Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6B
BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020
Obituaries
Steven Dwayne “Steve” Bates
Steven Dwayne “Steve” Bates, 71, cherished
husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle,
passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 202d.
Born in Athens, he
was a son of the late
Hoyt Eugene Bates and
Mary Earline Peter
man Bates. Steve was
a Veteran of the Unit
ed States Army where
he served as a Sergeant
in the Vietnam War.
He worked for several
years at Liberty Na
tional Life Insurance
Company and later
worked for Smith, Boley, Brown before spending
the last several years as a self-employed insur
ance agent.
Steve was a faithful and devoted member of
Colbert First Baptist Church where he served as a
Deacon, RA leader, greeter and was a member of
the Baptist Men, Railroad Ministries and numer
ous other committees. He also enjoyed playing
on the church softball team as he made wonderful
memories and many lifelong friends.
Steve married his wife, Judy in 1974 and they
were blessed with two children, Casey and Shel
ley. He coached both children in baseball and fast-
pitch softball and those experiences were dear to
his heart as he was immeasurably proud of Casey
and Shelley. Most importantly, his children gave
him five beloved grandchildren, Kaylea Grace,
Mallory, Brooks, Madelynn and Meara and to
gether all five of them turned a Sergeant into a
teddy bear.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Judy
Griffin Bates; two children, Casey (Nikki) Bates
and Shelley (Kurt) Thomas; five grandchildren,
Kaylea Grace Bradberry, Brooks Bradberry, Mal
lory Bates and Madelynn and Meara Thomas;
one brother, Stanley (Vickie) Bates; brother-in-
law, Steven (Cindy) Griffin; three nephews, Tim
Bates, Byron Bates and Taylor Griffin; two niec
es, Macy and Charlsie Griffin; four great-neph
ews, Kyle Bates, Jared Bates (Megan), Dawson
Bates and Timothy Bates II; two great-nieces,
Ariel Boswell (Chad) and Madison Bates; one
great-great nephew, Hoyt Boswell; and two great-
great nieces, Paisley Boswell and Caroline Bates.
Graveside service: Saturday, December 26,
2020 at 2 p.m. at Colbert City Cemetery. Pall
bearers will be Byron Bates, Taylor Griffin, Kyle
Bates, Jared Bates, Dawson Bates, Timothy Bates
II and Chad Boswell, and honorary pallbearer
will be Tim Bates.
The family would like to extend their sincere
appreciation to Steve’s cardiologist, Dr. Steven
Lowman and to his numerous friends who were
always there to help him through the tough times.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Colbert First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 318, Col
bert, Ga. 30628.
Lord and Stephens, Danielsville, 963 Highway
98 East, Danielsville, Ga. 30633 is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
Dolores Etheridge Bell
WINDER — Dolores Etheridge Bell, Winder,
passed away on Monday, December 21, 2020.
She was a native of Atlanta, and moved to
Winder in 2005. Dolores was a member of the
First Presbyterian Church in Winder. She was a
devoted wife and a loving mother.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Lawson Bell; parents, Ernest and Gertrude
Etheridge; her children, son, Ernest, and
daughter, Cheryl; and brother, Jerry Etheridge.
Dolores believed in and supported many or
ganizations to alleviate world suffering. She
also supported the work of the Presbyterian
World Missions, the Carter Center, ANERA
and UNICEF.
Family to receive friends: Monday, Decem
ber 28, 2020 from 9:30 until 10 a.m. at Smith
Funeral Home.
Funeral service: Monday, December 28, 2020
at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home
with the Rev. Nathan Wheeler officiating. Buri
al will follow the service at 12:30 p.m. at Res-
thaven Memorial Gardens in Decatur.
All those attending are asked to maintain safe
social distancing and please wear protective
masks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation
to a charitable organization of your choice.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is entrusted
with the arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
Gene Funderburk
CLAYTON — Gene Funderburk, 73, Clayton, went
home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on
Monday, December 21, 2020.
Mr. Funderburk was
bom in Pendergrass, a
son of the late John Albert
and Rosie Pressley Fun
derburk, was the owner of
P & F Welding and Me
chanic, was a hard worker
and loved his family.
In addition to his par
ents, Mr. Funderburk is
preceded by brothers,
R.L., L.C., and J.W. Fun
derburk; sisters, Sadie
Strange and Hazel Nix;
and a great-grandson, Elijah Wilson.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Margaret
Wilson Funderburk, Clayton; daughter, Rhonda Bruce
and her husband Barry, Clayton; son, Brian Funder
burk, Augusta; brothers, T.W. and Johnny Funderburk,
Pendergrass, and Larry Funderburk, Toccoa; sisters.
Ruby Franklin and Fannie Lance, Pendergrass; three
grandchildren, Brooke Bruce (Seth Wilson), High
lands, N.C., Summer Bruce (David Gerrells), Clay
ton, and Nick Funderburk (Hannah Sell), Buford;
three great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Ashlynn Wilson,
Highlands, N.C., and Noah Funderburk, Buford.
Funeral service: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at
11 a.m. from the Pond Fork Baptist Church with the
Revs. Johnny Knight and Danny Green officiating
with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Gentle
men honored as pallbearers are Jerry, Dennis, Butch
and Dwayne Funderburk, Wayne Beaty and Waylon
Wilson.
Family to receive friends: Wednesday, December
23, 2020 from 9-11 a.m. at the church. Those attend
ing are asked to maintain safe social distancing and to
wear protective masks because of the current COVID
Pandemic.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway,
Jefferson, Georgia, 706-367-5467. Online condolenc
es at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
Bobbie Birchmore Gaissert (Means)
Bobbie Birchmore Gaissert (Means), 103, passed
away peacefully at her home on Sunday, December
20, 2020.
