4A Midweek Edition-July 17-18, 2024
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com
LOCAL
FROM 1A
Hall Taxes
people in attendance. About half a
dozen people spoke in opposition
to higher taxes, though several
well-known figures in Hall County
expressed their support for the
board.
Schofield and
longtime school
board member
Nath Morris said
they have never
seen so many
people show up
for a property
tax meeting.
But Schofield insisted
that public opposition didn't
ultimately influence the board's
decision to lower the tax rate as
much as it did.
“The board was thinking of
doing that all along," he told those
in attendance.
Outgoing
school board
member Nath
Morris said
he was happy
with the tax rate
and the budget
adopted by the
board.
“I can sleep
well tonight,” he told those in
attendance.
‘I need a break’
Some of those who spoke out
against higher taxes struck a
similar note: They are struggling
to make ends meet in this
economy.
“I'm just here to offer a plea,”
said Patti Minton. “I'll be 67 in
August. I'm working longer and
harder than I've ever worked in
my life. ... It is a real struggle.
I'm single. I'm not extravagant, I
drive a 2011 car. I love my life,
I'm thankful for my life, but I
need a break, and I just feel like
there has to be some areas that
some things can be cut to give
people like me and these people a
break, so please, please consider
what we're going through.”
Likewise, Susan Smith said she
can barely afford to pay her bills.
“My retirement check is just
enough to cover my bills,” she
said. “In order to help my child
attend college, I have taken
contract work to supplement my
income. I do not feel that I should
continue taking even more work
on to help add to this budget.”
She suggested Schofield's
salary increases over the past
decade were unjustified, citing
what she viewed as poor student
achievement metrics.
Schofield's salary has
increased nearly 60% over the
last decade, from $189,821 to
$302,000.
“That seems a bit extreme,” she
said.
Schofield told The Times after
the meeting that people are well
within their right to scrutinize his
salary, but he said he has turned
down some pay raises over the
years and is paid below market
rate given the length of his tenure
and the number of students in the
district.
Perhaps the most angry
criticism came from Eric Miller, a
biker wearing a cowboy hat and a
leather vest, with a big patch that
says “Don't tread on me,” and a
smaller one that says “I voted for
Trump and I carry a gun.”
“You do not presume to lecture
to (us),” he said to Schofield,
later adding, “I'm telling you no.”
He said that taxpayer money
should not be used to educate
the children of undocumented
immigrants, whom he called
“anchor babies.”
The Meat Science Center
comes under fire
The district's Agribusiness
Center and adjacent Meat Science
Center in North Hall served as
something of a focal point during
the hearing, with some saying that
it is not the school district's place
to raise animals and slaughter
them for meat.
“I know we face a lot of
things in our society as far as
food security, but one thing I do
want to note right off is, it's not
the responsibility of the Hall
County school system to build
meat processing facilities,” said
Brandon Dean, himself a beef
producer, eliciting claps from the
crowd. “It's also, in my opinion,
an unethical use of funds when
we have so many other areas that
are areas of need in our education
program in Hall County.”
Schofield countered by noting
that most of the funding for the
$8.5 million Meat Science Center
came from state and federal
grants, not taxpayer funds. He
said the center will eventually
be able to provide some of the
district's protein needs and will
likely turn out to be a money
making investment. Schofield
comes from a long line of dairy
farmers and has advocated for a
return to local food production.
Incoming state Sen. Drew
Echols, R-Alto, spoke toward
the end of
the hearing
in support of
the district's
agriculture
programs.
“I'm here to
speak on behalf
of the farm,” said
Echols, who is
the co-owner of Jaemor Farms
in Alto. There's people hurting
all over this county,” he said,
referring to people's financial
struggles, but he said the district's
farm is important for training
students for careers in agriculture.
Phil Sutton, vice president
of Kubota Manufacturing, also
spoke in favor of the district's
agriculture programs and its
work-based learning programs
more generally.
“I couldn't be more proud of
the tough work that you all have
done to create the workforce that
we need for the future,” Sutton
said to the board. “We employ on
average 50 to 60 young students
from Hall County Schools every
year in work-based learning,
everything from accounting to
engineering, from manufacturing
to assembly.... And this is a huge
benefit to this entire community.”
Dipping into reserves
The district says costs have
increased significantly over last
year, largely due to teacher raises
and a state-mandated increase in
health insurance premiums.
