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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 27. 2008 - PAGE 9A
Area Death Notices
Pauline Lewallen
Pauline M. Lewallen, 88, of
Commerce, died Sunday, February
24, 2008, at BJC Nursing Home.
She was born in Banks County,
December 26, 1919 to the late
Grover Cleveland and Laura
Shubert Merck. She was a care
giver.
Survivors include sons, Jerry N.
and Norman C. Lewallen, both
of Commerce; four grandchildren;
and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, February 26, from the
chapel of Little-Ward Funeral
Home with the Rev. Troy Herbert
officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Annie Griffin
Annie Claire Griffin, 77, of
Commerce, died Thursday,
February 21, 2008, at BJC Medical
Center in Commerce.
She was born in Banks County,
daughter of the late William
Monroe and Eva Madeline Gordon,
and was a member of the First
Methodist Church of Commerce.
Mrs. Griffin was preceded in death
by her husband, GL Griffin.
Survivors include daughters,
Ellen Miller, Canton, Kathy
Simmering, Ft. Myers, Fla., and
Mary Shallenberger, Powder
Springs; a son, Groves Lester
Griffin III, Douglasville; brothers,
Milton Gordon, Greer, S.C., and
Dillard Gordon, Clayton; a sis
ter, Sara Myrte Ingram, Lafayette;
eight grandchildren; and five great
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, February 24, at the First
Methodist Church of Commerce
with the Rev. David Bowen offi
ciating. Burial was in the Homer
Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Mary Ellen Saylors
Mary Ellen Harris Fincannon
Saylors, 66, of Commerce, died
Monday, February 25, 2008, at
Grandview Care Center in
Athens.
She was born in Franklin County,
the daughter of Mary Elizabeth
Phillips Harris of Royston and the
late Fred Harris.
Survivors in addition to her
mother, include her husband, JD
Saylors, Commerce; a daughter,
Dana Lynn Harrin, Banks County;
sons, Daniel Horace Varner and
Larry Joe Fincannon, both of Banks
County; step-children, Ernest
JD Saylors, Toccoa, Lori Lynn
Saylors, Stone Mountain; a sister,
Annie Sue Herrin, Royston; broth
ers, Bobby Harris, Winterville,
William Harris, Canon; nine grand
children; two great-grandchildren;
and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, February 27, in the
chapel of Ivie Funeral Home.
Burial was in the Bold Springs
Methodist Church cemetery,
Franklin County.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Douglas Purdy
Douglas Purdy, Sr., 57, of
Commerce, died Sunday, February
24, 2008.
Arrangements are incomplete
and will be announced at a later
date by Whitfield Funeral Home,
North Chapel, Demorest.
Whitfield Funeral Home, North
Chapel, Demorest, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
jerry Sailers
Jerry Rogers Sailers, 69, of
Orange Park, Fla., formerly of
Homer, died Sunday, December
30, 2007.
He was born in Jackson County
on March 30, 1938, the son of
Walter Sailers and Carrie Shelnutt
Sailers. He graduated from Banks
County High School in 1956, where
he was active in baseball and bas
ketball. He enlisted in the United
States Navy in 1961, serving dur
ing the Vietnam Conflict and even
tually retiring in September, 1991,
after serving 31 years of deco
rated service
as a Command
Master Chief.
During his
years of service,
he was active
in sports and
was a member
of the All Navy
Softball Team
in 1976 and 1977.
After retiring from
the Navy, he worked —
for the recreational
department at Jacksonville Naval
Air Station.
He enjoyed being surrounded by
his wife, children and grandchil
dren. He especially enjoyed sup
porting his grandchildren in their
recreational activities, according
to loved ones. Mr. Sailers was
preceded in death by brothers,
Dupree and Donald Sailers; and a
sister, Merle Sailers Jones.
Survivors include his wife of 48
years, Mildred Meeks Sailers, for
merly of Maysville; a son, Anthony
Rogers Sailers; daughter and son-
in-law, Tanya Sailers and David
Kuramoto, Jacksonville, Fla.; six
grandchildren, Kierstin, Lauren
and Alyssa Sailers, Ryan, Tyler
and Jacob Kuramoto; brothers and
sisters-in-law, Bill and Lona Sailers,
Jacksonville, Fla., and John and
Edna Sailers, Acworth; and many
other family members.
