Newspaper Page Text
The
Commerce News
PAGE 8B • JANUARY 7,2009
Area Death Notices
Daniel Dills
Daniel Dills, 35, of Arcade,
died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Born in Commerce, he
was an insulation install
er with Porter Insulation
Company.
Survivors include his
companion, Pamela Bray
Gill, Jefferson; daughter,
Christina Griffith, Statham;
mother and stepfather,
Connie and Steve Booth,
Danielsville; father and step
mother, Jerry and Dottie
Dills, Jefferson; brothers,
Ricky Dills, Bethlehem, and
Jeremiah Dills, Jefferson;
sisters, Christy Thurmond,
Arcade, and Lori Fields,
Statham; and many nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services were
held Wednesday, Jan. 7, in
the chapel of Evans Funeral
Home with the Revs. David
Carey and David Staton
officiating. Burial was in
Evans Memory Gardens
in Jefferson. Pallbearers
were Chase Brown, Jeremy
Aaron, Todd Foster, John
Dills, Mike Thurmond and
Anthony Thurmond. Jodie
Fields served as honorary
pallbearer.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Doyet Early
Paid Notice
Doyet Arnold “Jack” Early
Jr., 85, of Gainesville, died
Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at
Morningside of Gainesville.
Born in Beaufort, SC, he
was the son of the late D.A.
“Jack” Early Sr. and Jessie
Ross Early. He was a vet
eran of the United States
Navy serving in WWII. In
addition to his parents, Mr.
Early was preceded in death
by a brother, George Milton
Early.
Mr. Early is survived by
his wife of 61 years, Mary
Privette Early, Gainesville;
three sons and daughters-
in-law, Judge Jack and Lee
Early of Bamberg, SC,
Joe and Carolyn Early,
Whitakers, NC, and Dr.
Bill Early and Donna Early,
Canton; daughter and son-
in-law, Mary and Ted Evans,
Commerce; daughter, Ms.
Martha Buxton, Gainesville;
grandchildren and spouses,
Will and Dasher Early, Katie
and Kevin Layman, Allison
and Chris Facuett, David
and Tabitha Evans; grand
children, Ross, Joseph, Paul,
John, Matthew, and Mary
Early, Catherine and Daniel
Buxton; and three great
grandchildren, Lesesne
and Harvey Early and Kara
Layman.
Funeral services were
held Sunday, Jan. 4, at the
chapel of Little-Davenport
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Stacey Phillips officiating.
Burial was in the Hillside
Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions
may be made to Pleasant Hill
Baptist Church, Northeast
Georgia Medical Center
Hospice, or the church of
one’s choice.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Ruth Fort son
Ruth Adams Fortson,
94, of Danielsville, died
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at
BJC Hospital, Commerce.
Born in Madison County
July 31, 1914, she was the
daughter of the late Robert
and Gillian Strickland
Adams.
Mrs. Fortson was the moth
er of Linda and Howard
Minish of Commerce.
Funeral services were held
Monday, Jan. 5, at Shiloh
Baptist Church with the Rev.
Glenn Guest officiating.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Jean Hix
Jean Vaughn Hix, 86, of
Commerce, died Monday,
Jan. 5, 2009, at BJC Nursing
Home, Commerce.
Born in Banks County,
she was the daughter of
the late David and Bertha
Byrd Vaughn and was a
homemaker. Mrs. Hix was
the wife of the late Donald
Hix.
Survivors include a num
ber of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be
held Thursday, Jan. 8, at 11
a.m. in the chapel of Ivie
Funeral Home with the Rev.
Carlton Allen officiating.
Burial will be in the Grey
Hill Cemetery. The family
will receive friends at the
funeral home Wednesday
from 6 to 8 p.m.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, is in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Howard Johnson
Howard A. Johnson, 74, of
Elberton, died Sunday, Jan.
4, 2009.
He was the son of the late
James B. and Mauzee Belk
Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was the
father of Eddie B. Johnson
of Commerce.
Funeral services were
held Tuesday, Jan. 6, in the
chapel of Lord & Stephens
Funeral Home with the
Revs. Dennis R. Campbell
and G. Mark Palmer offici
ating.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
'Bobby' Keith
Charles Robert “Bobby”
Keith, 60, of Jefferson, died
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.
Born Sept 26, 1948, in
Forsyth
County, he
was the son
of the Ruby
Mae Ramey
Keith of
Mays ville
and the
late Henry
Thurmond Keith. He was a
retired mechanic and was
preceded in death by a
brother, Gene Keith.
