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
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