Gov. Brian Kemp approved
a $2,500 raise for teachers, but
the additional state funding
won't cover all teachers. And
Kemp's raises don't apply at all
to classified staff, such as bus
drivers, custodians and lunchroom
workers.
Employee salaries and benefits
make up the vast majority of the
district's costs.
Here are some of the cost
increases the district will incur.
• $2,500 teacher raises: $6.8
million
• Health insurance increase:
$6.2 million
• New reading curriculum: $3 to
$4 million
• $1,000 raises for classified
staff: $1.2 million
Schofield told The Times after
the meeting that the district will
have to use $7 million to $10
million of its $80 million reserve
fund to cover its costs for the
2024-25 fiscal year.
When asked whether the district
will have to keep depleting its
reserve fund in the coming years,
he said probably not.
The district received a one-time
$6 million slash to its state funding
this year, he explained, but he
expects it to be restored next year.
The school board sought to keep
a robust reserve fund after the
2007-09 Great Recession, when
it had to lay off teachers and slash
funding for various programs.
Schofield
Morris
Echols
Obituaries
Thomas Beeland
“Tommy” Martin, Jr.
July 11,2024
Funeral services for
Thomas Beeland "Tommy”
Martin, Jr., 84, of Reynolds
was held on Sunday, July
14, at 2:30 pm at Trinity
Church of Reynolds. Visi
tation was held one hour
prior to the service. Burial
followed in New Prospect
Free Will Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Tommy passed away at
The Oaks Nursing Home
on Thursday, July 11. He
was a member of Trin
ity Church of Reynolds.
After being a Boy Scout
for many years, he earned
Eagle Scout, the highest
rank attainable in the Scout
program. In 1958, he won
the State track 100-yard
dash. He graduated from
Mercer University and the
University of Georgia and
was a retired educator,
teaching at Hall County
Board of Education and
Bibb County Board of
Education. He was also a
Mason at Flowery Branch
Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Thomas
Beeland Martin, Sr. and
Marie Freeman Gilson; a
son, Todd Beeland Martin;
and two grandsons, Mat
thew Martin and Travis
Martin.
Survivors include his
wife, Joanie Martin of
Reynolds; two sons, Tim
Martin (Wendy Ward ) of
Missouri and Trent Martin
(Beth Denny) of Flowery
Branch; one daughter,
Tammy Dudley (Todd) of
Sandersville; one step
sister, Gloria Sampson of
Butler; two grandchildren,
Amber Beaty (Jake) of Mt.
Airy and Patrick Martin
of Gainesville; two great
grandchildren, Raelynn
Beaty and Everly Davy;
a niece and nephew and
several cousins also sur
vive.
In lieu of flowers, memo
rial contributions may be
made to the American
Cancer Society or Trinity
Church of Reynolds.
You may sign the online
guest register at www.
mcleightonfuneralservice.
com
McLeighton Funeral Ser
vice of Reynolds was in
charge of arrangements.
Gwendolyn (Gwen)
Bond Owens
June 28th, 2024
Gwendolyn (Gwen) Bond
Owens, originally from
Elberton, passed away on
June 28th. She was the
second of five children
and attended Athens High
School, excelling academi
cally and in basketball.
After high school, Gwen
chose to support her fam
ily financially instead of
attending college, working
as a secretary at GMAC
in Athens. While there,
she met and married
Robert (Bob) Owens in
1962. They then moved
to Dahlonega, Georgia,
where Bob established
the Fine Arts Department
at North Georgia College,
and later settled in Cleve
land, Georgia. She lived
there until moving to the
Braselton Phoenix Senior
Living Community in 2023.
Gwen found joy in assist
ing Bob with his pottery
business, and their mar
riage was a source of great
happiness until Bob’s pass
ing in 2004. Gwen worked
at Truett McConnell Col
lege and later served as
the financial director for
the White County Board of
Education until her retire
ment in 2000. She was
also active in her commu
nity, primarily through the
Kiwanis Club and serving
many leadership roles at
the Cleveland United Meth
odist Church.
She and Bob had two
sons, Benjamin and Rob
ert, three grandchildren,
and five great grandchil
dren. Gwen is survived by
her eldest son, Ben, who
lives in Brasstown, North
Carolina and Robert’s wife,
Jean, who lives in Cleve
land.
