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PAGE 10A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 16. 2023
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From the Progress files
Turning Back
The Pages
V.
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Obituaries
Willie Mae Mullinax
Compiled by Intern Reporter Elbe Pool
Thursday, January 29, 1998:
School board members face charges
for violating open meeting laws.
School board meeting prior to tax hike
may have been illegal.
Three members of the Pickens
County Board of Education were
charged Tuesday with violating the
state’s open meetings law for a private meeting on Dec. 11
where this year’s tax and millage rates were likely discussed,
but two members of the board are saying the charges are a
politically motivated set-up.
Jerry Ingram, Frank Riddick and Jacob Waller are accused
of “knowingly and willingly attending and participating in a
meeting at the Pickens County Board of Education on De
cember 11, 1997 in violation of the Georgia Open Meetings
Act,” according to the warrants issued by the district attor
ney’s office.
Speaking later Tuesday in the offices of their attorney Ed
Marger, board members Waller and Riddick both said the
charges are politically motivated.
Riddick said, the charges are retribution partly because they
gave a poor evaluation to the Superintendent and partly be
cause the board denied a higher job to another school admin
istrator who felt he had been promised the job earlier.
Waller agreed that it had been “a set up.”
“It’s an embarrassment and I’m sure it was meant to be an
embarrassment,” he said. “However I don’t feel we have done
anything wrong.”
60
YEARS
aao
Thursday, February 1, 1973:
After 34
years H.E.
Chastain
retires from
Extension
Service’
H.E. Chastain is retiring this week after 34 years with the
Cooperative Extension Service.
The long-time county agent and district leader began his
Extension career in Catoosa County in 1939. After serving
two years there as assistant county agent, he was county agent
in Pickens County eight years and in Gilmer County eight
years.
In Gilmer County, Chastain was a pioneer in community
improvement work in rural areas, and two of his communi
ties- Board Town and Town Creek- were first place winners
in the community development program sponsored by the At
lanta Chamber of Commerce.
It was also in Gilmer that County Agent Chastain led his
farmers in making commonplace a crop yield which was “un
heard of’ only a few years before. His educational program
in com helped many of his growers become the earliest and
most successful members of the old Georgia 100 Bushel
Club.
Chastain also kept his broiler growers and egg producers
abreast of the booming north Georgia poultry industry and
conducted educational meetings, demonstrations and tours to
disseminate information on management and growing prac
tices. He did the same for apple growers in his county and
contributed to Gilmer’s present status as the No. 1 apple-pro
ducing county in the state. His achievements also include an
outstanding pasture development program which enabled pro
ducers to increase numbers and quality of livestock.
Because of his record as county agent, Chastain was called
to the state extension officer in 1956 to be district agent chair
man in the 26-county North District. He became district agent
for the Northeast area in 1969, and last year - when the Ex
tension Service was reorganized and dis
trict lines redrawn - he became district
agent chairman in the larger East district.
A native of Rabun County and a graduate
of Colbert High School, Chastain has two
degrees from the University of Georgia.
After earning the bachelor of science in
1936, he went back and completed re
quirements for the B.S. in agriculture,
which he received two years later.
He taught vocational agriculture at Dawsonville for a year
before moving to Catoosa County with the Extension Serv
ice.
Thursday, February 5, 1948:
‘Future Farmers of America Organize Program’:
The Pickens County potato curing house operated by the
F.F.A. department of Pickens County High School had one of
its most successful years, storing around 2,000 bushels of
number one and number two sweet potatoes.
This potato curing program was started three years ago by
the F.F.A. Department to assure a year round supply of sweet
potatoes for the home and local market: This program is now
accomplishing its original purpose.
The potato curing house is open on the first and third Sat
urdays of each month. Potatoes may be bought at the house
if you so desire.
The Pickens County Community Canning Plant was organ
ized for the purpose of assuring a year round supply of veg
etables, fruits and meats. The other purposes of the canning
plant was to teach people to can under pressure in tin cans
and glass jars.
This program has also gone a long ways in accomplishing
its purpose. More than 165,000 cans processed in the plant
last season. There are several hand sealers for tin cans now
being used in the county.
The canning plant will operate on Friday, February 13,
1948. This may be the last canning day until spring. Prepare
your meats for canning on that date.
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E. Chastain Retires
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On February 7, 2023, Jesus opened the gates to welcome
Willie Mae Mullinax, age 91, of the Hinton Community. She
looked out the window from her hospital bed and the beau
tiful blue sky and said, “What a beautiful day to go to
Heaven.”
Willie Mae’s roots were deep in the Hinton community
as she was raised there by her parents Hayden and Bertha
Ray. She and her siblings Herbert Ray, Herman Ray, and
Azzie Lee Silvers told many stories over the years of grow
ing up in that special place. She continued to foster that love
with her kids and grandkids who all have special memories
there. Also known as Maw Maw and Granny to her family,
she loved her family with an unconditional love like no other.
Her happiest moments were spent cooking the best home-
cooked meals and her “world famous” biscuits and peach
cobbler. You could walk in her home and always be wel
comed. Christmas in Hinton was a most special time in her
home with her love of decorating and cooking. But on
Christmas Eve of 2013, she lost the love ofher life, to whom
she was married to for 63 years, Charles Marvin Mullinax.
Christmas was never the same after that until this year. She
wanted it to be special. She gave people things to keep in re
membrance ofher. She had a feeling that it would be her last
Christmas here on Earth.
