About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2012)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012 MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS PAGE 7A-B Obituaries Robert Austin WINDER - J. Robert Austin, 77, died Saturday, December 31, 2011. Bom in Barrow County, he was the son of the late R.R and Kaithleen Hunter Austin. He was a member of Midway Christian Church, was a veteran of the United States Army, and was the owner and operator of Austin Construction for over 40 years. Survivors include his wife, Sarah Austin, Winder; sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne and Sherryl Austin, and Keith and Elizabeth Austin, all of Winder; four grandchildren, Caleb Austin, Colton Austin, Desiree Middlebrooks and Bethany Austin; brother, Donald Austin, Bethlehem; and sister, Ona McGahee, Bethlehem. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 3, 2012, from the Midway Christian Church with the Revs. John Burchfield and Hal Tapp officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Midway Christian Church, 1406 Hog Mountain Rd., Winder, GA 30680. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (18360) Gavin Bellotte CORNELIA - Gavin Duran Bellotte, 28, died Sunday, January 1, 2012, at his resi dence. Born in Hall County on January 25, 1983, he was the son of Herbert Gregory and Shelby Jean Ward Bellotte of Cornelia. Duran was former ly employed in the shipping department at Akzo Nobel and was of the Christian faith. He was a loving father, son, and brother. Survivors in addition to his parents include a daughter, Olivia Jade Bellotte, Banks County; sister and brother- in-law, Ginger Michele and Rusty Grindle, Gainesville; and nieces, Sydney and Shelby Grindle. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, January 6, at Lula Worship Center with the Revs. Levi Skipper and Bobby Griffin officiating. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Lula. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 5. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, Cornelia, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (19090) Rerun; Phyllis Berry JEFFERSON - Phyllis Royal Berry, 52, died Friday, December 23, 2011. She is survived by her hus band, Larry Berry, of Jefferson; her daughter and son -in- law, Larae and Ronnie Holt, of Jefferson; and her soon to be grandson, McCade Holt. Phyllis was a member of Winder Wesleyan Church. She worked in the billing depart ment for Progressive Lighting and had also done medical bill ing for several years. In addition to her husband and daughter, she is survived by her parents, Joe and Martha Ann Nunnally Royal of Winder; her two brothers, Phil Royal of Winder and Chris Royal of Bethlehem; and two nieces and five nephews. A memorial service was held Wednesday, December 28, at the Winder Wesleyan Church with Pastor Greg Moore offi ciating. Memorial contributions may be made to The Winder Wesleyan Church, 64, E. Midland Ave., Winder, GA 30680. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012 Charles Blankenship Jr. FLOWERY BRANCH - Charles V. Blankenship, Jr., 73, died Sunday, January 1, 2012, at Willowwood Nursing Center, following an extended illness. He was born October 21, 1938 the son of the late Charles Y. and Bonnie Blankenship, Sr. He was a retired Meteorologist for the United States Air Force, where he served for 42 years. Survivors include wife of 55 years, Janyce A. Blankenship; sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Melinda Blankenship, Flowery Branch, Charles V. and Yerla Blankenship III, Seffner, Fla., Howell O. and Amy Blankenship, New Port Richey, Fla., and Keith F. and Debi Blankenship, Jacksonville, Fla.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sev eral nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass will be held at 12 p.m., Thursday, January 5, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Flowery Branch, with interment at Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, Ga., at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contribu tions may be made to Prince of Peace Catholic Church, In Memory of Charles V. Blankenship, Jr., 6439 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (19078) Brenda Brown Brenda Leona Sims Brown was born November 16, 1952, the daughter of the late Odis and Geneva Randolph Sims in Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga. She departed this life on January 1, 2012. Mrs. Brown was a member of Jones Chapel Baptist Church. Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by two sisters; and two brothers. She leaves to cherish her memories her loving hus band of 48 years, Ernest Lee Brown; son, Mitchell Sims; three beautiful grandchildren, Nicole Sims, Javonta Sims, and Davonta Sims; brother, Timothy (Elaine) Sims; sister, Cheryl (Mitchel) Appleby; brothers- in-law, James (Margie) Brown, Oscar (Brenda) Brown and Samuel Tony Jackson; sister- in-law, Lula Pittman; five aunts, nieces, nephews; a host of other relatives and friends; and a very close friend, Cynthia Gaither. Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 4, at Jones Chapel Baptist Church with Pastors Theodore H. Braswell, Jr. and Bobby Pattman offi ciating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (622) Willie Mae Collins NICHOLSON - Willie Mae Collins, 94, died Monday, January 2, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospice House. Born in Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Milton and Lucy Allie Aaron Turk. She was a member of the Antioch United Methodist Church and was retired from Harmony Grove Mill. Mrs. Collins was preceded in death by her husband, Marcus Boyd Collins; and daughter, Peggy Hix. Survivors include a daugh ter, Jackie Smith, Nicholson; sister, Nancy Ginn, Jefferson; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and three great- great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 4, from the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Rev. Dennis Kesler officiating. Interment was in Jackson Memorial Park. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (622) David Crockett WOODSTOCK - David Lee Crockett, 65, died Monday, December 26, 2011, at his resi dence following a brief illness. He was born in Atlanta on November 27, 1946, the son of the late Frank Henry and Gladys Mary York Crockett. He loved auto racing and spent several nights at the Winder Barrow Speedway with his two sons. Two brothers preceded Mr. Crockett in death. Survivors include two sons, Rusty (Rhonda) Crockett, Winder, and Davy (Mary) Crockett, Loganville; one sister, Sandra Ann Oakes, Woodstock; seven grandchildren. Dusty, Ashley, Haley, Lauren, Lanie, Larissa, and Zachary Crockett; and 11 nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Thursday, December 29, at Woodstock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David L. Cooper officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Cemetery. Woodstock Funeral Home, Woodstock, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. Polly Floyd BOWMAN - Polly McGarity Floyd, 91, died Saturday, December 31, 2011, at the Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens. Born in Hart County on June 18, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Octavia Ginn McGarity. She was a homemaker and member of the Mill Shoal Baptist Church. Mrs. McGarity was preceded in death by her husband, Edward F. Floyd; and seven brothers and sisters. Survivors include daughters, Gaylene Hull, Karen Pullian, Pam Adams and Tammie Acton, all of Bowman; seven grand children; four stepgrandchil- dren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchil dren. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 3, 2012, in the chapel of Pruitt Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Westbrook officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bowman. Pallbearers were Mike Crowe, Jeff Pullian, Russell Acton, Jamie Adams, Kevin Argo and Johnny Savage. Honorary pall bearers were Wayne Pullian, Ben Crowe, Matt Hull, Ben Acton, Justin Pullian, David Jones, James York and Morris Savage. Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (J60) Linda Gailey COMMERCE - Linda Carol Gailey, 66, died Friday, December 30, 2011 at Athens Regional Medical Center. She was born in Fulton County, the daughter of Mary Sue Tabor Gailey of Commerce and the late William Taylor Gailey. Mrs. Gailey was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and was retired from Care South. Survivors in addition to her mother include daugh ters, Susan Jones, Homer, and Carol Baxter, Commerce; sons, Billy Dills, Athens, Brad Dills, Flowery Branch, and Casey Dills, Jefferson; seven grand children; and one great-grand child. Funeral services were held Monday, January 2, 2012, from the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Rev. Derry Oliver officiating. Burial was at Jackson Memorial Gardens. