Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 7A
Area Death Notices
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
FortsonCampbell.
Mrs. Stewart was
preceded 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 Weldon
Stewart, Hoschton, Ronnie Stewart,
Whitesburg, Gary Stewart, Buford; 24
grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Tuesday,
January 29, in the chapel 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 Banks County 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 mem
ber of the Hollingsworth Masonic
Lodge #355 F.&A.M., a 50-year
mason, and also a member 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 offi
ciating. Burial was in Leatherwood
Baptist Church Cemetery with Dr.
Ken Franklin officiating.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral
Home, Cornelia, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Banks County 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 several 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 offi
ciating. 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 Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
Bruce Simmons
Bruce Edward Simmons, 58, of
Homer, died Saturday, January 26,
2008, at a private care facility.
He was born on June 2, 1949,
in Banks County, the son of the
late Brodice and Gleness Kelley
Simmons. He attended Banks County
High School and was in the trucking
business for 30 years, having owned
and operated Kayton Express, Inc.
for 22 years. He attended Mt. Sinai
Congregational Holiness Church.
Mr. Simmons was preceded in death
by a granddaughter, Jessica Whitney
Fowler.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda
Tyler Simmons, Homer; daughters,
Karen Fowler and Tonya Pruitt,
both of Homer; sisters, Arlene
Gailey and Annie Ruth Simmons,
both of Baldwin; brothers, Ernest
Simmons and Rickey Simmons, both
of Baldwin; grandchildren, Christina
Fowler, Dylan Fowler, Kirkland
Pruitt, Gabriel Pruitt, Kim Pruitt and
Haleigh Pruitt.
Funeral services were held
Monday, January 28, at Mt. Sinai
Congregational Holiness Church
with the Revs. Billy Autry, Herman
Nation and Greg Baldwin officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South
Chapel, Baldwin, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
Edna Bell
Edna Bell, 88, of Baldwin, formerly
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
homemaker. Mrs. Bell was preceded
in death by her husband, Angus A.
Bell; grandson, David Purcell; daugh
ter-in-law, Nell Purcell; sister, Mary
Hampton; brothers, Clarence Purcell
and Terrell Purcell.
Survivors include a son, Elbert
Purcell, Snellville; step-daughter,
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 nieces
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 Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
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 local nieces being
Mary (Ronnie) Seabolt, Commerce,
and Maxcille Hite, Smyrna; and a sis
ter, 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 Banks County 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 grandchildren;
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 officiating. Burial
was at Oconee Baptist Church
Cemetery in Jefferson.
Little-Ward Funeral Home,
Commerce, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Banks County 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 dur
ing 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;
Lorie and Shannon.
Funeral services
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 Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
and daughters,
will be held
'Pop' Smith
William Doyle “Pop” Smith, 76,
of Gainesville, died Wednesday,
January 23, 2008,
at Northeast
Georgia Medical
Center in
Gainesville, fol
lowing a sudden
illness.
He was born in
Madison County,
the son of the
late O’Dell and
Charlotte (Smith) Smith, and was a
member of the Rock of Christ Baptist
Church. He was a truck driver for
over 50 years. Mr. Smith was pre
ceded in death by brothers, Douglas
Smith and Jack Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Louise
Hegwood Smith, Gainesville; daugh
ters, Gail Forrester, Homer, Susan
Rodriguez, Murrayville, and Sherry
Smith Cagle, Dawsonville; sons,
Danny Smith and Tony Smith,
both of Oakwood, Jeffery Smith,
Dawsonville, David Hegwood
and Donavan Hegwood, both of
Gainesville; a brother, Gerald Smith,
St. Joseph, Mo.; a sister, Sara Dale
Brown, Hoschton; 17 grandchildren;
27 great-grandchildren; and best
friends, Cathy and George Holleger,
Dustin Mathis, Jay Will Strickland,
Clermont, and Garrison Meadows,
Cleveland; and a host of other nieces,
nephews, family and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday,
January 26, at Rock of Christ Baptist
Church in Flowery Branch with the
Revs. John Bryant, John Haynes,
Curtis Pendagraft and David Jones
officiating.
Memorial Park Funeral Home,
Gainesville, was in charge of arrange
ments.
