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PAGE 8A - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 30. 2008
Area Death Notices
Aaron McKinney
Aaron Smith McKinney, 74,
Jackson County agricultural, civic
and religious leader for many
years, died Wednesday, April 23,
2008.
A veteran of the United States
Air Force, he
served on the
Jackson EMC
board for 20
years; on the
JacksonCounty
Planning and
Development
Commission
for 15 years;
was a past
president of the
Jackson County
Farm Bureau and of
the Jackson County Cattlemen’s
Association; and was a past
district vice president of the
UGA Alumni Society. He also
served on the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce
board for three years, on the 4-H
State Advisory Commission for
three years, and on the Atlanta
Union Mission board for two
years. Mr. McKinney also served
on the Agricultural Economics
Association board. He was past
president and tail twister of the
Jefferson Lions Club and was
past president and chaplain of
the Gideons. Mr. McKinney oper
ated a farm and agri-business.
An active member of the Galilee
Christian Church, he was past
board president, elder and men’s
Sunday School teacher there.
Mr. McKinney, who lived in
the South Jackson community
was born on August 12, 1933, in
Wilcox County, the son of the late
Lewis and Orene McGlamory
McKinney. Mr. McKinney was
preceded in death by his parents
and two sisters, Joan Arban and
Eloise Blalock
Survivors include his wife of 53
years, Betty McKinney; daugh
ter, Gina McKinney, Athens; sons
and daughters-in-law, Randy and
Angela McKinney and Scott
and Tammy McKinney, all of
Jefferson; two sisters, Neomi
Helms, Rochelle, and Martha
Mays, Hawkinsville; two brothers,
Frank McKinney, Rochelle, and
Lewis McKinney Jr„ Tallahassee,
Fla.; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, April 26, at Galilee
Christian Church with Minister
Tom Plank and the Revs. Bill
McKinney and Swayne Cochran
officiating. Burial was in the
church cemetery. Pallbearers
were Bobby McKinney, Benny
McKinney, Tracey Mays, Wade
Helms, Lane Barker and Jeff
Helms.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Gideons, P.O. Box
755, Jefferson, Ga. 30549, or the
Galilee Christian Church Building
Fund, 2191 Galilee Church Rd.,
Jefferson, Ga. 30549.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
'Pete' Hill
Clifton B. “Pete” Hill Sr., 83, of
Homer, died Saturday, April 26,
2008, at his residence.
Born in Banks County, he was
the son of the late
John C. and Ethel
Gillespie Hill. He
was a member of
Homer Presbyterian Church,
where he served as an elder. He
was a retired Clerk of Superior
Court of Banks County and was
retired from the US Department
of Soil Conservation. Mr. Hill
was a veteran, having served in
the United States Navy during
World War II, was a member of
Phi Delta Lodge #148, Yaarab
Temple, and American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his
wife, Sarah Etrulia Brewer Hill;
brother, John Clark Hill Jr.; and
sisters, Rose and Reba Hill.
Survivors include daughters
and sons-in-law, Lynn and Ronald
Blackmon, Elberton, Myra
and Alfred Smith, Maysville,
Layvonne Belcher, Ila; a son and
daughter-in-law, Cliff and Kathy
Hill, Homer; brothers and sister-
in-law, Roland and Wilma Hill
and Donald Hill, all of Homer;
sister and brother-in-law, Robbie
and Scottie Rohwer, Spokane,
Wash.; granddaughter, Donna
Seymour, Elberton; grandsons,
Michael Smith, Pinson, Ala.,
Dustin Smith, Maysville, Kevin
Blackmon, Elberton, Isaac Ward,
Athens, Trae Hill, Home, and
Tim Ward, Hollingsworth; four
great-grandsons; and four great-
granddaughters.
Funeral services were held
Monday, April 28, in the chapel
of Little-Ward Funeral Home with
the Revs. Swayne Cochran and
Bill Ford officiating. Burial was
in the Hill Family Cemetery in
Homer.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the autismspeaks.org or
the American Cancer Society.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Dorothy Dyer
Dorothy Jean Dyer, 62, of
Commerce, died Friday, April 25,
2008, at her residence.
She was born in Carroll County,
the daughter of
the late Troy
and Pauline
Hannah Daniel.
She was a mem
ber of Galilee
Fire Baptized
Holiness
Church and
was employed
by Ingles. Mrs.
Dyer was preceded in death by a
son, Robert Farmer.
