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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Thursday, December 13, 2018 9A
MACON
Panel considers
overhaul of Ga.
voting system
A commission considering a
replacement for Georgia’s outdated
voting system plans to hold a last
meeting in January before finalizing
recommendations to lawmakers.
The Secure, Accessible and Fair
Elections Commission discussed dif
ferent voting systems Wednesday
and the criteria members must con
sider in making recommendations.
Election security experts
warned the electronic touchscreen
machines Georgia uses are vulner
able to hacking and lack an audit-
able paper trail to confirm votes
were recorded correctly. A key
issue is whether the commission will
recommend electronic touchscreen
machines that print paper ballots or
paper ballots marked by hand with
a pen.
The commission work predates a
controversy over Democrat Stacey
Abrams’ loss to Republican Brian
Kemp for governor. A group backed
by Abrams subsequently filed a fed
eral lawsuit challenging the way
Georgia elections are run.
MARIETTA
Father found guilty in
shaking death of baby
A man has been found guilty of
second-degree murder in the death
of his 10-month-old daughter.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reports 32-year-old Sidrick Melan-
con was convicted Tuesday in the
2017 death of Laura, who prosecu
tors say was shaken by her mother.
Prosecutors say Melancon’s charge
stems from him not intervening to
help Laura.
Prosecutors say he drove an unre
sponsive Laura to an urgent care
center and left. They say doctors
found Laura’s brain was bleeding
and she had old and new leg frac
tures. She was declared brain dead
and removed from life support.
Associated Press
OBITUARIES
Pamela Davenport
Died Dec. 9, 2018
Pamela Davenport, 59, of Gainesville, Ga.,
passed away at her residence on Sunday,
Dec. 9,2018.
Pamela Davenport lived in Hall County for
over 20 years, which of where she worked as
a secretary for 10 years at Stuart Mechani
cal. She worked alongside
her best friend, Joy Breed
love, and she loved her
job. She also worked six
years as a clerk at Clipper
Petroleum. She always
looked forward to seeing
her customers and loved
the employees she worked
with. Along with her job,
she loved spending time with her family. She
was an active member of Rock Hill Congre
gational Holiness Church. She loved attend
ing the senior luncheons, monthly, where
she played games, won prizes and enjoyed
fellowship with the seniors as they all shared
a good meal.
Pamela Davenport is the daughter of Jew
ell Looney.
Family survivors include: Billy Stone, Wil
lis (Pete) White, Nancy and Sandra Fore
hand and Sherry Duncan.
She has no biological children: motherly
loved nephew, Joshua White, and motherly
loved niece, Chasity Jewell.
Loved as her own grandchildren: Carter
Tatum, Chloe Tatum, Gracie White, Xan-
der White, Kate-Lynn Duncan and Bryant
Duncan.
Pamela Davenport was preceded in death
by her mother, Jewell Looney. Brothers-
Wayne Stone and Ricky White. Sister- Sue
Stone.
The funeral service will be held on Satur
day, Dec. 15,2018, at 1 p.m. Pastor Paul Mil
ligan will officiate the service at Rock Hill
Congregational Holiness Church.
Those wishing to send online condolences
to the family may do so at littledavenport.
com.
Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Cre
matory, Gainesville
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
Matthew Timothy Fritch
July 27, 1975-Dec. 10, 2018
Matthew Timothy Fritch, 43, of Buford,
Ga., passed away on Monday, Dec. 10,2018.
He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Celita
Davis Fritch, Buford, Ga.; daughter, Logan
Pierce Fritch, Buford, Ga.; father, Roger
(Heather Ann) Fritch, California; mother,
Susan (Trey) Harrell, Florida; sisters,
Samantha Harrell, Florida, Alyssa Fritch,
California; stepbrother, Garron Fritch, Cali
fornia; mother in-law, Clarice Parks, Toc-
coa, Ga.; brother in-law, Ronald Gregory
Parks, Toccoa, Ga.; niece, Kaylee Parks;
nephew, Patrick Parks; numerous relatives
and a host of friends.
