family.
A native of Alpharetta,
Ga., Mr. McElreath retired
with Caterpillar in the ship
ping and receiving/logistics
department. He was preced
ed in death by his parents,
Louis McElreath and Mar-
great Dyer McElreath.
Survivors include his lov
ing wife, Elouise “Ellie"
Waters McElreath, Statham;
son, John (Suzanne) McEl
reath, Jr; daughters, Becky
Dillard, Tanya McElreath
Sanford, Rochester, N.Y.,
Regina Crow, and Nikki
(Paul) McElreath-Britt;
grandchildren, Cindi, Jamie
(Jeanie), Savannah, and
Cale McElreath, Kayleigh,
Alexander, and Nicholas
Sanford, Kate Britt, Char
lie, Adam, and Toby Dillard,
T.J (Kelsey) Mobley, Rachel
(Tyler) Surrency, Samantha,
Joseph Crow, and David
Smith.
Memorial services were
held on Sunday, October 15,
at the Smith Memory Cha
pel in Winder, with the Rev.
Hal Tapp officiating.
The family wishes to
extend their sincere grati
tude to Compassionate Care
Hospice of Athens.
Smith Funeral Home,
Winder, was entrusted with
the arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12690)
Gail Nelms
DANIELSVILLE Eliz
abeth Gail Nelms, born Jan
uary 15, 1958, went home to
be with her Heavenly Father
on Saturday, October 14,
2017.
She was the daughter of
the late James (Pete) R.
Dickerson and Mary (Billie)
M. Dickerson. Gail loved
her family deeply and was
so loved deeply by her fam
ily. Though Gail had no
biological children of her
own, she was a mother to so
many! She touched so many
lives while on this earth.
Survivors include her
sisters and brothers-in-law,
Frances and Guy Reno,
Danielsville, and Shirley
and Larry Ayers, Bowers-
ville; brother and sister-in-
law, Earl and Gail Dicker-
son, Danielsville; and lov
ing nephews, nieces, great-
nephews and nieces, and a
host of lifetime friends.
Funeral services were
held in the Pruitt Funeral
Home Chapel on Tuesday,
October 17. Interment was
in the Bethel M. Baptist
Church Cemetery.
Online condolences
may be made to the fam
ily by visiting www.pruit-
tfhroyston.com.
Pruitt Funeral Home,
Royston, was in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
(12407)
Lawrence Phillips
ROUND HILL, VA
Lawrence Vince Phillips,
94, passed away peacefully
at his resi
dence, High
lands Farm,
in Round
Hill, with
his beloved
wife, Sarah
Mae Phil
lips at his
side.
Lawrence
joined the Army Air Corps
(Air Force) in 1943. He
trained as a pilot and as
a Second Lieutenant served
as a gunnery instructor
at Eglin Air Base in Val
paraiso, Florida. He loved
this military assignment at
Eglin, because his responsi
bility was to train the great
est flyers the world had ever
seen and send them into
battle. Only one of all his
trainees did not come home
from the war. After the war
was over, he was moved to
Andrews Air Force Base in
Maryland close to DC, to be
discharged.
He stayed in the Wash
ington area in the fall 1945
where he enrolled at George
Washington University on
the GI bill. After he gradu
ated from George Wash
ington University Medical
school in 1952, then he
interned at DC General Hos
pital. In 1954 Dr. Phillips
opened his medical practice
in Temple Hills, Md. and
served the area as a family
practitioner for 50 years. He
joined the DC Air National
Guard, where he retired as a
Colonel. In 1960 the family
moved from Temple Hills
to McLean, Va. for seven
years, then they moved to
Highlands Farm, in Round
Hill, Va. since 1967. He
was a special member of the
military as he wore a double
set of wings, one for being
a pilot and one for being a
flight surgeon.
Survivors include his
beloved wife, Sarah Mae
Wachob (nee) , two sons
Lawrence Phillips, Jr
(Amy), and Richard Phillips
(Ruth), and two daughters,
Barbara Phillips, and Carol
Cotton (Mike); five grand
children; and two great
grandchildren. Dr. Carol
Cotton has been a faculty
member in the College of
Public Health and the Col
lege of Education for twenty
years.
While Dr. Phillips com
muted to his medical prac
tice, he was passionate about
running his farm. Every
day Phillips would instan
taneously become a farmer
and take care of his black
angus farm and ride his
quarter horse. On the farm,
they cut corn and bailed hay.
He was quite a musician.
Phillips loved to play the
violin and the harmonica.
He could also play the piano
and the guitar. He success
fully hunted deer each year.
