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PAGE 8A-M MAINSTREET NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009 Obituaries Hazel Beck COMMERCE - Hazel Beck, 88, died Friday, July 10, 2009, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Born in Jackson County, she was the daugh ter of the late Reuben and Stella Boswell McGinnis and step- in o t h e r , Mary McGinnis. She was a homemaker and a member of Ridgeway Baptist Church. Mrs. Beck was pre ceded in death by her husband. Ernest Beck; grandson, Kevin Ledford; and sister, Helen Cochran. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, James and Jane Beck, Gillsville, Bobby and Wanda Beck and Randy and Donna Beck, all of Maysville. Thomas and Carol Beck, Homer; sons. Billy Beck and Larry Beck, both of Commerce; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Aubrey Ledford and Peggy and Jim Bailey, all of Commerce, Patsy and Donald Beck and Shirley and Wayne Wilbanks, all of Jefferson; sisters, Mary Lou Lacy, Oneida Jackson, Malise Cheek and Nadine Seabolt, all of Commerce; 16 grandchil dren; and 18 great-grandchil dren. Funeral services were held Monday, July 13, at Ridgeway Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill Manus and Luther Williams officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Little-Ward Funeral Home. Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (622) Howard Deschner NICHOLSON - Howard Roy Deschner, 70, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Born on April 1, 1939, in Newton, Kan., he was the son of the late Lester and Vivian Haynes Deschner. He was a self- employed d r y w a 11 finisher. Survivors include his wife, Elaine Cathey Deschner, Nicholson; children, Angie Deschner, Ft. Worth, Texas, Michael Aaron and Katie Cathey, Brock, Texas, Robin and Bill Vigliotte, Omaha, Neb., Wanda and Thomas Smith, Cumming, Lynn and Rudy Dominquez, Augusta, Travis Cathey, Ft. Worth, Texas; brothers, Wilbur and Edith Deschner, Kansas, Bob and Edwina Deschner, Colorado; a sister, Barbara Spalitta, California; 18 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Visitation was held Friday, July 10, at the funeral home. The body was cremated after the visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1684 Barnett Shoals Rd., Athens, GA 30605. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. H. Gary Fortson DEWY ROSE - H. Gary Fortson, 54, died Monday, July 13, 2009, following an extend ed illness. He was the son of the late Horace and Annie Laura Fortson and was preceded in death by his father-in-law, J.W. Davis. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Patricia Fortson; daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Buddy Stephens; grand children, Tyler and Heather Stephens; sisters, Connie Carter, Lisa Candler, Elaine Short and Lynn Herman; broth ers, Ronnie and Alex Fortson; mother-in-law, Patsy Davis; brother-in-law, Wayne Davis; a special niece; and a number of friends. Funeral services were held Thursday, July 16, in the cha pel of Hicks Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Purvis offi ciating. Burial was in Elmhurst Cemetery. Hicks Funeral Home, Elberton, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (19105) Callie Gaines ROYSTON - Callie Wright Gaines, 87, died Sunday, July 12, 2009, at her residence. Born in Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Nora Strickland Wright. She was a homemaker and a member of the Holiness denomination. Mrs. Gaines was preceded in death by her hus band, Eugene Gaines; a son, Carlton Gaines; and daughter, Charlotte Fowler. Survivors include daughters, Betty Henson, Stockbridge, Peggy Ivey, Loganville, Nora Tiller, Flowery Branch, Minnie Murphy, Royston; sons, Larry Gaines, Hoschton, H.L. Gaines, Lavonia, Kenneth Gaines, Royston, Tommy Gaines, Conyers; brothers. Bill Wright, Canon, and Joseph Wright, Buford; sister, Lillie Seabolt, Jefferson; 23 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 14, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Revs. Wesley Craig and William Ivey officiating. Burial was at Center Grove Baptist Church cemetery. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (622) Donna Jean Griffin MAYSVILLE - Donna Jean Griffin, 66, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at her residence. Born in Cook County, Ill., she was the daughter of the late Bill and Ruth Schwarts Cox, and was retired from the Banks County Department of Family and Children Services. Mrs. Griffin was preceded in death by her husband, Barney Griffin; a son, Calvin Griffin; and grandsons, Riley and Tyler Griffin. She was a foster parent and over the years she had 28 foster children. She was a missionary child and grew up in Africa. She and her husband pastored several churches and her main purpose in life was to serve the Lord. Survivors include sons and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Christy Griffin, Maysville, Jeremy Griffin, New Mexico; daughters, Cindy Bartow, Angela Mason, Becky Plemmons and Teresa Yale, all of Asheville, N.C., and Elizabeth Wilson, Commerce; brother. Bill Cox Jr., Des Moines, Iowa; 10 grandchil dren; and three great-grand children. Funeral services were held Monday, July 13, at Grove Level Baptist Church Chantry with the Revs. Jeff Appling and John Wood officiating. Burial was in Sunrise Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grove Level Baptist Church, 1702 Grove Level Rd., Maysville, GA 30558. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (622) Charles McDaniel BETHLEHEM - Charles N. McDaniel, 81, died Sunday, July 12, 2009. Born on May 1, 1928, he was the son of Bridges and Leveda Wall McDaniel. He was preceded in death by brothers, Thomas and Herbert McDaniel. He was raised in Bethlehem by his grandmother, Jenny Doster McDaniel, following the death of his mother when he was an infant. During the war at age 14 he worked briefly in the shipyards at Brunswick before joining the Merchant Marines at age 15 for one tour of duty. Following that he joined the Coast Guard. During World War II he served on Coast Guard Cutters in the waters off of France and the Northeast Coast of Canada and the US. He owned and operated Holiday6 Grocery in Winder following his retirement. He was a Mason and Shriner, was a deacon at the First Christian Church in Winder, but in 1980 was ordained as a New Thought Minister at the Center for Spiritual Awareness, and was thus able to work with alcoholics who were incarcer ated and “ready” to hear about AA. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Hassie Lee Stewart McDaniel; daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and Hank Hilderbrand, Jackson, Debbie McDaniel, Bethlehem, and Marsha and David Gooch, Jefferson; grandchildren and spouses, Henry and Cassie Hilderbrand, Johns Creek, Jeremy and Lynne Hilderbrand, Stockbridge, Chuck and Maureen Gooch, Bethlehem, and Kellee Gooch, Nashville, Tenn.; three great-grandchil dren; one niece; and numerous cousins. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (18360) Ettie McElhannon CONYERS - Ettie Faye McElhannon, 83, died Friday, July 10, 2009. A native of Hoschton, she was the daughter of the late Elbert and Lulu Elizabeth Fagins Ethridge. She was a retired administrative assis tant with the Georgia State Department of Civil Defense with 30 years of service. Mrs. McElhannon was preceded in death by her husband, Stewart McElhannon Jr. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Stewart McElhannon III and Mary S. McElhannon, Conyers, James Monroe McElhannon, Tucker, Dr. Mark Andrew McElhannon and Alma M. McElhannon, Atlanta; grandsons and spous es, Joel S. and Rosemary McElhannon, Russell J. and Erin McElhannon; grand daughters and spouse, Taryn F. and Algernon Tennyson, Margaret C. McElhannon, and Mari J. McElhannon. Funeral services were held Sunday, July 12, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home with the Rev. Grover Jehue Thomas Jr. officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Carter Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (19080) Henry Miller PENDERGRASS - Henry Joe Miller, 69, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the St. Mary’s Hospice House in Athens, fol lowing an extended illness. Born in Oconee County on July 28, 1939, he was the son of the late Henry Grady and Nannie Bell Miller. He had been a member of Pond Fork Baptist Church for 30 years, and was founder and president of the H.J. Miller Company, which specializes in the sales and maintenance of industrial canning and packaging equip ment internationally. Survivors include his wife, Janis Williams Miller, ‘Missy’ Morgan WINDER - Melinda “Missy” Bailey Morgan, 46, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Born in Jefferson County, Ala., she was the daughter of Gene and Ernestine Blackwell Bailey of Winder. She was a 20-year member of the community, gradu ated from the University of Georgia in 1984, and Georgia State in 1985 with her mas ter’s and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi. She was a speech pathologist at Bethlehem Elementary School, was the past president of both the PTO at Bethlehem Elementary School and the Barracuda Swim Team. Mrs. Morgan was preceded in death by a brother, Warren Bailey. Survivors in addition to her par ents include her husband, Les Morgan, Winder; sons. Will and Ryan Morgan, Winder; daughter, Heidi Morgan, Winder; brother, Walter Bailey, Statham; sisters, Fonda Sullivan, Winder, and Celena Davis, Braselton. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 18, at 2 p.m., at the Bethlehem First Baptist Church with Muriel Cash and Julie Peck officiating. The family will receive friends Friday, July 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Lighthouse, P.O. Box 847, Marietta, GA 30061, or C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer, 1835 Savoy Dr., Ste. 102, Atlanta, GA 30341. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (18360) 'MISSY' AND RYAN MORGAN Ryan Morgan WINDER - Ryan Morgan, 10, died Friday, July 10, 2009. Bom in Clarke County, he was the son of Les Morgan of Winder and the late Melinda “Missy” Bailey Morgan, who passed away July 8, 2009. He was a student of Bethlehem Elementary School, a member of the Barracuda swim team, and was a Barrow County soccer player with the Recreation Department. Survivors in addition to his father include a brother. Will Morgan, Winder; sister, Heidi Morgan, Winder; grandparents, Ron and Thelma Morgan, Courtenay, BC, and Gene and Ernestine Bailey, Winder. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 18, at 2 p.m„ at the Bethlehem First Baptist Church with Muriel Cash and Julie Peck offi ciating. The family will receive friends Friday, July 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Lighthouse, P.O. Box 847, Marietta, GA 30061, or C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer, 1835 Savoy Dr., Ste. 102, Atlanta, GA 30341. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (18360) Pendergrass; daughters, Kim Jackson, Loganville, and Jenny Dunbar, Pendergrass; sons, Bruce Miller, Pendergrass, and Kevin Miller, Alto; sisters, Y vonne Faulkner, Watkinsville, and Margie Nelson, Hampton; brother, James Boyd Miller, Stockbridge; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, July 13, at Pond Fork Baptist Church with the Revs. Johnny Knight and Scott Lance officiating. Burial was in the Huff Cemetery in Watkinsville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pond Fork Baptist Church, c/o Rev. Johnny Knight, 104 Gordon Rd., Commerce, GA 30529, or St. Mary’s Hospice House, P.O. Box 6588, Athens, GA 30604. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (S75) Ralph Miller BRASELTON - Ralph Charles Miller, 83, died Monday, July 13, 2009. Born in Fulton County, he was the son of the late John Benson and Ruth Agnes Kesler Miller. He was a retired fireman with the City of Atlanta Fire Department, a member of the Atlanta Jaycees, member of Zion Baptist Church, and a veteran, having served in the United States Army during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Betty Lou Jenkins Miller, Braselton; children, Ben and Kathy Miller, Braselton, Barry L. and Karon Miller, Tiger, Judy and Paul Dressner, St. Simons Island, Bob and Cindy Miller, Pendergrass; sisters and brothers-in-law, Runell and Howard Lykins, Illinois, Betty Davis, Hoschton, Barbara and Bob Samples, Covington; 15 grandchildren; six great-grand children; and one great-great- grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 14, at Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Phillips officiating. Burial was in the church cem etery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Zion Baptist Church, 2001 Cherry Dr., Braselton, GA 30517. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (S75) Frances Moore CORNELIA - Fances Ruth Moore, 90, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at BJC Nursing Home following an extended illness. Born in Habersham County on May 24, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Ed and Carrie Gaddie Zimmerman. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist denomination. Mrs. Moore was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Moore; sisters, Lucille Jones, Lois Zimmerman and Ruby Zimmerman; and brother, John Zimmerman. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Millie and Joe Pezzuto, Maysville; son and daughter-in-law, George T. and Ruth Moore, Toccoa; sisters, Louise Grant, Montgomery, Ala., and Annie Bell York, Mt. Airy; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Friday, July 10, from the cha pel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Pastor Charles Crabbe officiating. Burial was in Yonah Memorial Gardens. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (19090) Thelma Murray ATHENS - Thelma Grace Williamson Murray, 82, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Born in Jackson County on January 16, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Worthy L. and Alma Matthews Williamson and the widow of Elmer Lloyd Murray. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Dewey Williamson; and sisters, Mary Wilda Dougherty and Ida Frances Baxter. She was a homemaker and a seamstress for many years. Survivors include children, Loriane Shelton, Nicholson, Cathe White, Athens, Pam (Ruff) Smith, Danielsville, and E. Kenneth (Jean) Murray, Monroe; a brother, Horace Williamson, Columbia, S.C.; sister-in-law, Margie Williamson, Nicholson; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren. Graveside services were held Thursday, July 9, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund. Lord and Stephens, East, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. Gary Paugh NICHOLSON - Gary Alvin Paugh, 71, died Wednesday July 8, 2009, at his residence. Born in Lewis County, W. Va., he was the son of the late Denzil and Lillian Clem Paugh. He was retired from Service Master Hospital Management and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Judith Anne Bass Paugh, Nicholson; sons and daughters- in-law, Tim and Gwen Paugh, Ocala, Fla. and Greg and Leigh Ann Paugh, Birmingham, Ala.; daughter and son-in- law, Sherry and Matt Parker, Lawrenceville; brothers, David Paugh, Jacksonville, Fla. and Den Paugh, Conway, Ark.; sister, Judy Gibson, Vilonia, Ark.; ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 11, at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce with Dr. David Bowen officiating. Burial was in East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens, Lawrenceville. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. (622) Lida Pirkle HOSCHTON - Lida Emily Westbrook Pirkle, 92, retired educator, died Wednesday, July 8, 2009, following a brief ill ness. Born in Forsyth County, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Westbrook of Chestnut Mountain. Her career spanned 35 years of teaching math, science, physics, home econom ics, and elemen tary edu cation in Floyd, Hart, Hall, Gwinnett, Jackson, and Barrow counties. She was a 1938 grad uate of Berry College, received her Master’s of Education from the University of Georgia in 1962, and was a National Science Foundation scholar. Mrs. Pirkle was preceded in death by her husband Jack Pirkle; and brothers, Cecil Westbrook, Marietta, and Hugh Westbrook, Gainesville Survivors include a sister, Louise Westbrook McGowan, Chestnut Mountain; daugh ters and son-in-law: Frances Benson, Moultrie, and Jack and Ada Spruill, Hoschton; grandchildren and their fami lies: Scott, Jackie, and Conor Batson and Jordan Benson of Alpharetta; Robert, Brooke, Charlie, Wyatt, and Ben Spruill of Moultrie; Shannon, Carol, Emma, and Clayborn Lawrence of Kite; and Cliff, Abby, and John Tippens of Jackson. Memorial services are planned for Saturday July 18, at 10 a.m„ at Hoschton United Methodist Church. Wages and Sons, Lawrenceville, is in charge of arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. July 16, 2009. continued on following page