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PAGE 10A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 9. 2023
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From the Progress files
Turning Back
The Pages
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YEARS
Thursday, January 15, 1998
‘Jasper Rotary names “Daughter of
the Year”
The Jasper Rotary Club is proud
to announce that Miss Sandra Melena
Ibarra from Garranquilla, Colombia is
our “Daughter of the Year.”
Miss Ibarra is a student at Reinhardt
College and plans a career as an executive in a multinational
business. As a member of the National Honor Society she
comes to America with a long list of credits and achieve
ments.
The Ibarra’s are a close knit family whose basic values tran
scend the common family unity of today. The Rotarians are
happy to have such a special person and look forward to
learning more of her country from her as she learns from us.
YEARS
Thursday, January 25, 1973:
‘Nixon announces Vietnam
/ 1 Ceasefire’ The Progress, being a
r ) I / county newspaper, seldom notes national
or international news unless it directly
affects the citizens of the county and the
Progress feels that the announcement of
the cease fire by the president does have
a meaning for Pickens County.
Tuesday night President Nixon
announced that a peace plan for Vietnam and Southeast Asia
has been worked out by North Vietnam, South Vietnam, the
United States and its allies. The actual cease-fire will not take
place until this Saturday, January 27. The prisoners of war
held by the Viet Cong and those missing in action will be ac
counted for insofar as possible.
Pickens County has sent its share of young men to the war
area and while one lost his life there, several returned
wounded.
‘Passing Lanes for Highway 5 South’ : By this summer
travel on Highway 5 South should be more pleasant and
speeded up some what when passing lanes are put into use
from Jasper to Nelson.
A legal advertisement from the State Department of Trans
portation for bids to construct the passing lanes is being car
ried in this week’s paper. The bids will be opened on February
9 and there will be 75 available days to complete the work.
Similar passing lanes have been constructed from Marietta
to Canton and it is expected that such lanes will be built in
the near future from Canton to Nelson.
Plans are pending to continue the construction of the special
passing lanes north to the Gilmer County line.
YEARS
Thursday, January 29, 1948:
‘Fat Men Vs. Leans in Basketball Game’: The fat men will
play the leans in the high school gymna-
/ -T~\ sium on Saturday night, February 7, at
y / 7:30. All proceeds will be used in the
Polio fund drive. All spectators and play
ers will pay to enter the gym, as this
money will be used for a noble cause.
There will be three short games. The
Methodist ladies will play the Baptist in
curtain raiser. A fat and lean game will
come next between boys the age of Paul Prather, Doyle
Mosley, J.W. Dyer, Clyde Wood, John Ballew, H.L. Turner,
J.S. Darnell, Carter Burgess, Will Poole, H.E. Chastain, Tobe
Jones, Paul Robinette, Claud Wheeler, A.C. Moore, “Hick”
Allen, Tom Holley and Jack Adams.
Another game will be played between men like Jay Mosley,
Earl Griffeth, H.D. Mosley, Freddie Stancil, Ed Harris, Glenn
Burgess, J.B. Norris, J.L. White, Ernest Mabry, John Cole
man, “Snooks” Howard, Buddy Pickett, John Vissage, Lee
Wheeler and M.T. McMurrain.
Do not fail to read the Progress next week, as complete line
ups and officials will be announced.
‘Treatment available for all Polio Cases’: Mr. Fred Botts,
registrar of the Warm Springs Foundation and formerly with
the Metropolitan Opera Company, addressed the Jasper Lions
Club last Thursday night in behalf of the campaign to raise
funds to carry on the fight against infantile paralysis. Mr.
Botts told the audience that there is now absolutely no reason
why any child afflicted with the malady should not have
prompt and efficient treatment whether they were able to pay
or not. That not only were the facilities of Warm Springs open
to them, but that the foundation had contacts with other hos
pitals over the country.
The foundation is financed by the annual March of Dimes,
and surely everybody will want to do their part. Remember
half the money remains in your home county for the benefit
of your or your neighbor’s children if they should be stricken
by the dread disease.
Mr. Botts and President Roosevelt were the first two pa
tients treated at Warm Springs.
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Obituaries
Lawton Baggs
David Lawton Baggs,
88, of Jasper died February
5, 2023, after an extended
illness.
Born in Blackshear,
Georgia, in 1934, he was
the son of Ralph and Cleo
Baggs and the eldest of nine
children. He was pre-de
ceased by his parents, his
wife Maxine Baggs, to
whom he was married for 56 years, and siblings, Emory
Baggs, Marion Baggs, Stanford Baggs and Melba Baggs
Walters.
