About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2020)
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - June 6-7, 2020 3B (Fieldale Farms) moved to Habersham County, and Sylvia started the Habersham Christian Learning Center at Habersham Central High School. She taught, mentored, and was director there for 18 years. She also continued as a family counselor. She attended Riverbend Baptist Church in Gainesville in the 1960’s, Lakewood Baptist in Gainesville in the 1970’s. Then joined First Presbyterian in Cornelia in the 1980’s and was an elder there. Some awards given to her were: Hall County Civitan “Citizen of the Year”, Gainesville S.T.A.R. Teacher; Habersham Rotary “Will Watt Award” for outstanding educator; Woodmen of the World “Outstanding Citizen”, Kiwanis “Key of Light”; Who’s Who Among .American Educators, and Habersham Pacesetter. She was a member of member of Alpha Delta Kappa; 3 Arts Club, and TMC Alumni Association. She gave many talks and conducted seminars throughout her life. She served on the Habersham County Board of Education from 1999-2006. Then, at age 72, she decided to teach Interpersonal Relations at North GA Technical College in Clarkesville. She was there for 9 years, and was dubbed “The Ping Pong Queen” because she could still beat most of the college boys! In 2015, only 2 days after their 58th wedding anniversary Gerald passed away after a long and valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease. They had a marriage that most people want. It didn’t just happen; they did the things that made a happy marriage. He treated her like the special sweet classy Southern lady she was. Although she worked too, when Gerald would come home from work each day, she would run to him, excited, kiss, and act like seeing him was the best thing that had happened all day. Although he was more stoic, she always made him grin. They lifted each other up, never withheld good from each other, and refused to say anything negative about each other. As Sylvia used to say, “Your name is safe on my lips.” They spent a lifetime finding the humor in life. Even as Gerald dealt with the cruelty of Parkinson’s, he saw humor, and said things that kept her laughing. Their favorite song was “You’re my best friend,” by Don Williams. They built a home where love lived brightly. Always learning and loving school, in 2016 Sylvia decided to go back to Truett McConnell to work on a Master’s Degree in theology. Even in her 80’s, she could still beat most of the college guys in ping pong! She was still upbeat, happy, positive, and loved people. In her eyes, everything was a party, and reason to eat, talk, laugh, and have a good time! In 2017 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She went through chemo (still bringing the party to the chemo room - would get food and drinks for everyone there), then surgery, then more chemo. The treatments were working, and she kept going to school! In 2019, one morning as she was on the way to Truett McConnell, a “distracted” driver on 365 hit her in her car at 70 mph. She had 11 broken ribs, 2 cracked ankles, a concussion, and had bruising from head to toe. Even after this, as soon as possible, she once again returned to TMC. Unfortunately, the wreck meant she had to stop chemo treatments to heal from her many injuries. Sadly, this allowed the cancer to come back again, and this time in her liver, colon, and other places. As soon as they could, they tried more chemo, but it was too far advanced. Hospice was called in to assist. Typical Sylvia Palmer, upon receiving the news that her time was limited, she didn’t crawl into a corner. She got excited about writing a book about living life that she’d wanted to write (soon to be published)! Her attitude stayed positive all her life. She said that she’s thankful for every moment on this Earth, and intends to enjoy every moment that was allowed here, but she was also looking forward to seeing Jesus and Gerald in Heaven. With the COVID virus, everything was cancelled, so Sylvia finally had to quit going to classes. On TMC’s awards day 2020, President Dr. Emir Caner presented Sylvia with an honorary Doctorate of Theology degree! She was surprised and delighted! Gerald loved planting and growing things. He set out an Abraham Lincoln rose bush by their back steps. Since Gerald died, the bush hasn’t really produced much. This year, not too long after hospice was called in, the rose bush started producing the prettiest roses it’s ever had. She said it was God letting Gerald send a message, saying that he’s got them a spot picked out in Heaven, and he’s ready for her to come see him. This lady has been a special one of a kind bright shining spot for all her many students, counselees, friends and family. It is the sunset of a life well lived, and an inspiration to us all. No doubt God has said, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” For those of us that are left here, our hearts are heavy with the loss of hearing her laughter, her words of comfort and support, and seeing that sweet smile she shared so freely, but we have plans to meet again. In case you didn’t know, this is what love looks