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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. APRIL 7. 2022
Obituaries
Mike Meroney
Charles "Mike" Meroney,
66, of Jasper, Georgia passed
away Friday, March 25, 2022
at his home. Mike was bom
in Columbus, Georgia on
October 31, 1955 to Charles
Lee and Rose Ann Meroney.
Mike and his wife, Theresa,
have been residents of Pick
ens County since 2006 and
owned Appliance Service
and More in Jasper.
Mike is survived by his
wife, Theresa Meroney of
Jasper; daughters, Jennifer
Ann Luttrell, Stephanie
Causland (Thomas); son,
Michael Brady Meroney (Cher); mother, Rose Ann Meroney
of Phenix City, Alabama; grandchildren, Abigail Meroney,
Isabella Smajd, Rosalia Smajd, Miles Meroney, Kennedie
Meroney, Caleb Causland, Ethan Causland; mother-in-law
and father in-law, Martha and Ernest Leaman of Phenix City,
Alabama; sisters, Debra Elliott (Steve) and Teresa Pearson;
brothers, Donald Meroney and Randy Meroney (Brandy);
brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jeff & Rena Leaman;
brother-in-law, Richard Leaman; nieces and nephews,
Stephanie Cullars (James), Matthew Elliott, Brandi McKin
non, Jesse McKinnon, Caleb Pearson, Stacey Meroney,
Kasey Meroney, Noah Meroney, Kaylee Treadwell, Konnor
Elliott, Addison Elliott, Eric Hartwell (Jennifer), Heather
Swain (Andrew), Summer Leaman (Bri), James Goodson
(Jami Jo), Brandee Leaman, Julee Leaman,and his little
Yorkie, Bella. Many other friends and relatives also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Lee
Meroney; son, Corey Mitchell Meroney; and brother-in-law,
James Bradley Leaman.
Mike loved his family, friends and his little Yorkie, Bella,
more than anything. He was such a joy to be around and was
always smiling. Mike had such an infectious laugh that if
you were around him you couldn't help but laugh too. He
will be truly missed by many.
A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
Ike Reece
May 29,1931-March 21,
2022
90 years, 10 months
Ike Reece was the eldest
son of 11 children bom to
Andrew Patton Reece - a
World War I Army cook -
and Mae McBryar Reece.
Born on May 29, 1931, he
was a child of the Great De
pression. Shortly after his fa
ther’s death on August 5,
1947, Ike enlisted in the U.S.
Army and was soon sta
tioned in Germany. Upon his
arrival in the war-ravaged
country, he discovered the warmth and sincerity of the Ger
man people. Ike met the love of his life in Furth,n Germany.
Ike and Luise Woyta married in 1950. Sergeant Reece
brought his bride and German-bom daughter, Margitta, home
to Georgia in 1956. As a former Army sergeant, Ike was hired
as the site supervisor for the large Van Tres poultry farm on
the top of Burnt Mountain - not far from the home place of
his grandfather, James Jefferson Reece. Their son, Wayne,
was bom the following year at the clinic in Tate.
Over the next 60 years, Ike earned a living in a number of
positions from the former J & C Spread House, to the White-
stone mines to working as a supervisor in carpet mills in El-
lijay and Dalton. For five years he was the sole sales and
delivery person for the Pepsi Cola Company in Gilmer, Fan
nin and Pickens counties.
In the 1960s, Ike was ordained as a deacon in the Pleasant
Union Baptist Church in Dawson County. Fifty years later
he would leam that the church had actually been founded by
his great-great-grandfather, Reverend James Marion Reece,
Sr. in the 1850s. (If you are a Reece or related to a Reece with
roots in Gilmer County, you are very likely a descendent of
the Reverend James Marion Reece, Sr.)
In 1974, during the height of a recession, the carpet mill
where Ike worked closed and he enrolled in the heating and
air conditioning program at Pickens Tech. From this educa
tion, he and Luise went on to establish a successful business,
North Georgia Appliance Service, that operated in downtown
Ellijay for a number of years.
In 1982, Ike Reece was asked to be the Gilmer County
Coordinator for the Joe Frank Harris for Governor Campaign.
Always practical and ever resourceful, he took the initiative
to organize a handful of volunteers who became perhaps the
most prolific sign brigade in the state’s electoral history. Over
the next few months, they covered the northern half of the
state during the wee hours of the morning, posting signs and
posters for Harris everywhere. The momentum and hard work
were contagious. Countless other individuals, families and
churches poured their efforts into the campaign. By the
spring, Ellijay became the site of the second Joe Frank Harris
for Governor campaign office in the building directly across
Main Street from North Georgia Appliance Service. In No
vember 1982, Harris was elected the 78th governor of Geor
gia. Gilmer County had played a significant role.