Jerry will be missed and remem
bered by friends he made, the
family he took such great care
of and the lives he touched. You
can send his family a message at
legacy.com.
Announcement courtesy of the
Sailers family.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Eugene Pike
Eugene T. Pike, 74, of Baldwin,
died Monday, February 25,
2008, at BJC Medical Center in
Commerce.
He was born in Dade County on
July 14, 1933, the son of the late
William Ezekial and
Fannie Belle Smith
Pike and was an air
traffic controller.
Mr. Pike was a veteran, having
served in the United States Navy
and Air Force during the Korean
Conflict.
Survivors include a daughter,
Sara Pike, Baldwin; son, Bevan
Pike, Riverdale; and grandson,
Adam Z. Clay, Baldwin.
The body was cremated and no
services have been planned.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the Georgia Chapter
Alzheimer’s Association, 1925
Century Blvd., NE, Suite 10,
Atlanta, Ga. 30345-3315.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Thomas Farmer
Thomas Crawford Farmer, 93,
of Nicholson, died Thursday,
February 21, 2008.
A native of Jackson County, he
was the son of the late Willie
Edgar Farmer Sr. and Oza Mae
Crawford. He served on the
Athens Fire Department for
35 years, was a member of the
Woodman of the World, Jackson
County Cattlemen’s Association,
the Jackson County Farm Bureau,
and the Antioch Methodist Church
in Jefferson. Mr. Farmer was pre
ceded in death by his wife, Mary
Pittman.
Survivors include brothers,
Neville Farmer, Nicholson, Togie
Farmer, Asheville, N.C.; a sister,
Edna Good, Sayemore, Mo.; and
a number of nieces, nephews, and
great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, February 24, in the chapel
of Bernstein Funeral Home with
the Revs. Robert Passmore and
Billy Pittman officiating. Burial
was at Evergreen Memorial Park.
Pallbearers were members of
the Athens-Clarke County Fire
Department. Honorary pallbear
ers were other area fire fighters,
nephews and great-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be
made to Odyssey Hospice, 575
Research Dr., Suite A, Atlanta, Ga.
30605.
Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
George Blalock
George Thomas Blalock, 69,
of Nicholson, died Saturday,
February 23, 2008, at Athens
Regional Medical Center.
He was born
May 5, 1938 in
Walton County
to the late John
Hoke and Edna
Merle Swindle
Blalock and was
a retired auto
body worker.
Mr. Blalock
was a Christian with a heart of
compassion for his family, friends
and animals. He was “Papa George”
to all children, according to loved
ones. Mr. Blalock was preceded in
death by a sister, Dorothy Watson.
Survivors include his wife of
51 years, Glinda Ann Williams
Blalock, Nicholson; daughter,
Beverly Blalock, Commerce;
daughter and son-in-law, Cindy
and Johnny Stancil, Jefferson;
grandson and granddaughter-
in-law, Jonathon and Jennifer
Stancil, Jefferson; granddaughter,
Holly Gaddis, Commerce; great
grandchildren; Chance and Kyler
Stancil, Jefferson; nephew, Wayne
Powell, Commerce; nephew and
niece-in-law, Tommy and Janet
Watson, Commerce; great- neph
ew, Josh Brockman, Commerce;
great-niece, Samantha Watson,
Commerce; aunts, Ollie Raven,
Greenville, S.C. and Pearl Swindle,
Spartanburg, S.C.; uncle, Ben
Swindle, Greenville, S.C.; and his
dog, Bugger.
Graveside services were held
Tuesday,February 26, atHowington
Cemetery in Nicholson with the
Revs. Tommy Watson and Troy
Herbert officiating.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Elnora Gailey
Elnora Gailey, 91, of Alto, died
Saturday, February 23, 2008, at a
private nursing facility following
an extended illness.
Born in Banks County on
November 29, 1916, she worked
for several years at Carwood and
was a homemaker. She was a mem
ber of B.C. Grant Baptist Church,
was an avid gardener and enjoyed
planting flowers. Mrs. Gailey was
preceded in death by her husband,
Everett Gailey; and a son, Ray
Gailey.