like. It is a love radiated from her Christ. Special thanks to Jacob and Renee who put their lives on hold and moved in with Mom to care for her in these last times, and to Erica, our hospice nurse that became like family, and the many friends and family that showed their love in so many ways. Due to virus concerns, regular funeral services will be postponed until a later date. Later, we plan to have a party of which she would approve. Burial will be at Yonah Memorial Gardens cemetery with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Habersham Christian Learning Center, P. O. Box 427, Cornelia, GA 30531; or Truett- McConnell College, 100 Alumni Drive, Cleveland, GA, 30528, or Cornelia Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 165, Cornelia, GA 30531. An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffin andstewart.com. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements. William Alfred Griffith, III Died June 3, 2020 Mr. William Alfred Griffith, III, age 76, of Auburn passed away Wednesday, June 3. Services will be private. Mr. Bill Griffith was born March 10, 1944 to the late William Alfred & Helen Lena Griffith, II in Baltimore, Maryland. A Veteran of the United States Air Force, he was retired from Lucent Technologies and Hall County, where he worked in Maintenance. Mr. Griffith is survived by his wife of 28 years, Rebecca Griffith; sons, Mikel & wife Liane, Richard, and Nathan Wood & wife April; daughter, Rachel; 5 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; brother, David; and sisters, Donna and Florence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Place Church, 3428 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements. MEMORIAL rARK SOUTH FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY Death Notices Agnes Marie Davis Moore Died June 3, 2020 Agnes Marie Davis Moore, age 80, of Mt. Airy, died, Wednesday, June 3. A graveside service was held at 2:00 pm on Friday, June 5, at Hazel Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will follow the service at the cemetery. Arrangements by McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. Aileen Pardue Ray Died June 2, 2020 Aileen Pardue Ray, age 96, of Clarkesville, died Tuesday, June 2. Private Graveside Services will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, Demorest. Allene Anderson Sears Died June 3, 2020 Allene Anderson Sears age 78 of Homer died Wednesday. Graveside service, 11 AM, Saturday, Grey Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Little- Ward Funeral Home, Commerce. Ann Dee Duchow Died May 31, 2020 Ann Dee Duchow, age 55, of Gainesville, died Sunday, May 31. There will be no formal service at this time. Arrangements by Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Charlotte Bennett Skinner Died June 1, 2020 Charlotte Bennett Skinner, 76, died Monday, June 1. Funeral services were held Thursday, June 4, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ingram Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services followed at Sawnee View Gardens. The family received friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Danny Ralph Kirby Died June 1, 2020 Danny Ralph Kirby, age 73 of Murrayville, died Monday June 1st. Graveside services were held, Wednesday June 3 at 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Edward Eugene Fortner Died June 2, 2020 Edward Eugene Fortner, age 52, of Jefferson died Tuesday, June 2. Funeral services will be held 4:00 pm Saturday, June 6 at Lawson Funeral Home Chapel. Interment to follow at Walnut Fork Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Saturday, June 6 at the funeral home. Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton. Edward Lamar Garrett Died June 1, 2020 Edward Lamar Garrett, age 77, of Cumming, died June 1st. Graveside services are scheduled for 3:00 PM Saturday, June 6 at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery. A brief family viewing will be held from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Ingram Funeral Home on Saturday before the graveside. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Frank V. Janik Died June 1, 2020 Frank V Janik, age 82, of Cumming, GA, died Monday, June 1st. Celebration of life for Mr. Janik will be held Friday, June 12, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Cumming. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Grade Mae Lance Died June 2, 2020 Gracie Mae Lance, age 75, of Dahlonega passed away Tuesday, June 2. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 AM Saturday, June 6 at the chapel of Anderson- Underwood Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Hightower Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday and Friday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, Dahlonega. Ivan Grady Buice Died June 3, 2020 Ivan Grady Buice of Dahlonega, died, Wednesday, June 3. A celebration of life will be held at Set Free Church in Dawsonville on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 PM. Arrangements by Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, Dahlonega. J. Jerome Rogers Died June 1, 2020 J. Jerome “Jerry” Rogers, age 84 of Buford, died Monday, June 1. Mr. Rogers was interred Thursday, June 4 at 11 AM at Memorial Park South Cemetery, Flowery Branch. Arrangements by Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Jean Olmsted Died June 2, 2020 Jean Olmsted, age 87, of Clarkesville, died, Tuesday, June 2. Private Graveside Services will be held at Yonah Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, Demorest. John David Walton Died May 31, 2020 John David Walton, age 58 of Dacula, died Sunday, May 31st. