About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 2018)
LOCATSTATE The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Wednesday, October 31,2018 7A Rejection of mail-in ballots raises alarm ahead of election BY CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY Associated Press ATLANTA — Drawing on her years of military experience, Mau reen Heard was careful to follow all the rules when she filled out an absentee ballot in 2016. She read the instructions thor oughly, signed where she was supposed to, put the ballot in its envelope and dropped it off at her county elections office in New Hampshire. She then left town so she could return to a temporary federal work assignment in Wash ington, D.C. “I have learned over the years, many years in the military of filling out forms, how to fill out forms — and I was very intimidated by the process,” said Heard, who served in the Air Force and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to make sure I get it absolutely right.’ And then it didn’t count.” Heard, 57, discovered last year that she was among roughly 319,000 voters across the country whose absentee ballots were rejected dur ing the last presidential election. The reasons varied, ranging from missed deadlines to failure to sign the return envelope. Heard’s ballot was tossed out because her signature did not match the one on file at her local election office. More people than ever are return ing their ballots by mail or dropping them off at a local election location rather than voting in a booth on Election Day. Those developments make it easier to cast ballots and are designed to boost turnout. The trend also is raising con cerns about whether voters can be assured their ballots will count or be notified in time if there is a problem. Voting rights activists want to ensure that voters are given a reasonable chance to fix any problems. Earlier this month, the ACLU and other groups filed lawsuits in Geor gia after an Atlanta-area county reported a comparatively high rate of rejected absentee ballots dur ing the start of early voting. Those actions followed similar lawsuits in New Hampshire and California. “It’s hard to see what is missing,” said Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, which advocated for changes to Cal ifornia law. “People are all focused on what is the vote count. They are not focused on what ballots weren’t counted.” Nearly one of every four ballots cast in 2016 came through the mail or was handed in at a drop-off loca tion, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The com mission’s data show that 99 percent of completed absentee and mailed ballots are eventually counted. Election officials use signature matching to verify a person’s iden tity, but advocates say many election offices lack training and standards. Matching signatures is particularly fraught because a person’s hand writing can change over time and be affected by age or disability. In August, a federal judge ruled that New Hampshire’s signature matching process was “fundamen tally flawed” because voters are not given notice if it’s the reason a ballot was rejected. She also said the elec tion office workers inspecting the signatures did not receive training in handwriting analysis or signature comparisons. OBITUARIES Cheryl Lynn Anderson Bailey Jan. 6, 1944-Oct. 27, 2018 Cheryl “Cherie” Lynn Anderson Bailey, 74, passed away peacefully at Lanier Village Estates, reflections mem ory unit, and went to be with our Lord Christ Jesus on Oct. 27, 2018. She was a member of Corinth Baptist Church. She was born Jan. 6, 1944, in Atlanta, Ga., to James Morgan Anderson Jr. and Grace Evelyn Wat son Anderson. Cheryl grew up in Garden Hills, Buckhead and Sandy Springs, graduating from Sandy Springs HS. Cheryl attended Emory University for three years. She married James “Jim” Bailey Jr. Dec. 29,1964. Cheryl moved with her husband Jim 17 times while he was in the Marine Corps. During that time she gave birth to their daughter, Lisa Anne Bailey Toler, in 1967 and their son, James R. Bailey III, in 1969. While her husband was stationed in Japan she and her helpers went back to Emory and she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. After her husband returned home she attended Georgia State University and graduated with a master’s in education and started her career as a school psycholo gist. Her husband’s career took them to eight more cities and along the way she earned a certificate of programing from Depaul University and a specialist in education at Georgia State University. She worked as a programmer in Chicago and a school psy chologist in Nashville, Chicago and Canton. After retiring and moving to Big Canoe she volunteered as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) and a mentor for children. Her final move to Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville, Ga., enabled her to be a tutor at Lanier Elementary School, start a new book club, play bridge and canasta and partici pate in events for Challenge Child. She had a passion for helping children. She is survived by her husband, James R. Bailey Jr.; daughter, Lisa Anne Bailey Toler (John); son, James R. Bailey III; grandchil dren, Fran Toler, Joey Toler; brother, James Morgan Anderson III (Cathy); nephew, John Anderson (Lydie); niece, Caroline Anderson; uncle, Bill Rary; cousins, Judy Rary LaGrone, Susan Rary Ruiz, Bill Rary, Shelia Hamilton Downing, Carol Hamilton Crawford. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. at Lanier Village Estates with Dr. Chris Swan officiating. A recep tion will follow the life celebration. In lieu of flowers make donations to http://www. halldawsonCASA.org or http://www.alz.org/ georgia. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200. Sign the online guest book at gainesvilletimes.