She is survived by two daughters Patricia Cochran (Mike)
and Traci Buckingham (Rodney). Two angel babies were
awaiting her in Heaven-Sylvia Diane and Kenith. Her great
est legacies were here grandchildren and great-grandchil
dren. Grandchildren are Dawn Silvers (Payton), Dustin
Cochran (Adrienne), Crystal Buckingham, and Jeff Buck
ingham. Her great-grandchildren are Ryan Silvers, Matthew
Silvers, and Amelia Cochran. She is survived by nieces and
nephews: Melvina Carlan, Barbara Mercer, Charles Silvers,
Ronnie Silvers, Shawn Ray, Bradley Ray, Brenda Evans, and
Jackie Harris. Her family was blessed with many special
times with her and she will be deeply missed.
Her home-going service was handled with great care by
In Their Honor Funeral Home of Jasper on Sunday, February
12th at 3 p.m. Special friend and minister, Rev. James
Schlicht officiated the service. A special letter was read that
was written by her grandson, Jeff Buckingham, who could
not be present. “Beulah Land” and “When we all get to
Heaven” were the two songs she requested to be sung by
Payton Silvers and were central to the service. The Pallbear
ers were: Rodney Buckingham, Bradley Ray, Shawn Ray,
Matthew Silvers, Ryan Silvers, and Payton Silvers.
She has been reunited with her husband, parents, babies,
and siblings. She commented in her last days about looking
forward to this reunion by saying, “What a glorious day that
will be.” Care and trust placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations, 481 Noah Drive, Jasper, Georgia
30143. 706-253-5060
Glen Brendel
Glen Brendel, 93, passed
away at his home in Fair-
mount, GA on February 8,
2023.
He’s lovingly remem
bered by his wife of 74
years, Lois Brendel, his
children Greg Brendel and
Sherry (Dave) Reynolds, 11
grandchildren, 17 great
grand children and two great-:
ers Wayne Brendel and Ray Brendel, sister Linda Reece.
Glen is preceded by his mother Agnes Brendel, father Al
bert Brendel, daughter Carol King and son Larry Brendel,
and 7 brothers and 1 sister.
After proudly serving GM for 30 years, he retired and
moved back to his home state of Georgia in 1981. He en
joyed retirement by camping, tending his well-cared for
lawn, and surrounding himself with family.
He was laid to rest on Sunday, February 12th at Friend
ship Baptist Church in Ludville, GA.
Rebecca
Laughlin
Rebecca D. Laughlin,
73, passed away peacefully
Sunday, February 12, 2023
at home surrounded by her
family after a valiant battle
with brain cancer.
She was a loving wife,
mother, Nana, sister, aunt,
and friend and is survived
by her husband of 54 years,
Benton Laughlin of Jasper, Georgia; son, Charles Laughlin
and his wife, Hadda of Fleming Island, FL; daughter, Joanna
Ullah and her husband Sam of Six Mile, South Carolina;
daughter, Erin Holderfield and her husband Michael of Bu
ford, Georgia; grandchildren, Nicholas Laughlin, Christo
pher Laughlin, Dylan Holderfield and Olivia Holderfield;
sister, Cindy Christian; and many other loving family mem
bers. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and
Jane Day and sister, Judy Mozo.
Becky was a long-time member of Fellowship Presbyte
rian Church where she sang in the choir, lead bible studies,
was active on the fellowship committee and has served as a
riding elder in the church. She was active in the Pickens
County Quilters Guild. She enjoyed reading, gardening,
quilting, crafting, camping, spending time with family and
snuggling with her two beagles.
A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, February 18,
2023, at 11 a.m. at Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Jasper,
Georgia. The family will receive friends in the fellowship
hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family re
quests that any donations be made to Georgia Mountains
Hospice in Rebecca’s name.
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral
Home and Crematory. An online obituary and register are
available at www.roperfiineralhome.com
www.pickensprogress, com
Joni Mosley
October 7, 1936 -
February 3, 2023
Mrs. Joni Sue Ratcliff
Mosley passed away peace
fully at Sonshine Manor in
Ellijay on February 3rd,
2023. She is preceded in
death by her parents and
husband, and is survived by
sister-in-law, Mrs. Janis
Mosley, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joni, formerly of Jasper, was born to Templar and Bea
Ratcliff on October 7th, 1936. She and her husband, Jack
Mosley, were long-time residents of Macon, GA, where they
were business owners for many years. She was deeply loved
by her family and will always be remembered as a sweet and
fun-loving aunt and sister-in-law to all of us. We are sad
dened by her passing, but we also celebrate her reunion in
Heaven to all her loved ones who have gone before her.
Services will be held graveside at Talking Rock Baptist
Church, 3914 Ga Hwy 136, Talking Rock, GA, at 12 noon
on Saturday, February 18th.
Cagle Funeral Home is honored to serve the Mosley fam
ily.
Harold Head Jr.
Harold A. Head Jr., 82, of Jasper, Georgia passed away
on January 31st, 2023.
A memorial service was held on February 11th, 2023 in
the chapel of In Their Honor.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
Cliff Daniell
Cliff K. Daniell, 56, of Talking Rock, Georgia passed
away on February 2nd, 2023.
No services are scheduled at this time.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
Jannie Conners
Jannie Conners, 72, of Cartersville, Georgia passed away
on February 6th, 2023.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb
ruary 19th, 2023 at Millers Chapel in White, Georgia.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
Debra Torgerson
Debra J. Torgerson, 68, an Army Veteran of Dacula, Geor
gia passed away on February 7th, 2023.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb
ruary 18th, 2023 at the Corner Stone Theatre in
Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
Theresa Condon
Theresa C. Condon, 96, of Canton, Georgia passed away
on February 12th, 2023.
No services are scheduled at this time.
Care and trust was placed with In Their Honor of Jasper
Funerals and Cremations.
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