Survivors include daughters,
Linda Wood and Robin Coley,
both of Commerce; sons, Ralph
Farmer, Danielsville, Paul Farmer,
Hull, and Alex Dyer, Commerce; a
sister, Sybil Stephens, Carnesville;
brother, Ronnie Coley, Braselton;
six grandchildren; and six great
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Sunday, April 27, at the Galilee
Fire Baptized Holiness Church
with the Revs. Larry Dyer and
Doug Duncan officiating. Burial
was in the church cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Jerry Roberts
Jerry Roberts, 55, of Maysville,
died Friday, April 25, 2008, at his
residence following an extended
illness.
He was the son of Ruby Jean
Roberts of
Maysville.
Survivors in
addition to his
mother, include
fiance, Francine
Bowden Roberts,
Maysville;
sons, Jerry
Todd Roberts,
Jonathan Roberts Jerome Bowden
and William Marshall Roberts, all
of Maysville, daughters, Stephanie
Coulter, Commerce, Johnnie
Rena Nichols, Gainesville, and
Shelby Jean Roberts, Maysville;
a brother, Jeffery Roberts,
Maysville; sisters, Jennifer Lynn
Rogers, Clarksville, and Julie
Faye Reynolds, Maysville; seven
grandchildren; and one great
grandchild .
Funeral services were held
Monday, April 28, at Victory
Chapel Holiness Church with the
Revs. Milford Daniels and Eugene
Pritchett officiating. Burial was in
Jackson Memorial Gardens.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Ralph Blalock
Ralph E. Blalock, 88, of Banks
County, died Monday, April 28,
2008, at his residence.
Born in Jackson County on
August 24,1919, he was the son of
the late Grover Elias
and Thelma Goldie
Waters Blalock. He
was a member of
Damascus Baptist Church, hav
ing served as a deacon for a num
ber of years. He was a former
member of the Board of Trustees
of Grady School, and was retired
from Johnson & Johnson of
Cornelia, with 40 years of ser
vice. He was preceded in death
by sisters, Rachel Ward and Lois
Ferrini.
Mr. Blalock was a veteran, hav
ing served in the United States
Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his beloved
wife of 66 years, Sudie Lee Kesler
Blalock, Banks County; daugh
ters and sons-in-law, Barbara and
Doug Garrison, Winder, and Emi
and Melvin Evans, Baldwin; sons
and daughters-in-law, Charles
and Janalu Blalock, Carnesville,
Ronnie and Carolyn Blalock,
Banks County; son and friend,
Jerry Blalock and Susan Burger,
Banks County; sisters, Mildred
Gunter, Commerce, and Ruth
Curry, Auburn; brother, Lemuel
Blalock, Augusta; 12 grandchil
dren; 18 great-grandchildren; and
one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, April 30, at the
Damascus Baptist Church with
the Revs. Gene Todd and Roy
Rogers officiating. Burial was in
the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Damascus Baptist
Church Building Fund, 1526
Damascus Church Rd., Homer,
Ga. 30547.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South
Chapel, Baldwin, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Mera Jackson
Mera Daniels Jackson, 59, of
Jefferson, died Tuesday, April 22,
2008.
She was born on July 15, 1948,
the daughter of the late Nathaniel
and Annie Blanch Gathright
Daniels. She was educated in the
Jackson County School System,
where she attended Bryan High
School. She worked at Wayne
Farms for over 20 years and also
worked in the fast food busi
ness for a number of years. Mrs.
Jackson was preceded in death
by her first husband, Willie B.
Sanford; and brother, Bobby
Daniels.
Survivors include her second
husband, Melvin Jackson; a son,
Maurice Sanford; grandsons,
Jacques and Marquez, raised in
the home; great-granddaughters,
J’Myiah and Precious Sanford;
brothers, Charles (Mauldin)
Daniels, Horace Daniels Sr.,
and Tony (Bettye) Daniels, all of
Jefferson; sisters, Annie Borders,
Katherine Green, both of
Jefferson, Mary Bell, Gainesville,
and Agnes Rucker, Oakwood; sis-
ters-in-law, Annie (Willie) Hughey,
Mary Jackson, Johnnie Jackson,
Carolyn Watson, all of Jefferson,
and Isabell Damon, Commerce;
brothers-in-law, Leroy Jackson,
Jefferson, Bobby Sims and Roger
Sims, both of Commerce, Eddie
Jackson, Milledgeville, Wilma
Jackson, Athens, Donald Jackson,
Winder, and Cecil (Donna)
Jackson, Atlanta; two special
friends, Luvenie Reed and Essie
Hughey, both of Jefferson; and a
host of nephews, nieces, cousins
and friends.