As a youngster, Mr. Baggs lived in McIntosh, Liberty,
Wayne and Pierce counties. After spending his youth work
ing on farms and in tobacco fields, he graduated from Black-
shear High School and attended Young Harris College, from
which he earned a teaching degree. He would later earn mul
tiple advanced graduate degrees in education from the Uni
versity of Georgia.
After graduating from Young Harris, Mr. Baggs began a
career in public education that spanned 50 years and in
cluded working as both a classroom teacher and a school ad
ministrator. He worked in school systems in Pierce,
Lumpkin, Forsyth, Pickens and Cherokee counties. He was
a former principal of Pickens High School and a former
Cherokee County Teacher of the Year. He was instrumental
in developing one of the early career education curriculums
for the state in the late 1960s and was among the first group
of teachers for P.E.C.E (Program for Educational Career Ex
ploration). His career in education touched the lives of thou
sands of people.
Mr. Baggs moved to the Pickens County area in 1973 and
became active in many community events and worthy
causes. He was an ardent supporter of the Marble Valley
Friends and was honored with induction into that group’s
Hall of Fame in 2017. He was active in the Jasper Lions Club
for many years, and was one of the founding members of the
Pickens County Service Club. He was an active member of
the Tater Patch players for several years, and once wrote a
play about the founding of Ball Ground which was per
formed as part of a historic celebration. He also served as a
member of the county’s library board. And on more than one
occasion he entertained those in attendance at Jasper’s an
nual Christmas celebration by reading “T’was the Night Be
fore Christmas” to the crowd.
A passionate believer in volunteering, he helped raise
money for dozens of worthy causes, sold thousands of char
ity raffle tickets, manned concession stands, volunteered for
traffic control, helped at food pantries, sold and delivered
onions, collected used eyeglasses, worked with youth
groups, and gave of his time in dozens of additional ways
for the betterment of the community.
He served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and
Benevolence Committee member at Cool Springs Church.
He loved to feed people, and often was found directing
the efforts of those cooking for fundraising efforts, as well
as hosting an annual community barbecue at his home for
more than 40 years in conjunction with neighbor Ed
Stephens.
More than anything, he relished time spent with family,
from huge family reunions to simple “Sunday lunches with
Pa,” he savored every minute spent with those he loved.
He is survived by sons, Norman (Brennice) Baggs of
Sugar Hill, and Kenton (Stephanie) Baggs of Jasper; a
brother, Gerald Baggs of Brunswick; sisters, Joyce Waters
of Brunswick, Glenda Baggs of Blackshear, and Barbara
(Doug) Maple of Cedar Key, Florida; mother-in-law, Marie
D. Holt of Ellijay; grandchildren, Thor Baggs, Karina Haney,
Alexa Baggs of Jasper; step-grandchildren, Jamie Hall of
Jersey, Cansey Cash Contreras of Flowery Branch; great
grandchildren, Cydney Haney of Jasper, TK Haney of Jasper,
Kasey Jackson of Sugar Hill, Hannah Cash of Sugar Hill,
Lucia Cash of Sugar Hill; great-great-grandchildren,
Kennedy Jackson of Sugar Hill and Conrad Jackson of Sugar
Hill. Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law also survive.
The family will host visitors at Roper Funeral Home in
Jasper on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 6 p.m. until 9
p.m. Services will be at the funeral home on Thursday, Feb
ruary 9, 2023 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marble
Valley Friends or Cool Springs Baptist Church in Tate.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
Jodi Lillard
Jodi D. Lillard, age 25,
of Pickens County, passed
away Thursday, January 26,
2023 at Piedmont Moun
tainside Hospital. She was
born January 14, 1998 to
Jeff and Regina Lillard in
Jasper.
Jodi is survived by her
father and step-mother, Jeff
and Diane Lillard of
Ranger; brothers, Jesse Lillard of Ranger, Josh Lillard (Viv)
of Jasper, Joey Lillard (Amanda) of Ellijay, Jeremy Lillard
of Ranger, Jeffery Lillard of Ranger; step-sister, Heather
Kirby (Josh) of Carrollton; step-brothers, Ty Benedict
(Teresa) of Powder Springs, Matt Benedict (Liz) of Crabap-
ple; grandmother, Susie Smith of Dahlonega; three
nephews; and eight nieces.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Regina Smith
Lillard.
Services were held at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 5, 2023
in the Chapel of Roper Funeral Home with Pastor Will Tay
lor officiating.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
Frederick Monsoar
Frederick A. Monsour, 77, an Army Veteran of Canton,
Georgia passed away on January 20th, 2023.
