About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2020)
6A Midweek Edition - June 3-4, 2020 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Larry Savage Died May 26, 2020 Larry Savage, age 74, of Lula, passed away Tuesday, May 26. Larry was born July 15, 1945, to the late Harmon Savage and Althea Marie Cagle Savage. He was a beloved husband and father, devoted his life to his family, and was a hard worker. Larry was a member of Skitts Mountain Baptist Church and was a cattle and poultry farmer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Whitney Marie Savage. His survivors include his wife, Janie Savage, Lula; his daughters, Jawanda Morrow, Clermont, Adrianne Savage, Lula, and Cynthia Hershkovich; his daughter and son- in-law, Eleshia and Bob Frasier, Alto; his sister and brother-in- law, Helen and Charles Albertson, Clermont; his sister, Joanne Warwick, Cleveland; and his 7 grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Skitts Mountain Baptist Church. The Rev. Kyle Savage and the Rev. Mike Irvin officiated. This was a “Drive In” service. Everyone remained in their vehicles and tuned their radios to 95.7 FM. Only the immediate family was allowed inside the church during the service. Immediately following the church service, everyone was invited to attend the graveside service at the church cemetery, maintaining social distancing. The family received friends from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the funeral home. Social distancing was maintained during the visitation. To share a memory or to leave the family a condolence please visit http ://www.barrettfh. com Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland. BARRETT FUNERAL HOME ■WHITE COUNTYS ONLY UXAUY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL H0M£' ’SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1976' Patricia Harris Bennett Died May 22, 2020 Mrs. Patricia Harris Bennett, age 79, of Flowery Branch, passed away Friday, May 22, at Brookdale - Buford. Private Graveside Services will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Bennett was born September 27, 1940, in McRae, Georgia to the late James & Dora Mae Wilcox. She graduated from Georgia Southern University and retired from Hall County School System, where she taught English as Second Language. Mrs. Bennett is survived by her son, Mark Bennett of Flowery Branch; and brother & sister-in-law, Mitchell & Susan Wilcox of St. Louis, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Harold Bennett and daughter, Samantha Bennett. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements. Send on-line condolences to www.memorialpark funeralhomes.com. MEMORIAL rARK SOUTH FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY Annie Morene Fauscett Merck Died May 31, 2020 Annie Morene Fauscett Merck, age 83, of Gainesville, entered into heaven Sunday, May 31. Annie Morene was born in Hall County to the late Glen Crawford & Reba Pennington Fauscett. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph (Joe) George Merck; daughter, Melinda Carol Merck Owens; son, Melvin Eugene Merck; daughter in law, Sherry Denise Aiken Merck; sisters, Christine Fauscett Gee & Reba Evelyn Fauscett Bounds; brothers, Grover Lee Fauscett, Loyd William Fauscett, John Robert Fauscett, Glen (JC) Crawford,Jr. & Eugene (Gene) Alwin Fauscett. Survivors include sister Shirley Fauscett Merck, son, Joseph Michael (Kathy) Merck; daughter, Marsha Ann Merck; 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren & a host of other family also survive. Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Solid Rock Baptist Church Cemetery to celebrate the Lord taking Annie Morene’s hand and taking her home. Rev. Swayne Carlan will officiate. The family will receive friends Wednesday June 3, from 6-8 p.m. Social distancing is encouraged for everyone’s safety. She was a faithful & dedicated wife, a loving & fun-loving mother, grandmother & great grandmother. She will be missed. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association 41 Perimeter Center E. #550 Atlanta, Georgia 30346. Please share memories & condolences with the family at www.wardsfh. com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Annie Morene Fauscett Merck. Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville. “A Family Funeral Home”. Funeral Home Duke Johnson Aycock Died May 31, 2020 Duke Johnson Aycock, age 71, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 31. Due to Covid-19 the family will hold private graveside services. Duke was born January 18, 1949, the son of the late Emory Lawrence Aycock and Catherine (Johnson) Aycock. Duke cherished his family and loved the Lord. He loved to make others laugh and shared his joy with those around him. He was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jane Aycock;three children Susan Villhauer (Brian) Suwanee, GA, Brian Aycock (Emiko) Tokyo Japan, and Laura Aycock, Lula, GA; five grandchildren Cooper, Logan, and Tucker Villhauer, Wakana Kobayashi, and Masaharu Kobayashi- Aycock; his sister Donna Wiggins (John) Gainesville, GA; and a large extended family and friends In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Greater Hall Fellowship of Christian Athletes RO. Box 656 Oakwood, GA 30566; Lakewood Baptist Church 2235 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesville, GA 30501; or Samaritan’s Purse. Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr. is in charge of arrangements. Send online condolences to www.memorialpark funeralhomes.com. MEMORIAL PARK Funeral Homes a Cemeteries lla Bell Martin Died May 28, 2020 lla Bell Martin, age 92, of Gainesville, passed away Thursday, May 28, at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was born in 1928, to the late Starling and Harriet Porter. She was a lifelong member of Mayfield Baptist Church in Gainesville. lla worked for Gainesville Manufacturing for many years. She enjoyed working in her garden and yard all throughout the year. Her favorite thing to do was to spend time with her great grandchildren, they were the light of her world. lla was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Martin; brother-in- law, Clyde Smith; and granddaughter, Sirena Pruitt. She is survived by her children, Sarah (Troyce) Martin, Cecil (Debbie) Martin, Kathy (Harvey) Black; sister, Emma Lee Smith; grandchildren, James Pruitt and Christy Martin Eastwood; great grandchildren, Ryder Camp and Ransom Eastwood; special care givers; Lynn LeBlanc, Janet Blalock, Donna Cape, and Elaine Holyfield; along with several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their gratitude to Hospice of NGMC, for all the love and compassion they have showed to Mrs. Martin and her family. Graveside services were held Saturday, May 30, at 1:00 p.m. at Mayfield Baptist Church in Gainesville, with Rev. Troy Milford officiating. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements. Richard Lawson “Dick” Valentine Died May 29, 2020 Richard Lawson “Dick” Valentine, 64, of Gainesville, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Friday, May 29, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, as well as a compassionate and generous leader and servant of his community and church. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Herbert Edward Valentine, Jr. and Bonnelle Lawson Valentine, as well as his brothers, Herbert Edward “Boots” Valentine, III and Thomas Ervin “Tommy” Valentine. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 40 years, Cherry Valentine of Gainesville; son Brad Valentine and his wife Henderson of Athens; daughter Leigh Papevies and her husband Neal of Atlanta; granddaughter Parker Papevies of Atlanta; brother, Dr. Mike Valentine and his wife, Shannon, of Lynchburg, Virginia; three nieces and nephews, Catherine Valentine of Washington DC, Jack Valentine of New York, New York, and Brooke Valentine of Charlottesville, Virginia; sister-in-law, Laura Treadway of Griffin; and beloved dog of 16 years, Sadie. Dick is a 1973 Honor graduate of Gainesville High School and a 1977 graduate of The University of Georgia, where he was a member and President of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and made many close, lifelong friends. Dick had an illustrious career in banking that began at Trust Company Bank in Atlanta. In 1982, he made the decision to move back to his hometown to work for First National Bank, which subsequently merged with Regions Bank, where he spent 20 years and became the bank’s local President. In 2005, Dick joined United Community Bank alongside many of his devoted colleagues to begin the Hall County operation for UCBI. As its Regional President and CEO, he helped grow the United presence in Gainesville and Hall County from a single branch to a strong presence with many branches. During this time he built a very special bond with his colleagues at UCBI and considered them family. He was proud of the success they achieved together, and even more so of the individuals he supported and mentored along the way. Dick was not only a leader in business but also in his community. He served on numerous boards and committees, and significant accomplishments included serving as Chairman of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, the President and Campaign Chairman for the United Way of Hall County, Chairman of Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council, and President of Gainesville Jaycees. He was also the President of Chattahoochee Country Club and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, NC. Dick loved his church, Gainesville First United Methodist, where he served in numerous capacities through the years. He served as Chairman of the Trustees and member of both the Finance and Capital Campaign Committees. Dick’s dedication to his community was highlighted when he received several awards over the years, recognizing his unselfish volunteer efforts and exceptional leadership. In 1987, he received the Gainesville Jaycees Young Man of the Year award. He later received the WG. Mealor Chairman’s Award and Silver Shovel Award, both presented annually by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. Dick also proudly accepted the Ralph Cleveland