She was bom and lived
most of her working life
in Comer, where she
was an active member of
Comer United Methodist
Church and enjoyed sing
ing in the church choir
for many years. She was
known for her quick wit
and was always able to
bring a bit of humor to
any situation. You rarely
left her presence without
a smile on your face.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Law
rence Julian Gaissert Jr.; her son, John Alan Means Sr.;
and grandson, Scott Means.
Survivors include her daughter, Caroline Means
Durden; son, James “Jim” Means; five grandchildren;
10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grand-
child.
A memorial service for friends and family will be
scheduled at a later date.
Please give generously to the charity of your choice
in her honor.
Lord & Stephens, East, Athens, Ga. is in charge of
arrangements, www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
Fred Thomas Hanes
Fred Thomas Hanes passed away peacefully at
home on Sunday, December 27, 2020.
He was born on
February 27, 1927 in
Evansville. Ind.
He was preceded in
death by his parents
Jack Edward Hanes
and Julia Pearl Hanes;
and his siblings, Dorothy Jean Hanes, Jack Edward
Hanes Jr., Dorothy Jean Hanes, Bill Hanes, John
Hanes, Jim Hanes and Thurman (Pete) Hanes.
He lost his wife and love of his life Bessie Mae
Wilkins Hanes in March of 2012. They were mar
ried on June 13, 1948 in Evansville. Ind. They lived
in Stone Mountain from 1963 until 1992 when they
moved to Nicholson. He moved to Apopka, Fla. in
November 2018, where he resided until his death.
He served in the Pacific Theater in WWII aboard
the USS Tennessee. He was an honorably dis
charged veteran of the U.S. Navy.
After returning home, he initially worked with
his dad as a carpenter, met and married Bessie Mae,
and was a camera operator for a local Evansville
TV station before moving into radio and finally
a position with AT&T, where he worked until he
retired in 1988. After retiring, he was busier than
ever going wherever and whenever they wanted
with his bride. He enjoyed woodworking making
furniture and taking great pride in his new home in
Nicholson with its five acres. He enjoyed monthly
breakfasts at Cracker Barrel with a group of friends
from AT&T. They dubbed themselves ROMEO
(RETIRED OLD MEN EATING OUT). He contin
ued meeting with them for almost 30 years until his
move to Florida.
He enjoyed being in warmer weather and made
fast friends with Sparky, who was always at his
feet.
He is survived by his sister, Beverly Ann Hanes,
Evansville, Ind.; his children, Victoria Diane
Hanes, Apopka, Fla., Phillip E Hanes (Mary), Tam
pa. Fla. and Patricia Ann Phillips (Perry), Flowery
Branch; his grandchildren, Christopher Hanes (Me
gan), Ocala, Fla., Ashley Hagin (Adam), Oakwood,
Jennifer Hanes, Apopka, Fla., Michael Hanes, San
Francisco, Calif., and Cooper Phillips, Flowery
Branch; and three great-grandchildren, Caroline
Hanes, Copeland Hagin and Harper Mae Hanes.
Graveside funeral service: Wednesday, December
30, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Jackson Memorial Gardens
with Dr. Phillip Hanes officiating.
In lieu of flowers you may donate to St. Jude’s
in his name. This was a charity he believed in and
contributed to every month.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce is in
charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
Roy C. Hendrix
WINDER — Roy C. Hendrix, 78, Winder,
passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020.
Mr. Hendrix was born
April 2, 1942 to the
late Clarence and Lois
McElhannon Hendrix.
He had lived in Barrow
County all of his life
and retired from Gener
al Motors with 30 years
of service. Mr. Hendrix
had attended Hebron
Baptist Church in Dac-
ula.
Surviving are wife,
Joyce Morrow Hendrix,
Winder; children. Sherry (David) Hendrix Sims,
Highlands, North Carolina, Jeff (Lisa) Hendrix,
Statham, Ronnie Fields, Winder, Randy (Barba
ra) Fields, Dallas, and Melissa (Kelly) Wallace,
Winder; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and
Martha Jo Hendrix, Winder; 10 grandchildren;
and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside service: Tuesday, December 29, 2020
at 2 p.m. at the Bethlehem United Methodist
Church Cemetery.
Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be
made to The Department of Kinesiology, Support
Fund for the study of Parkinson’s Disease, c/o The
Dean’s Office, G3 Aderhold Hall, University of
Georgia College of Education, 110 Carlton Street,
Athens, Georgia 30602.
Carter Funeral Home of Winder is in charge of
arrangements. Online condolences may be ex
pressed at www.carterfhwinder.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2
ConardL Kyte
WINDER — Conard L. Kyte, 69, Winder,
passed away Monday, December 21, 2020.
Conard was born Jan
uary 7, 1951 in Eliza-
bethton, Tennessee to
the late Pete and Freida
Mae Perry Kyte, and
had resided in Winder
for the past 30 years.
He was preceded by a
sister, Kathy Camfield.
He was a member of
Gospel Light Baptist
Church.
Surviving are wife,
Vicki Decker Kyte, Winder; siblings, Tommy
Kyte and Dean Kyte, both of Jefferson, Debra
Kyte, Lisa Romero and Penni Kyte, all of Wind
er.
Family to receive friends: Tuesday, December
29, 2020 from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Graveside service: Wednesday, December 30,
2020 at 2 p.m. at the Carl Cemetery.
Carter Funeral Home of Winder is in charge of
arrangements. Online condolences may be ex
pressed at www.carterfhwinder.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 27-January 2