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PAGE 8A-THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 17. 2023
Obituaries
Sandra Knight Blackmon
AUBURN — Sandra Knight Blackmon, 71, Au
burn, passed away on Tuesday, August 8,2023.
She is survived by her loving husband of 52
years, Donald Blackmon; siblings, Vickie Knight
Mitchell (Jeff), Dallas, Randy Knight (Kristin),
Mableton, and June Knight Bates (Jason), Camp-
bellsville, Ken.; as well as several nieces and neph
ews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John
Thomas Knight and Ruby Nell Knight.
Sandra was a member of Ebenezer Baptist
Church in Dacula. She retired after 27 years from
Sears. She enjoyed gardening and cooking for her
family and friends. Sandra will be deeply missed
by those who knew her and loved her.
Funeral service: Thursday, August 10, 2023, at
2 p.m. in the Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chap
el. Interment will follow in Barrow Memorial Gar
dens.
Family to receive friends: Wednesday, August 9,
2023, from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, 120 Scenic
Hwy., Lawrenceville, Ga. 30046, 770-963-2411,
have been entrusted with the arrangements. Con
dolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfu-
neralhome.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 13-19
Tracey Rena Cooper
WINDER — Tracey Rena Cooper, 55, Winder,
went to be with the Lord Wednesday, August 2,
2023.
Tracey was a girly girl, she loved her toenails and
fingernails polished, she still loved to fish, being
with friends and drinking cold Pepsi on hot days.
But more than anything in this world, she loved
her family. She loved Jesus Christ almost as much
as He loved her and is overjoyed to spend eternity
with Him and her loved ones.She taught her chil
dren and grandchildren to believe in Him and His
love for them. She will truly be missed.
Tracey was the daughter of Susie Allen and the
late Billy Allen.
Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her
sons, Jeremy Cooper and April Poore, and Andrew
Caleb Cooper and Ashley Crowe; grandchildren,
Tyce Gaddis, Phoenix Hance, Dustin Birkholz,
Chloe Poore, Landen Crowe, Lathen Cooper and
Ayden Cooper; nephews, who were thought of and
loved as sons, Brandon Allen, Josh Allen and Sean
Allen; and many loved aunts, uncles and cousins.
Tracey was preceded in death by her grandpar
ents, Woodrow and Gaynell Allen and Tom and
Louise Knight; son, Aaron Gaddis; and brother,
Scott Allen.
Funeral service: Saturday, August 19, 2023, at
2 p.m. in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel. Offi
ciating will be the Rev. Ken Andrews.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, August 19,
2023, from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532
Hwy. 53, Hoschton, Ga. 30548, Lawsonfuneral-
home.org, 706-654-0966.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 13-19
Charlene Middlebrooks Faulkner
TALMO — Charlene Middlebrooks Faulkner,
63, Talmo, entered rest Thursday, August 10,2023.
Mrs. Faulkner was
bom in Winder, the
daughter of the late
Charles “Creek” Mid
dlebrooks and Barbara
Elrod Middlebrooks.
Mrs. Faulkner was
the registrar at Jackson
County High School,
where she has worked
for the past 29 years.
The number of lives
that Charlene touched
was immeasurable. As a registrar, she is the person
students and faculty would go to for answers and
help with classes (and other problems) but she was
much more than that to the thousands of kids she
has helped. She wore many hats and enjoyed going
to work every day because of the friendships (stu
dents and faculty alike) that were made.
She loved to travel and was known as the “Queen
of Cruising”, going to concerts, Cirque du Soleil,
but most of all loved life, family and her many
friends. Mrs. Faulkner was of the Baptist Faith.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years,
Lamar Faulkner, Talmo; son, Andrew Charles
Faulkner (Molly), Auburn; mother, Barbara Elrod
Middlebrooks, Talmo; sister, Terri Middlebrooks,
Jefferson; and several nieces, nephews and other
relatives also survive.
Funeral service: Sunday August 13, 2023, at
3 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the
Reverends Pete Martin and Eric Shelton offici
ating. Interment will follow at the Talmo Baptist
Church Cemetery. Gentlemen honored as pallbear
ers are, Shawn Lindsey, Rod Beatty, Joe Elrod, Lo
gan Pinion, Hunter Beatty and Luke Lindsey.
Family to receive friends: Saturday, August 12,
2023, from 12 until 5 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home.
Evans Funeral Home, Inc, 1350 Winder High
way, Jefferson, Georgia. Online condolences at
www. evansfuneralhomeinc .com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 13-19
George Daniel Hudson Jr.
George Daniel Hudson Jr., 70, was bom on Au
gust 22, 1952 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and passed
away peacefully on Sunday, August 13,2023, after
a well-fought battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr. Hudson had a long and successful career in
the banking business. He was responsible for many
bank mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Hudson was preceded in death by his father,
George Daniel Hudson Sr.; mother, Pearl Maree
McCarthy Hudson; and grandparents, Jerry Frank
lin Hudson and Mary Brown Hudson, Joe McCar
thy and Eleanor McCarthy.
Mr. Hudson is survived by his daughter, Jessi
ca (Anthony) Stevens; granddaughter, Crickett
Thompson; sister, Jerrie K. (Jeff) Hulsey; niece,
Danielle (Tyler) Wilcher; and great-niece, Charlee
Ann Wilcher.