Distinguished Citizen Award from the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 2017. Dick was also a proud member and servant of the Gridiron Secret Society. In March 2016, Dick made the difficult decision to retire at the age of 60 following the death of his older brother, Tommy. Although he loved the company and “couldn’t find a finer group to work with,” his perspective on life had changed. Dick spent the next four years of his retirement making unforgettable memories with family and friends. This included numerous hours on the back porch of his home in Highlands listening to music (just a little too loud), sipping wine, and admiring the beautiful view alongside his best friend, Cherry. He made countless new friends at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club who he treasured on and off the golf course. He played golf nearly every single day, and sometimes multiple times a day! He traveled to places he previously could have only imagined with the best of friends. He spent precious time with his wife, children, and granddaughter that will never be forgotten. Even before retirement, Dick was well known to live life to its fullest. Throughout the years, he made countless memories filled with laughter and great times with his incredible circle of close college and Gainesville friends that he loved dearly. He was a self-proclaimed “Dawg” and supported Georgia Football wholeheartedly (even though he claimed numerous times to never return to Sanford Stadium after a difficult loss). He was quite a dancer, and his signature wrist twirl will be re enacted on the dance floor by friends and family for years to come. He is especially proud of his golf member-guest tournament grand slam, where he won three out of his four club championship titles with his Partner for Life, Jeff Watkins. Dick’s legacy is simple. He lived a good life and made a difference. He made a difference in everything he touched: every person, every job, and every community. He was a wonderful family man, friend, and role model. He was flexible, compassionate, and respectful to each person that worked with him; he led and empowered people that worked under him. He made people better. The Valentine family will be forever grateful to Dr. Frank Lake, who was by their side throughout his illness, offering friendship, support, and excellent medical care. The family held a private burial service on Monday, June 1, at Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville. Details for a public visitation and memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Dick’s life may be made to First United Methodist Church at 2870 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30506; Highlands United Methodist Church at 315 Main Street, Highlands North Carolina 28741; The Herb Valentine Athletic Center, c/o Gainesville High School Athletic Club, RO. Box 3141, Gainesville, Georgia 30503; or the charity of your choosing. Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at littledavenport. com. Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Hwy, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, is in charge of arrangements. Sara Elizabeth Batten Died May 30, 2020 Sara Elizabeth Batten, age 77, of Gainesville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 30. Sara was born at home in Henry County to the late William Glynn and Ellen Pearl White Thurman. Sara graduated from Henry County High School in 1960. She had a successful career at the Coca-Cola Company, retiring in 1998. During her time at Coke, she enjoyed spending time with “The Hens”. This group of friends forged a decades long celebration of life. Sara was a loyal GA Bulldog fan, celebrating the wins, lamenting the losses. She had a deep love of all her pets that were fortunate to be under her care. A lovely southern lady who enjoyed cooking, gardening, birdwatching and hospital volunteering as a “Pink Lady”. She spent the last several years of her life with a beautiful view of Lake Lanier, which she loved. She is predeceased by sister Carolyn Cox, brothers; Bobby Gene Thurman and William (Billy) Thurman, sister- in-law; Martha Knight Thurman. She is survived by brother Harold Thurman, sisters; Marie (Bobby) Bankston, DeLane (Bobby) Gossett and many nieces and nephews. Sara was a wonderful, generous lady and a great aunt. Due to ongoing safety concerns, a private family service will held in the future. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sara’s memory may be made to Bethel UMC, Stockbridge; Zoo Atlanta; or a charity of your choice. Memorial contributions in Sara’s memory may be made to Bethel UMC, Zoo Atlanta or a charity of your choice. Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at ttp:// littledavenport.com Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Hwy, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, is in charge of arrangements. She Sfmes gainesvilletimes.com Honestly local. Obituary Notices are updated daily on GainesvilleTimes.com Sign up at gainesvilletimes.com/register to receive the latest news and obituaries from our daily email newsletter.
