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PAGE 6A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MAY 26. 2022
Obituaries
Gale Archer
Ms. Gale Chambers
Archer entered into eternal
rest on May 16th, 2022.
She was a 67 year old res
ident of Jasper, Georgia. She
enjoyed traveling, caring for
her poodle Zeb, conversa
tions with her special friend
James, and spending time
with her family & friends.
Ms. Archer was preceded
in death by her daughter, Jen
nifer Pruitt; husband, Richard Archer; parents, Jack & Char
lotte Chambers; Brother, Ray Chambers; Sisters, Eva May
Pruitt & Patsy Callahan. She is survived and mourned by her
son, Charles Jeffery McClure (Michelle Grant); sons by heart,
Ken Archer (Heather Archer), Daniel Archer; grandchildren,
Zac Childers, Leon Pruitt, Blake McClure, Jade Pruitt, & Kati
McClure; Great Granddaughter, Yarra Pruitt; beloved nieces
& nephews; many family members; and treasured friends.
There will be a celebration of life in her memory for family
on a date yet to be determined. John 11:25
Rest in Heaven
Qolc ckrixw
John 1135 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he
Gladys Jones
Mrs. Gladys Patterson
Jones, 96, formerly of Cal
houn, Georgia, died at John
F. Keever Solace Center in
Asheville, North Carolina on
May 19, 2022 following sev
eral years of declining health.
Born in Pickens County,
Georgia on March 17, 1926,
the daughter of the late
Arthur Hugh and Lula Belle
Carroll Patterson, she moved to Calhoun, Georgia in 1946,
shortly before marrying her husband, James Martin (J. M.)
Jones. In 1968 they moved to Marietta, Georgia, where she
lived for the next fifty years after she and J.M. had resided in
Columbus, Georgia, El Paso, Texas, and Fairmount, Georgia.
Resourceful and industrious, Gladys first began working
during her youth on her father’s 160-acre farm in Ludville,
Georgia, then as a B-29 riveter with Belle Aircraft in Marietta
during World War II, as a chief cook at the restaurant she and
J.M. owned in Fairmount, and at several textile mills in Cal
houn. Throughout this period she served her family as a full
time homemaker, as a loving mother to her six children, and
as a dedicated caregiver to her husband after his service-con
nected disability. She ended her working career as a sales rep
resentative at Rich’s Department Store in Marietta after her
children were grown, retiring in 1995.
Gladys never met a stranger, was revered by those who
knew her, and adored by her children and grandchildren, all
of whom affectionately referred to her as Granny. She always
had a smile on her face and was quick with a laugh or hug.
Friends and family often visited her at mealtime, not only to
enjoy her down-home cooking, but also to experience her im
mense love and youthful sense of humor. Pure at heart, she
never indulged in alcohol or tobacco, married only once, and
was forever faithful to her beloved J.M. A long-time member
of Ball Creek Baptist Church in Pickens County, Georgia, she
was a devout Christian with a strong faith and belief in a here
after where she could reunite with her loved ones. In her
words, she had hope.
In addition to her parents, Gladys was preceded in death
by her husband of 36 years, J. M. Jones; a son, Roger Jones;
two grandchildren, Sarah Alison and Miles Benjamin Smith;
five sisters, Lois Carver, Faye Clark, Geraldine Johnson,
Odelle Silvers, Ella Patterson, and Annie Ruth Garlin ; and
five brothers, Luther, Elbert, Arthur Lee, Alfred, and Lloyd
Patterson.
Survivors include her two daughters, Freida Reaid
(Danny) of Asheville, NC, and Paula Smith (Harry) of
Gainsville, GA; three sons, Marty Jones (Anne) of Gumming,
GA; Ron Jones (Sherry) of Simpsonville, SC; and, Rob Jones
(Sherry) of Greensboro, GA; 13 grandchildren, 26 great
grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Ponders Calhoun Chapel at
2 p.m. on May 22, 2022 with Reverend Nathan Smith offici
ating. Interment followed in the Pleasant Grove (Ryo) Com
munity Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pon-
dersfuneralhome.com.
Donnie Copher III
Donald Ray "Donnie" Copher III, 36, of Dalton, Georgia
passed away Saturday, May 14, 2022 at his home. He was a
purchasing agent for North Georgia Millwright.
Donnie is survived by his mother and step-father, Sharon
and Warren Smith of Jasper; father, Don Copher of Califor
nia; son, Jameson Copher of Jasper; brothers, Dalton Smith
of Dalton, Brandon Smith of Rydal; grandparents, Donald
and Wanda Copher of California.
Russell Palmer
Russell Palmer, 86, a United States Navy Veteran, of
Jasper, GA, passed away Tuesday, May 17,2022. No services
at this time. Care and trust placed with In Their Honor of
Jasper Funerals and Cremations.
