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BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
Obituaries
Ethel Louise Ervin Bridges
Ethel Louise Ervin Bridges, 77, cherished moth
er, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister,
passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Born in Walhalla,
South Carolina, she was
a daughter of the late
Jeff D. Ervin and Eth
el Owens Ervin. Mrs.
Bridges worked for
more than 30 years in
the cafeteria at Ila Ele
mentary School.
She enjoyed travel
ing, camping, cooking
and most importantly,
she thrived on spending
time with her precious family. In addition to her
parents, she was preceded in death by her husband,
Clayton Paul Bridges; and her siblings, William
Ervin and Sally Mae Ervin.
Survivors include her children, Judy McCarty
(Clark), Pam Bond (Lamar), Wade Bridges (Angel)
and Mark Bridges (Nancy); step-children, Wesley
Bridges, Mike Bridges, Pasha Bridges and Vicki
Bridges; siblings, Albert Ervin, Nellie Sue Cloer
and Mary Frances Holder; grandchildren, Malcom
McCarty, Mitchell McCarty (Ellison), Ethan Bond,
Elliott Bond, Emily Kate Shelton (Andy), Lau
ren Bridges, Jake Bridges and Cameron Bridges;
step-grandchildren, Ashley Bridges, Aaron Bridg
es (Kelsey), Tiffany Chandler (Josh) and Heather
Carey (Cody); numerous great-grandchildren; and
in-laws, Carolyn Ervin, Clifford and Jane Bridges
and Doris Strickland.
Funeral service: Monday, June 16, 2025, at
2 p.m. at Lord and Stephens, Danielsville. Inter
ment will follow in the Community Baptist Church
Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Ethan
Bond, Mitchell McCarty, Malcom McCarty, Jake
Bridges, Aaron Bridges, Elliott Bond and Cameron
Bridges.
Family to receive friends: Sunday, June 15, 2025,
from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family is at the home of Wade and Angel
Bridges, 1115 Friendship Church Road, Daniels
ville, Ga. 30633.
The family would like to extend their sincere ap
preciation to the wonderful staff of Quiet Oaks in
Crawford.
Lord and Stephens, Danielsville is in charge of
arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
James Douglas Forrester
HOMER — James Douglas Forrester, 81, passed
away at his residence on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in
Homer.
Born to the late S.T. Forrester and Annie Belle
Brumbalow, James was born in Gainesville on
Thursday, March 2, 1944.
Mr. Forrester was preceded in death by his par
ents; sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Donald
Segars; and brother-in-law, Wayne Bartlett.
He is survived by his wife, Gail Smith Forrest
er; daughter, Stacy Giles and husband Ken; sons,
Doug Forrester and wife Jackie, and Jason Forrest
er and wife April; and sister, Pat Bartlett. He is also
remembered by many grandchildren, Chris Giles,
Stephen Giles and wife Sarah, Caleb Giles and
wife Carissa, Brittany Ingram, Justin Forrester and
wife Madison, Zoey Ciepiela and husband Rafal,
Chase Forrester, Jude Forrester and Olivia Forrest
er; as well as great-grandchildren, Addison Giles,
Walt Giles, Grant Giles, Ivey Giles, Kaylie Ingram,
Karson Ingram, Konner Ingram, Will Forrester and
Vivienne Ciepiela.
Funeral service: Saturday, June 14, 2025, at
11 a.m. in the chapel at Memorial Park Funeral
Home. The Reverend Bobby Ivester will officiate
the service, and interment will be at Memorial Park
Cemetery.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, June 14,
2025, from 10 until 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memori
al Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504, is in
charge of arrangements. Please send online condo
lences to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Ruby Garrison Free
HOMER — Ruby Garrison Free, 95, of Homer,
passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Born on April 6, 1930, in Homer, she was the
daughter of the late John and Sue Hardy Garri
son. Ruby was from the generation that believed
in hard work, and she exemplified that ethic with
39 years of service at Carwood Manufacturing
and then with another 28 1/2 years at Walmart in
Cornelia.
Her family was most precious to her, and she
enjoyed spending time with them, cooking for and
feeding them, as well as any others whom she was
around. Ruby was a member of Unity Christian
Church, where she enjoyed attending church ser
vices.
In addition to her par
ents, she was preceded
in death by her husband,
James Everett Free; son
and daughter-in-law,
Morris and Jeanette
Free; brothers, Calvin
and Charles Garrison.
Survivors include her
sons and daughters-in-
law, Dennis and Lynn
Free, and Terry and Di
ane Free; grandchildren
and spouses, Michael and Lisa Free, James Free,
Brian and Jackie Free, Danny Free, Bethany and
Janes Nanulaitta, and Darick Free; 14 great-grand-
children; 7 great-great-grandchildren; and several
extended relatives and friends.
Funeral service: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at
4 p.m. at Bethany Christian Church, with Minister
Mike Thompson officiating. Interment will follow
in the church cemetery.
Family to receive friends: Tuesday, June 10,
2025, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be
made to Java Evangelism, P.O. Box 215, Bremen,
Georgia 30110.
McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of
Cornelia, Georgia, 706-778-8668, is in charge of
arrangements. An online guest register is available
and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinand-
mcentire.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Charles Ellis Gee
DANIELSVILLE — Charles Ellis Gee, 81,
passed away Thursday, June 12, 2025, at his res
idence.
