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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 9. 2008 - PAGE 9A
Area Death Notices
Fred Banks
Fred O’Neal Banks, Jr., 73, of
Commerce, died Friday, April 4,2008,
at his residence.
Born in Banks County, he was the
son of the late Fred O'Neal Banks Sr.
and Emogene Massey luuuuuu
Banks. He was a W ~
member of Mt. Olive
Baptist Church and
was employed as a truck driver. He
was a veteran, having served in the
United States Air Force during the
Korean Conflict, and was a member
of the Masonic Lodge #294 F&AM.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita
Irvin Banks, Commerce; sons, Neal
Banks, Comer, and Norman Banks,
Commerce; sister, Jane Yuhas, Ila;
grandchildren, Kayla Banks, Comer,
Ethen and Colton Banks, Commerce.
Funeral services were held Sunday,
April 6, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church
with the Revs. Derry Oliver and
Verlin Reese officiating. Burial was in
the church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Daniel Varner
Daniel Horace Varner, 49, of
Commerce, died Saturday, April
5, 2008, at BJC Medical Center in
Commerce.
He was born on November 17,1958,
in Jackson County, the son of the late
Charles Horace Varner and Mary
Ellen Harris Varner Saylors. He was
an auto tech and was a member of the
Freedom Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Vickey
Ann Morgan Varner, Commerce; son,
Tim Varner, Commerce; daughter,
Sheila McClure, Commerce; brother,
Larry Fincannon, Commerce; sister,
Dana Lynn Herrin, Homer; and two
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday,
April 7, in the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with Jerry Payne offi
ciating. Burial was in the Bold Springs
United Methodist Church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Lee Minish
Lee Hansel Minish, 83, of Commerce,
died Friday, April 4, 2008.
He was born in Jackson County on
January 14, 1925, the son of the late
Robert Lee and Claudia Inez Williams
Minish. He was a tractor trailer driv
er for 40 years with Seaboard and
Central Soya, where, due to health
problems, he retired in 1985. Mr.
Minish was preceded in death by a
sister; and two brothers.
Survivors include his wife of 32
years, Shirley Minish, Commerce; six
daughters and two sons. The children
include Jimmie Hulsey and husband,
Ronnie, Buford, with two grandsons
and three great-grandchildren, Jean
Crumley, Commerce, with three
grandchildren, nine great-grandchil
dren and three great-great-grandchil-
dren, Brenda Barning, Braselton, with
two grandchildren and five great
grandchildren, Jackie Griffith and
husband, Tommy, Homer, with three
grandchildren and five great-grand
children, Jerrell Minish and wife,
Michelle, Athens, with four grandchil
dren and three great-grandchildren,
Thomas Minish, Nicholson, with four
grandchildren and six great-grandchil
dren, Connie Archer and husband,
Mickey, Nicholson, with four grand
sons, Vickie Kittle, Loganville, and
fiance, Chris, with two grandchildren;
stepson, Greg Self and wife, Kay,
Madison, with one grandchild; and a
number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday,
April 6, at Nicholson Baptist Church
with the Rev. Terry Smith officiat
ing. Burial was in the Nicholson
Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was
in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Polly Whitmire
Polly Sue Whitmire, 61, of
Commerce, died Saturday, April 5,
2008, following a courageous battle
after being diagnosed with pulmo
nary hypertension three years ago.
She was born December 3, 1946, in
Brevard, N.C., the daughter of the late
W.T. and Edna Poole Whitmire. She
was preceded in death by a brother,
Jerry T. Whitmire.
She graduated from Brevard High
School and Blue Ridge Technical
College as a LPN, from DeKalb
College with an AS degree in nurs
ing, and from the University of North
Carolina, Asheville, with a bachelor of
arts degree in literature. She worked
as an RN at Athens Regional Medical
Center. She was a member of Unity
Church in Athens.
Survivors include children, Justin
R. Gillespie and Dr. Treena Gillespie;
daughter-in-law, Angie; granddaughter,
Heather; and sister, Jane Zumstein.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the Commerce Public
Library Building Fund, P.O. Box 348,
Commerce, Ga. 30529.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Ruby Ackley
Ruby Doris Ackley, of Commerce,
died Monday, April 7, 2008, following
an extended illness.
She was the daughter of the late
Charley and Minnie Wiggles worth
Carey and was preceded in death by
her husband, Lorin Ackley.
Survivors include a niece, Ellen Kay
Carey, Bolvier, Mo.; nephew Keith
Carey, Kansas City, Mo.; and a sister-
in-law, Shirley Carey, Commerce.
