LOCATSOUTHEAST
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
★ Thursday, December 27, 2018 9A
WWII homefront museum opens on Georgia coast
BY RUSS BYNUM
Associated Press
SAVANNAH, Ga. — One exhibit
contains a hinged wooden box that
held a bottle of champagne before
it was smashed across the bow of a
newly launched cargo ship built to
carry supplies to American troops
overseas. Another displays the
ship’s bell and a life ring from the
S.S. Esso Baton Rouge, which sank
off the Georgia coast in a deadly
torpedo attack from a German
U-boat.
The artifacts recall moments
of tragedy and celebration dur
ing World War II in Glynn County,
where sailors and airmen trained
for battle overseas while civil
ians — including many women
— labored at the shipyard in sup
port of the war effort. More than
seven decades later, their stories
are the subject of a museum that
re-creates the war’s pervasive
effect on the American homefront
by focusing on a single East Coast
community.
The World War II Home Front
Museum opened earlier this
month on St. Simons Island, about
70 miles south of Savannah. Its
exhibits are housed inside the
island’s former Coast Guard sta
tion, which was in charge of shore
patrols for German submarines
lurking off the Georgia coast dur
ing the war.
The Coastal Georgia Historical
Society raised $3.7 million to build
the museum as a repository for its
growing collection of World War II
artifacts and memorabilia donated
by local residents, including more
than 2,000 photographs from the
period. The society collected doz
ens of oral histories and had its
exhibits designed by Gallagher
& Associates, the same firm that
helped develop the National World
War II Museum in New Orleans.
“We were really encouraged to
think big about this project,” said
Sherri Jones, the historical soci
ety’s executive director. “The sto
ries just resonated with everybody.
It’s a story that so many people
were passionate about.”
The war pervasively affected
Glynn County. About 16,000
workers, including 2,000 women,
worked at the Brunswick ship
yards building what were known as
liberty ships — cargo vessels used
to supply U.S. troops overseas. One
exhibit at the museum allows visi
tors to virtually construct a liberty
ship and follow its voyage across
the Atlantic.
Another exhibit resembles the
interior of a blimp like those that
took off from the neighboring
Glynco Naval Air Station to scout
the coastline for enemy subma
rines. There’s also a re-creation
of the simulated radar room on St.
Simons Island used to train naval
officers in directing fighter planes
in the heat of battle.
The bell and life ring artifacts
from the sunken S.S. Esso Baton
Rouge help tell the story of an
attack on April 8,1942, when Ger
man U-boats torpedoed two mer
chant ships off St. Simons Island. A
total of 22 sailors were killed in the
attack, while others were saved by
Coast Guard crews from the sta
tion that now houses the museum.
Interactive exhibits allow visi
tors to try distinguishing the sil
houettes of friendly and enemy
aircraft in a plane-spotting game,
or to decide how best to spend
ration points on staples such as
meat, coffee and butter at a mock
storefront.
“We want people to come here
and be able to relate to these
sorts of things that were going on
all over the United States,” said
Mimi Rogers, the museum’s cura
tor. “Rationing, plane spotting and
other ways that ordinary citizens
could support the war even if they
weren’t in the military.”
Before the museum opened to
the public on Dec. 8, about 250
people who contributed to its cre
ation — from those who donated
photos and artifacts to the local
landscaper — attended an invita
tion-only launch celebration.
Among them was 101-year-old
Ida Mae Lawson, one of the ship
yard workers who helped Bruns
wick churn out 85 liberty ships
before the war’s end in 1945. For
the museum’s ceremonial launch,
Lawson joined Rogers in a ritual
recalling the sendoffs for the com
pleted liberty ships. They broke
a bottle of champagne across the
flagpole outside.
SC shooter’s case to test life sentence for juveniles
I I* J
KEN RUINARD I Associated Press
Jesse Osborne waits for a ruling at the Anderson County Courthouse,
Feb. 16. Osborne, a teen charged with shooting at a group of South
Carolina elementary school students outside for recess, killing one
of them, is set to appear in court. Prosecutors would not say why
Osborne will appear at the Anderson County courthouse.
BY JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South
Carolina school shooting will
soon become a test case for court
rulings that restrict life-without-
parole sentences for juveniles,
after a 16-year-old pleaded guilty
to two counts of murder.
Jesse Osborne pleaded guilty
earlier this month to two charges
of murder for fatally shooting his
father in their home and a 6-year-
old boy at the South Carolina
elementary school Osborne once
attended.
Prosecutors said they would
seek a life sentence without
parole. Osborne faces a minimum
of 30 years.
The U.S. Supreme Court
rejected mandatory life without
parole for juveniles in 2012. How
ever, life without parole is still
allowed as an option for juveniles.
