6A Monday, November 26, 2018
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
LOCAL
SCHOOLS
■ Continued from 1A
these next few weeks. That could
be pushed back or interrupted
if the state mandates calendar
changes.
Moreover, Williams said, “Our
assessment calendar at (kinder
garten through eighth grade)
allows the mid-year data to drive
decisions and make adjustments
for the second semester. We use
the breaks in the school calendar
to ensure that we regroup and tar
get remediation and enrichment
opportunities.”
Changes to school calendars
could also affect the length and
opportunities the Thanksgiving
and Christmas breaks provide.
“The break around Thanksgiv
ing accommodates family needs
and plans such that students don’t
incur absences, missing valuable
instructional days during this
time,” Hathcock said. “As impor
tantly, it provides students and
staff with a brief respite before
coming back to finish the semester
strong.
“Many of our students take a por
tion of the break to study, prepare
for the semester’s end or work
on school-related projects. High
school seniors often take advan
tage of the time to work on college
applications and essays. Many high
school programs involve service
learning opportunities outside of
school, and I can think of no better
time of year than Thanksgiving for
students to engage in service proj
ects in our community.”
Hathcock said he believes the
current calendar has been effec
tively developed in response to the
“needs of our students, their fami
lies and our employees.”
“I would imagine that engage
ment just before the winter break
might be even more of a challenge
were it not for the break around
Thanksgiving providing students
and teachers the opportunity for
a brief recharge in order to finish
strong,” he added.
STATE
Georgians using
legal cannabis
fear losing jobs
Some Georgians who deal with
chronic pain could legally use can
nabis oil, but are afraid they could
lose their jobs if employers find
out.
Many residents fear losing
jobs or not being able to get one
if they fail a drug screening test,
the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reported.
At issue is the friction between
the state law allowing the use of
cannabis oil and other laws that
allow employers to fire workers
for using the drug because it’s fed
erally illegal.
Workers in various trades across
the state are frustrated by the
situation.
During the 2019 legislative ses
sion, lawmakers intend to search
for a way to satisfy employers and
protect patients who are following
state law while still performing
their jobs well.
Rescheduled NAACP
conference this week
The NAACP Georgia State Con
ference will hold its 76th annual
Convention and Civil-Rights Con
ference on Thursday at Union Mis
sionary Baptist Church in Albany
and Friday-Sunday at the Albany
State University East Campus.
“We are excited for this oppor
tunity to build upon the foundation
that has already been laid by those
in service before us, and to expand
the work that’s been done to trans
form opportunities for millennials
and generations to come,” Phyl
lis Blake, president of the NAACP
Georgia State Conference, said in
a news release. “It’s not enough to
stand on the sidelines and witness
race relations deteriorate before
us; we must be well-equipped to
face the institutions that with an
invisible hand keep Americans
divided.
“Our goal for this year’s confer
ence is to further empower attend
ees by strengthening their skills
in leadership, voter mobilization,
criminal justice, education equal
ity, economic sustainability, mem
bership recruitment and other
significant NAACP programs. A
dynamic health fair will also be
available to the conference attend
ees and the public.”
The keynote speaker for this
year’s Freedom Fund Banquet is
NAACP President/CEO attorney
Derrick Johnson. In October 2017,
the NAACP National Board elected
Johnson to lead the organization.
Johnson formerly served as vice
chairman of the NAACP National
Board of Directors as well as state
president for the Mississippi State
Conference NAACP.
Founded in 1909, the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People is the nation’s
oldest and largest civil rights
organization.
Associated Press, Tribune News
Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
Alicia Simmons, left, and Danner Weeks take apart a piece of play equipment Tuesday, Nov. 20, inside the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in
Gainesville. Some items are being thrown out following a September flood.
INK
■ Continued from 1A
Hooper added, “If (an item) had the
potential of creating mold, it went into
the dumpster. It is not in this place.”
Insurance is helping cover areas
damaged by water, but “then there are
other areas that had been loved to death
that we’re trying to revamp and renew
so that we can create a beautiful envi
ronment when people walk through the
door,” Hooper said.
“That funding has to come out of
our pockets, so any volunteers and
any donations we can get are greatly
appreciated.”