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Oct. 31,2018 Benjamin “Benny” Franklin Morris May 8, 1943-Oct. 30, 2018 Benjamin “Benny” Franklin Morris, 75, of Gillsville, Ga., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at his residence. Born on May 8,1943, in Gillsville, Ga., he was the son of the late Dillard and Annie Lee Ferguson Morris. Mr. Morris was a mem ber of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, a self- employed welder and was preceded in death by a brother, the Rev. JW Morris, and sisters, Vertie Mae Masters and Annie Reed Sims. Survivors include his wife, Mittie Brown Morris of the residence; sons and daughters- in-law, Alan and Paula Morris, Lula, Gary and Trade Morris, Gillsville; brother, James Morris, Nicholson; brother-in-law, John Sims, Gillsville; grandchildren, Erin Morris, Dawson Morris and Cooper Morris. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, at Mt. Carmel Bap tist Church with the Rev. James Duncan, the Rev. Ralph O. Smith and the Rev. Chad Holcomb officiating. The body will lie in state 1:30 p.m. until time of the service at the church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 1353 Jennings Mill Road, Bogart, GA 30662. Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce Sign the online guest book at gainesvilletimes.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Oct. 31,2018 DiAnn Perry March 25, 1937-Oct. 29, 2018 Ms. DiAnn Perry, 81, of Gainesville passed away on Oct. 29,2018. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2018, at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel. The Rev. Delma Simmons will be officiating. DiAnn was born on March 25, 1937, in Lansing, Mich., to the late Floyd Archer Peek and the late Yeta Young Peek. DiAnn retired from the Gainesville Post Office after 30 years of dedicated service and was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Oakwood. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Royce Peek and her baby brother. DiAnn is survived by her children Debbie and Lon Flemming, Skye and Kristi Perry, and Dawn and Alan Cooper; grandchildren Eric, Emily, Leigh, Davis, Austin and Nata lie; six great-grandchildren; four siblings; and a number of other family members. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Maranatha Christian Academy, 5135 McEver Road, Oakwood, GA 30566. Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200. Sign the online guest book at gainesvilletimes.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Oct. 31,2018 DEATH NOTICES Georgia Ruth Bailey June 17, 1941-Oct. 29, 2018 Georgia Ruth (Pratt) Bailey, 77, of Flow ery Branch died Monday. No service is planned. Flanigan Funeral Home and Cre matory, Buford. Betty Jean Brooks Died Oct. 30, 2018 Betty Jean Brooks, 88, of Maysville died Tuesday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Thurs day, Nov. 1, Maysville Baptist Church. Little- Ward Funeral Home, Commerce. Margaret R. Brown Died Oct. 19, 2018 Margaret “Peggy” R. Brown, 74, of Buford died Oct. 19. Funeral Mass, 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flow ery Branch. INTRODUCING eoc# and JtJTtU© Saved You 2011-201? Mr. Nibble ] 0U W OULO iSgSt “OK-SO,, Little & Davenport Funeral Home To inquire about pricing packages available to memorialize a pet in print, please contact Megan Lewis at 770-535-6371 or mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com Pets at Peace will appear in The Times the last Sunday of each month. Dustin Mark Dyer Jan. 2, 1989-Oct. 29, 2018 Dustin Mark Dyer, 29, of Cleveland died Monday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, Old Nacoochee Baptist Church Cem etery. Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland. Nellie Collins Edge Died Oct. 29, 2018 Nellie Collins Edge, 86, of Gainesville died Monday. No service will be held. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch. Larry Joe Faulkner May 11, 1945-Oct. 23, 2018 Larry Joe “Red” Faulkner, 73, of Gaines ville died Oct. 23. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, First Congregational Holiness Church of Gainesville. Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin. Randall Foster Sept. 15, 1950-Oct. 29, 2018 Randall Foster, 68, of Alto died Monday. Memorial visitation service, 5-9 p.m. Thurs day, Nov. 1, funeral home. Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin. Earl Ford Gowder Jr. Died Oct. 29, 2018 Earl Ford Gowder Jr., 71, of Winder died Monday. Visitation, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home chapel. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton. Richard Harrison Died Oct. 29, 2018 Richard Harrison, 78, of Hoschton died Monday. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch. M.L Head Died Oct. 11,2018 M.L. “John” Head, 86, of Flowery Branch died Oct. 11. Visitation, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch. Myron Bernard Hubers Died Oct. 30, 2018 Myron “Ron” Bernard Hubers, 68, of Bra- selton died Tuesday. Memorial service, 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2,12Stone Church, Brasel- ton. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton. Eris McGee Phillips May 9, 1932-Oct. 30, 2018 Eris McGee Phillips, 86, of Hartwell died Tuesday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Thurs day, Nov. 1, Duncan Creek Congregational Church. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crema tory, Buford. Jimmie Larry Phillips Died Oct. 28, 2018 Jimmie Larry Phillips, 76, of Buford died Sunday. Memorial service, 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, Suwanee Kingdom Hall. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. William Chase Spires Died Oct. 26, 2018 William Chase Spires, 33, of Flowery Branch died Oct. 26. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Obituary information Death notices are printed free as a public service by The Times. More information can be provided in paid obituaries. The rate is $50 per 100 words (or any part thereof). There is an additional mandatory $40 fee for online services, which includes a guest book that allows family and friends to post condolences. Deadline for publication is 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Death notices and obituaries are accepted only from funeral homes. They should be emailed to obits@ gainesvilletimes.com. All submissions will appear in The Times and online at gainesvilletimes.com. For additional information, please call 770-718-3435 or 800-395-5005, extension 3435, between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays. FOR YOUR FAVORITES 10.29.18 - 11.30.18 BestOfHallCounty.c
