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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. TANUARY 30. 2008 - PAGE 9A
Area Death Notices
William Everett
William Everett, 92, of
Commerce,
formerly of
Fannin County,
died Sunday,
January 27,
2008, at
Southern Pines
in Maysville.
Born in Union
County, he was
the son of the
late George Washington and
Laura Galloway Everett. He was
retired from General Motors.
Survivors include several
nieces and nephews with more
local nieces being Mary (Ronnie)
Seabolt, Commerce, and Maxcille
Hite, Smyrna; and a sister, Lucille
Donaldson, Mineral Bluff.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, January 30, in the
chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with
the Revs. Mike Odham, James
Montgomery and Keith Richey
officiating. Burial was in Union
Baptist Church Cemetery at
Mineral Bluff, where graveside
services were held.
Ivie Funeral Home, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Clem Lowe
Clem Lowe, 84, of Homer, died
Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at his
residence.
Born in Stephens County on
June 1, 1923, he was the son
of the late Richard and Sallie
Sargent Lowe. He was a retired
poultry farmer.
Survivors include a daughter,
Hattie Garrett, Homer; four grand
children; ten great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held
Friday, January 25, in the chapel
of Little-Ward Funeral Home with
the Rev. Luther Campbell officiat
ing. Burial was at Oconee Baptist
Church Cemetery in Jefferson.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Myra Durrett
Myra Joy Ballard Durrett, 57,
of Commerce, died Saturday,
January 19, 2008.
She was the daughter of the
late Owen and Mary Ballard. She
was a member of Grace Baptist
Church in Doraville and worked
as a shipping and receiving clerk
at Craven’s Pottery. Mrs. Durrett
was preceded in death by a broth
er, Marvin Ballard.
Survivors include a brother and
sister-in-law, Wayne and Brenda
Ballard, Atlanta; sister, Elizabeth
Faye Simmons, Commerce; and
several nieces and nephews.
The body was cremated and no
services were planned.
Memorial contributions may
be made to The Wayne Ballard
Fund, c/o Regions Bank, Account
#636294837.
Crowell Brothers Peachtree
Chapel Funeral Home inNorcross
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Mitchell Smith
Mitchell Smith, 52, of Bogart,
died Monday, January 21, 2008.
Funeral services were held
Friday, January 25, at River of Life
Worship Center in Nicholson.
Bridges Funeral Home, Athens,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
'Matt' Yates
Charles Matthew “Matt” Yates,
26, of Baldwin, died Friday,
January 25, 2008, at Northeast
Georgia Medical Center in
Gainesville.
Born in Jackson County on
March 21,1981, he was the son of
Chuck Yates of Rivera Beach, Fla.,
and Elaine Rogers of Baldwin. He
attended the New and Living
Way and The Torch. He enjoyed
spending time with his son,
Tyson, his family and friends,
and playing sports, according to
loved ones.
Survivors in addition to his
parents, include a son, Tyson
Yates, Baldwin; step-father, Phillip
Rogers, Baldwin; brother, John
Paul Rogers, Turnerville; sister,
Kim Payne, Homer; step-sisters,
Tonya Ellerbee and Tara Rogers,
both of Clarkesville; godmother,
LeAnne Masten, Clarkesville;
godparents, Bruce and Carolyn
Joyce, Clarkesville; and sever
al nieces, nephews, aunts and
uncles.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 29, at Grove
Level Baptist Church with Pastor
Mike Garroutte and Bruce and
Carolyn Joyce officiating. Burial
was in the church cemetery with
Pastor Mike Franklin officiating.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the charity of one’s
choice.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Marilyn Smith
Marilyn R.
Smith, 48, of
Commerce, died Thursday
January 24,
■
2008, at her res-
idence, follow-
JP
ing an extend-
w
ed illness.
She was the
daughter of
Fannie Hughes
Anglin of
i
Lawrenceville.
