About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2018)
LOCATSOUTHEAST The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Thursday, November 1,2018 9A Three presidents, Oprah to speak during final leg of governor’s race People wait in line for tickets, Wednesday, Oct. 31, in Augusta, to see former President Barack Obama, who will be speaking at Morehouse College on Friday for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. BY BILL BARROW Associated Press ATLANTA — In the final days in one of the nation’s hottest gov ernor’s races, Oprah Winfrey and President Donald Trump, as well as former Presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter and Vice President Mike Pence, are trying to put their imprint on the Georgia election. Winfrey joins Democratic nomi nee Stacey Abrams for two town hall-style events Thursday, the same day that Pence travels to the state for several rallies with Repub lican Brian Kemp. Trump and Obama will follow with their party’s candidate over the next three days. Carter, an Abrams supporter and former Georgia governor, garnered sig nificant attention this week with a personal plea that Kemp resign as secretary of state, Georgia’s chief elections official, to ensure public confidence in the results of what’s expected to be a close race. The blitz underscores the high stakes in one of the defining con tests of next week’s midterms, as Abrams vies to become the first black female governor in America, while Kemp tries to maintain the GOP’s dominance in a state Demo crats believe is on the cusp of being a presidential battleground. The appearance by Winfrey, among the world’s wealthiest and most famous black women, is a significant coup for Abrams, who needs to maximize her support from nonwhite voters but also from liberal white women. All of those demographics overlap with Winfrey’s fan base, and she will hit them all with events in Republican leaning Cobb County and heavily Democratic DeKalb County, both within miles of downtown Atlanta. Though sometimes mentioned as a 2020 presidential candidate, Winfrey has demurred on her intentions. Her most visible foray into electoral politics was as an out spoken supporter of Obama, her fellow Chicagoan, when he first won the White House in 2008. Trump’s appearance may claim as a casualty the last debate sched uled between Kemp and Abrams. The two campaigns had agreed weeks ago to a debate at 5 p.m. Sun day in the studios of Atlanta’s WSB- MICHAEL H0LAHAN I Tribune News Service TV. But Kemp’s campaign said the president’s schedule takes prece dence, and he’s coming to Macon to hold a rally with Kemp at 4 p.m. Abrams’ campaign manager, Lauren Groh-Wargo, says the debate is off because Kemp backed out. Kemp adviser Ryan Mahoney says his candidate is willing to find another time slot, but Groh-Wargo says Abrams is booked through Tuesday’s election. Multiple polls show a statisti cal dead heat between Kemp and Abrams, with a low percentage of undecided voters remaining. There’s a possibility of a December runoff, given that Libertarian Ted Metz also is on the ballot and Geor gia’s requirement that the winner garner a majority of the votes. FOLKSTON Autopsy: Woman kills son, mother, then herself Evidence shows a 39-year-old woman fatally shot her son and mother before killing herself at their home, authorities said Wednesday. The Georgia Bureau of Inves tigation said in a news release an autopsy and other evidence indi cate Kimberly Gayle Butts was responsible for a double homi cide-suicide in rural Charlton County. Also slain were the wom an’s 15-year-old son, Caleb Logan Butts, and her 64-year-old mother, Jan Elizabeth Kirkland. The deaths were discovered Tuesday by Kimberly Butts’ father, Michael Wilson, who called 911. Wilson told an operator on the 911 recording that he came to his daughter’s home to borrow an onion when he found the kitch en’s gas stove burning and saw the bodies, WTLV-TV reported. The Charlton County Sheriff’s Office said in its incident report both women were shot in the head, while the boy had multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. One woman was found in the kitchen. The other was in a bedroom next to the boy, with a handgun on her shoulder. The GBI said ballistic tests and other laboratory exams are still pending in the case. I AWRFNOFVII I F Police: Standoff ends with man charged Police say a standoff between a SWAT team and a man barricaded in his Atlanta home with his fam ily has ended with no one injured. Gwinnett County police spokes man Cpl. Wilbert Rundles tells news outlets 39-year-old Rashan Ellis had a gun in the home but surrendered peacefully Wednes day morning. A domestic dispute call sent police to the house. Rundles says Ellis’ wife and two children ran out of the home when officers arrived shortly after mid night. He says Ellis had slammed the door behind them and was inside with the other children. Police say no threats were made against the children in the house. Ellis was arrested on charges including aggravated assault, cru elty to children and false impris onment. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer who could comment. ATLANTA Report: Inaccurate drug field tests led to unfounded arrests A Georgia news station’s inves tigation has found that some offi cers relying on field drug tests made unfounded arrests based on false positives. WAGA-TV reports the field test kits known as NIK tests can mis- identify things like air freshener and sweeteners as heroin, ecstasy, meth or other illegal drugs. The station says dozens of test results were reversed by state crime labs, but only after arrest ees have been jailed and given criminal records. It says on the package of each test that findings should be con firmed by an approved labo ratory, but some departments weren’t waiting. Associated Press OBITUARIES Donna Faye Coleman Jan. 19, 1943-Oct. 22, 2018 Donna Faye Coleman, 75, of Gainesville passed away on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, at her residence. Born on Jan. 19, 1943, in Tenn., she was the daugh ter of the late Donald Ray and Geneva Toth Hol land. She was a loving and devoted mother and grand mother as well as a loyal friend. Donna was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Donna lived in the Atlanta area with her family from 1964-1998 when she moved to Big Canoe. She has lived in Gainesville for the last five years. Donna loved her family, pets, books, movies, trivia, country music, the Atlanta Braves and Fal cons, as well as SEC Football. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in the Cha pel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with Dale Geddings officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sat urday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Mrs. Coleman is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stephen Tyler Coleman and Malissa Geddings Coleman of Dawson- ville; daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia Cole man Williams and Henry Phillip Williams of Spring Valley, Ohio; four grandchildren: grandson, Jacob Tyler Coleman of Atlanta, granddaughter, Macayla Anne Coleman of Gainesville, grandson, Ryan Matthew Wil liams, and grandson, Patrick Cole Williams; two brothers: Richard Michael Holland of Lithia Springs and Larry Don Holland of Conyers. She is also survived by her former husband and children’s father, William Wes ley Coleman of Hilton Head, S.C. Send online condolences to www.memori- alparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Nov. 1,2018 Regina Inez Miller “Sam” Gunter Oct. 22, 1931-Oct. 30, 2018 Regina Inez Miller “Sam” Gunter, 87, of Gainesville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at the Waterford at Oakwood Memory Care Facility where she was bat tling Dementia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Timber Ridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Danny Miller and the Rev. Chad Dale offici ating. Interment will follow in Timber Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 2,2018, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. She was the daughter of the late Tom and Ida Miller, born on Oct. 22, 1931, in Hall County. She was a very loving, caring and devoted sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of Timber Ridge Baptist Church and loved her church family. She always cherished her memories of her earlier days. She spoke often of how she loved to sing with her siblings on the radio and perform at the Gainesville Civic Center. She loved to plant and grow vegetables in her garden. She would always have the most beautiful garden and couldn’t wait to harvest and preserve the food she had grown. Most of all she enjoyed cooking and baking fabu lous meals for her family and friends. Every one enjoyed going to Nanny’s house and looked forward to eating a delicious meal and visiting with her as often as possible. In addition to her parents, she was pre ceded in death by her brothers, Homer, Lyn and Ray Miller; sisters, Claudine Miller, Barbara Lester; sons, Johnny Dale, Greg Chattanooga, Garrison; sisters-in-law, Rachel Miller and Margaret Miller. Her remaining survivors include Ron nie M. Gunter, loving husband of 50 years; daughters, Angie Garrison Ravan, Laurie Bryant (Steven); brother, Harvey Miller; sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Rich ard Bull; daughter-in-law, Debbie Dale; six grandchildren, Eric Dale (Ashley), Chad Dale (Mandy), Katrena Peck (Jason), Tara Aulet (Robert), Davey and Dawson Bryant; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at the Waterford at Oakwood and Homestead Hospice for their caring and loving support they gave Regina and her family during her stay. They also appreciate all the prayers and support that have been shown during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers you may make a dona tion to Timber Ridge Baptist Church, 4895 Timber Ridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30507. Send online condolences to www.memori- alparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Nov. 1,2018 Alison Elaine Haas Sept. 2, 1957-Oct. 29, 2018 Alison Elaine Haas, 61, reached the end of her worldly journey in the early hours of Oct. 29, after a short illness from colon cancer. She was born in Midland, Mich., Sept. 2, 1957, to Paul and Donetta