Before the flooding, the museum had
been looking to move to a new, larger
location in South Hall.
“We did find a building that was
ready to go, and we had a verbal com
mitment .. but all of it fell through,”
Hooper said. “We fully believe God
has a plan for us, and that plan is not to
move immediately.”
So INK is staying put for now.
“Even though it’s temporary, there’s
major excitement going on and a great
energy here,” Hooper said.
Volunteers are coming in this week as
INK moves forward in putting into place
“what we need in each room, whether it
be painting, recovering floors or build
ing something,” she said.
A Greater Hall Chamber of Com
merce after hours event is set at INK
for Dec. 18.
“At whatever state we’re in, people
can see the progress we’ve made, and
see the needs,” Hooper said.
The chamber’s after hours events
are typically open to members and non
members for a charge.
“Our long-term goal is to build (a new
museum), to make it what we want, and
we’ve got a couple of feelers out there,”
Hooper said. “The next few weeks are
going to be very vital in learning that
direction and how quickly to go there.”
‘Even though it’s temporary, there’s major
excitement going on and a great energy here.’
Sheri Hooper
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids founder
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Executive Director Mandy
Volpe, left, and founder Sheri Hooper survey the repairs
that have been made Tuesday, Nov. 20, as the children’s
museum continues to be renovated.
Obituary information
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OBITUARIES
L. Wayne Abernathy
April 1, 1938-Nov. 24, 2018
L. Wayne Abernathy, age 80, of Lula passed
away Saturday, Nov. 24,2018, at the Northeast
Georgia Medical Center.
Wayne was born April 1, 1938, in Gaines
ville to the late Henry Franklin and Mazie
Lawrence Abernathy. He began his life-work
at Georgia Chair and then moved to Chicopee
Manufacturing. He also worked with Jack
Prince Corporation where he invented and
patented a deboning machine that was sold
nationally and internationally. Later he would
purchase Diane Foods, which became Diago
Mexican Foods. He was the owner/operator
of Diago until he sold to Mission Foods. After
retirement, he opened Eagle’s Nest Pottery in
Cleveland and Gainesville. He was on his 37th
year of being a member of the Board of Pub
lic Safety with the State of Georgia. He served
under five governors. He was named small
businessman of the year in 1984. He served as
governmental relations chairman of Gaines
ville Junior College Board, Lanier Tech Board
and East Hall High VOT Board.
Wayne is known as “Buddy” to his grand
children. He attended Victory Baptist Church.
He loved his country, his family and had a pas
sion for woodworking. Most of all he loved
the Lord, reading his Bible with little Ruby in
the mornings and was very concerned about
where his friends and family would spend eter
nity. He was preceded in death by his sisters,
Margaret Poore and Bernice Tritt; brothers,
John Henry Abernathy and Ralph Abernathy.
Survivors include, wife of 63 years and
prankster partner, Ruby Abernathy; son and
daughter-in-law, John Wayne and Wendi Aber
nathy; daughter, Denise Smith; daughter and
son-in-law, Gay and Rev. Scott Waters; grand
children, Kacee (Tim) Criddle, Amy Smith
(Cory Tucker), Renee (Chris) Porter, Matthew
(Betsy) Waters, Ryan Waters, Lauren Aberna
thy (Nick Rouadi), great-grandchildren, Elijah
Thompson, Alivia Criddle, Madison Criddle,
Jacob Criddle, Jace Waters and soon-to-be
Watson Porter. Close special friend, Dennis
Brown, a number of nieces and nephews and
other relatives also survive.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m.
Monday Nov. 26, 2018, at Ivie Funeral Home
in Commerce and again from noon until 1:30
p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27,2018, at Victory Baptist
Church in Gainesville.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tues
day, Nov. 27, 2018, at the Victory Baptist
Church in Gainesville with Rev. Scott Waters
and Col. Mark McDonough from the Georgia
State Patrol officiating. Burial will follow in the
Gillsville Cemetery.
The Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard will
be pallbearers and the Georgia State Board of
Public Safety will serve as honorary pallbear
ers whom he loved dearly.