Survivors in
addition to her mother, include
her husband, Ronnie Smith,
Commerce; sons, Robert Hewatt
and Matthew Hewatt, both of
Commerce; daughters, Ruth Ann
Cox, Smithonia, and Hayley
Cato, Clarkesville; brothers, Steve
Anglin and David Anglin, both
of Lawrenceville, Ricky Anglin,
Stone Mountain, Randy Anglin,
Buford, and Marty Anglin,
Suwannee; six grandchildren;
and a special friend, Jodi Hunter,
Tallahassee, Fla.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, January 26, in the cha
pel of Ivie Funeral Home with
Gene Dolbear officiating. Burial
was in Jackson Memorial Park.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
'Don' Watkins
Donald H. “Don” Watkins, 66,
Georgia bluegrass music star and
patriarch of the bluegrass gospel
performers The
Watkins Family
of Eastanollee,
died Saturday,
January 26,2008,
following a heart
attack during
an appearance
at True Gospel
Community
Church in Dobson, N.C.
Survivors and members of the
bluegrass family, include his wife,
Judy; a son, Todd; and daughters,
Lorie and Shannon.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday, January 31, at 2 p.m., at
Liberty Baptist Church in Toccoa.
Visitation will be held Wednesday,
January 30, from 4 to 8 p.m., at
Whitlock Mortuary in Toccoa,
706-886-9411.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Sallie Mae Pearson
Sallie Mae King Pearson, 84, of
Royston, died Friday, January 25,
2008, at her residence.
She was born on May 10, 1923,
in Fair Play, S.C., the daughter of
the late Memphis Tennessee and
Sylvia Nix King. She was a home
maker and of the holiness faith.
She was preceded in death by her
husband, Walter Wilford Pearson;
and a daughter, Margaret Saxon.
Survivors include sons, Rufus
Pearson and Robert Pearson, both
of Royston; Linda House, Canon,
Mary Bryant and Deborah
Rowland, both of Royston, and
Patricia Dove, Danielsville; broth
ers, Woodrow King, Royston,
Walt King and W.C. King, both of
Lavonia, and Jimmy King, Athens;
sisters, Sara Bruce, Hartwell,
Hazel Fleming, South Carolina,
JoAnn King and Becky Blackwell,
both of Winterville, and Nerea
Barrett, Commerce; 26 grandchil
dren; 49 great-grandchildren; and
11 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Monday, January 28, in the cha
pel of Pruitt Funeral Home with
the Revs. Johnny Stowe and Gary
Stewart officiating. Burial was in
the Nancy Hart Memorial Park.
Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Wallace Gaither
Wallace Gaither, 66, died
Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at the
Vista Care Facilities in Atlanta.
He was born in Banks County
on March 18, 1941, the son of
the late Willie and Ina Gaither.
He joined Neal’s Grove Baptist
Church in Commerce at an early
age. He later moved to Atlanta,
where he lived and blessed
many with his presence, loved
ones stated. Some of his works
included singing and playing the
piano for various churches, but
he attended Bethel Grove Baptist
Church in Covington, where he
continued to bless many with his
singing and gift of playing and
leadership of the choir until he
became ill. He was preceded in
death by a brother, Jerry Gaither.
Survivors include sons and
daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Wallace Gaither Jr., Decatur,
Willie Gaither, Atlanta; a daugh
ter, Debra Yates, Conyers; his
wife of 12 years, Brenda Johnson
Gaither; sisters, brothers and
spouses, Willie Mae Butler,
Canon, Gennie F. Williams,
Atlanta, Inez Harris, Forest Park,
Mr. and Mrs. John Allen Gillespie,
North Carolina, Mr. and Mrs.
Rufus Gaither, Commerce; seven
grandchildren; one great-grand
child; and a multitude of aunts,
nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, January 26, at Neal’s
Grove Baptist Church in
Commerce. Burial was in Bush
River Cemetery.
Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral
Home, Toccoa, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Louise Irvin
Louise Brooks Irvin, 85, for
merly of Elberton, died Thursday,
January 24, 2008, at Parkwood
Living Center in Snellville.
She was born in Jackson
County, the daughter of the late
Roy and Bertie Brooks. She was
a retired bookkeeper and home
maker. She was a member of the
Elberton First Baptist Church, the
Friendship Sunday School Class,
and was active for many years
in the ladies auxiliary at Elbert
Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Irvin
was preceded in death by her
husband, Joseph H. “Bud” Irvin;
and a sister, Frances Brooks.