Survivors in addition
to his mother, include
his wife, Janie Gaines
Keith, Jefferson; daugh
ter and son-in-law, Elaine
and Wuenceslao DeNova,
Jefferson; granddaugh
ter, Andriana DeNova,
Jefferson; sisters, Shirley
Tucker, Flowery Branch,
Angela Edge, Sandra
Thomas and Pamela Keith,
all of Maysville; and broth
ers, Jerry Keith, Pendergrass,
Joel Keith, Braselton, and
Bill Keith, Hoschton.
Funeral services were
held Friday, Jan. 2, 2009,
in the chapel of Evans
Funeral Home with the
Revs. Thomas Holmes and
Douglas Gaines officiating.
Burial was in the Mountain
Creek Baptist Church
Cemetery. Pallbearers were
Alex Keith, Alan Keith,
Joseph Morgan, Shannon
Dalton, Michael Bowdon
and Wuenceslao DeNova.
Evans Funeral Home,
Jefferson, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Terry Loggins
Terry Lee Loggins, 47, of
Commerce, died Thursday,
Jan. 1, 2009, at his resi
dence.
Born in Jackson County,
he was the son of Frank
Loggins of Commerce and
the late Blondine Adams
Loggins. He was employed
as a laborer.
Survivors in addi
tion to his father, include
his stepmother, Jonell
Loggins, Commerce; half-
brother, Michael Loggins,
Brunswick, Ohio; and sister,
Joyce White, Atlanta.
Funeral services were held
Monday, Jan. 5, in the cha
pel of Little-Ward Funeral
home with the Rev. Greg
Banks officiating. Burial was
in the Freedom Church of
God Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Donald Lord
Donald Lord, 70, of
Nicholson, died Monday,
Dec. 29, 2008, at Athens
Regional Medical Center.
Born in Madison County,
he was the son of the late
William French and Almera
O’Kelly Palmer. He was a
retired truck driver and a
veteran of the United States
Air Force.
Survivors include his
wife, Frances Nevelyn
Kennebrew Lord,
Nicholson; a daughter, Dana
Lynn Moore, Commerce;
son, Keith Lord, Nicholson;
brother, Harry Palmer,
Watkinsville; and two grand
children.
Funeral services were
held Wednesday, Dec. 31,
in the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with the
Revs. Mike Stowers and
Dennis Kesler officiating.
Burial was in the Howington
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Diane Matthews
Diane Matthews, 66, of
Nicholson, died Thursday,
Jan. 1, 2009, at her resi
dence.
Born in Jackson County,
she was the daughter of
the late Raymond and Evie
Campbell Stewart. She was
a homemaker and was pre
ceded in death by a son,
David Matthews.
Survivors include her hus
band, John R. Matthews,
Nicholson; a daughter
and son-in-law, Lisa and
Danny Smith, Gainesville;
sons and daughters-in-
law, James and Angel
Matthews, Nicholson, and
Joey and Angela Matthews,
Athens; sister, Linda Lee,
Commerce; brothers, Gary
Stewart, Flowery Branch,
Bobby Stewart, Hoschton,
Merlin Stewart, Commerce,
Ronny Stewart, Atlanta;
and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Saturday in the cha
pel of Ivie Funeral Home.
Burial was in the Walnut
Fork Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Roy Maxwell
Roy Maxwell, 97,
of Commerce, died
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008,
at his residence.
Mr. Maxwell was born
in Madison County to the
late James
Allen and
Lou Cora
Streetman
Maxwell.
He was a member of Blacks
Creek Baptist Church and
was a U.S. Army Veteran of
World War II. Mr. Maxwell
was preceded in death by
his wife, Annie Mae Lord
Maxwell.
Survivors include a
sister, Reba Barrett of
Florence, SC; nieces and
nephews, Glenda Ernest
and Joyce Kellar, both of
Toccoa, Carolyn Hudson,
Milton, NC, Debbie
Barrett, Florence, SC,
Doyle Maxwell, Atlanta,
Royce Maxwell and
Donald Maxwell, both of
Thomasville, NC; a number
of great-nieces and neph
ews; stepdaughter, Robin
Hawkins, Colbert; caregiv
ers, Tim and Cindy Golden,
Commerce; and close
friend, William Cromer,
Commerce.
Funeral services were
held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009,
at the chapel of Little-
Ward Funeral Home with
the Revs. Bill Carpenter
and Lee Hunter officiating.
Interment was in Grey Hill
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Cody Minish
Cody James Minish, 41, a
resident of Jackson County,
died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Memorial services will be
held Friday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m.,
atthe FirstUnited Methodist
Church in Commerce.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Henry Pressley
Henry Grady Pressley,
80, of Gainesville, died
Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008, at
his residence.