Funeral services will be held in
Missouri at a later date.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is
in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Ronald Cochran
Ronald Cecil Cochran, Jr., 29, of
Commerce, died Friday, March 28,
2008, at Crawford W. Long Hospital.
He was born in Clarke County,
the son of Debra Payne Cochran,
of Maysville and the late Ronald C.
Cochran, Sr. He was employed by
Seydel-Woolley.
Survivors in addition to his moth
er, include sisters, Christy Leftwich,
Commerce, and Tammy Gallman,
Maysville; and a grandmother, Juanita
Payne, Commerce.
Funeral services were held Saturday,
March 29, at the First Baptist Church
of Commerce with the Rev. Wade Lott
officiating. Burial was in the Sunrise
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Frances Stow
Frances Lucille Stow, 75, of Talmo,
died.
She was born in Jackson County,
was Baptist, and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Stow was preceded in death by
her husband, Loyd Stow; and a son,
Larry Stow.
Survivors include sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. David Stow,
Oakwood, Kenneth and Tammy Stow,
Gillsville; daughters and son-in-law,
Linda and Ricky Miller and Regina
Stow, all of Talmo; sisters, Kathleen
Wright, Maysville, Dorothy Wright,
Cleveland, Patricia Grindle, Gillsville;
10 grandchildren; five great-grandchil
dren; and a number of other rela
tives.
Funeral services were held Tuesday,
April 8, in the chapel of Ward’s
Funeral Home with the Rev. Eugene
Pritchett officiating. Burial was in Alta
Vista Cemetery.
Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Mary Walls
Mary McElroy Walls, 89, of Winder,
died Friday, April 4, 2008.
She was born in Walton County, the
daughter of the late John Thomas and
Jessie Briscoe McElroy, and was a
member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
She was a 1937 graduate of Winder
High School, was a retiree of R.&
R. Manufacturing Company, and an
avid flower gardener. Mrs. Walls was
preceded in death by her husband,
Lester “Buck" Walls; a son, Donald
Wall; granddaughter, Elaine Wall
Siggelkow; brother, O.L. McElroy; and
sister, Lena Thomason.
Survivors include a daughter,
Martha Wall Pate, Auburn; son and
daughters-in-law, Darrell and Glenda
Walls, Auburn, Jeanette Smith Wall,
Cumming; brothers and sister-in-law,
Henry and Veta McElroy and Bobby
McElroy, all of Bogart; sisters and
brother-in-law, Mellie and Gus Lang,
Snellville, Blanche Beach, Commerce;
granddaughters and spouses, Wanda
and Oscar Carriea, Jasper, Kristi
and Brian McEntire, Danielsville,
Kasi and Chris Cagle, Winder,
Shawn and John Hinger, Athens,
and Jessie Walls, Auburn; grandson,
Eddie Siggelkow, Cumming; great-
granddaughters, Morgan Siggelkow,
Cumming, Gretchen Hinger, Athens,
and Kaylee McEntire, Danielsville;
great-grandsons, Chase Siggelkow,
Cumming, and Christopher Charles
"Chap" Cable II, Winder; and a num
ber of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Sunday,
April 6, in the chapel of Carter Funeral
Home with the Revs. Jerry Brown,
Jeff Parmer and Steve Ferguson offici
ating. Burial was in Barrow Memorial
Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be
made to St. Mary's Hospice House,
P.O. Box 6588, Athens, Ga. 30604.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder, was
in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Marguerite Dalton
Marguerite Morris Dalton, 71, of
Hollingsworth, died Saturday, April 5,
2008, at an area medical center.
She was born on March 1, 1937, in
Banks County, the daughter of the
late Hollis E. and Marie Sheridan.
She was retired from Banks County
Senior Center as a site manager for
35 years, was a member of the Mt.
Pleasant United Methodist Church,
and a member of Banks County Red
Hat Hens.
Survivors include her husband,
Milton L. Dalton, Hollingsworth;
son and daughter-in-law, Rickey E.
and Kathy Sheridan, Hollingsworth;
step-sons and spouses, Perry and
Trade Dalton and Alan and Vickie
Dalton, all of Hollingsworth; sister
and brother-in-law, Betty and Ray
Bond, Commerce; brother, J.D.
Morris, Commerce; grandchildren,
Drew, Cole and Kelan Dalton, all of
Hollingsworth; and several nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday,
April 8, at Whitfield Funeral Home
with the Revs. Phil Ferguson and
Brian David officiating. Burial was in
Banks County Memorial Park with
the Rev. Bob Reynolds officiating at
the graveside.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Mt. Pleasant United
Methodist Church, 1695 Hwy. 441
North, Homer, Ga. 30547, or to the Mt.