Per the request of the family, no formal service
will be held.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder, is entrusted with
the arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 13-19
Lichmond Leaird
HULL — Lichmond Leaird, 91, Hull, passed
away peacefully on Monday, August 7, 2023.
Bom in Oglethorpe
County, he was a son
of the late George H.
Leaird and Maggie Wil
liams Leaird. Mr. Leaird
retired from the Unit
ed States Army having
served in Vietnam, Ko
rea and Germany as a
Master Seargent.
Following his retire
ment from the military,
he continued to serve
his community for the remainder of his life.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by eight sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service: Saturday, August 12,2023, at
11 a.m. at Athens Memory Gardens.
Lord and Stephens, East, is in charge of arrange
ments. www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of August 13-19
Lucille “Meme” Jones McDonald
JEFFERSON — Lucille “Meme” Jones McDon
ald, 83, Jefferson, entered rest Saturday, August 12,
2023.
Mrs. McDonald was
bom in Commerce,
a daughter of the late
Weldon Fritz Jones and
Annie Lee Drake Jones,
was a member of Faith
Baptist Church in Jef
ferson where she taught
Sunday School for a
number of years, and
retired from Alfa Insur
ance.
“Meme” as she was
affectionally called by her family had a passion for
kids, she crocheted all her grandchildren blankets,
loved to play games with them and attended many
of their sporting events through the years. “Meme”
also was an avid sports fan, keeping up with the
Braves, Bulldogs and Dragons.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. McDonald is
preceded by her husband, Thomas Jackson “Jack”
McDonald; and a brother, Gene Jones.
Survivors include a son, Greg McDonald and his
wife Carol, Jefferson; daughter, Pam Wilbanks and
her husband Stacy, Baldwin; sister, Betty Carith-
ers, Commerce; grandchildren, Kasey and Kody
McDonald and Christian and Jake Wilbanks; one
great-grandchild, Bonnie McDonald; and several
nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral service: Tuesday August 15, 2023, at
11 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church in Jefferson with
the Reverends Steve Burrell and David Carithers
officiating with burial to follow in the Friendship
Baptist Church Cemetery, Danielsville. Gentle
men honored as pallbearers are Justin Weeks, Gary
Bond, Matthew Edwards, Phillip Edwards, Chris
tian Wilbanks, Jake Wilbanks and Kody McDon
ald.
Family to receive friends: Monday, August 14,
2023, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home.
The McDonald family would like to thank
Northridge Health and Rehabilitation and Affin-
is Hospice for the wonderful care they gave our
“Meme” through the last years of her life. Thank
you for treating her like a part of your family.,
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in
memory of Mrs. Lucille Jones McDonald to Faith
Baptist Church Children’s Ministry, PO. Box 427,
Jefferson, Georgia 30549.
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 August 13-19
Robert Thomas “Bob” Murray
JEFFERSON — Robert Thomas “Bob” Murray,
95, Jefferson, passed away on Wednesday, August
9, 2023.
Mr. Murray was bom
in Chicago, Illinois, a
son to the late George
and Edith Brandt Mur
ray. Mr. Murray was a
veteran of the Unites
States Air Force, serv
ing in Alaska and En
gland during the Korean
War.
Mr. Murray was an
Aerospace/Physics
Engineer working for
NASA, JPL and retired from Georgia Tech. He
spent his early adult life in San Diego, California,
where he met his wife, MarySue Schenck. While
in California he enjoyed roller skating, taking his
kids to the beach or out rock hounding in the des
ert. Georgia Tech came calling for his talent in
1975.
Bob had many interests during his life, while
in California he became interested in cosmetolo
gy. Got his cosmetology license and soon owned
three beauty salons, much to the delight of Mary
Sue since she could have her hair done free.
After relocating to Georgia he developed a love
for birds, particularly parrots having six at one
time...MarySue was not too happy about the par
rots. He was a ham radio operator for 50 years, a
Mason, Shriner and a member of Bethany United
Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Murray was pre
ceded in death by his wife, Mary Sue Schenck
Murray; and his son, Russell Earl Murray.
Survivors include his daughter, Margie Sue
Dodrill and her husband Larry, Jefferson; son,
Steven Robert Murray, Jefferson; grandchildren,
Jason (Gina) Gladys, Amanda Gladys, Melis
sa (Jeff) Loftis and Michael (Ami) Dodrill; and
great-grandchildren, Damon Gladys, Chloe Glad
ys, Tabitha MacCubbin, Tommy MacCubbin, Au
drey Loftis and Dua Dodrill also survive.
Funeral service: Thursday, August 17, 2023, at
3 p.m. in the Bethany United Methodist Church
with the Revs. Larissa Parker and Dale Giefing
officiating. A private burial in the Bethany United
Methodist Church Cemetery will take place on a
later date.
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 August 13-19
Nathan John Sims
GILLSVILLE — Nathan John Sims, 75, Gills-
ville, passed away on Monday, August 7,2023.
Bom on September 28, 1947, in Commerce, Mr.
Sims was the son of the late John Reuben and An
nie Reed Morris Sims.
Mr. Sims worked for years as a carpenter and
was given the nickname “Snake.” He would sit ev
eryday on the front porch waving to folks as they
passed by.
He leaves going to Heaven but leaves behind his
loving wife of 51 years, Janice Turpin Sims,