Survivors include son and
daughter-in-law, Mitchell and Edith
Gailey, Alto; daughter-in-law Ruby
Youngblood Gailey, Cleveland;
brothers and sisters-in-law, Horace
and Pat Bennett and C.D. and Bert
Bennett, all of Alto; eight grand
children; 16 great-grandchildren;
and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Monday, February 25, in the cha
pel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home with the Rev. Doyal
Conley officiating. Burial was in
Yonah Memorial Gardens.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
the last surviving member of her
immediate family.
Survivors include a daugh
ter and son-in-law, Grace and
Howard Hogsed, Toccoa; son
and daughter-in-law, Charles and
Joyce King, Baldwin; grandchil
dren and spouses, David and Keri
Hogsed, Waxhaw, N.C., Rodney
and Sandra Payne, Criss and Pam
Cobb, Stuart and Kim Gaines, all
of Toccoa, Chris and Sherry Lewis
and Tim Lewis, all of Maysville,
Scott Lewis, Mt. Airy, Jack and
Robin Davidson, Jefferson, Beth
Lewis, Cornelia, Shad and Charity
Boswell, Gulf Port, Miss., Rodney
and Missy King and Jeff King,
all of Baldwin, Reed and Angela
Ballew, Clarkesville, and Steven
and Camilla Rumsey, Alto; 23
great-grandchildren; and three
great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday, February 28, at 2 p.m.,
at the Mt. Zion United Methodist
Church with the Revs. Sherry
Lewis and Jerrell Beatty officiating.
Burial will be in the church ceme
tery. The family will receive friends
at the funeral home Wednesday,
February 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. and
6 to 8 p.m.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia, is in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Virginia Sosby
Virginia Anderson Sosby, 81, died
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, at
Athens Regional Medical Center.
She was born July 2, 1926, the
daughter of the late Dolie P. and
Julius James Anderson. She was
a homemaker and a member of
Hunter’s Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband,
George W. Sosby Sr.; sons and
daughter-in-laws, George W. Jr.
and Yvonne Sosby Jr., Commerce;
and Kevin and Beth Sosby, Martin;
daughters and son-in-laws, Avis
and Leonard Barrett, Martin;
Jerrie Lynn and John Collier,
Toccoa; and Rena and Richard
Matheson, Mountain Rest, S.C.;
nine grandchildren; four great
grandchildren; brothers, James
Anderson and Randall Anderson,
both of Anderson, S.C.; Charles
Anderson and Billy Anderson,
both of Starr, S.C.; and Herman
Anderson, Toccoa; sisters, Nettie
Stancill, Anderson, S.C. and Sue
Ayers, Toccoa.
Funeral services were held
Friday, February 22, at B.D. Ginn
Memorial Chapel of Ginn Funeral
Home with the Revs. Truitt
Brawner and Roy Smith officiat
ing. Burial was in Hunter’s Creek
Baptist Church cemetery.
Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
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Edna Dalton
Edna Earl Dalton, 86, of Jefferson,
died Monday, February 25, 2008,
at BJC Nursing Home.
Born in Hall County, she was the
daughter of the late James Perno
and Cumi Malcolm Davis. She
was retired from Jefferson Mills,
and was preceded in death by her
husband, Leonard Dalton; and a
son, Bradley Dalton.
Survivors include daughters,
Dink Wood, Commerce, and
Kathie Dalton, Atlanta; a sister,
Martha Cronic, Columbus; five
grandchildren; and 12 great-grand
children.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, February 27, in the
chapel of Little-Ward Funeral home
with the Rev. Bill Manus and Shad
Lankford officiating. Burial was in
the Jackson Memorial Gardens.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Alyssa Sullens
Alyssa Sullens, 15-month-old
daughter of Cortney Dickerson
and David Sullens of Dahlonega,
died Wednesday, February 13,
2008, from injuries received in a
motor vehicle accident.
She was born in Jacksonville,
Fla., on November 14, 2006, and
had lived in Dahlonega since she
was four months old.