Survivors include a son and
daughter-in-law, Dennis and
Donna Irvin, Lawrenceville;
daughter and son-in-law, Melinda
and Mike Getz, Calera, Ala.;
brother and sister-in-law, James
and Betty Brooks, Maysville;
nephew, Tim Brooks, Maysville;
and an uncle, Harold Adams,
Elberton.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, January 27, at the
Memorial Chapel of Berry
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Ed Sayer officiating. Burial was
in Forest Hills Memorial Park.
Pallbearers were Tim Brooks,
Larry Howell, Norman Banks,
Neal Banks, Ryan Brooks and
Allen Moore.
Berry Funeral Home, Elberton,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
jack Irvin
Carl Jack Irvin Sr., 79, of
Baldwin, died Friday, January
25, 2008, at Habersham County
Medical Center.
Born in Habersham County
on January 16, 1929, he was
the son of the late Lee V. and
Stella Thomason Irvin. He was
self-employed and a member of
Leatherwood Baptist Church.
Mr. Irvin served on the Banks
County Commissioners’ Board
for 20 years and later served in the
State House of Representatives
10th District for 12 years. He was
a member of the Hollingsworth
Masonic Lodge #355 F.&A.M., a
50-year mason, and also a mem
ber of the Yaarab Shrine Temple
of Atlanta. He was preceded in
death by a brother, Lee V. Irvin,
Jr-
He enjoyed hunting and fishing,
but most importantly he enjoyed
being surrounded by his children
and grandchildren, according to
loved ones.
Survivors include his loving wife,
Ann D. Irvin, Baldwin; daughters
and sons-in-law, Zoe and Rod
Pass, Hope Mills, N.C., Wanda
and Gene DeLeo, Washington,
D.C., and Teresa and Steve Dodd,
Baldwin; son and daughter-in-law,
Carl Jack Irvin Jr. and Dessie
Irvin, Baldwin; brother and sister-
in-law, Tommie and Alice Irvin,
Baldwin; ten grandchildren; and
six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 29, in the chapel
of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim
House officiating. Burial was in
Leatherwood Baptist Church
Cemetery with Dr. Ken Franklin
officiating.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Evia Stewart
Evia Stewart, 84, of Commerce,
died Sunday, January 27, 2008, at
her residence.
Born in Hall
County, she was
the daughter of
the late Robert
Richard and
Tensie Fortson
Campbell. Mrs.
Stewart was pre
ceded in death
by her husband,
Raymond Stewart; daughters,
Elaine Wiley and Jody Lee; and
sons, Johnny Stewart and Donnie
Stewart.
Survivors include daughters,
Diane Matthews, Nicholson,
Linda Lee, Commerce; sons,
Merlin Stewart, Commerce,
Robert WeldonStewart,Hoschton,
Ronnie Stewart, Whitesburg,
Gary Stewart, Buford; 24 grand
children; 14 great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 29, in the cha
pel of Ivie Funeral Home with
the Rev. Chad Rising officiating.
Burial was in White Plains Baptist
Church cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Beatrice Edwards
Beatrice C. Edwards, 85,
of Watkinsville, died Sunday,
January 27, 2008, at Athens
Heritage Nursing Home.
Born in Jackson County, she
was the daughter of the late
Pet and Annie Myrt Adams
Crawford. She was a member
of Watkinsville Memorial Baptist
Church and had worked at
Watkinsville First Baptist Church
Preschool Nursery Department
for 12 years. She loved children,
especially her grandchildren,
loved ones stated.
Mrs. Edwards was preceded in
death by her husband, Thomas
Edwards.
Survivors include children,
Charles William Norton, Athens,
Harry Norton, Seneca, S.C.,
Linda Hardigree, Athens, Jimmy
Edwards, Watkinsville; a sis
ter, Lucille Brunett, Beaumont,
Texas; brother, Bobby Crawford,
Nicholson; five grandchildren;
eight great-grandchildren; and
four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 29, in the chapel
of Lord & Stephens West Funeral
Home with the Revs. Jimmy
Edwards, Darryl Gilmer and Ken
Jennings officiating. Burial was
at Edwards Family Cemetery in
Watkinsville. Pallbearers were
Hoyt Mauldin, Chris Norton,
Brad Young, Kalip Young, Richard
Cronic and Eddie Hardigree.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home,
West, Bogart, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Edna Bell
Edna Bell, 88, of Baldwin, for
merly of Toccoa, died Wednesday,
January 23, 2008, at a private
health care facility.
