WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023
BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5B
Obituaries
Margaret Eller Scarborough
COMER — Margaret Eller Scarborough, 83, Com
er, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
She was bom in Athens on December 23, 1939,
daughter of the late Benjamin Elisha Eller and the late
Myrtle Mae Addison.
Margaret retired from the Access Services Depart
ment, Main Library at the University of Georgia after
30 years of service. She was a beloved wife, moth
er, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the
anchor of our family and taught everyone how to be
strong. A true legacy that we will carry in our hearts
forever.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by
Harry W. Long, Sarah Long, and their daughter, Eliz
abeth Long, who loved and cared for her as their own
daughter. She is also preceded in death by her sister,
Mary L. Hughes.
Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Jerry W.
Scarborough; son, Danny T. Bridges and his wife, Gail
W. Bridges, Eatonton; daughter, Connie B. Poore and
Byron, Kitchen, Colbert; grandsons, Jeff Erwin and
his wife Melinda Erwin, El Paso, Texas, and Kelly
Hairston and his wife, Tequilla Scarborough, Hartwell;
granddaughter, Alexis Baird and her husband, Nathan
Baird, Carlton, GA; step-daughter, Shannon Hardman,
Comer, GA; along with 11 great-grandchildren.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, December 16,
2023, from 10 until 11 a.m. at Pruitt Funeral Home in
Royston.
Graveside service: Saturday, December 16, 2023,
at 11:30 a.m. at David’s Home Pentecostal Holiness
Church Cemetery with Pastor Doug Conwell officiat
ing.
Pruitt Funeral Home in Royston, Ga., is in charge of
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 17-23
Ricky Shope
WINDER — Ricky Shope, 47, Winder, passed
away on Saturday, December 9,2023.
Mr. Shope was an avid
outdoorsman who loved
fishing and hunting. He
also enjoyed going on
vacations to the beach,
grilling and spending
time with his friends
and family. Above all,
Ricky was devoted to his
faith and loved the Lord
wholeheartedly.
Mr. Shope was preced
ed in death by his father,
Ricky E. Shope; and his grandmother, Mary Nell
(Reece) Avera.
Mr. Shope is survived by his children, Lance Shope,
20, Winder, and Layna Shope, 16, Winder; mother of
the children and Ricky’s lifelong best friend, Stacy
Shope, Winder; aunts, Ann Alexander, Gainesville,
Dee House, Gainesville, and Sandra Foy Morgan,
Winder; cousins, Chrissy Rawlins, Tabby Foy, Lau
ra House, Hannah Foy, Lindsey Wright, Ethan Epps,
Jesse Cofield, Kaley Thomas, Jayson Foy and Khris-
tian Cox; and cherished friends and extended family,
Ellen Bailey, Justin Ewing, Brandon Ewing, Dylan
Brice, Savannah Newton, Cooper Parsons, Alisa Bai
ley, Robbie Steele, Logan and Dakota.
Funeral service: Saturday, December 23, 2023, at
11 a.m. in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home with
Pastor Angie Burgess officiating.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, December 23,
2023, from 10 until 11 a.m. at Carter Funeral Home.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder, is entrusted with the
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 17-23
Willie David Simmons
COMMERCE — Willie David Simmons, 63,
Commerce, passed away on Friday, December
15.2023.
Born on January 26,
1960, in Commerce,
Mr. Simmons was the
son of the late Travis
and Margie Smith Sim
mons. He was preceded
in death by brothers,
Junior Simmons and
Thomas Simmons.
Survivors include his
wife of 40 years, Tina
Laws Simmons; sons,
Robert Moore and Bri
an Laws; daughters, Peggy Morrison, Amanda
(Joshua) Rowland and Sharon (Joey) Getsinger;
brothers, Ray Simmons and Jimmy Simmons;
sisters, Julie Echols, Carol Parr, Shirley Samples,
Rita Seabolt, Angie Elrod and Belinda Simmons;
nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral service: Monday, December 18, 2023,
at 2 p.m. in the Ivie Funeral Home Chapel with
the Rev. James Dumas officiating.
Family to receive friends: Monday, December
18.2023, from 12 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements are in the care of Ivie Funeral
Home, Commerce, Ga. Online condolences may
be made at www.iviefuneralhomecommerce.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 17-23
Richard Franklin Ward
Richard Franklin Ward, 8i, formerly of Atlanta, passed
away Tuesday, December 12,2023, at the home ofhis son
and daughter-in-law, Derek and Gina Ward, Hull.
Richard was born in 1942
to Franklin Monroe Ward
and Sarah Gulley Ward in
Decatur. He attended De
catur High School, class
of i960. He was an accom
plished musician, playing
piano, violin and various
brass instruments, and en
rolled at Furman Universi
ty on a music scholarship.
He then enlisted in the
U.S. Army and was trained
as a ranger, subsequently
serving in Vietnam as a member of The 82nd Airborne.
Afterwards, he returned to Atlanta where he graduat
ed from Georgia State University with a bachelors de
gree in English in 1970. While still at Georgia State he
took a position with First National Bank of Atlanta even
tually becoming the vice-president of the credit card
fraud department of Wachovia.
After retirement, Richard worked as a writing tutor at
DeKalb Perimeter College.
Richard married Cleo Berry, the love ofhis life, in 1979
and they resided in the Atlanta area until 2007, when
they built a home in Colbert, on rural acreage next door
to his son and daughter-in-law and their family. The
move also afforded him closer proximity to his extended
family in Elberton.
During their happy years in Colbert, prior to Cleo’s
death in 2020, Richard and Cleo made their home a hub
for extended family and friends who frequently visited
from around the country.
Throughout his life Richard was an avid reader of liter
ature, especially of the novels and short-stories of Mark
Twain, and he loved to entertain family and friends by
reciting from memory poems by Robert Frost, Robinson
Jeffers and other American poets.
He was also an impressive amateur historian, having
read widely in American presidential and military histo
ry, and could give detailed accounts of important battles
and political scandals, along with colorful descriptions
of the persons involved.
Richard is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law,
Derek and Gina Ward, and David and Jason Ward; his
step-son, Curtis Hulbert; and his grandchildren, Ally,
Trudy, Calvin and Jamie Ward, Elizabeth Farrow and
Bella Hulbert
A celebration of life will be held at a later date to be
announced.
Berry Funeral Home 8t Crematory of Elberton, Ga., is
assisting the family. Those wishing may sign the online
guestbook at www.berryfh.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 17-23
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