Ike and Luise managed the Fairfield Apartments in Jasper
for almost 30 years, providing affordable housing to local
families and serving as teachers, friends and mentors for the
residents.
Ike was a member of the Oak Bowery Masonic Lodge for
more than 50 years. He was also a 50-year Royal Arch Mason
and a member of Ellijay Chapter Number 150.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Luise Woyta Reece.
While everyone always knew of Luise’s German roots, the
family did not discover until 2016 that the Reeces also de
scended from Germans. The Reece family originated in
Gamburg, Germany, a small village less than 90 miles from
Nuremberg. Johann Jacob Ries sailed to Philadelphia aboard
the Chesterfield with his wife and baby son, Valentine in
1750. The earlier pioneers settled in the Yadkin Valley of
North Carolina and were neighbors to Daniel Boone’s father.
The family name was soon changed to Reece.
In addition, he is survived by his children, Margitta
Solomon (David), Talking Rock; Wayne (Michael), Atlanta
and Riceville, Tennessee; his granddaughter Jamila
Dougherty, Smyrna; his sister Shirley Daley (Larry),
Chatsworth; and his brother Woodrow (Ken), Smyrna.
Brothers and sisters who predeceased him were Wancie,
Ella Mae, Fuller, Minnie, Lewis, Inez, Roy, Charles (Feller).
There are a host of nephews and nieces in both Germany and
Ellijay. The Ellijay family helped organize his graveside me
morial to was held at Yukon Cemetery on Saturday, March
26, at 1 p.m., with Pastor Daniel Reece officiating. Terry and
Eva Reece provided special music. The U.S. Army provided
taps and presented the American flag to the family. The mil
itary gun salute was given by the Disabled American Veter
ans, Chapter 47, Pickens County. Pallbearers were members
of the family: Larry Davis, Roy Reece, Jr., James Wright,
Russ Bailey, Travis Davis, Kolbie Reece and Michael Reece.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant
Union Baptist Church, c/o Charles Hammontree, 286 Mc
Clain Mountain Road, Jasper, Georgia 30143.
Bernhardt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrange
ments.
Paul Lindsey
Mr. Samuel "Paul" Lind
sey, 82, of Talking Rock,
passed away on Friday, April
1st, 2022 at the Northside
Cherokee Hospital.
Mr. Lindsey was born
January 11th, 1940 in Pick
ens County, the son of the
late Sam and Maureen Hen
derson Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey
was a graduate of Pickens
High Class of 1958. He
served his country in the
United States Air Force for
four years. Mr. Lindsey was
a Meat Cutter for over 45
Years. He was also of the
Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Eloise Lindsey; sisters, Elise
Jones of Orlando, FL and Janelle Walker of Jasper; special
friend, David Tippens; and several nieces and nephews also
survive.
A Graveside service was held on Sunday, April 3rd, 2022
at 2 p.m. from the Cross Roads Baptist Church in Pickens
County with Rev. Autry Dean officiating. Pallbearers will be
David Tippens, Chris Tippens, Michael Tippens, Roger Pend-
ley, Chad Carlan, and Roger Henderson.
Bernhardt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Phillip Vaughn
Phillip Vaughn, 36, of Canton, Georgia passed away Mon
day, March 28, 2022. No services are planned at this time.
Care and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper Funerals
and Cremations. 706-253-5060 www.intheirhonor.com
Martha Cash
Martha Cash, 66, of Jasper, Georgia passed away Tuesday,
March 29, 2022. No services are planned at this time. Care
and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper Funerals and
Cremations. 706-253-5060 www.intheirhonor.com
John Porter
John Franklin Porter, a
United States Air Force Vet
eran, 73, of Dawsonville, Geor
gia passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022. No services are
planned at this time. Care and trust placed with In Their
Honor of Jasper Funerals and Cremations. 706-253-5060
www.intheirhonor.com
Carole Davis
August 12, 1944 - April 1,
2022
Mrs. Carole Dobbs Davis,
77, of Jasper, Georgia passed
away Friday April 1, 2022 at
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.
She was a loving wife and
mother, married to Jerry for
57 years. Carole & Jerry
have been mentors, adoptive
parents to many young people over
itive influence. Carole has fought the good fight of faith and
won the race after a long battle with cancer.