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 6, at 2 PM at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel. The family will also host a celebration of life reception at their home at 3:30. The family received friends Friday, June 5, from 3-5 PM at the funeral home. Arrangements by Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Jonathan Eugene Sanford Died June 2, 2020 Jonathan Eugene Sanford, 18, of Dawsonville died Tuesday June 2. Graveside services, Saturday June 6, 1:30 p.m., Mill Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville. Kadeen Martin Pirkle Died June 2, 2020 Kadeen Martin Pirkle, 86, died, Tuesday, June 2, in Dahlonega. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing guidelines will be followed. The funeral was graveside, Friday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Chestatee Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville. Kenneth Allan Douglass Died May 30, 2020 Kenneth Allan Douglass, 84, of Cumming, died, May 30. Visitation was held Thursday, June 4 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Ingram Funeral Home. Mass was held on Friday, June 5 at 11:00 am at St. Brendan Catholic Church with burial to follow at Eternal Hills Cemetery. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Larry Leon Timms Died June 3, 2020 Larry Leon Timms, age 78, of Braselton, died Wednesday, June 3. Graveside services were held 11:00 AM, Friday, June 5 at Braselton Church of God of Prophecy. The family received friends 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 4 at Lawson Funeral Home Chapel. Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton. Loyd Janies Ayers Died June 2, 2020 Loyd James Ayers, age 74, of Homer, died Tuesday. Graveside services were held, 2 PM, Thursday, Solid Rock Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce. Mary Frances Reed Cochran Died June 1, 2020 Mary Frances Reed Cochran, 93, of Gainesville died on Monday June 1st. A Memorial Service was held at Little Davenport Chapel on Thursday June 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM. Interment followed at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, Gainesville. Merna Jane Gilkey Martin Died May 27, 2020 Merna Jane Gilkey Martin, aged 90 years, died May 27, in Clarkesville. Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville. Paul Lane Mitchum Died May 30, 2020 Paul Lane Mitchum, age 24, of Cumming, died, Saturday, May 30. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 6, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming. Interment will follow at Sawnee View Gardens in Cumming. The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Timothy Rudolph Garner Died June 4, 2020 Timothy “Tim” Rudolph Garner age 57 of Oakwood, died Thursday June 4. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday June 6, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with interment to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family received friends on Friday June 5 from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements by Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville. Tommie Leroy Sorrow Died June 2, 2020 Tommie Leroy Sorrow, age 63, of Baldwin, died, Tuesday, June 2. Private Graveside Services will be held at the B.C. Grant Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements by Whitfield Funeral Homes Crematory, South Chapel, Baldwin. William Henry Shelton Died June 2, 2020 William Henry Shelton, age 79, of Sugar Hill, died June 2. There is not a service planned at this time. Arrangements by Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford. Winford Paul Cheeks Jr. Died June 2, 2020 Winford Paul Cheeks Jr. 71, of Gainesville, died Tuesday June 2nd. The visitation will be Friday June 5 at Wimberly Funeral Home from 12-7pm. Service will be Saturday June 6 at Calvary Gardens at lpm. Arrangements by Wimberly Funeral Home, Gainesville. ■nr 1 Be kind and compassionate to one * another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 0J Worsflip - Ephesians 4:32 CJfai^rin SET FREE Chtw* Flowery Branch Sunday Service 11 am Tuesday Bible Study 10 am Wednesday Service 7 pm 5801 Blackjack Road, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 (678) 725-0813 HARDY HARDY CHEVROLET, INC. Wayne Alexander & Personnel 770-532-4389 1 «U RANC E i?C, E N C Y www. chastainagency. com HOURS Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00 770-297-1166 235 Pearl Nix Pkwy, Suite 8 Gainesville, GA 30501 Special thanks to our sponsors who make this page possible. For more information about advertising in this space, call 770-532-1234 or email classifieds@gainesvilletimes.com