Mr. Fritch was born July 27,1975, in Tar-
zana, Calif. He was a 1993 graduate of North
Hall High School, Gainesville, Ga., and
received a bachelor’s degree from the Art
Institute of Atlanta in 1999. He raced motor
cross for years, enjoyed mountain bike rid
ing and was an avid fisherman and surfer.
He was a general foreman with D.H. Paint
ing Company. He loved his pets and enjoyed
teaching his daughter soccer.
A celebration of life service will be held at
4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14,2018, at Lake Lanier
Island, Pine Isle Center, in Buford, Ga.
Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory,
Buford
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
Leroy (Butterball) Littlejohn
May 26, 1948-Dec. 6, 2018
Leroy Littlejohn of Greenville, S.C., passed
away Thursday, Dec. 6,2018. Mr. Littlejohn
was born May 26,1948, in Gainesville, Ga., to
the late Leroy and Louise (Robertson) Little
john. He graduated from E.E. Butler High
School in 1968.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Mrs.
Lezora (Littlejohn) Hall.
Surviving Mr. Littlejohn are his children:
Kevin Littlejohn of Gainesville, Ga., Tonia
Littlejohn of Jacksonville, Fla., Jilvonnie
(Jil) Littlejohn and Minis
ter Keith C. Finnie (Paula)
of Greenville, S.C., Jeremy
Lott (Perla) of Gainesville,
Ga.; 11 grandchildren: Mat
thew Littlejohn and Joshua
Littlejohn of Baltimore,
Md., Rebecca Littlejohn of
Tuscaloosa, Ala., Payten
Littlejohn of Owings Mills,
Md., Natalia Lott, Kolten Lott, Jordan Lott
and Brielle Lott of Gainesville, Ga., Court
ney and Audrey Green of Atlanta, Ga., and
Da’Naris Thurmond of Gainesville, Ga.; five
siblings: Minister Linda Jackson of Litho-
nia, Ga., Jackie (Cindy) Littlejohn of East
Lansing, Mich., Vivian (Bobby) Hughey of
Stone Mountain, Ga., Rassie P. Littlejohn
of Gainesville, Ga., and Timothy Littlejohn
(Ollie) of Gainesville, Ga.
Mr. Littlejohn also leaves behind nieces
and nephews, great-nieces and nephews,
cousins and friends. Mr. Littlejohn was loved
dearly by his aunt Linda Joanne Hester of
Gainesville, Ga., and companion Ms. Jimetta
(Finnie) Littlejohn of Greenville, S.C.
A celebration of life service will be held
for Mr. Littlejohn on Dec. 15,2018,1 p.m. at
Mount View Baptist Church, 111 Cagle St.,
Greenville, SC 29601.
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
James Hubert Marlowe
Nov. 2, 1932-Dec. 12, 2018
James Hubert Marlowe, 86, of Mount Airy
passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 12,2018.
Born in Barrow County, Ga., on Nov.
2, 1932, to the late Hubert Marlowe and
Sara Carruth Fowler, he was a member of
Clarkesville First United Methodist Church
where he served as a former Sunday school
teacher and Lay Leader. Mr. Marlowe
received an associate’s degree from Young
Harris College, a bachelor’s degree in jour
nalism and a master’s degree in guidance
and counseling from The University of
Georgia. He proudly served his country in
the United States Army.
Mr. Marlowe worked as a station manager
and disc jockey for WCON in Cornelia dur
ing the mid-1950s. He was employed as the
first full-time Director of Public Relations
and Alumni Affairs for Young Harris Col
lege. Mr. Marlowe was a director of student
personnel services at North Georgia Techni
cal College starting in 1964. He later became
president of North Georgia Technical Col
lege in 1969 and worked until his retirement
in 1995. His term of 26 years distinguished
him as the longest serving president of that
institution.
Mr. Marlowe served as vice president of
the Georgia Vocational Association. He was
a member of the Georgia Association of
Local Administrators, the American Voca
tional Association and the Georgia Industrial
Developers Association. Mr. Marlowe was
a past member of the local Lions Club and
served as president. He served on the North
Georgia Technical College Foundation
Board of Trustees and as Emeritus Trustee.
He served on several local boards includ
ing the Habersham Medical Center Board
and the local airport authority. Mr. Mar
lowe was the founding father of the Georgia
Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL),
a program he created to honor outstanding
students in technical education. He was a
member of the Georgia Chamber of Com
merce Leadership Georgia from 1972-1973.
