WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 9A
Obituaries
Evans, Watkinsville, Mary Cowart, Hull, and Peg
gy Evans, Albany, New York. Joyce leaves with
us her two grandsons, Matthew Papp, Hull, and
Titus (Rebecca) Poss, Danielsville; and a num
ber of great-grandchildren that always brought
a smile when she heard them call her “Nana J.”
Great-grandchildren are Mason and Channing
Papp, Brewer, Asher and Piper Poss, and Dalton,
Kaedan, Cameron and Alyssa Lowe.
Funeral service: Thursday, June 12, 2025, at
2 p.m. in the Bernstein Funeral Home Chapel,
3195 Atlanta Hwy., Athens. Joyce was laid to rest
in Evergreen Memorial Park, 3655 Atlanta Hwy.,
Athens. Pallbearers were Christopher Poss, Mat
thew Papp, Titus Poss, Douglas Stephenson, Jason
Poss and Scott Campbell.
Family to receive friends: Wednesday, June 11,
2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrange
ments.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Jeffrey “Jeff” Allen Scogin
COLBERT — Jeffrey “Jeff” Allen Scogin, 59,
Colbert, passed away on Sunday June 8, 2025.
Mr. Scogin was born
on November 1, 1965.
He was employed with
Kemco Electric, Hull.
Mr. Scogin was preced
ed in death by his par
ents, Henry Grady and
Clara Mae Scogin.
Mr. Scogin is survived
by his uncle, Robert
(Billy) Scogin, Colbert;
several cousins; friends,
Sebastian Hernandez,
Alex Allen and Fred Kidd, Hull; and many other
friends.
There will be no service.
Central Cremation Services, Pendergrass, is in
charge of the cremation.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Shirley Diane Stiwinter
JEFFERSON — Shirley Diane Stiwinter, 65, Jef
ferson, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Mrs. Stiwinter was born in Macon, North Caroli ¬
na, a daughter to the late Lloyd and Mattie Louise
Fore Stiwinter. Mrs. Stiwinter was a homemaker
and a member of the Walnut Creek Baptist Church
in Franklin, North Carolina.
In addition to her par
ents, Mrs. Stiwinter was
preceded in death by her
sisters, Gloria Webb and
Judy Stiwinter; and her
brothers, Grady Stiwin
ter, Ronnie Stiwinter
and Doyle Stiwinter.
Survivors include
her daughter, Heather
Sharpton and her hus
band Chris, Jefferson;
son, Chris Barnes, Jef
ferson; brothers, Teddy Stiwinter, Banks County,
and Willard Stiwinter, Franklin, North Carolina;
sister, Hattie Bosworth and her husband Jack,
Flowery Branch; grandchildren, Angel (Char
lie) Parr, Lane Sharpton and Maddie Sharpton;
great-grandchildren, Lilly Parr and Easton Parr;
numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also sur
vive.
Funeral service: Saturday, June 14, 2025, at
2 p.m. in the chapel of Evans Funeral Home with
the Rev. Chris Hulsey officiating.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, June 14,
2025, from 1 until 2 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder High
way, Jefferson, Georgia, 706-367-5467. Online
condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
Don Hilliard Townley
Don Hilliard Townley, affectionately known by us
as “Dad” and “Grampy;’ was born June 20, 1946,
to Ivan “Ike” and Johnnie Mae Townley. He passed
away on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Dad was the youngest child of three boys. Grow
ing up on a turkey farm in Wilmington, Massachu
setts, he spent most of his time outdoors. Through
out his life, he loved being on the road and out in
nature.
He attended the Essex Agricultural Technologi
cal Institute, where he developed his knowledge in
working both the land and machines, skills that he
would cany throughout his life as he built a future
for his family. Dad was a lifelong fan of the Bos ¬
ton Bruins, a team he aspired to play for as a mem
ber of their junior league team but also cheered for
throughout his life, even after leaving the cold of
Massachusetts for the hot, sunny weather of middle
Georgia.
Don was married just
shy of 50 years to his
beautiful bride, Kar
en. Their marriage was
the union of two good
forgivers. Don had sev
en children, Terri, Joy,
Robin, Robert, Kim,
Donny and Shawnna,
and his pride for each
of them could not be
matched. His family was
everything to him, and
he worked hard to provide them with everything
they needed. He also had 15 grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly.
Our Dad prided himself on hard work and a job
well done. He could work on anything with a motor.
He would build his family around D&D Auto, the
business he owned and ran for 35 years in Statham.
He loved his community and served with the
Statham Barrow Fire Department for many years.
After a life of working hard and helping others, he
retired to hit the road with his sweetheart in their
motor home.
Karen was Don’s caregiver for the last 10 years
due to heart problems that brought on the place
ment of an LVAD device to repair his heart in 2018.
To Dad, this was a small piece of a diesel engine,
making an already larger-than-life man bionic. How
fitting for a mechanic to have a mechanical heart
thrumming to keep him on the road. Now his heart
was racing at the speed of a NASCAR engine at
5,000 rpm, perfect for a man who had been a huge
fan of those races for many years.
Our Dad, Don, will be greatly missed, but he
is now reunited with his mom, dad, brothers and
friends who have gone on before. The man, The
myth, The legend, forever in our hearts.
Funeral service: Friday, June 20, 2025, at 4 p.m. at
Elder Road Baptist Church, 1930 Elder Road, Bish
op, Ga. 30621.
Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is
assisting the family of Mr. Don Hilliard Townley.
Those wishing the online guestbook at benyfh.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of June 16-22
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