Mr. Abernathy will lie in state from noon
until 2 p.m. at the church on Tuesday.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce
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times.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Nov. 26, 2018
Hugh H. Roberts
Jan. 6, 1941-Nov. 17, 2018
Mr. Hugh H. Roberts, age 77, of Homer, Ga.,
passed away on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at
Northeast Georgia Medical Center following
an extended illness.
The family will receive friends on Wednes
day, Nov. 28,2018, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Memorial Park Funeral Home, with interment
service to follow immediately at Alta Vista
Cemetery.
Hugh was born on Jan. 6, 1941, in Gaines
ville, Ga., to James Frank Roberts and Susie
Smallwood Roberts.
He was a retired truck driver and was a
member of Northside Baptist Church. He is
preceded in death by his parents, Betty Coker
Roberts (wife), Evie Roberts (sister), Jack
and Mary Ann (brother and sister-in-law),
Bessie Roberts (stepmother) and Donald Nix
(brother-in-law).
Mr. Roberts is survived by James and
Montine Roberts (brother and sister-in-law),
Marguerite and Tommy Snow (sister and
brother-in-law), Susie Nix (sister), Renee and
Alden Scott (sister and brother-in-law), Teddy
Roberts (son), Ciera Roberts (granddaugh
ter), Chance Frady (grandson), Tony Roberts
(son), Brandy (granddaughter), Timmy Rob
erts (son), Christopher Roberts (grandson),
Tammy and Jeff Elliott (daughter and son-in-
law), Drake and Caleb (grandsons), numerous
grandchildren, great grand-children, nieces
and nephews.
Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville
Sign the online guest book at gainesville
times.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Nov. 26, 2018
DEATH NOTICES
Geraldine L. Braswell
April 3, 1924-Nov. 24, 2018
Geraldine L. “Geri” Braswell, 94, of Gaines
ville died Saturday. Funeral service, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27, funeral home chapel. Little
& Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory,
Gainesville.
James Larry Davis
Died Nov. 25, 2018
James Larry Davis, 80, of Gillsville died
Sunday. Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville.
Charles Thomas Dennard Sr.
Died Nov. 24, 2018
Charles Thomas Dennard Sr., 78, of Gaines
ville died Saturday. Celebration of life, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 28, First Baptist Church.
Memorial Park North, Gainesville.
William Richard “Bill” Goode
Oct. 14, 1928-Nov. 25, 2018
William Richard “Bill” Goode, 90, of Gaines
ville died Sunday. Little & Davenport Funeral
Home and Crematory, Gainesville.
Donald Charles Heber
Died Nov. 24, 2018
Donald Charles Heber, 83, of Cumming died
Saturday. McDonald and Son Funeral Home,
Cumming.
Irma Ramirez Hernandez
Died Nov. 24, 2018
Irma Ramirez Hernandez, 56, of Oakwood
died Saturday. Funeral mass, 2 p.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 27, Mision Catolica San Pablo II. Little &
Davenport Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Mary Kathryn Ledbetter
Died Nov. 24, 2018
Mary Kathryn “Mama Better” Ledbetter,
99, of Cumming died Saturday. Funeral ser
vice, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, New Harmony
Baptist Church. Ingram Funeral Home & Cre
matory, Cumming.
Frances Miller Mathis
Died Nov. 25, 2018
Frances Miller Mathis, 94, of Gainesville
died Sunday. Celebration of life, 2 p.m. Friday,
Nov. 30, First Baptist Church. Memorial Park
North, Gainesville.
Paul Damian McMaster
Dec. 7, 1967-Nov. 23, 2018
Paul Damian McMaster, 50, of Cum
ming died Friday. Celebration of life, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 29, Highlands Church, Cum
ming. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory,
Cumming.
Sue Pelfrey
Died Nov. 25, 2018
Sue “Lovie” Pelfrey, 86, of Gainesville died
Sunday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 27, funeral home chapel. Hillside Chapel
Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Henry Rue
June 19, 1969-Nov. 23, 2018
Henry Rue, 49, of Gainesville died Fri
day. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Monday, Nov.
26, funeral home chapel. Little & Davenport
Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville.
Robert Henry Watson
Died Nov. 25, 2018
Robert Henry Watson, 92, of Oakwood
died Sunday. Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville.