He was preceded in death by his wife,
Kathryn Cody Marlowe; stepfather, James
Fowler; brother, Bob Marlowe; sister, Joyce
Wood.
Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law,
Mike and Melody Marlowe of Clermont,
Ga.; son, Tim Marlowe of Lexington, S.C.;
granddaughter and spouse, Katie and Austin
Coleman of Gainesville, Ga.; grandson, Cody
Marlowe of Marietta, Ga.; several nieces
and nephews; caregiver, Shelia Carson of
Demorest, Ga.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2
p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, in the chapel of
McGahee-Griffin and Stewart with the Rev.
Keith Cox and Dr. Phil DeMore officiating.
Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial
Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 5-8
p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations
to the North Georgia Technical College Foun
dation, P.O. Box 65, Clarkesville, GA 30523.
An online guest register is available and
may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinand-
stewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral
Home, Cornelia
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
Shirley Nell Sims
Died Dec. 12, 2018
Funeral services will be held Saturday,
Dec. 15, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Bap
tist Church for Shirley Nell Sims, 78, of
Gainesville.
The Rev. Clack Stubbs and the Rev. Brian
Malcolm will officiate. Interment will follow
in Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The
family will receive friends Friday from 3
p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. at Ward’s Funeral Home. Mrs. Sims
passed away Dec. 12,2018.
A native of Hart County, Mrs. Sims was the
daughter of the late Horace and Fannie (Jor
dan) Kelly. A member of Oak Grove Baptist
Church, Mrs. Sims loved her family dearly
and her Gleamor Sunday School Class. She
loved to travel during fall to the Blue Ridge
Parkway to see God’s beautiful landscape.
Mrs. Sims always stopped to take in the
sunsets behind her house and loved nothing
more than working in her flower beds with
her grandchildren.
Mrs. Sims was also preceded in death
by her brothers, Olen Kelly, Edwin Kelly,
James Kelly and Sidney Kelly; sister,
Geneva Ricks; and grandson, Hunter Sims.
Survivors include husband, Roger Felton
Sims; children, Rex Sims, Russell Sims and
Rhonda Palmer; grandchildren, Reed Sims,
Austin Sims, Anna Sims and Shelby Palmer;
sisters, Manona Daniel and Mary Sanders.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be
made to the Oak Grove Baptist Church
Youth Department. Online condolences may
be sent to wardsfh.com.
Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
James Homer Thomasson
Died Dec. 10, 2018
Mr. James Homer Thomasson, husband,
father and grandfather, passed away on
Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at the age of 84. He
was born on Aug. 1, 1934, in Murphy, N.C.,
the son of the late James Garlin Thomasson
and Flora Stephens Thomasson.
Homer joined the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) June 1, 1953, as a staff
member assigned to the Personnel Section,
in Washington, D.C. He
graduated from John Mar
shall University and John
Marshall Law School in
1962, with a degree in law
and was appointed to the
FBI Academy in 1962.
After completing the FBI
Academy, he was assigned
as an FBI Special Agent, in
Springfield, Ill.; Danville, Ill.; Pittsburgh, Pa.;
and as Senior Agent-in-Charge of the Hun
tington, W.Va., office. He was transferred to
his office of preference, Atlanta, Ga., in 1976.
Homer retired as Senior Resident Agent-in-
Charge of the Gainesville, Ga., office in 1985.
After retirement from the FBI, he was
employed as Officer of Credit Card Inves
tigations for the National Bank of Georgia;
subsequent employment by the Georgia
Insurance Commissioners Office, where
he assisted in establishing their Insurance
Arson Fraud Investigations Division.
He was later appointed Vice President,
Wachovia Credit Card Investigation Divi
sion, Wachovia Bank, Atlanta, Ga. After
retirement from Wachovia, Homer moved
back to his hometown, Blairsville, where he
was employed as Investigator for the District
Attorney’s Office.