View Baptist Church, 1035 Harmony
Church Rd„ Baldwin, Ga. 30511.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South
Chapel, Baldwin, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Janet Goetz
Janet Adams Goetz, 51, of Ila, died
Friday, April 4, 2008, at her resi
dence.
Born in Athens, she was the daugh
ter of the late Orin “Big" and Ruth
Bradley Adams. She had worked for
the University of Georgia for 15 years
and was very active in Relay for Life.
She was a member of the Gordon's
Chapel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband,
Joey Goetz; daughters, Deena
(Aaron) Altazan, Baton Rouge, La.,
Marlena (Corey) Whitney, Alabama;
son, David Goetz, Alabama; sisters,
Debbie (David) Hawks, Nicholson,
Becky (Steve) Hill, Hull, Sherry Allen
(William Hardman), Danielsville;
granddaughter, Ashlyn Joelle Altazan;
and five step-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday,
April 6, at the Gordon's Chapel
United Methodist Church with the
Revs. Robert Passmore and Jim
Carpenter officiating. Burial was in
the church cemetery. Pallbearers
were David Hawks, Steve Hill, Scott
Brown, Jimmy Bird, William Hardman,
Bradley Allen, Josh Hill and Adam
Allen.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the American Cancer
Society.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home,
Danielsville, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Tina Chappell
Tina Pauline Chappell, 48, of Lula,
died Thursday, April 3, 2008, at
Northeast Georgia Medical Center in
Gainesville.
Born in Hall County on February
14, 1960, she was the daughter of
Valerie Baugh Wiley and step-father,
Morese Wiley, of Gillsville and the
late Paul Greenway. She was a home
maker, and was preceded in death by
her husband, Tommy Chappell.
Survivors in addition to her mother
and step-father, include a son, TJ
Chappell, Lula; brother, Brian Wiley,
Lula; sister, Sandy Hellard, Cleveland;
sister, Paulette Massey, Cleveland;
and grandson, Patrick Chappell,
Commerce.
Graveside services were held
Sunday, April 6, from Grey Hill
Cemetery with the Rev. Scotty Poole
officiating. Burial was in the Grey Hill
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Carlos McNatt
Carlos Franklin McNatt, 80, of
Nicholson, died Monday, April 7,
2008, at his residence.
Born in Madison County, Tenn.,
he was the son of the late James
Harvey and Ethel Cook McNatt. He
was a retired textile supervisor in the
spinning room department and was
Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie
Tines McNatt, Nicholson; daugh
ter, Mona Cavin, Nicholson; sons,
David McNatt, Franklin, Tenn.,
Jerry McNatt, Jackson, Tenn., Jeff
McNatt, Satellite Beach, Fla., and
James McNatt, Homer; sisters, Polly
Nobles, Pinson, Tenn., Flora Jackson,
Hoenwall, Tenn., and Beulah Bomar,
Jackson, Tenn.; nine grandchildren;
and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held
Friday, April 11, at 3 p.m„ at Rocky
Spring Baptist Church with the Rev.
Gerald Smith officiating. The fam
ily will receive friends at the funeral
home Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to
8 p.m.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
'Tom' Davis
Tommy Kenneth “Tom" Davis, 70,
of Jefferson, died Monday, March 31,
2008.
He was born on July 10, 1937, in
Jackson County, the son of the late
Halton Edwin Davis
and Louise Holiday
Davis of Jefferson.
He was a logger and
was a veteran, having
served in the United States Army.
Survivors in addition to his mother,
include a son, Halton Davis; sisters,
Linda Pass, Watkinsville, Carolyn
Hardigree, Buford; brother, Robert H.
Davis, Buford; one grandson; nieces
and nephews, Andrea Pass, Michael
Williamson, Janie King and Casey
Hardigree.
Private memorial services will be
held at a later date. The body was
cremated.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Lula Mae Bryant
Lula Mae Dowell Bryant, 81, of
Jefferson, died Monday, March 31,
2008.
Born in Franklin County on August
22, 1926, she was the daughter of
the late John and Pearlec Burch
Dowell. She was a homemaker, a
poultry farmer, and a member of the
Riverside Baptist Church in Royston.
Mrs. Bryant was preceded in death by
her husband, James Marvin Bryant;
sons, J.M. and A.M. Bryant; brothers,
Ernest, Benson, Willie, Henry and
Harvey Dowell; sisters, Julie Fountain,
Josie Downs, Bulah McCollum, Eula
Crowe and Mary Alice Dowell.