Martha Pruitt
Martha Pruitt, 72, of Canton, GA, passed away Thursday,
May 12, 2022. Arrangements will be announced later. Care
and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper Funerals and
Cremations.
John Bauer
John Bauer, 75, a United States Air Force Veteran, of El-
lijay, GA, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2022. No serv
ices are planned at this time. Care and trust placed with In
Their Honor of Jasper Funerals and Cremations.
Miki Roth
June 1, 1928-May 7, 2022
The world lost a remark
able woman on May 7, 2022,
when Joan “Miki” Molitor
Roth, a 32-year resident of
Big Canoe, Ga., left us to
dance with the angels. Miki
had a brilliant mind, was cu
rious about the world and
people, and was a loving,
creative mother.
Her greatest gift was
using imaginative approaches to teach hundreds of children
to read. She worked as a special reading teacher in DeKalb
County schools, where she became one of the first educators
in the nation to program Apple computers to help teach read
ing skills. She later organized a reading tutoring program in
Pickens County Schools though the Literacy Volunteers of
Pickens County, tutoring students and teaching others to
bring the love of the written word to countless more children.
This endeavor was cut short when she lost much of her sight
to macular degeneration.
While books were her most profound passion, she spent a
lifetime exploring interests in art, music, religion, culture,
cooking, sewing, quilting, gardening, puppetry and scrap-
booking. She was an avid PBS viewer, played the guitar and
piano, spoke five languages, and had a fondness for cookies,
avocados and silly children’s books. She received her mas
ter’s degree from Georgia State University and her bachelor’s
degree from The Ohio State University. She also attended
Queens College.
Miki was bom in New York City in 1928, but lived the
life of an Army “brat” in bases across the United States, as
well as in post-World War II Europe. She studied art in
Copenhagen, Denmark; hosted a Red Cross radio show in
Trieste, Italy; learned to ski in the mountains of Gorizia, Italy;
and taught nursery school in Baumholder, Germany. On a
blind date in Nuremberg, she met her beloved husband Ray
and launched a life with a shared love of travel that encom
passed small town adventures and international excursions.
Once retired at Big Canoe, she accompanied him in the cart
on golf outings, entertaining herself by collecting thousands
of wayward golf balls hit out of bounds.
Although she led an adventurous life, she found a place
to call home after she and Ray retired to Big Canoe. Her most
fulfilling personal experience was finding community and
dear friends at the Big Canoe Chapel where she immersed
herself in Bible study and came to further embrace the teach
ings of Jesus Christ.
Miki is survived by her daughter Miranda “Mandy” Roth
and son-in-law Simeon Smith of Sandy Springs, whose 2010
marriage happily expanded the family to include grown
grandchildren, Andrew Smith and Julia Dragni; Julia’s hus
band Andrei; and their children, Alina and Andrei. She is also
survived by her sister Mary “Mimi” Jalbert; nieces Michele
Jalbert and Kristen Jalbert, all of Little Compton, Rhode Is
land; and cousin, Lisa Molitor Gearen and her husband Peter
Gearen, MD, of Gainesville, Florida. Miki is predeceased by
her husband Raymond E. Roth; daughter Gretchen Roth; her
parents, General Eric Spencer Molitor and Katherine Witts
Foulks Molitor; as well as her brother-in-law Donald Jalbert.
A memorial service will be held at Big Canoe Chapel at
11 a.m. on Friday, June 17.
Carla Holt
Carla Annette Blackwell
Holt went to be with the Lord
on May 20, 2022.
She was born on Septem
ber 9, 1962 in Marietta,
Georgia. Annette was pre
ceded in death by her father,
Frank Blackwell; father and
mother-in-law, Brad and
Stella Holt; and sister-in-law,
Nancy Cowart.
Annette had previously been employed by Etowah Bank
in Canton; self-employed in home childcare and as a house
cleaner where she made many close relationships due to her
great work ethic and attention to detail. That caring attitude
came from her devotion to God and her Christian life, as she
served her Lord at the Canton, Woodstock, Northside Jasper
and Ellijay Church of Christ congregations. Teaching and
caring for those around her was her example of a virtuous
woman. To say she will be greatly missed is surely a gross
understatement.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Clayton Holt;
daughters, Amanda (Nathan) Bagwell, Bethany (Jonathan)
Knill; grandchildren, Jocelyn Bagwell, Kiley and Joanna
Knill; sister, Rachael (Garry) Hensley; mother, Peggy Black-
well; uncle, Dan (Iva) Keown; aunt, Rachel Morris; broth-
ers-in-law, Jim (Jody) Holt, Jack Cowart; sister-in-law,
Cyndy (John) Notch; nieces, Kala (Anthony) Messer, Melissa
(Michael) Butler, Katherine and Nancy Smith; nephews, Ran
dall (Melissa) Cowart and Nicholas Holt; many great-nieces
and great-nephews, and many dear friends.