The Banks County 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 pres
ence, 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 con
tinued 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 daugh
ter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace
Gaither Jr., Decatur, Willie Gaither,
Atlanta; a daughter, Debra Yates,
Conyers; his wife of 12 years, Brenda
Johnson Gaither; sisters, broth
ers 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-grandchild; 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 arrange
ments.
The Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
Louise Irvin
Louise Brooks Irvin, 85, formerly
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 homemaker. 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 daugh
ter-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,
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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 Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
'Bella' Reece
“Bella” Donna Sue Reece, 38, of
Clayton, died Friday, January 25,
2008, at her residence, following a
sudden illness.
Born in Habersham County on
January 12, 1970, she was the daugh
ter of Charles Reece of Cornelia and
Geneva Goss Reece of Clarkesville,
and was Baptist. She was preceded in
death by a brother, Davie Joe Reece.
She enjoyed spending time with her
niece and nephews, according to
loved ones.
Survivors in addition to her par
ents, include a brother and sister-in
law, Kenneth Charles Reece and Jodi
Rosser, Demorest; sisters and broth-
ers-in-law, Kaye and John Patterson,
Toccoa, Sandra Reece and Todd Jones,
Cleveland; and a sister, Juanita Reece,
Carnesville; a niece and several neph
ews.
Funeral services were held Monday,
January 28, in the chapel of McGahee-
Griffin Stewart Funeral Home with
the Revs. Bill Trotter and Sharon
Thompson officiating.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral
Home, Cornelia, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
Leon White
Leon White, 58, of Cornelia, died
Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at his resi
dence, following a sudden illness.
He was born in Fulton County on
August 17, 1949, the son of J.T. and
Edna Thompson White of Blairsville.
He was retired from Alltel with 25
years of service as an
engineer. Mr. White
was a veteran, having
served in the United
States Army in Vietnam and was the
recipient of two Purple Heart awards.
He was a lifetime member of the
V.F.W. Post #7720 and enjoyed hunt
ing and fishing, loved ones stated.
Survivors in addition to his par
ents, include a daughter, Amanda
White, Atlanta; son and daughter-in
law, Douglas and Kirsten White, New
Bern, N.C.
Funeral services were held Friday,
January 25, in the chapel of McGahee-
Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home with
the Rev. Paris Whitworth officiating.
Burial was in V.F.W. Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the American Heart
Association, P.O. Box 409410, Atlanta,
Ga. 30384-9410, or to the local chap
ter of the V.F.W., 423 V.F.W. Post Rd.,
Cornelia, Ga. 30531.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral
Home, Cornelia, was in charge of
arrangements.
The Banks County 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-grand
children.
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 officiat
ing. Burial will be at Mt. Carmel
Baptist Church Cemetery. The fam
ily 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 arrange
ments.
The Banks County 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.
Survivors include his wife, Lynda
Roberts Beck, Commerce; son and
daughter-in-law, Mickey and Wanda
Patrick, Commerce; brothers, 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 officiating.
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 Banks County News, January 30, 2008.
The Banks County News
has expanded its coverage of
obituary notices. Pictures and
personal information, such as
hobbies and interests, are now
included in these notices which
are listed at no charge for the
first publication. Direct quotes
from family members may also
be included. All notices are
subject to editing.
For more information, or to
give information to be included
in a funeral notice, call Betty
Small, 706-367-1861.
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tA COMMERCE
W AMERICAN LEGION
Commerce Rec. Dept. Post 93
Carson Street - 1st Mon. night
Each Month, 7:30 p.m.
335-6400
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer Pd.-2/2008
JEFFERSON
W AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 310
7 Georgia Real Estate Investors
Association, Inc. - Athens
Meets the third Thursday each month
7:00 pm at the Holiday Inn
197 East Broad St, Athens, GA 30601
Tom Hewlett - Chapter President
mailto:thewlett1@charter.net
website: www.gareia.org Pd 10/07
The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
House. For more information, call
706-652-2967 or email
fishyglass@yahoo.com Pd.05/08
BANKS COUNTY
Igl AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.06/08
tpih VETERANS OF
Wl? FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Mike Buffington, Commander
Phone 706-335-6532 263
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. • (706) 367-1400
Mark Bradley, President
260
UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
A. Ben Wurtz • 706-367-1400
Borders St. behind Tabo's 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. • (706) 654-2237
Clay Eubanks, President
260