Survivors include a daughter and
son-in-law Mary Ellen and Leonard
Jones, Jefferson; grandchildren
and spouses, Keith and Stephanie
Jones, Commerce, and Melissa and
Benjamin Barron, Oakwood; great
grandchild, Samantha Chase Jones,
Gainesville; Step-great-grandchildren,
Hannah and Katie McColloch,
Commerce; and brothers, Ervin Lee
Dowell, Canon, and George Thomas
Dowell, Royston.
Funeral services were held Thursday,
April 3, in the chapel of Pruitt Funeral
Home with the Revs. Jim Kirkland
and Tony Smith officiating. Burial was
in Zidon Baptist Church cemetery.
Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was
in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Margie Ayers
Margie Nell Ayers, 62, of
Danielsville, died Thursday April
3, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital in
Athens.
Born in Hall County, she was the
daughter of the late Clarence and
Jo Eller Dyer Beck. She was a mem
ber of Freedom Church of God and
was a restaurant owner. Mrs. Ayers
was preceded in death by a brother,
Willard Beck.
Survivors include her husband,
Buddy Ayers, Danielsville; daughter,
Melanie Moore, Commerce; son,
Ricky Ayers, Commerce; sisters,
Mary Jo Wright, Buford, and Donna
Kennedy, Ft. Myers, Fla.; brother,
Leonard Beck, Buford; grandchildren,
Hillary Wilson and Slade Moore, both
of Commerce.
Memorial services were held
Saturday, April 5, at the Freedom
Church of God with the Rev. Greg
Banks officiating.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Lee Roy Bowden
Lee Roy Bowden, 80, of Commerce,
died Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at his resi
dence, following an extended illness.
Born in Habersham County, he
was the son of the late Bascom Lee
and Minnie Lee Stowe Bowden. Mr.
Bowden was preceded in death by
a son, Lee James
Bowden; and a
daughter, Barbara
Jean Bowden.
Survivors
include his
wife, Mary
Wiley Bowden,
Commerce; sons
and daughter-in-
law, Roy Howard
and Toni Bowden,
Commerce, James Bowden, Atlanta;
daughters, Louise Bowden, Mary
Ann Mealor, both of Commerce,
Johnnie Ruth Roberts, Nicholson,
and Francine Bowden, Maysville; 15
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held
Thursday, April 3, from Webbs Creek
Baptist Church with the Revs. Wade
Lott, James Dumas and Craig Bryant
officiating Burial was in the church
cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was
in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Mary Nelle Isbell
Mary Nelle Isbell, 91, of Talmo, died
Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
Born in Jackson County, she
was the daughter of the late James
Bradley and Lula
Victoria Hancock
Langford. She
was a retired ele
mentary school
teacher and a
member of the
Holly Springs
United Methodist
Church. Mrs.
Isbell was preced
ed in death by her
husband, James Monroe Isbell.
Survivors include daughters and
sons-in-law, Cheryl and Charles
Fletcher, Talmo, Mary Lynn and Scott
Orr, Acworth; son and daughter-in-
law, Mike and Vicki Isbell, LaGrange;
grandchildren, Ryan Fletcher, Lindsay
Isbell, Jordan Isbell, Whitney Carlson,
Jessica Orr and Ansley Orr.
Funeral services were held Friday,
April 4, from the Holly Springs
United Methodist Church with the
Revs. Mark Spence and Tom Fish
officiating Burial was in the Talmo
Baptist Church Cemetery.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
Juanita Fields
Juanita Sylvia Fields, 87, of
Nicholson, died Tuesday, April 8,
2008, at Heritage of Athens.
She was born in Union County, the
daughter of the late Arthur and Effie
Lowe Cooke. She was a member of
New Harmony Baptist Church and
was a homemaker. Mrs. Fields was
preceded in death by her husband,
Alvin B. Fields; and a son, Donnie
Fields.
Survivors include daughters, Shelia
Embrick and Dianne Nunn, both of
Commerce; Norma Ariail, Flowery
Branch, and Jonell Jones, Nicholson;
brother, Ray Cooke, Nicholson; sister,
Eunice Shedd, Virginia Beach, Va.; 13
grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren;
and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday, April 10, at 2 p.m., from
the New Harmony Baptist Church
with the Rev. Ross Layne officiating.
Burial will be in the church cem
etery. The family will receive friends
Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.,
at the funeral home.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, April 9, 2008.
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Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
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1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
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