Born in Jackson County,
he had lived in Hall County
for most of his life and was
the son of the late Leon and
Emma Holder Pressley. He
was retired from Gainesville
Marina, where we worked
as a mechanic and welder,
and was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife,
Mattie Pressley, Gainesville;
children, Danny and Vicki
Pressley, Sylvia and Jerry
Peck, Sandy and Jerry
Roberts, all of Gainesville;
Wayne and Connie Pressley,
Cleveland, Rita and John
Smith, Talmo, Jerry and
Janice Pressley, Social
Circle; sisters and brothers;
Mildred and Clyde McDaris,
Rocky Face, Margaret
and Donald Woodall,
Gainesville, Leon Jr. and
Sarah Pressley, Dahlonega,
Jetty Mincey, Canton, John
B. and Loretta Pressley,
Calhoun, Peggy and Wayne
Allen, Hoschton; 16 grand
children; 24 great-grand
children; and a number of
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held
Saturday, Dec. 27, in the
Little & Davenport Funeral
Home Chapel with the Revs.
Ronald Seabolt and Greg
Peck officiating. Interment
was in the Prospect Baptist
Church Cemetery.
Little & Davenport
Funeral Home, Gainesville,
was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Ruth Smith
Ruth Smith, 81, of
Maysville, died Saturday,
Jan. 3, 2009, at Hill Haven
Nursing Facility.
She was a homemaker
and was Baptist. Mrs. Smith
was preceded in death by
her husband, J.W. Smith.
Survivors include a sis
ter, Betty Kirkpatrick,
Commerce; brothers, Pars
G. Gravley, Woodstock,
John Gravley, Mississippi,
George Bunch and Jim
Bunch, both of Marietta;
and a host of nieces, neph
ews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were
held Monday, Jan. 5, at the
Sosebee Memorial Chapel
with the Rev. Racheo Lacey
officiating. Burial was in
Cherokee Memorial Park.
Sosebee Funeral Home,
Canton, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Virginia Steiffer
Virginia Turpin Steiffer
died Tuesday, Nov. 25,
2008.
She was raised in
Commerce, was born in
Seneca, SC, and spent time
in Canton, Ohio, before
moving to Columbia, MD,
for 30 years. She recently
returned to Canton, and
had worked for many years
at Diebold prior to her
retirement.
Survivors include sisters,
Grace Mumblow, Anderson
SC, Olrne Crane, Athens;
and a brother, Fred Turpin,
Commerce.
In honoring her wishes,
the body will be cremated
and burial of ashes may
take place at a future date.
A private memorial service
for the family is pending.
Reed Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Jewell J. Varner
Reba Jewell Jones Varner,
81, of Commerce, died
Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at
Athens Regional Medical
Center in Athens.
Born in Banks County, she
was the daughter of the late
Joseph Dayton and Fannie
Power Jones. She was a
member of the Bold Spring
United Methodist Church.
She was a homemaker and
was also employed as a Wal-
Mart associate. Mrs. Varner
was preceded in death by
her husband, W.T. Varner.
Survivors include sons
and daughters-in-law, Stan
and Claudine Varner, and
Dan and Alicia Varner, all
of Commerce, Doug and
Renee Varner, Carnesville;
daughters and son-in-law,
Kathy Varner, Duluth,
Sharon and Dave Tonge,
Waycross; sisters and
brother-in-law, Thelma
Varner, Carnesville, Ruth
Cain, Savannah, Jane and
Aubrey Varner, Fayetteville;
brother-in-law and wife,
Roy and Charlene Varner,
Covington; sister-in-law
and husband, Frances and
Bruce Armstrong, Hull; 14
grandchildren; and nine
great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were
held Monday, Jan. 5, at
the Bold Spring United
Methodist Church with the
Rev. George Wright officiat
ing. Interment was in the
church cemetery.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Bold
Spring United Methodist
Church Cemetery Fund,
330 Bold Spring Road,
Carnesville, GA, 30521.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 7, 2009.
Shirley Wofford
Shirley Wofford, 85,
of Commerce, died
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.
Born in Jackson County,
she was the daughter of the
late Sam H. and Carrie Jane
Loney Childs. She was a
member of Blacks Creek
Baptist Church and was a
homemaker. Mrs. Wofford
was preceded in death
by her husband, Hugh
Wofford.
Survivors include a niece
and nephew-in-law, Christy
Smith and Randy Woodruff,
Commerce; niece, Alexis
Smith, Commerce; and a
number of other nieces and
nephews.
Funeral services were
held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009,
in the chapel of Little-Ward
Funeral Home with the
Rev. Bill Carpenter officiat
ing. Burial was in Grey Hill
Cemetery.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge
of arrangements.
The Commerce News, Jan. 1, 2009.
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