Homer was a member of the Society of
Former Special Agents of the FBI, Atlanta
Chapter President in 1992. He was a mem
ber of First Baptist Church, Blairsville,
where he served as Deacon and various
church committees.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mar
ilyn Jenkins Thomasson; daughter, Cindy
and her husband, Robert Shearin; grand
daughter, Nicole; daughter, Pamela and
her husband, Hollis Townsend; grandsons,
James and Joseph; sister, Jo Jenkins, wife of
the late Ed Jenkins; brother-in-law, Charles
Jenkins and wife, Bonnie; brother-in-law,
Tom Battle, husband of the late Ella Jenkins
Battle; brother-in-law, Ken Jenkins; and sis-
ter-in-law, Patti Jenkins Chambers and hus
band, Bobby; as well as several nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services have been scheduled
for Thursday, Dec. 13,2018, at 11 a.m. in the
Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Blairs
ville, with Dr. Fred Lodge, Dr. James Butts,
the Rev. Rick Jenkins, David Riser, the
Rev. Dick Stillwell and Stan Gunter speak
ing. Burial will be in Antioch Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory
is honored to be serving the family of Mr.
James Homer Thomasson, of Blairsville.
Please share your condolences and sign the
guest registry online at www.cochranfuner-
alhomes.com.
Cochran Funeral Home, Blairsville
Sign the online guest book at
gainesvilletimes.com.
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 13, 2018
DEATH NOTICES
Cheryl Rae Baker
Died Dec. 9, 2018
Cheryl Rae Baker, 74, of Cumming died
Sunday. Funeral service will be held in
Greenwood, S.C., at a later date. McDonald
and Son Funeral Home, Cumming.
Lisa Monica Bennett
Aug. 16, 1961-Dec. 10, 2018
Lisa Monica Bennett, 57, of Buford died
Monday. Memorial service, 4 p.m. Dec. 17,
Oakwood Baptist Church. Flanigan Funeral
Home and Crematory, Buford.
Betty Borders
Died Dec. 9, 2018
Betty Borders, 82, of Commerce died Sun
day. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday,
Dec. 15, Mount Pleasant CME Church. Wim
berly & White Funeral Home, Commerce.
Calvin Cooledge Cooper
Died Dec. 11, 2018
Calvin Cooledge Cooper, 90, of Hoschton
died Tuesday. Funeral service, 3 p.m. Sun
day, Dec. 16, funeral home chapel. Lawson
Funeral Home, Hoschton.
Loy Edward Gaddis
Died Dec. 12, 2018
Loy Edward “Edd” Gaddis, 80, of Dawson-
ville died Wednesday. Funeral service, 11
a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, funeral home chapel.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville.
Jeanne C. Laramee
Died Dec. 8, 2018
Jeanne C. Laramee died Dec. 8. Service
will be held in Savannah, Ga., at a later
date. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory,
Cumming.
Junior Ledford
Died Dec. 12, 2018
Junior Ledford, 76, of Mount Airy died
Wednesday. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia.
William Jonathan Looney
Sept. 6, 1957-Dec. 9, 2018
William Jonathan “Jon” Looney, 61, of
Cornelia died Sunday. Funeral service, 2
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, funeral home chapel.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home,
Cornelia.
Mary Rose Lowry
Died Dec. 11, 2018
Mary Rose Lowry, 91, of Gainesville died
Tuesday. Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville.
Lester Marvin Smith
May 28, 1933-Dec. 11, 2018
Lester Marvin “Red” Smith, 85, of Lula
died Tuesday. Funeral service, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15, Enon Baptist Church.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home,
Cornelia.
James Thomas Tackett
Died Dec. 6, 2018
James Thomas Tackett, 81, of Baldwin
died Dec. 6. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Satur
day, Dec. 15, funeral home chapel. Whitfield
Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin.
Lois Mae Hill Walls
Oct. 8, 1932-Dec. 10, 2018
Lois Mae Hill Walls, 86, of Clarkesville
died Monday. Graveside service, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 13, Habersham Cemetery.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home,
Cornelia.
John Wesley
Died Dec. 9, 2018
John Wesley, 96, of Gainesville died
Sunday. Funeral service, 11 a.m. Friday,
Dec. 14, St. John Baptist Church. Wimberly
Funeral Home, Gainesville.
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INTRODUCING
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Funeral Home
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