Osborne and his lawyers said
little at his plea hearing. But
defense attorney Frank Eppes
promised to fight to ensure the
teen, who had turned 14 just 20
days before the September 2016
killings, leaves prison someday.
WHAT WILL THE HEARING
BE LIKE?
The court rulings named five
factors a judge must weigh before
deciding if someone who was 17
or younger when they commit
ted a murder should never leave
prison.
Judge Lawton McIntosh will
have to consider Osborne’s age
and maturity at the time of the
crime; his family and home envi
ronment; the circumstances of
the crime; whether he knew his
rights and could deal with police
and prosecutors; and the possibil
ity of rehabilitation, according to
the courts.
THE PROSECUTION’S CASE
Based on the evidence pre
sented during the Dec. 12 guilty
plea hearing and a February
hearing that determined Osborne
would be tried as an adult, Solici
tor David Wagner will emphasize
the horror of Osborne’s crimes.
The teen walked behind his
father and shot him three times in
the head before stealing his dad’s
pickup and driving it to Townville
Elementary School, said Wagner.
Wagner also emphasized
Osborne’s messages to a private
Instagram group that he called a
“sleeper cell of would-be school
shooters.” The messages said
he chose the elementary school
because it had no police officer on
campus and police response time
would be slower.
The judge will likely hear from
mental health experts. Neuropsy
chologist Mark Wagner testified at
Osborne’s hearing to determine if
he should be tried as an adult that
the teen “told me he enjoys think
ing about killing other people.”
THE DEFENSE CASE
It’s a little less clear how
Osborne and his lawyers might
argue for leniency.
During the February hearing,
they pointed out the teen loved his
pets, even kissing them after he
killed his father and headed to the
school, because he wasn’t sure he
would survive.
They also have characterized
Osborne’s father as an angry
man who belittled and tried to
pick fights with Osborne and his
mother when he was drunk.
Defense attorneys have also
pointed out Osborne’s mother and
lawyer were outside the sheriff’s
office asking to see him while he
was confessing to investigators
the night of the shootings.
Eppes and Osborne said little
at his plea hearing. Outside the
courtroom, Eppes said Osborne
is remorseful and knew he could
spend the rest of his life in prison
from the day of the killings.
“He is very guarded like all
teenagers,” Eppes said. “He
rarely talks about that day. ”
PREVIOUS CASES
An organization called Justice
360 opposes life sentences for
juveniles. Executive Director
Lindsey Vann said in most new
murder cases involving juveniles
since the court ruling, a hearing
has been unnecessary because
prosecutors and defense attor
neys agreed on a sentence less
than life that offers a chance of
freedom.
The group also tracks re-sen-
tencing for juveniles already
serving life sentences, which was
ordered under the 2014 South Car
olina Supreme Court ruling. As of
this past February, seven defen
dants have been resentenced,
with just two of them ordered to
keep serving life.
SCHEDULING
A date for Osborne’s hear
ing has not been set. Both sides
suggested it would take through
at least late spring to organize
experts and other witnesses.
WINDER
Woman arrested
in fatal December
hit-and-run
A woman has been arrested and
charged in the death of a man who
was struck and killed by a hit-and-
run driver earlier this month.
The Athens Banner-Herald
reported that the Barrow County
Sheriff’s Office said 42-year-old
Sandy Michelle Wilson of Winder
was arrested on Christmas eve and
is charged with felony vehicular
homicide, cruelty to animals and
other traffic violations.
The sheriff’s office said 66-year-
old Marvin Barnes of Statham and
his dog were struck and killed Dec.
3 when someone ran off a the road.
The sheriff’s office offered a
reward of $2,500 last week for Wil
son’s arrest.
It was not known whether the
reward offer played a role in her
capture.
ATLANTA
Two people have died in
fatal Christmas fire
Two people have died in a Christ
mas fire in the Atlanta area.
News outlets reported the fire was
reported around 10:30 p.m. Tues
day in DeKalb County southeast of
Atlanta.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Ken
neth McKinney said flames were
coming out of the house when fire
fighters arrived.
Once fire crews made it inside,
they found two victims.
Their names have not been
released.
The cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Associated Press
OBITUARIES
Delores “Dodie” Bowen
June 14,1944-Dec. 15,2018
Delores “Dodie” Bowen, 74, of Gaines
ville, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25,2018,
at Northeast Georgia Medical Center follow
ing an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on
Friday, Dec. 28, 2018 at The Refuge Wor
ship Center with Rev. Hugh Hubbard, Rev.
Helen Adams officiating. Interment will fol
low in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family
will receive friends at the funeral home on
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018 from 7 p.m. until 9
p.m.
