Newspaper Page Text
Page 4B
^Reporter
December 29, 2021
2021 DEATHS
Continued from page 6A
Oreatha Sewell
Oreatha Rochelle Sewell,
nee Dillard, died at 11:59
p.m. on
Aug. 27,
2021. She
had an
impact on
hun
dreds of
children
whom
she loved and taught in
her 33 years of service as a
teacher and assistant prin
cipal at Hubbard Primary
School, her many friends
in the community, and her
church family at St. James’
Baptist Church where she
was a life-long member
and Sunday school teacher.
Sue Burns
Susan Vaughan Burns,
85, loving wife and mother,
passed away Aug. 28,2021.
She was born March 5,
1936, in Forsyth to Joseph
and Florence Vaughan.
Her father was a civil
engineer with the Georgia
Department of Transpor
tation in Savannah and
her mother was a high
school science teacher at
Mary Persons High School
in Forsyth. In 1956, Sue
married Thornton Aiken
Burns Jr. in the First Baptist
Church of Forsyth, where
she was baptized and was
a life-long member. As
a military wife she trav
eled around the world and
settled back in Forsyth
after 32 years of military
service in 1984. She was an
active member of the First
Baptist Church, chaired the
History Room Commit
tee since its inception and
worked with the Meals on
Wheels program, in ad
dition to being a frequent
and enthusiastic volunteer
at Jarrell Plantation.
Leila Bass
Leila Goldfinch Bass died
at her home in Forsyth,
Sept. 9,2021 after a long
period of declining health.
She was born in 1943 in
Salto, Uruguay, where her
parents, Sydney Langston
and Frances McCaw Gold
finch, were Southern Bap
tist missionaries. She grew
up in Asuncion, Paraguay,
where she attended Colegio
Internacional. She gradu
ated from Carson Newman
College and joined the
Peace Corps, working with
English teachers in Tolima,
Colombia. There she met
her future husband, Ralph
Bass. After her marriage
in 1969, she moved to
Forsyth, where she and
Ralph raised their daughter
Paquita. For more than 30
years she taught Spanish at
Mary Persons. Years later
those Spanish students
warmly recall her caring
teaching style and the
annual field trips to her
home for black beans, rice,
and picadillo. Four times
students selected her as the
Star Teacher.
Jennie Dodd
Martha Virginia Murray
(Jennie)
Dodd,
66, of
Forsyth,
went to be
with the
Lord Sept.
7,2021.
She lived
a life dedicated to her mar
riage, family, and helping
others. Jennie was born on
May 2,1955 in Forsyth to
the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Bittick Murray Sr. She
was a graduate of Mary
Persons Class of 1973. She
worked side by side with
her husband as owners
of Dodd Builders Supply
for 43 years. For over 20
years, she volunteered at
Monroe Academy, helping
with academics, athletics,
and fundraising, as well as
coordinating and organiz
ing various events. She was
a dedicated member of the
WISE Investment Club.
She was very talented with
computer graphic design.
She was a member of the
First Baptist Church of For
syth all her life.
Jeff Wilson
Jefferson (Jeff) Mont
gomery Davis Wilson Jr.,
86, died on Sept. 14,2021.
He was preceded in death
by his wife of 62 years,
Mildred Minnette Meeks
Wilson. Born July 23,1935
in Forsyth, Jeff never left
his hometown that he
loved dearly. He was retired
from 20-plus years with
the Monroe County Road
Department, but prior
to his time with Monroe
County, he spent most of
his working life as a textile
mechanic for Trio Manu
facturing, Inc. and had to
retire from the industry
after the company went out
of business. At one time,
he traveled and provided
textile repair services to a
host of textile mills in the
Southeast.
Walter Fugate
Walter Franklin Fugate,
87, of Smarr passed away
on Sept. 18,2021. He was
a graduate of Gordon Fee
High School, the University
of Georgia and the Univer
sity of Chattanooga, where
he received his Bachelors
and Masters degrees. Fu
gate served in the U.S.