A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. at the Ellijay
Church of Christ on Saturday, May 28, 2022 with Ministers
Jeremy Green and Tim Hall officiating. Congregational
singing will be led by Shannon Bearden and Tim Hensley.
Visitation with the family will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
The family wishes to acknowledge and give thanks for all
the prayers, food and assistance showered upon her by her
Church Family, Friends, and the amazing folks at Georgia
Mountains Hospice and the Georgia ALS Association during
her health battle.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Georgia
Mountains Hospice or the ALS Foundation.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
• Custom Embroidery
• Direct to Garment Printing
• Family Clothing Store
C£L Enterprises, Talking Rock, fra
706-299-3149
Licensed: Pickens County Registered: Georgia
Marianne Woltmon
Passed into the Hands of
our Lord May 6, 2022, after
a lengthy illness in Talking
Rock, Ga, surrounded by her
family.
Marianne was bom in
Bakersfield, CA, and was
adopted and much indulged
by Milam (Shorty) and Mil
lie Houldridge. Marianne, or
“Mom” as she was known to
so many, loved her children,
friends, and dancing. She placed the interests of her children
ahead of all else and leaves behind daughters Peggy Gille-
land, Judy Rasmussen, Diane Trepper-Gilleland, and Linda
Bolen. She has also five grandchildren and six great-grand
children. Marianne also leaves behind a much larger circle
of friends that will remember her vivacious spirit and gen
erosity. She lives on in the hearts and minds of all who met
her.
Mazie Melton
Mazie Nell Melton, 86, of
Jasper, Georgia passed away
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at
The Retreat in Jasper.
She was born December
9, 1935 to Grady and Hester
Smith in Forrest County,
Mississippi. She was married
to the late Ottis Melton and a
member of Petal Harvey
Baptist Church in Missis
sippi.
Mazie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael
and Lauren Melton of Big Canoe, Georgia; daughter and son-
in-law, Kristi and Paul Bowman of Johnson City, Tennessee;
grandchildren, Heather Wood, Chance Melton, Susannah
Melton, Jackson Melton, Taryn Estes, Aidan Estes; and five
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Hes
ter Smith; husband, Ottis Melton; and son, David Melton.
Funeral services were held in Mississippi.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
Robert
Countryman
Robert Neil Countryman
departed this world on May
15, 2022. He was bom on
February 12, 1947, in Walla
Walla, Washington. The son
of a Methodist minister, he
moved frequently with his
father, mother, and two
brothers.
After earning his bache
lor’s degree from Puget Sound University, he went on to
achieve his master’s in theatre and set design at Wayne State
University. Eventually settling in Pickens County, he and his
wife Emily purchased a farm on the west end of the county.
Together they raised 10 children and more animals than any
one can count.
A lifelong Methodist, Bob could be found on Sunday
mornings at JUMC, “making a joyful noise” which he would
describe as “well, certainly a noise.” During the months pre
ceding his death, he would watch services from his laptop.
One of Bob’s fondest hopes was achieved in February
2011, when Tater patch Players purchased the building that
is now a theatre located at 95 Philadelphia Lane in Jasper,
Georgia. The transformation was inspired by the leadership
and guidance of then Tater Patch President, Bob.
A true Renaissance man (previously a hippy), and an
artist, he would use his voice, imagination and technical
knowledge to bring stories to life. Bob was a consummate
teacher with a quick wit, a deep laugh and a mischievous grin.
Bob made a career first as a homebuilder, having designed
and constructed many homes in Lake Arrowhead then tran
sitioned in home inspection. The final years before retire
ment, he taught technical theatre at North Forsyth High
School. When he wasn’t working, he was active in the
church’s UMM group, as well as the local beekeeping soci
ety.
Robert was preceded in death by his father Reverend Ken
neth Countryman, and his mother, Edith Allen Countryman.
He is deeply mourned by his wife Emily, his children Tracey,
Travis(Star), Christin, Janet, Miriam, Daniel, Emmanuel,
Edith, Hannah and Ellie; his brothers and their wives, Ken-
neth(Marcia), John(Laurie); and his grandchildren Aspen and
Andie Countryman, Katie and Wesley Houck, Anthony
Countryman and Silas Evans.
A lifetime student of Shakespeare, one of his favorite lines
from Hamlet now seems fitting;
“Now cracks a noble heart. Goodnight, sweet prince, and
flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Mahria Smith
Mahria Smith, 72, of Jasper, GA, passed away Friday,
May 20, 2022. Arrangements will be announced later. Care
and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper Funerals and
Cremations.
Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges, 79, a United States Air Force Veteran, of
Talking Rock, GA, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Arrangements will be announced later. Care and trust placed
with In Their Honor of Jasper Funerals and Cremations.
Keep Nature Natural
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