She was bom August 12, 1944 to the late James Willis and
Martha Aline (Burt) Dobbs in Kennesaw, Georgia.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Davis; daughter &
son-in-law, Leslie & Phil Wilkie; son & daughter-in-law,
Chip & Ashley Davis; grandchildren, P J & Lauren Wilkie,
Clay & Peighton Wilkie and Trip Davis; great-grandson,
Philip Jerry Wilkie, III; brother, Jacky Dobbs, sister-in-law;
Patricia Dobbs, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Jack &
Helen Davis, Mary & Paul King, Frances Young, Elizabeth
& Steve Chance, Nephew, Robert Dobbs, many other nieces,
nephews, cousins, and other relatives also survive.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 4th,
2022 at Roper Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lee Gaddis
officiating. Interment followed in the Macedonia Memorial
Park: 10655 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, GA 30115.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
providing a pos-
Myrtle Rich
Myrtle Rich, 91, of Big Canoe, Georgia passed away
Monday, March 28, 2022. No services are planned at this
time. Care and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper Fu
nerals and Cremations. 706-253-5060 www.intheirhonor.com
Mary Frances
McPherson
January 18, 1948 -
March 30, 2022
Ms. Mary Frances
McPherson, 74, of Jasper,
passed away Wednesday,
March 30, 2022 at Piedmont
Mountainside Hospital.
Ms. McPherson is sur
vived by her son, John Eu
gene McPherson; daughters
and sons-in-law, Debbie Ann
& Tex Byess, Norma Jean McPherson, and Audrea & Donnie
Fountain; brother and sister-in-law, Robert Leon & Nancy
Hales; eight grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; sev
eral nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, John P. Hales;
mother, Diller Hales, and sister, Willie Mae Mulkey.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2,
2022 at Cagle Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Stanley
Mulkey, Rev. Bobby McFarland, and Rev. Bobby Timms, of
ficiating.
Interment was at Sunrise Memorial Gardens, following
the funeral service.
Pallbearers: Jacob Byess, Anthony Chastain, J.J. Cantrell,
Robbie Hales, Mitchell Hales, and Matthew Young.
Cagle Funeral Home is honored to serve the McPherson
family.
Kemp signs mental health overhaul bill
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA - Gov. Brian
Kemp signed legislation
Monday aimed at pulling
Georgia off the bottom
among state rankings for ac
cess to mental-health serv
ices.
"Today has been a long
time coming," Kemp said
during a signing ceremony
inside the Georgia Capitol.
"This ultimate outcome is ex
actly what we hoped for."
House Bill 1013, which
the General Assembly passed
unanimously, stems from the
recommendations of a com
mission of legal and mental
health experts created in
2019.
The legislation, House
Speaker David Ralston's top
priority for this year's ses
sion, includes a parity provi
sion requiring insurance
companies to cover mental
illness the same as physical
illness. The parity require
ment also applies to Geor
gia's Medicaid and
PeachCare for Kids pro
grams, and to the State
Health Benefit Plan.
The bill also requires care
management organizations
(CMOs) participating in
Attention
Seniors
Come join other senior
citizens to play the card game
Pinochle at the Pickens Sen
ior Center open each week
day from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Georgia Medicaid to dedicate
at least 85% of their revenues
to patient care. And it estab
lishes a service-cancelable
loan program to address a
workforce shortage by offer
ing loan forgiveness to sev
eral types of mental-health
specialists as well as pri
mary-care physicians.
Failure was not an op
tion," said Ralston, R-Blue
Ridge. "The status quo had to
go."
Ralston said the legisla
tion is backed by $183 mil
lion in the fiscal 2023 state
budget dedicated to helping
the Georgia Department of
Behavioral Health and De
velopment Disabilities im
plement the bill's provisions.
"Georgia is making a
transformational commit
ment to improving health
care," the speaker said.
"House Bill 1013 is one of
the rare moments I will re
member for a lifetime,"
added Lt. Gov. Geoff Dun
can, who helped steer the bill
through the Senate as its pre
siding officer. "The cumula
tive good this bill will do is
immeasurable."
The Behavioral Health
Reform and Innovation Com
mission will continue its
work after the mental health
reform bill takes effect. The
measure authorizes the panel
to continue meeting and de
veloping suggestions for fu
ture legislation through June
30, 2025.
This story is available
through a news partnership with
Capitol Beat News Service, a
project of the Georgia Press Ed
ucational Foundation.
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