She was born on January 29,
1919, in Stephens County, the
daughter of the late Ernest and
Marie Holcomb Purcell. She
was a member of the Sunnyside
Baptist Church and was a home
maker. Mrs. Bell was preceded
in death by her husband, Angus
A. Bell; grandson, David Purcell;
daughter-in-law, Nell Purcell;
sister, Mary Hampton; broth
ers, Clarence Purcell and Terrell
Purcell.
Survivors include a son, Elbert
Purcell, Snellville; step-daugh
ter, Peggy Bell, Clarkesville;
sisters, Joyce Collins, Toccoa,
Agnes Brown, Martin, Helen
Taylor, Marietta, Ruby Ferguson,
Dawsonville, Nancy Watson,
Mansfield; brother, Edward
Purcell, Toccoa; and several niec
es and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Friday, January 25, at Whitfield
Funeral Home with the Revs.
Bill Evans and Robert Thomas
officiating. Burial was in Yonah
Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the American Cancer
Society, 2565 Thompson Bridge
Rd., Suite 114, Gainesville, Ga.
30501.
Whitfield Funeral Home, North
Chapel, Demorest, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Adam Haggard
Adam Reese Haggard, 20, of
Watkinsville, died Friday, January
25, 2008.
Born in Commerce, he was
the son of Randy Haggard and
step-mother, Melinda Haggard, of
Colbert, and Janet Oglesbee and
step-father, John W. Oglesbee,
of Watkinsville. He was raised
in Oconee County and attended
Oconee County High School. He
was at home in the outdoors,
loved the mountains and camp
ing, and was an avid music fan
and among his favorite bands
were Widespread Panic and
Yonder Mountain String Band,
according to loved ones.
Survivors in addition to his
parents, include a brother, Cory
Haggard, Watkinsville; half-sister
and spouse, Jessica Dawn and
David Pittman; half-brothers and
spouse, Christopher Shad and
Charity Boswell, and Randall
Clay Haggard; step-sisters,
Jennifer Oglesbee (Dan Alamia)
and Melissa Oglesbee; nieces
and nephews, Douglas Boswell,
Sydnee Boswell, Lily Pittman and
Tristan Nix.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, January 29, in the cha
pel of Lord & Stephens Funeral
Home with the Rev. Douglas
Duncan officiating. Burial was
at Beaverdam Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home,
West, Bogart, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Mary Frances Wilkes
Mary Frances Wilkes, 75, of
Commerce, died Monday,
January 28, 2008, at BJC Medical
Center in Commerce.
Born in Saxapaha, N.C., she
was the daughter of the late
Henry Grady and Zady Bell
Fredericks Forrester. She was a
retired realtor, and was preceded
in death by her husband, Charles
Daniel Wilkes Jr„ and a son, Gary
Wilkes.
Survivors include children,
Steve Wilkes, Winterville, Charlie
Wilkes and Stanley Wilkes,
both of Ila, John Wilkes, Bogart,
Jeanne Pratt, Athens, and Sharon
Wilkes, Danielsville; brothers,
Lloyd Forrester, Norfolk, Va.,
Ray Forrester, Henderson, N.C.,
and Frank Forrester, Maysville;
12 grandchildren; and six great
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held
Friday, February 1, 2008, at 2
p.m., in the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Henry Webb officiating. Burial
will be at Mt. Carmel Baptist
Church Cemetery. The family
will receive friends at the funeral
home Thursday, January 31, from
7 to 9 p.m.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
Paul Beck
Paul Beck, 63, of Commerce,
died Monday, January 28, 2008,
at his residence.
He was the son of the late
Harold and Ruby Evans Beck.
Sur vivors include his wife, Lynda
Roberts Beck, Commerce; son
and daughter-in-law, Mickey and
Wanda Patrick, Commerce; broth
ers, Clifford Beck, Commerce,
Donald Beck, Jefferson, and
Ronald Beck, Lexington; sisters,
Gladys Thomas, Dade City, Fla.,
Brenda Crane, Jefferson, and
Linda Ward, Maysville; grandchil
dren, Cruz and Blake Patrick.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday, January 31, at 2 p.m., in
the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home
with the Rev. Phil Parks officiat
ing. Burial will be in the Banks
County Memorial Gardens. The
family will receive friends at the
funeral home on Wednesday,
January 30, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 30, 2008.
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