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (622) Bonnie Gardiner MAYSVILLE - Bonnie Lingerfelt Gardiner, 88, died Friday, December 30, 2011 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. She was bom in Lumpkin County, the daughter of the late Cicero and Madge Mintz Lingerfelt. She was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and also WMU, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Gardiner was preceded in death by her hus band, John Pledger Gardiner. Survivors include sons, Johnny Gardiner (Connie) and Ron Gardiner (Elizabeth), all of Maysville; daughters, Mary Brantley (Phil), Maggie Valley, N. C. and Joyce Massey (Patrick Roberts), Destin, Fla.; broth ers, Ralph Gardiner and Jake Gardiner, both of Dahlonega; sisters, Lois Arthur, Dahlonega, and Joyce Mize, Dacula; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grand children; and one great-great- grandchild. Funeral services were held Sunday, January 1, 2012, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church with the Revs. James Duncan and Ralph O. Smith officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (622) Robert Gravette MAYSVILLE - Robert Louis Gravette, 78, died Friday, December 30, 2011 at Northridge Medical Center. Born in Hillsborough, N.C. on March 16, 1933, he was the son of the late Robert and Nora Ashley Gravette. Mr. Gravette lived most of his life in the Durham-Hillsborough area of North Carolina where he attended the Hillsborough Baptist Church. He was also a heavy equipment operator with the City of Durham, N.C. Survivors include a son, Michael T. Gravette, Homer; former wife, Mary Lee Johnson, Durham, N.C.; and three grandchildren. No formal services are planned at this time. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (19090) William D. Healan Jr. WINDER - William D. Healan, Jr., 66, died Monday, December 26, 2011. He was a 1963 graduate of Winder Barrow High School, was Senior Class President, a member of 1960WBHS Baseball team state champs, and was 1962-63 WHBS football player of the year. Mr. Healan graduated from the University of Georgia School Of Law in 1975, and opened his Law Office in Winder at that time. He served as the former chair man of the Democratic Party of Barrow County, served as attor ney for Barrow County for sev eral years, and later served as a Barrow County Commissioner. Mr. Healan is preceded in death by his parents, William Doyle Healan Sr. and Doris E. Wall Healan; and a brother, Charles Healan. Survivors include his wife Patricia N. Healan, Winder, who he married in 1968; sons, William D. Healan III and wife Carla, Jefferson, Michael Naylor Healan and wife Laurie, Winder; daugh ters, Cynthia Healan Robarge and husband Roby, Greer, S.C., Erin Healan Kendall and hus band, James of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; grandchildren, Lillian and Michael Healan, Sydney and Eliza Healan, Millie, Spencer and Sally Robarge; brother, Jerry Healan and wife Carol, Auburn; sister, Peggy Reynolds and husband Ronnie, Winder. Email obits to: obits @ mainstreet- news.com Funeral services were held Friday, December 30, in Smith Memory Chapel, with the Rev. Wally Hostetter officiating. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (18360) Louise McElroy MONROE - Louise Sims McElroy, 94, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Bom in Winder, she was the daughter of the late F. Colbert and Clara Marable Sims. She was a member of Hebron Christian Church. Mrs. McElroy was preceded in death by her husband, Robert C. McElroy; a son-in-law, Billy Brown; brother, James Sims; and nephew, Ted Sims. Survivors include children, Bobby and Sherri McElroy, Monroe, and Claire Brown, Bethlehem; grandchildren, Karen and Tom Phillips, Jim Bob and Erin McElroy, Timothy and Carrie McElroy, and Mike and Robin Brown; great-grandchildren. Garrison McElroy, Carlie Phillips, and Matti and Tyler Roof; and nieces and nephews, Rebecca Sturdivant Rieder, Cathy Sims and James H. Sims. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 5, at 4 p.m. from Hebron Christian Church with the Revs. Gordon Griffin and Danny Shoemake officiat ing. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will lie in state from 3:30 p.m. until funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Hebron Christian Church, 2461 Hebron Church Rd., Winder, GA 30680. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (18360) Jimmie Lou Pardue Jimmie Lou Pardue, 80, passed away on Sunday, January, 1 2012 at Athens Regional Medical Center fol lowing a brief illness. She was born in Tallaluh Falls on December 4, 1931, the daughter of the late Epps and Marless Yearwood. She lived most of her life in Commerce, but spent the past few years in Athens. She graduated from Piedmont College with a busi ness degree. She was retired from First Commerce Bank and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce. Mrs. Pardue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Pardue. Survivors include a daugh ter and son-in-law, Jan and Jon Erickson, Athens; son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Rhonda Pardue, Jefferson; grandson, Jonathon Pardue (Tiffany), Thomson; great- grandson, Braylon Pardue; step-grandchildren, April Toney (Josh), Commerce, Kayla Smith (Charlie), Athens, Steven Rogers (Danille), Commerce, and Jody Rogers (Brandy), Commerce; and several step- great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held Sunday, January 8, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Commerce with Carlton Allen officiating. Burial will be at Jackson Memorial Gardens. The family would like to extend a special thanks to all of the staff at Athens Regional Medical Center and Odyssey Hospice that gave such won derful and compassionate care to her. Flowers are welcome. Contributions may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Commerce Youth Mission Fund; 1345 South Elm St., Commerce, GA 30529. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (622) Alfred Quillian WINDER - Alfred A. Quillian, 85, former attorney and United States Administrative Law Judge, died suddenly at his home in Winder, Georgia on December 26, 2011. Judge Quillian graduated from Winder High School. He volunteered and served in the United States Navy during World War II and was in the United States Air Force dur ing the Korean Conflict serving in the JAG Corps. He graduated from the University Of Georgia School Of Law in 1951 and joined his father’s law practice in Winder. Judge Quillian served as Solicitor General (known today as District Attorney) for the Piedmont Judicial Circuit from 1957 to 1964. He served as President of the Georgia Solicitor General’s Association. After his service as Solicitor General was completed, he returned to the private prac tice of law with his brother, Kelley J. Quillian, until his brother’s appointment to the Georgia Court of Appeals. He continued private practice with his mother, Tabitha S. Quillian, until his appointment as United States Administrative Law Judge in 1973. He retired from that position in 1994. He was a member of the local Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis Club, Gridiron Society and Sigma Chi Fraternity. After his retirement, he rediscovered his love for golf and was beloved by his regular foursome. He was a lifelong fan of University of Georgia football. Judge Alfred Quillian was known for his sense of humor and was a symbol of integrity in both his personal and professional life. He was a member of the Winder First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School for many years. During the church’s recent anniversary celebration, he was recognized as the church’s longest active member. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Elsie Harben Quillian; a daughter, Kimberly Q. Rogers and her husband, Wayne Rogers, Watkinsville; son, Alfred A. Quillian, Jr., his wife Thea McGlon Quillian, Atlanta; four grandchil dren; Ellen Rogers Brown and her husband Don Brown of Seymour, Tenn., Jennifer Rogers of Smyrna, Drew Quillian and Kathleen Quillian, Atlanta; and one great-grand son, Coleman Michael Brown, Seymour, Tenn.; and a sister Miss Alma Adelia Quillian, Madison. Funeral services were held Thursday, December 29, at the First United Methodist Church of Winder with the Rev. Larry Rary officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of the Winder First United Methodist Church, Winder, GA. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. Eileen Richards FLOWERY BRANCH - Eileen Mary Richards, 67, died January 1,2012, at Willowwood Nursing Center, following an extended illness. She was bom on January 15, 1944, the daughter s of the late Ernest and Mary Falardeau. Mrs. Richards was preced ed in death by her husband, Ronald Richards; a son, James Richards; and granddaughter, Jessica Poette Imran. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Paul Lilly, Flowery Branch; son and daughter-in-law, Ronald and Polly Richards, Coeburn, Va.; son, Michael Richards, Rhode Island; brothers and sis- ters-in-law, Gerald and Joyce Falardeau, California, and Bruce and Linda Falardeau, Attleboro, Mass.; sister, s Nancy Ortiz, Rhode Island; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held Wednesday, January 4, from the chapel of Memorial Park South Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Wilson officiating. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. January 4, 2012. (19078)