Coast Guard. Walt began
his career as a teacher,
counselor and coach. In
the mid 1970s, he took a
break from education and
started his tenure with Dil
lard Paper Co. in Outside
Sales. Following retirement,
he returned to educa
tion with Central Georgia
Technical College. Fugate
excelled in multiple sports,
which began his legacy
and love for golf. He won
approximately 100 tourna
ments in Georgia. He was
named Georgia Senior
Player of the Year three
times. In 2008, Walt was
inducted into the Macon
Sports Hall of Fame.
Jack Haygood
Jack Langford Haygood
died on Sept. 21,2021. He
was born March 29,1929
at home on the family farm
of his parents, Jessie B. and
Charles B. Haygood, Jr.
He graduated from Mary
Persons and attended the
University of Georgia.
At 15, Jack earned his pi
lot’s license, which was be
fore he received his driver’s
license. Throughout his
career, he worked on the
family farm and later sold
forestry equipment and
worked for various timber
companies including Mor-
bark Industries, Alsobrook
Lumber Co., Windham
Manufacturing Co., Pio
neer Machinery and Pine
Timber Co., continuing to
work into his early eighties.
Known for his generosity
to others, he often helped
family and friends in es
tablishing businesses. His
most admirable qualities of
character were his generos
ity, loyalty, forgiving nature
and loving his family
unconditionally.
Michael Proctor
Michael Stuart Proctor,
59, of
passed
away on
Wednes
day, Oct.
Michael
was born
into a family that has been
in Monroe County for
approximately 200 years.
He was a 1979 graduate
of Monroe Academy and
honored to be #67 on the
football team. From 1980
to 2017, Michael enjoyed
working in the logging
business with his father.
He was a member of the
Monroe County Histori
cal Society where he loved
to learn of the history of
Monroe County. Michael
was an avid reader, espe
cially books pertaining
to the War Between the
States. His love of history
led to many interesting
discussions with family and
friends.
Barney Poole
Barney Lee Poole of For
syth went
home to
be with
The Lord
Sept. 13,
2021.
Barney
served in
the Navy
from 1971-79. Barney
furthered his education at
South GA Technical and
Vocational School (Col
lege), from 1980 to 1983.
In 1983 he started teaching
the 4 areas of Construction
at the new Mary Persons.
Mary Persons was chosen
to be one of ten schools in
Georgia to be a pilot class
for the area of Construc
tion. He was active in Skills
USA and heavily involved
his students in it as well.
In 2009 he became Head
Of Maintenance or Monroe
County Board of Education
until he retired in 2017.
He went back to work in
2018 for the Board of Edu
cation part-time in their
warehouse where he was
employed at time of death.
Barney also helped with
maintenance at Maynard
Baptist Church from 2018
to present.
Edd Norris
Charles Edward “Edd”
Norris, Jr. of Culloden
passed away Oct. 13,2021.
Mr. Norris was born
April 14,1932 in Camilla
to the late Charles E. Nor
ris, Sr. and Ethel Phillips
Norris Holton. He attended
Abraham Baldwin Agri
cultural College and the
University of Georgia. Nor
ris was a faithful member
of the Culloden Primitive
Baptist Church for 52 years
and served as a Deacon in
the church for 50 years. He
was a Boy Scout Leader
with Culloden Troop 121
and Forsyth Troop 51 for
14 years and was the Cub
Scout Master for Pack 51
for 7 years. Norris served
as a Culloden City Coun
cilman for 6 years, City
Clerk for 1 U years and
Mayor for 18 years. In
2007 the City dedicated
the Council Room in his
honor. In 2021 the City
named the road leading to
the Culloden Fire Depart
ment Edd Norris Drive.
Mr. Norris was instrumen
tal in the creation of the
Culloden Volunteer Fire
Department in 1973 and
later in the merge with
the Monroe County Fire
Department. He served as
an active volunteer fire
man for over 40 years. He
retired from Robins Air
Force Base as an Engineer
ing Technician and was a
veteran of the United States
Army serving during the
Korean Conflict.
Rita Sanders
Oreitha Parnell Sand
ers was born Oct. 1,1959.
Better known as Rita to her
family and friends, she was
the sixth
of seven
sisters.