Funeral services were held
Friday, April 25, at St. Paul
Church.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Walter Wilson
Walter Phillip Wilson, 58, of
Commerce, died Monday, April
28, 2008.
A native of Green County, he
was the son of the late W.H.
and Hattie Tolbert Wilson. Mr.
Wilson was preceded in death by
a daughter, Arin Elaine Wilson
Survivors include his wife,
Linda Osley; children, Cindy
Smith (Shannon Summers),
Tim Wilson, Robby Wilson,
Danny Wilson, Stacy McKinley
(Gwyn) and Tommy Underwood
(Tammy); and 13 grandchildren.
Lord & Stephens Funeral
Home, East, Athens, is in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
and a son, Randall Hardy.
Survivors include a daughter,
Jenny Jones,
Jefferson; broth
ers, William
Martin and
Rocky Long, both
of Commerce;
sister, Georgia
Ann Wright,
Gainesville; three
grandchildren;
and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held
Friday, April 25, in the chapel
of Ivie Funeral Home with the
Revs. Douglas Duncan and Joel
Shadburn officiating. Burial was
in the Grey Hill Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Charles Robinson
Charles Edward Robinson Jr., of
Colbert, died Tuesday, April 22,
2008, at Athens Regional Medical
Center in Athens.
He was born in Jackson County,
the son of the late Charles and
Ilene Robinson. He was a sheet
metal worker and member of
Sheet Metal Worker’s Local
Union #85.
Survivors include daughters,
Norma Coley, Athens, Donna
Robinson, Watkinsville; broth
ers, Tommy Robertson, Colbert,
Billy Ray Robinson, Maysville;
sister, Janice Chrisley, Maysville;
grandson, Justin White; nephew,
Samuel Robinson.
A memorial reception will be
held Saturday, May 3.
Memorial contributions may be
made to International Society for
Stem Cell Research, 111 Deer
Lake Rd., Suite 100, Deerfield,
IL 60015.
Lord & Stephens Funeral
Home, Danielsville, is in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Lucille Cofer
Lucille Hollowell Cofer, of
Smithfield, Va., died Monday,
April 21, 2008, at Sentara Obici
Hospital.
She was a member of Smithfield
Baptist Church and of the B.L.
Wells Sunday
School Class.
She was a
Deputy Clerk
of Isle of Wight
County from
1953 to 1970,
and also served
as Justice of the
Peace. She was
retired from Smithfield Packing
Company in 1983 after 13 years
of service. Mrs. Cofer was pre
ceded in death by her husband,
Charles “Pete” Cofer; a sister,
Elsie H. Whitford; and brothers, J.
Raymond Hollowell and Charles
Linwood Hollowell.
Survivors include a daugh
ter, Mona J. Cofer, Commerce;
grandchildren, Lori W. Hurd,
Lawrenceville, Nicole W. Williams,
Commerce, and Guy C. Wyatt,
Atlanta; five great-grandchildren;
and a sister-in-law, Margaret H.
Hollowell, Aurora, Colo.
A celebration of life service was
held Friday, April 25, in Colonial
Funeral Home Chapel with the
Rev. Dr. Donald Rhoton offici
ating. Burial was in St. Luke’s
Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may
be made to Smithfield Baptist
Church, 100 Wainwright Dr.,
Smithfield, Va. 23430.
Colonial Funeral Home,
Smithfield, Va., was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Cynthia Hollis
Cynthia Tina Hollis, 45, of
Gainesville, died Saturday, April
19, 2008, at her residence, follow
ing an extended illness.
She was born April 15, 1963,
in Hall County, the daughter
of Freida Washburn Hollis of
Maysville and the late Ed Hollis.
She had attended Johnson High
School, was an employee of
Memorial Park Funeral Home,
a member of the Eastern Star,
and member of the First Baptist
Church in Gainesville. Mrs. Hollis
was preceded in death by a sister,
Laquitta Hollis; and grandfather,
Sylvester Leverette.
Survivors in addition to her
mother, include a son, Matthew
Tyler Mize, Maysville; daughter,
Hannah Mane Mize, Maysville;
sisters and brother-in-law, Minister
Phyllis Hollis and Robert Smith
and Penny Hollis, all of Maysville,
Carolyn Torres, Decatur; adopted
sister and special friend, Sylvia
Akers, Gainesville; brothers, Terry
Hollis, Gainesville, Mohammed
O. Al-Moustafa; adopted brother,
Eric Hollis; grandfather, Clarence
Lyles, Gainesville; grandmother,
Inez Leverette, Gainesville; and
a host of aunts, uncles, nieces,
nephews, friends and other rela
tives.