Phillips became a philan
thropist after his retirement
from medicine. He created
an endowment at the Uni
versity of Georgia to support
students who will be travel
ing to his home country of
Croatia, to support an oppor
tunity to study abroad in
Croatia, and support faculty
exchanges to solve problems
in both countries. He made
a large gift to the University
and it has supported many
different colleges such as
the College of Veterinarian
Medicine, the College of
Public Health, the College
of Environmental Design,
and the College of Art. He
was also a member of the
Girl Scouts for 32 years.
Lawrence was a complex
man with of a variety of
interests. During his life
time he saved many lives,
improved the quality of some
lives, believed and practiced
sustainability before it even
became a thing.
He was funny, stem, cre
ative and wise. He loved
his family and he respected
the environment and sustain
ability. He will be missed
by people other than the
people who love him.
In lieu of flowers please
send donations to the UGA-
Croatia Partnership Fund
or the Girl Scouts of the
Nation’s Capital.
The family will receive
friends at Hall Funeral home
on Thursday, October 19,
from 6 to 8 p.m. A ser
vice will be held on Friday
at Hall Funeral Home at 1
p.m. October 20. Interment
will take place at Arlington
National Cemetery at a later
date.
Hall Funeral Home, Pur-
cellville, Va., is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
Clarence Scogin
COLBERT - Clarence
Elmer Scogin, 89, died
Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
A native of Colbert, Clar
ence was the son of the late
Walter and Jessie King Sco
gin. He retired from Vend
Inc., where he did mainte
nance and was an active
member at Colbert First
Baptist. Clarence served as
a deacon in the church and
taught Sunday School. In
addition to his parents, he
was preceded in death by
his first wife, Thelmas Nash
Scogin; and brothers, Odel
and Farrel Scogin.
Survivors include his
wife, Ruby Scogin; step
children, Wanda (Larry)
Mann, Lin (Steve) Young,
Randy McGinnis, and Nel
son (Charlene) McGinnis;
nephews. Bill Scogin and
Robert Scogin; niece, Ann
Mauldan; along with several
grandchildren and great
grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Thursday, October 12,
at Lord and Stephens, Dan
ielsville. Burial was at Col
bert Cemetery.
Donations may be made
to the Georgia Sheriffs
Youth Home or the Madison
County Food Bank.
Lord and Stephens, Dan
ielsville, was in charge of
arrangements. www.lor
dandstephens .com
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
Swayne Whitlock
GASTONIA, NC -
Swayne Conred Whit
lock, 82, passed away at his
residence in Gastonia on
Sunday,
October 8,
2017. He
was born
in Homer,
Ga., on
July 2,
1935, the
son of the
late Floyd
and Clara
Mae Gowder Whitlock.
Swayne served his coun
try in the United States
Army Reserve and he retired
from Milliken, New Holland
Plant, as a shift supervisor
after 45 years of service.
He enjoyed being outside
gardening, fishing, or deer
hunting, but he especially
enjoyed time with his grand
children. He was preceded
in death by his wife of 42
years, Shirley Ann Chastain
Whitlock; brother, Ben
son Whitlock; and sisters,
Rachel Murphy and Ethel
Rylee.
Survivors include his
children, Shirley Whit
lock Shuler and husband
David, Gainesville, Ga.,
Jamey Whitlock, Gastonia,
N.C., Shane Whitlock and
wife Miki, Dallas, N.C.;
sister, Mary Frances John
son, Jefferson, Ga.; broth
ers, Gordon Whitlock and
wife Nancy, Commerce,
Ga., Roy Whitlock, Jeffer
son; grandchildren, Elaina
Daigle (Dustin), Gaines
ville, Ga., Chad Shuler
(Christi), Maysville, Ga.,
Audrey, Aniston, and Mason
Whitlock, Dallas, N.C.; great
grandchildren, Braydon Gil-
leland, Gainesville, Madi
son Shuler, Lula, Ga., Mila
Daigle, Gainesville; devoted
caregiver, Dawn Champion
Little; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
A funeral service was held
Wednesday, October 11, in
Founders Chapel of McLean
Funeral Directors of Gasto
nia with the Rev. Jim Loftis
officiating. Interment was at
Evergreen, A Quiet Place,
Belmont, N.C.
Memorials may be made
to Rankin Lake Baptist
Church, 2705 Gastonia Dal
las Hwy, Dallas, NC 28034.
Condolence messages
and remembrances may be
shared with the family at
www.McLeanFuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Direc
tors of Gastonia served the
family.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
October 18, 2017.
FAX Obits to:
706-621-4113.
OBITUARY NOTICES
The charge to publish an obituary is $55 per
notice for 250 words or less and the notice will be
published in all six newspapers covering Banks,
Barrow, Jackson and Madison counties effective
Over 250 words will be
charged at 15 cents per word.
There will be no charge for the
online posting to our website.
Photographs remain free if
the family chooses to submit one.
To place an obituary notice,
contact Betty Small at
706-621-4629 or
obits@mainstreetnews.com.
Tl
June 1, 2014.