Inurnment will take place at Georgia National Cemetery
at a later date.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
Dan Huth
Dan (Chandler) Huth of
Bent Tree, passed peacefully
on 02/07/23, at age 84. He
was born in Valders, WI
(12/04/1938), and raised on
Anna Maria Island, FL.
He had a lifelong career
in radio, TV, movies and
commercials. He was insa
tiably curious, and loved
learning. He was an avid
reader, writer, song writer and photographer. He enjoyed vol
unteering and was a supporter of The Boys and Girls Clubs
and the Community Thrift Store. He lived an amazing life,
helped many people and families, was a beloved husband,
father and grandfather, and a mentor, counselor and friend
to those who knew him. He will be greatly missed, but
friends and family know he is finally at rest with The Lord.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Penny, his brother
John, his two sons (Brian and Paul), and four grandsons
(Dallas, Judson, Spencer, and Robert). If you wish to remem
ber Dan, please contribute to The Boys and Girls Club of
Jasper. No services are planned at this time.
Ronny Forrester
Ronny B. Forrester, 78,
of Jasper, Georgia passed
away Saturday, February 4,
2023 at Piedmont Mountain
side Hospital. He was pre
ceded in death by his
parents, Wendom and Oshie
Bryan Forrester. Mr. For
rester retired from the Geor
gia Marble Company.
Survivors include his
wife, Mamie Forrester; son and daughter-in-law; David and
Carol Ann Forrester of Jasper; grandchildren, Isabella Grace
Forrester, Sara Alice Forrester of Jasper, and Jacob; sisters-
in-law, Rebecca Forrester and Colleen Mullinax. Several
nieces also survive.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m., Monday, February 6th at
the Chapel of Roper Funeral Home with Reverend Alan Day
officiating.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorial con
tributions be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory.
LeRoy Wilson
November 22, 1943 -
February 4, 2023
LeRoy "Lee" Joseph Wil
son passed away February
4th, 2023, with family by his
side after a brief illness.
Lee was bom to Reginald
and Angeline Wilson on No
vember 22, 1943, in Milwau
kee, WI, graduating from
Rufus King High School in 1961 and University of Wiscon-
sin-Milwaukee in 1969.
Lee is survived by his wife Evelyn "Vicki" of 29 years,
daughter Laura Murdaugh (Trey) of Charleston, SC, son
David Wilson (Amanda) of Nashville, TN, his sister, Mary
Krohn of Reading, PA, three grandchildren Thomas Hudson
Wilson, Ellie Starr Murdaugh, and Grace Leah Murdaugh.
He is preceded in death by his twin brother Leslie "Les"
Wilson, brother Tom Wilson (Mary), and sister Joan Scher-
rer.
Lee started his career with IBM while still in college. This
3rd shift internship turned into a lifelong career that eventu
ally brought him to Marietta, Georgia. He retired after 36
years with IBM as the Director of Education and Instruc
tional Design. He enjoyed the game of golf and spent many
hours on his home course in Bent Tree. This course was a
love of his and he dedicated many hours working to enhance
the course features.
The funeral will be held Friday, February 10th at 11 a.m.
at Fellowship Presbyterian Church, at 389 Bent Tree Dr.
Jasper, GA 30143, with a luncheon to follow at Bent Tree's
Club Tamarack.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lee's
name to The Alzheimer Foundation or the Bent Tree Benev
olent Fund.
Cagle Funeral Home is honored to serve the Wilson fam
ily.
T.C. Childers Jr.
April 17, 1990-
January 31, 2023
Mr. T.C. Childers, 32, of
Jasper, passed away Tues
day, January 31, 2023 at
Piedmont Mountainside
Hospital.
Mr. Childers is survived
by his mother and stepfa
ther, Patricia & Gary Hall of
Ranger; father, Tony Craig Childers, Sr. of Jasper; brothers,
Noah Childers of Ranger, and Jeremy Childers of Ranger;
sisters and brothers-in-law, Shelby & Jerry Lindsay of
Jasper, Brittany & Bobby Buttrum of Jasper, and Megan
Voyles of Jasper; grandmothers, Pearlean Childers, and
Bertha Mahan; uncles, Sidney Mahan, Wilburn Childers, and
Phil Childers; aunt, Brenda Mahan.
He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Tommy
Voyles.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February
4, 2023 at Cagle Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Joseph
Hightower and Annette Cross, officiating.
Interment was at Ludville Church of Jesus Christ Ceme
tery, following the funeral service.
Pallbearers: Jerry Lindsay, Bobby Buttrum, Jon Schell,
Sidney Mahan, Russell Schell, and Collin Lindsay. Honorary
pallbearers: James Chumley and Josh Beck.
Cagle Funeral Home is honored to serve the Childers
family.
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Obituaries continue on Page 11A