From
her early
years, her
smile was
conta
gious. Her
inner and outer beauty left
a lasting impression on so
many that were graced
with her presence. She
attended Monroe County
Schools, graduating with
honors and one year
early from Mary Persons
because of exceptional aca
demic performance. Rita
continued her education at
Georgia College in Milled-
geville where she earned
her bachelor’s degree. After
graduation, she worked as
an Administrative Assis
tant at Georgia Institute of
Technology. Shortly after,
she began her career as a
Claims Adjuster for State
Farm Insurance.
Rita met the love of her
life, Reginald Bernard
Sanders, on June 24,1987.
They united in holy mat
rimony on July 25,1992.
On Dec. 24,1993, Rita
gave birth to her first son,
Regnault Drake Sanders.
Soon after, she took on the
role as stay-at-home mom.
During this time period,
she took on roles includ
ing, but not limited to: Top
Chef, Team Mom, Action-
Sports Videographer, Pho
tographer, Event Planner,
Vocal Coach, Fife Coach,
and Fashion Consultant.
In her leisure, she enjoyed
shopping, fine dining,
water aerobics, solitaire,
word search, travel, joy
riding, and don’t forget
shopping! Her faith served
to strengthen her and she
engaged in Biblical studies
daily. God broke the mold
when He created Rita. Her
beauty unparalleled, as it
reflected what was in her
heart and her intellect was
something to marvel.
Bessie Turner
Bessie Johnson Turner
passed away Oct. 22,2021
at 103 years of age. She was
born in Monroe County to
Dozier and Pearl Johnson,
the 4th of
8 chil
dren. On
April 22,
1939, she
married
Alfred
Turner
and they
had 6 children. Having
been born in 1918, Bes
sie has seen much change
in her life. Although she
spent quite a few years
raising 6 children, she
found time to be involved
in the community and was
featured in The Advertiser
and The Reporter numer
ous times for her accom
plishments.
She was featured in
“Know Your Neighbor” in
The Reporter twice; March
1990 and again in 2008.
Bessie was president
of the Monroe County
Extension Homemakers
Council and a member
since 1950. In 1974, she
helped raise funds to build
the first Monroe County
Clubhouse. She was voted
“Homemaker of the Year”
in 1969 and was the last of
the original members, be
ing president of the trustee
board until July 2017.
Shirley Treadwell
Shirley Mathews
Treadwell passed away
suddenly on Nov. 10,2021.
Treadwell was born in Fort
Valley and attended Fort
Valley High School where
she met
her future
husband.
She
worked as
a South
ern Bell
Operator
in Fort
Valley before she moved
with her husband to Ma
con where she worked as
a bookkeeper for Barney
A. Smith Fincoln Mercury.
After moving to Forsyth
Mrs. Treadwell worked
in a similar capacity with
her husband in many
Treadwell family business
ventures. She was a long
time devoted member of
Forsyth First Presbyterian
Church, a member of the
Forsyth Women’s Club
and contributed to St. Jude
Children’s Hospital, Mon
roe County Care Cottage
and many other children’s
organizations.
Shirley Winters
Shirley Johnson Winters
passed away Tuesday, Nov.
9,2021, at the age of 87.
She was a 1952 graduate
of Mary
Persons
High
School,
where
she was a
standout
at bas
ketball.
Shortly after graduation,
she became employed at
The Farmers Bank as a
teller and eventually served
as a bank administrator
there until her retirement
47 years later.
On April 7,1962, she
married Wayne Winters
and they had two sons.
She was a member of
Rocky Creek Baptist
Church for over 50 years
and served a term as
Church Treasurer. She
loved to garden and could
be found working in her
yard most days and was
especially proud of her
lantana, hydrangeas, and
amaryllis. She loved to read
and was well-known at the
Monroe County Fibrary. In
addition, she was an avid
fan of the Atlanta Braves.
She was well-loved by
friends, family, neighbors,
and fellow church mem
bers.
Chris Burkett
Christopher Kenneth
Burkett of Forsyth died
Nov. 10,2021 trying to
save two women from an
oncoming train. He gave
selflessly
of his
time and
talents
through
out his
life, up
until
his very
last breath. Through his
actions, Chris gave us all
hope and courage, and
reminded us all of the
preciousness of life.
Chris was born on Aug.