A celebration of Gwen’s
life was held on Sunday,
July 7th, at 3 pm at the
First Methodist Church in
Cleveland, followed by a
reception. It was Gwen’s
wish that in lieu of flowers,
donations be made to the
Bob Owens Art Scholar
ship Fund at University of
North Georgia University.
To share a memory or to
leave an online condolence
for the family, please visit
www.barrettfh.com
Barrett Funeral Home of
Cleveland.
Death Notices
Anel Matias Diaz
July 8th 2024
Anel Matias Diaz age 88
passed away on Monday
July 8th.
A Funeral Mass was held
on Monday, July 15, at
5:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s
Catholic Church in Nor-
cross, GA.
Betty Ann Roberts
Hardy
July 14, 2024.
Evans Funeral Home of
Jefferson announces the
death of Mrs. Betty Ann
Roberts Hardy, age 92 of
Athens, Georgia (South
Jackson Community) who
entered rest Sunday, July
14.
Bret Anthony Yancey
July 10, 2024
Bret Anthony Yancey, age
60, of Dacula, GA passed
away on Wednesday, July
10.
Funeral Services will be
held on Monday, July 22,
at 1:00 p.m. at the First
Pentecostal Church of
Buford.
Interment will be on Tues
day, July 23, at 2:00 p.m.
at the GA National Cem
etery with Military Honors
by the Navy located in
Canton, GA. The family
will receive friends at the
church from 11:00 a.m.
until 1:00 p.m., prior to the
Funeral Service.
Charles Kenneth
Crocker
July 11, 2024
Charles Kenneth Crocker,
age 70, of Powder Springs,
formerly of Habersham
County, passed away on
Thursday, July 11.
Funeral services were
scheduled for 2:00 pm on
Sunday, July 14.
Interment followed in
Yonah Congregational
Holiness Church Cemetery.
The family received friends
from 12:00 noon until the
service hour on Sunday at
the funeral home.
Clifford Eugene
McDonald
July 1, 2024
Clifford Eugene “Gene”
McDonald died on July 1
after a brief illness in hos
pital. He was 96.
A Celebration of Life Ser
vice will be held at 6:00
p.m. Thursday, July 18, in
the Chapel of Memorial
Park Funeral Home.
Donna Jean Barber
Chandler
July 11, 2024
Donna Jean Barber Chan
dler’s departure on July 11,
2024, into the loving arms
of Jesus marks the end of
a life lived with purpose
and grace.
The visitation and funeral
service to honor Donna
Jean Chandler was held
at Ivie Funeral Home in
Commerce, Georgia, on
July 14. The visitation
commenced at 12:00 PM
followed by the funeral ser
vice at 2:00 PM. The inter
ment took place at Grey
Hill Cemetery in Com
merce at 2:30 PM.
Dorothy Marie Parker
July 12, 2024
Mrs. Dorothy Marie Parker,
age 91, of Cleveland,
passed away Friday, July
12.
Funeral services were
scheduled for 2 P.M.
Monday, July 15, from the
Chapel of Barrett Funeral
Home.
Interment followed in
County Line Baptist Church
Cemetery. The family
received friends from 12
Noon until the service time
Monday.
Dwenda Ann Slater
Barton Bales
July 13, 2024
Dwenda Ann Slater Bar
ton Bales, of Gainesville,
passed away Saturday,
July 13, following an
extended illness.
Funeral services will be
held at 3:00 p.m. on Fri
day, July 19, in the Chapel
of Memorial Park Funeral
Home.
Earl Dean McClure
July 14th, 2024
Earl Dean McClure, age
68, of Sautee Nacoochee,
Georgia, passed away on
Sunday, July 14th.
Funeral services are
scheduled for 4:00 pm
Wednesday, July 17th, at
Bethel Baptist Church.
Interment will follow in the
church cemetery where
he will be laid to rest. The
family will receive friends
at Barrett’s Funeral Home
on Wednesday, July 17th
starting at 10:00am up until
time of service.
Emily Warfied
Thompson
June 30, 2024
Emily Warfied Thompson
passed away on June 30,
2024, at age 84, after car
diac arrest at her home in
Lanier Village Estates.
A celebration of Emily’s
life will be held July 20 at
10 a.m., in the chapel at
Lanier Village Estates.
Geran Floyd Dodson
July 5, 2024
Geran Floyd Dodson
passed away July 5.
There is no arrangements
made at this time.
Hazel Price Jacobs
July 4, 2024
Mrs. Hazel Price Jacobs,
94, of Bethlehem died July
4. No Services are sched
uled at this time.