Funeral services were held
Tuesday, April 22, at St. John’s
Baptist Church with the Rev. Issac
Whitehead officiating. Burial was
in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Donald Doster
Donald E. Doster, 70, of
Statham, died Wednesday, April
23, 2008.
Born in Oconee County, he
was the son of the late William
Howard and Myrtle Lowe Doster.
He was a member of Mt. Vernon
Christian Church, and was retired
from Westinghouse (A.B.B.) in
Athens as a fork lift operator in
the shipping department.
Survivors include his wife, Linda
Kirk Doster, Statham; daugh
ters and sons-in-law, Donna and
Martin Kesler, Nicholson, Tania
Scott, Danielsville, and Kristie
and Marc Harwell, Statham;
grandchildren, Charli Kesler,
Joseph Doster, Justin Scott,
Clay Kesler, Mason Harwell
and Kesley Harwell; brothers,
Lamar Doster, Ft. Walton Beach,
Fla., Carl Doster, McDonough;
and sisters, Dorothy Turner,
Gainesville, Fla., Ann Barber and
Nancy Shadley, both of Statham,
Carolyn Shannon, Colbert.
Funeral services were held
Friday, April 25, at Smith Memory
Chapel with the Rev. Robert
Stamey officiating. Burial was in
Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder,
was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Please recycle
this newspaper!
Jerry Samples
Jerry Hoyt Samples, 63, of
Dawsonville, died Monday, April
21,2008, at the Northeast Georgia
Medical Center in Gainesville,
following an extended illness.
A native of Forsyth County, he
had lived in Dawson County for
the past 34 years. He formerly
worked in residential construc
tion and was a member of Salem
Baptist Church. Mr. Samples was
preceded in death by his parents,
Hoyt and Minerva Samples; and
a sister, Mildred Adams.
Survivors include his wife of 44
years, Ethel Samples .Dawsonville;
a daughter, Stacey Samples,
Dawsonville; son, Steven Samples,
Dawsonville; grandchildren,
Will Linkenhoker, Pickens, S.C.,
Sheyenne Seabolt, Dawsonville;
sisters and brothers-in-law, Louise
and J.W. Brown, Homer, Dorothy
Bruce, Commerce, Inez Pethel,
Gainesville, Elaine and Mike
Magnus, Gainesville; brothers
and sisters-in-law, Pat and Latrelle
Samples and Kenneth and Mary
Samples, all of Gainesville; and a
number of other relatives.
Funeral services were held
Thursday, April 24, in the chapel
of Bearden Funeral Home with
the Rev. Russell Burt officiating.
Burial was in the Antioch Church
cemetery.
Bearden Funeral Home,
Dawsonville, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
'Mickey' Williams
Carlton Lee “Mickey”
Williams, 12, of Baldwin, died
Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
at Egleston.
Born in Habersham County on
September 6, 1995, he was the
son of Connie Williams Aguilar
of Baldwin. He attended His Way
Assembly of Praise and was a
member of the 4-H Club. He
enjoyed riding his bicycle and
was an avid fan of Nascar driver,
Jimmie Johnson, loved ones stat
ed . He was preceded in death by a
sister, Brittany Nicole Williams.
Survivors in addition to his
mother, include a brother, Jorge
Williams, Baldwin; sister, Katelyn
Williams, Baldwin; maternal
grandparents, Michael and Linda
Chaffin, Baldwin, maternal great
grandmother, Bertie Chaffin,
Baldwin; special aunts, Wilma
Williams, Baldwin, and Louise
Chaffin, Alto; and several other
aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, April 26, in the chapel
of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home with the Revs.
Luther Williams, Bobby Hathaway
and Pastor Rich Hulsey officiat
ing. Burial was in Baldwin City
Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may
be made to any branch of
Community Bank & Trust in
memory of Carlton Lee “Mickey”
Williams.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart
Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, April 30, 2008.
Fax death notices to:
(706) 387-5431, or
email items to:
obits@mainstreetnews .com
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Annie Belle Hardy
Annie Belle Martin Hardy, 69,
of Jefferson, died Tuesday, April
22, 2008, at Athens Regional
Medical Center in Athens.
She was born in Jackson County,
the daughter of the late George
Martin and Winnie Head Martin
Long and was a homemaker. Mrs.
Hardy was preceded in death by
her husband, Robert W. Hardy;
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