14,1974, in Columbus, to
Ferriel Ray and Darlene
Burkett. Tike his father,
Chris took an immediate
interest in working with his
hands and spending time
outdoors.
Chris worked for over
20 years at Diversified
Fabricators, Inc. in Griffin,
where he was most recently
a Production Supervisor.
Prior to that, Chris served
as a volunteer firefighter.
But in reality, Chris worked
for us all, as he was always
there to lend a hand, no
matter the time of day, to
help those who were in
need.
Gerald Pritchett
Gerald Pritchett passed
away on Thursday, Nov. 25,
2021. He worked for the
Bibb Manufacturing for 30
years before his retirement.
Gerald opened and oper
ated The Carpet Market (in
the Bibb Manufacturing
building) for several years
before his second retire
ment. Gerald was a mem
ber and Deacon of Garden
Hill Baptist Church.
Gerald helped guide
many lives of the young
people in Monroe County
as a sports coach. He was a
youth boys football coach
for 10 years, a youth boys’
basketball coach for 5
years, a youth boys’ softball
coach for 8 years, a lady’s
softball youth coach for 5
years, and a men’s & young
men’s softball coach for
12 years. He traveled all
across Georgia and the
southeast to attend tourna
ments. He loved all of the
teams he coached. Gerald
received multiple commu
nity awards & appreciation
acknowledgments for his
guidance with Monroe
County youths.
Bonnie Morris
Bonnie Morris passed
away surrounded by family
Dec. 9,2021, after a long
illness. She attended Hart
well High
School
and North
Georgia
College.
A lifelong
home
maker
and wife
to Kenneth T. Morris, she
moved to Forsyth when
Kenneth joined the faculty
of Tiff College where the
two raised their family.
Bonnie was a long-time
member of the First Baptist
Church of Forsyth.
Bonnie was an active
member of the Monroe
County Jaycettes with
whom she maintained
many lifelong friendships.
Bonnie loved plants and
flowers. She could propa
gate a new plant from a
stem and surrounded her
self with them. She often
gave young plants from her
collection to her friends
and family to cherish. She
loved feeding birds in her
yard and taking care of her
pet cats and dogs.
Bonnie was an avid fan of
the Mary Persons Bulldogs,
the Georgia Bulldogs, and
the Atlanta Braves cheering
for them in person and at
home.
Dr. Ben Zellner
Dr. Benjamin Holmes
Zellner III of Culloden
passed
away Dec.
6,2021.
He was
born in
Forsyth
on April
16,1942.
His wife
Ida Abercombie Zellner
preceded him in death. He
was a member of Sharon
Primitive Baptist Church.
He was senior class
president of the Mary
Persons High School class
of 1960. In 1964 he gradu
ated from Georgia Tech
with a bachelor in physic.
He then received a doc
torate in astronomy from
the University of Arizona.
Dr. Zellner then spent
a number of years doing re
search for the University of
Arizona. Next he worked
for a NASA contractor
on the Hubbard Space
Telescope out of Baltimore
Maryland. He then spent
his final working years as a
professor of astronomy at
Georgia Southern Univer
sity, Statesboro.
Reba Grubbs
Just 78 days after she lost
her husband of 62 years,
Reba Joanne Champion
Grubbs of Senoia, Ga„ re
united with him in Heaven
Sunday morning, Dec. 12,
2021, after a short illness.
She was a devoted wife,
mother, grandmother and
dedicated leader within the
landscape of the Georgia
health and long-term care
providers community.
She dedicated her life to
the health and well-being
of others. She graduated
with a degree in nursing
from Piedmont Hospital/
Georgia State.
After a family move
to Bolingbroke in 1965,
she transitioned to long
term health care when
she became the Director
of Nursing at Bolingreen
Nursing Home. From
there, her career focused
on the care and well-being
of the elderly.
She retired from the
Georgia Health Care As
sociation in Stockbridge,
where she was the Vice
President of Quality and
Regulatory.
One of her greatest gifts
was her ability to be the
consummate grandmother.
Her skills were beyond
reproach. During her
31 years in the role, she
perfected giving her four
grandchildren whatever
they wanted. She loved,
nurtured, and doted over
each along the way until
the end.