Haas. She spent her child hood in Michigan creating many wonderful memories with her family including summer picnics, vacations spent at the lakeshore and years of fun and joyful holiday celebrations. She graduated from Central Michigan Univer sity with a degree in business administra tion and worked with multiple businesses in Michigan until she moved to Georgia. Alison was employed for the past 30 years, as an outstanding purchasing manager at Emory University and the American Cancer Soci ety in Atlanta, Ga. Alison was hard-working, tender-hearted, generous and loving with her family and friends. She possessed a witty, sharp and dry sense of humor that will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She would often have her entire family hysteri cal with laughter at something she said or a story she was conveying. Family gatherings will never be the same in her absence. Alison had a close and adoring relation ship with her mom. In recent years, she was vital in helping to care for her mother during her illness and subsequent death. She went far above anyone’s expectations in order to infuse so much quality and joy into her mother’s life. She is survived by her father, Paul Haas, of Gainesville, Ga.; her sisters, Teresa Petri- moulx, of Midland, Mich., and Kathryn (Ray mond) Kusisto of Fort Wayne, Ind.; brothers, Steven (LaRinda Braun) Haas of Clermont, Fla., and Bryan (Patrice Quander) Haas of Newport News, Va. Alison leaves behind special, valued friends Amy Demore-Jones, Trisha Quaile and Fiona Bowen. Alison’s cat, Buddha (Boo-Boo) was a particular source of happiness in her life, and predeceased her by many years. Her family is taking comfort in the knowledge that she is now safe and pain-free with her beloved mother, Donetta, who predeceased her in 2017. Her viewing will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, GA on Thursday, Nov. 1,6-8 p.m. Her funeral will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3740 Holtzclaw Road, Cum- ming, GA on Friday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. Send online condolences to www.memori- alparkfuneralhomes.com. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville Sign the online guest book at gainesville- times.com. The Times, Gainesville, Ga. Nov. 1,2018 DEATH NOTICES Freda Joan Heilman Collins May 9, 1933-Oct. 21, 2018 Freda Joan Heilman Collins, 85, died Oct. 21. Memorial service, 1 p.m. Nov. 8, St. Bren dan’s Catholic Church. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming. Alvin Douglas Dooley Sr. April 30, 1957-Oct. 29, 2018 Alvin Douglas Dooley Sr., 61, of Toccoa died Monday. Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin. Robert W. Doty Feb. 5, 1966-Oct. 30, 2018 Robert W. Doty, 52, died Tuesday. A pri vate family service was held. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Michael J. Grindle Died Oct. 30, 2018 Michael J. “Mike” Grindle, 54, of Flowery Branch died Tuesday. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. Ret. SFC Jerry Jenkins Died Oct. 17,2018 Ret. SFC Jerry Jenkins, 64, of Gaines ville died Oct. 17. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home. Wimberly Funeral Home, Gainesville. Janice Emily Crumley Lynn Aug. 4, 1960-Oct. 30, 2018 Janice Emily Crumley Lynn, 58, of Jeffer son died Tuesday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, funeral home chapel. Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce. Margie JoAnn Milum March 10, 1967-Oct. 29, 2018 Margie JoAnn Milum, 51, of Dahlonega died Monday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Satur day, Nov. 3, Mill Creek Baptist Church. Ander- son-Underwood Funeral Home, Dahlonega. Rrian Joseph Morin Aug. 15, 1979-Oct. 31, 2018 Brian Joseph Morin, 39, of Dahlonega died Wednesday. Memorial service, 6 p.m. Satur day, Nov. 3, funeral home chapel. Anderson- Underwood Funeral Home, Dahlonega. Nell Nixon July 9, 1916-Oct. 22, 2018 Nell Nixon, 102, died Oct. 22. Celebration of life memorial service, 11 a.m. Nov. 7, North Avenue Presbyterian Church. Flani gan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Claudia Pieczynski Orchowski Died Oct. 30, 2018 Claudia Pieczynski Orchowski, 84, of Cum ming died Tuesday. Funeral service, noon Saturday, Nov. 3, Good Shepherd Catholic Church. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming. Carol Berryman Stowe Died Oct. 29, 2018 Carol Berryman Stowe, 88, of Buford died Monday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home. Hamilton Mill Memo rial Chapel, Buford. Laura Jane Creamer Thompson Oct. 2, 1925-Oct. 31, 2018 Laura Jane Creamer Thompson, 93, of Cumming died Wednesday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, funeral home cha pel. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Kimberly Willard Nov. 22, 1964-Oct. 29, 2018 Kimberly Willard, 53, of Cornelia died Monday. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Satur day, Nov. 3, Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest. 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 morel info., call 770-718-3435 or 800- 395-5005, ext. 3435,3- 6 p.m. weekdays. INTRODUCING 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.