Survivors in addition to her par
ents, include grandparents, David
and Dana Sullens, Eva and Bob
Wood, and Karey Dickerson, all
of Dahlonega, Lori and Freddy
Rodriguez, South Carolina; great-
grandparents, R.C. and Jolene
Dickerson, Commerce, Albert and
Sue Simmons, Thea Tolbert, Ray
and Belle Sullens, all of Dahlonega,
Brenda Owens, Roanoke, Va.;
uncles, Ira Dickerson and Roland
Dickerson, Dahlonega; godpar
ents, Shay Dickerson and Michael
Sullens, both of Dahlonega; and
a number of cousins, aunts and
uncles.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, February 20, at the
Banister Funeral Home Chapel in
Dahlonega with the Rev. Frank
Colladay officiating. Burial was in
Antioch Cemetery in Lumpkin
County.
Banister Funeral Home,
Dahlonega, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Robert L. Huff
Robert L. Huff, Sr., 83, of
Nicholson, died Sunday, February
17, 2008, peacefully
from neurological
and cardiac dis
ease at his home in
Madison County.
He was born on June 22, 1924,
in Madison County, the son of the
late Arthur and Evie Huff.
He enlisted in the army in 1942,
and after fighting in the North
African campaign, including
Casablanca, he served in the 92nd
Reconnaissance unit of the Fifth
Cavalry Brigade during the lib
eration of Sicily. In subsequent
service near Itri, Italy, he was
awarded the Bronz Star for heroic
action during combat. Because of
wounds suffered during combat,
he was also awarded the Purple
Heart. During World War II, he
enlisted in the Air Force, where he
remained for more than 27 years,
until he retired due to disability.
Upon retirement, he returned to
the Madison County land that
he had farmed as a boy. During
his retirement, he supported the
Sanford Community by maintain
ing several community cemeteries,
including the Bethaven Cemetery,
as well as by erecting memorials
to students and teachers at the
Sawdust School and the Sanford
Community School. During retire
ment, he loved to fish and to work
on small projects around his house
and property, particularly those
involving cement work, loved ones
added.
Survivors include his wife of
55 years, Betty Huff, Nicholson;
older brother, Lawrence Huff,
Kerrville, Texas; daughters, Susan
Carta, Athens, Robin Wright,
Minneapolis, Minn.; sons, Robert
Huff Jr., Nicholson, and Steve Starr,
Orlando, Fla.; seven grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Friday,
February 22, in the chapel of Lord
& Stephens Funeral Home with
the Rev. Barry Black officiating.
Burial was in Bethaven Cemetery
Memorial contributions may
be made to St. Mary’s Hospice
Service.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home,
East, Athens, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
Fred Martin
Fred William Martin, 74, of
Commerce, died Monday, February
25, 2008, at Athens Regional
Medical Center in Athens.
Born in Franklin County on
August 27, 1933, he was the son
of the late Willie and Loudez Byrd
Martin. He retired from Royston
Corporation and was a member of
Hudson River Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Linda
Joyce Reems Martin, Commerce;
a son, Mark Martin, Commerce;
daughter, Marcia Ayers,
Carnesville; and four grandchil
dren.
Graveside services will be held
Thursday, February 28, at 2 p.m.
at Hudson River Baptist Church
Cemetery with the Rev. Troy
Herbert officiating. The family
will receive friends Wednesday,
February 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., at
the funeral home.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, February 21, 2008.
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Lurlene King
Lurlene Thompson King, 91, of
Baldwin, died Monday, February
25, 2008, at Oak Heritage
Healthcare, following an extended
illness.
Born in Banks County on June
14, 1916, she was the daughter of
the late R.O. and Ida Chastain
Thompson. She and her husband
were the owners and operators of
K & L Cab Services and Rental
Properties in Baldwin for over
50 years. She was a member of
Baldwin Baptist Church, where she
served in the Joy Sunday School
Class. Mrs. King was preceded in
death by her husband, Sandy N.
King; a daughter, Doris Carolyn
King; and an infant sister and
brothers, Claude, Lewis, Roy and
Abener Thompson.
She loved the Lord and always
wanted to spread the Gospel of
Jesus Christ all over the world,
according to loved ones. She was
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