Jacqulyn Patricia
Norman
July 15, 2024
Mrs. Jacqulyn Patricia Nor
man, 81, of Gainesville,
passed away Monday,
July 15, at Accent Hospice
Care.
Funeral services will be
held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday,
July 20, in the Chapel of
Memorial Park Funeral
Home.
John Pershing
Sullivan
June 28, 2024
John Pershing Sullivan, Jr.
went home to be with his
Lord on Friday, June 28.
Services will be at Antioch
U.M.C. on July 27, 2024 at
11:00 am.
Kay P. Hill
July 11,2024
A memorial service will be
held at Loudsville Commu
nity Church on Saturday,
July 27.
Kenasha Tyrelle
Collier Gore
July 4, 2024
Kenasha Tyrelle Collier
Gore died July 4. Funeral
service was held Friday
July 12, 2024 at 2pm at
The Brook United Method
ist Church in Myrtle Beach,
SC.
Lee Edwin
Scarbrough, Jr
June 25, 2024
Lee Edwin Scarbrough,
Jr., age 76, of Buford, GA
passed away on June 25,.
A Celebration of Life Ser
vice, with Military Honors,
will be held on Friday, July
19, at 4:00 p.m. in the
Chapel of Flanigan Funeral
Home.
The family will receive
friends at the funeral home
on Friday, July 19 from
3:00 p.m. until time for the
Service at 4:00 p.m.
Leland Lanet Maddox
July 13, 2024
Mr. Leland Lanet Maddox,
age 84 of Flowery Branch,
passed away on Saturday,
July 13.No services will be
held at this time.
Merilyn J. Fowler
July 12, 2024
Mrs. Merilyn J. Fowler, age
90, of Marietta, formerly
of Sautee Nacoochee,
passed away Friday, July
12.
Funeral services will be
held at 11 A.M. Wednes
day, July 17, at The Chapel
of Barrett Funeral Home.
Interment will follow at
Mt. Yonah Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Myrtle Sue Peck Music
July 13, 2024
Mrs. Myrtle Sue (Tench)
Peck Music, 90, of Gaines
ville, passed away Sat
urday, July 13, at Ashton
Assisted Living following
an extended illness.
Funeral services was held
at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July
16, in the Chapel of Memo
rial Park Funeral Home.
Nancy Almand Werling
July 7, 2024
Nancy Almand Werling of
Sugar Hill, Georgia passed
away on July 7, at the age
of 84.
A funeral service will be
held at 11 AM on Saturday,
July 20, at Holy Trinity
Parish, 515 East Ponce
de Leon Avenue, Decatur,
Georgia
Nicholas James Moat
July 12, 2024
Nicholas James Moat,
infant son of Christopher
and Chelsea Moat of
Demorest, passed away on
Friday, July 12.
Graveside services were
11 am on Tuesday, July
16, at Mt. Carmel Baptist
Church Cemetery in Lula.
All family and friends
should meet at the grave
side by 10:45 am on Tues
day.
Sara Deaton Hill
July 14, 2024
Evans Funeral Home of
Jefferson announces the
death of Mrs. Sara Deaton
Hill, age 80 of Auburn,
(Formerly of Jefferson,
Georgia) who entered rest
Sunday, July 14.
Memorial services will be
held 3:00 P.M. Sunday,
July 21, 2024 from the
Chapel of Evans Funeral
Home.
Stephanie Michelle
Everett
June 28, 2024.
Funeral Services will be
held at 2:00 p.m., Wednes
day, May 17, at the Whit
field Funeral Home, North
Chapel.
The family will receive
friends from 12:00 p.m.
to 1:45 p.m., Wednesday,
May 17, at the funeral
home prior to the service.
Vera Delores Matthews
July 11, 2024
Mrs. Vera Delores Mat
thews, age 76 of Flowery
Branch, passed away
on Thursday, July 11, at
Manor Lake Assisted Liv
ing following an extended
illness. Funeral services
were scheduled for Sun
day, July 14, 2024 at 1:00
pm in the Chapel of Memo
rial Park Funeral Home.
Walter L. Blalock
July 12, 2024
Walter L. "Walt” Blalock,
82, of Dawsonville died
Friday, July 12. Funeral,
Tuesday, July 16, 1 p.m.,
Bearden Funeral Home
Chapel. Bearden Funeral
Home, Dawsonville, GA.