Born on June 14,1944 in Atlanta, Ga., she
was the daughter of the late Raleigh and
Noami Bowen. She was retired from Fiel-
dale, where she worked in the supply room.
She was a member of The Refuge Worship
Center. Mrs. Bowen had a “big circle of
friends”.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bowen is
preceded in death by several brothers and
sisters.
Mrs. Bowen is survived by her special
friend, Willie Cain of Gainesville.
Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville
The Times, Gainesville, Ga.
Dec. 27, 2018
DEATH NOTICES
Carolyn Bowen Bellamy
Aug. 2,1942-Dec. 25,2018
Carolyn Bowen Bellamy, 76, of Mount
Airy died Tuesday. Funeral service, 3 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28, funeral home chapel.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home,
Cornelia.
Evelyn Wilda Edge
Died Dec. 23,2018
Evelyn Wilda Edge, 100, of Gainesville
died Sunday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Thurs
day, Dec. 27, funeral home chapel. Strick
land Funeral Home, Clermont.
James Edward Ferguson Jr.
Died Dec. 25,2018
James Edward “Ed” Ferguson Jr., 70, of
Gainesville died Tuesday. Memorial Park
North Riverside Chapel, Gainesville.
Debra McDowell Hubbard
Died Dec. 23,2018
Debra McDowell Hubbard died Sunday.
Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29,
McKendree United Methodist Church. Ham
ilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford.
Clara Sue Rickman Jachode
Feb. 2,1942-Dec. 16,2018
Clara Sue Rickman Jachode, 76, died
Sunday, Dec. 16. Habersham Crematory,
Cornelia.
G. A. Kitterman
Died Dec. 22,2018
G. A. “Jerry” Kitterman, 74, of Flowery
Branch died Saturday. Funeral service, 1
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, funeral home chapel.
Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford.
L.D. Franklin Lemley
Died Dec. 22,2018
L.D. Franklin Lemley, 78, of Gainesville
died Saturday. Funeral service, 1 p.m. Fri
day, Dec. 28, funeral home chapel. Little &
Davenport Funeral Home, Gainesville.
James Roger Mills
Dec. 21,1952-Dec. 25, 2018
James Roger Mills, 66, of Dawsonville
died Tuesday. Anderson-Underwood
Funeral Home, Dahlonega.
Edward Layton Minks
April 14,1950-Dec. 21,2018
Edward Layton Minks, 68, of Mount
Airy died Friday. Habersham Crematory,
Cornelia.
Mark Anthony Miralles
Died Dec. 25,2018
Mark Anthony Miralles, 61, of Cumming
died Tuesday. McDonald and Son Funeral
Home, Cumming.
Elaine Ivey Payne
April 30,1929-Dec. 24,2018
Elaine Ivey Payne, 89, of Dahlonega died
Monday. Funeral service, 10:30 a.m. Satur
day, Dec. 29, funeral home chapel. Flanigan
Funeral Home, Buford.
David Allen Quick
June 19,1954-Dec. 19, 2018
David Allen Quick, 64, of Lawrenceville
died Wednesday, Dec. 19. Ingram Funeral
Home, Cumming.
Johnnie Ann Bagley Reese
May 19,1945-Dec. 24,2018
Johnnie Ann Bagley Reese, 73, of Buford
died Monday. Funeral service, 3:30 p.m. Sat
urday, Dec. 29, funeral home chapel. Flani
gan Funeral Home, Buford.
Eric Loren Saxton
Died Dec. 24,2018
Eric Loren Saxton, 48, of Gainesville died
Monday. Memorial service, 1 p.m. Saturday,
Dec. 29, Lakewood Baptist Church. Memo
rial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Nancy Ruth Shields
Died Dec. 23,2018
Nancy Ruth Shields of Jefferson died Sun
day. Young’s Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Elois Florence Franklin Tench
March 8,1925-Dec. 25,2018
Elois Florence Franklin Tench, 93, of
Mount Airy died Tuesday. Funeral service,
3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, Hazel Creek Baptist
Church. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral
Home, Cornelia.
Shirley Ann McEver
Sept. 12,1941-Dec. 24,2018
Shirley Ann McEver, 77, of Danielsville
died Monday. Memorial service, 2 p.m
Saturday, Dec. 29, Peachtree City Seventh-
day Adventist Church. Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce.
Marion Richard Trimmer
Died Dec. 26,2018
Marion Richard “Dick” Trimmer died
Wednesday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Satur
day, Dec. 29, funeral home chapel. Little &
Davenport Funeral Home, Gainesville
Obituary information
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For more info., call 770-718-3419 or 800-
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