Charles was born in Jackson County, where he
attended local schools and had lived in Daniels
ville for the past 38 years. He was a member of
Whitehall Baptist Church and worked as a welder
with Chicopee Mills for many years. Charles was
an avid fisherman and loved working and being
outdoors.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents,
Summie Riley Gee and Elsie May Anderson Gee;
and son, Bobby Gee.
He is survived by his wife, Georgia Gee, Dan
ielsville; son, Michael Gee and his wife, Marie,
Colbert; daughters, Wanda Hamons and her hus
band, Eddie, and Judy Gee and her husband, Gary
Cheney, all of Danielsville; five grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren; and his loving dog, Buster.
Graveside service and burial: Monday, June 17,
2025, at 2 p.m. in Danielsville Memorial Gardens
with the Reverend Jimmy Edwards officiating.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Carl Wayne Holbrook
WINDER — Carl Wayne Holbrook, 59, Wind
er, entered into rest on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife,
Jayne Holbrook; parents, Kenneth and Charlotte
Holbrook; and brother, Robert Holbrook.
Carl is survived by his sister, Cathie (Craig)
Schuman; daughter, Jessica Lynn Wynch;
granddaughter, Hannah (Japeth) Wagner; and
great-granddaughter, who all brought him great
joy. Carl also leaves behind a host of aunts and
uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and dear
friends.
Carl will be remembered for his lasting devo
tion to his family, his quiet strength, his handy
man work and his infamous long brown hair. Carl
enjoyed learning and teaching about his Cherokee
Indian Heritage.
In lieu of flowers, family ask to consider donat
ing to The American Foundation for Suicide Pre
vention or a Local Food Bank.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and bur
dened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532
Hwy. 53 Hoschton, Ga. 30548, Lawsonfuneral-
home.org, 706-654-0966.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake Loyd
BOWMAN — Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake
Loyd, 81, Bowman, wife of 62 years to the late
John “Hewell” Loyd, passed away peacefully on
Friday, June 13, 2025, surrounded by the love of
her family.
The eighth of 12 chil
dren, Sarah was bom
in Madison County on
July 18, 1943, to Loyd
Joe Drake and Lizzie
Belle Parham Drake.
A hardworking wom
an, she held many jobs
throughout the years,
working for many years
at Oxford Manufactur
ing in Bowman, worked
for the Internal Revenue
Service and retired from Southeastern Power Ad
ministration.
Sarah loved the Lord and loved worshiping with
her church family. She started her relationship with
the Lord as a small child at Vineyards Creek Bap
tist Church in Comer and continued that relation
ship at Faith Baptist Church in Bowman. In her
later years, Sarah enjoyed fellowshipping with the
Widow’s Ministry at Deep Creek Baptist Church.
She loved being outdoors, camping, and spend
ing time at the lake. Many special memories were
made at the Elbert County Fish and Game Club on
Clarks Hill Lake — pontooning, jet skiing and wa
ter skiing, just to name a few. In her spare time, she
enjoyed reading, cross stitching and flower garden
ing. She enjoyed playing bingo at the Elbert Coun
ty Senior Center, but above all she loved her family
and helping others.
Surviving are her daughters, Cynthia Johanson
and her husband Sammy, Bowman, and Stephanie
Loyd, Colbert; grandchildren, Christina Johanson
Davis and her husband Jeff, Kyle Johanson and his
wife Grace, Jaxon Marchman and Regan Loyd;
siblings, Dorothy Scoggins, Emory Thomas Drake,
Donald Drake, Steve Drake and Brenda Loyd; and
a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Along with her husband and parents, she is pre
ceded in death by her siblings, L.G. Drake, Larry
Drake, Barry Drake, Betty Johnson, Peggy Jean
Drake and an infant brother.
Funeral service: Friday, June 20, 2025, at 3 p.m.
at Vineyards Creek Baptist Church with her friend
and pastor, the Rev. Jamie Callaway, officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery with
Stanley Johnson, Sammy Johanson, Kyle Johan
son, Steve Drake, Jeff Davis and Jeff Johnson
serving as pallbearers. Sarah will be placed in the
church at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, June 19,
2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home.
Flowers are accepted and contributions may be
made in her memory to Faith Baptist Church, 2827
Bowman Highway, Bowman, Ga. 30624.
Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton
is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mrs.
Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake Loyd. Those wishing
may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Joyce Evans Poss
)
HULL — Joyce Evans Poss, 76, Hull, passed
away on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Joyce was a floral de
signer and one that de
signed with excellence
every time she stood at
her worktable. In previ
ous years, she designed
for Flowers Inc. and
The Flower and Gift
Basket of Athens and
was business owner of
Floral Designs by Joyce
in Watkinsville. She was
known for her exquisite
Christmas decorations and perfect ribbon making.
Joyce loved to cook and made the best sweet
potato souffle, banana pudding and peach cobbler
you would ever taste. Joyce was an active member
of Family Worship Center in Winterville with the
Rev. Derrick Jackson (Melinda) as pastor.
She is preceded in death by her parents, N.A.
Evans and Etoy Pullien Evans of Royston; and a
sister, Fay Campbell of Athens.
Joyce is survived by her husband of 38 years,
Benny Paul Poss; a daughter, Pamela (Gary) Di
Carlo, Athens; and son, Christopher Poss, Hull.
Joyce is also survived by her siblings, Anne Strick
land, Colbert, Ivalyne Fulghum, Royston, Milton
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