PAGE 4B - THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 25, 2024
Obituaries
David C. Ayers
HOMER — David C. Ayers, 92, Homer, passed
away on Tuesday, December 17,2024.
Bom on August 8,
1932, in Sylva, North
Carolina, he was a son of
the late John and Minda
Shook Ayers. Mr. Ayers
was a self-employed
farmer, who was also a
known mule trader. He
will be remembered as
a loving husband, father
and Pa. He was a mem
ber of Shiloh Baptist
Church in Hayesville,
North Carolina.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by his wife of 60 years, Gladys Mae Ander
son Ayers; son, David Lee Ayers; grandsons, Rev.
Jonathan Ayers and Mark Ayers; brothers, Boyd
Ayers and Bob Ayers; and sister, JoAnn Bradley.
Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law,
Ann Trexler (David) and Cathy Martin (Timmy);
sons and daughters-in-law, John Ayers (Anna), Jeff
Ayers (Lisa), Tim Ayers (LeLonie) and Nat Ayers;
15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister,
Louise Hurley; several nieces, nephews, other rel
atives and friends.
Funeral service: Thursday, December 19, 2024,
at 3 p.m. in the chapel of McGahee-Griffin and
Stewart Funeral Home with the Revs. Ken Kilby
and Kenneth McEntire officiating. Interment will
follow in Banks County Memorial Gardens.
Family to receive friends: Thursday, December
19, 2024, from 2 until 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cor
nelia, Georgia, 706-778-8668, is in charge of ar
rangements. An online guest register is available
and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinand-
stewart.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Nathan Wilbert Bedford
LOGANVILLE — Nathan Wilbert Bedford, 88,
Loganville, passed away on Wednesday, Decem
ber 18,2024.
He was a member of
Lithonia First Baptist
Church where he sang
in the choir and served
on the personnel com
mittee. In high school,
Nathan’s classmates
voted him best looking
in the senior class. He
served as a Military Po
lice (MP) officer in the
United States Army.
Nathan played base
ball for Wilmington College and then received a
baseball scholarship to play at the University of
Alabama where he was the catcher and graduat
ed in 1962. He served in the catcher position on
the roster for the Minor League team of the Kansas
City Royals.
In the 1980s and after retiring in the 1990s, he
played recreational softball for his church, Lithonia
First Baptist. He played the position of shortstop
on several competitive teams in Atlanta-area men’s
softball leagues. Based on his offensive production
statistics and defensive talent, Nathan was awarded
a roster spot as shortstop on the prestigious Senior
League National Competition Softball Team in the
early 2000s.
Nathan devoted his life as a teacher and coach
of baseball, football and gymnastics at Chamblee
and Walker High Schools in the DeKalb County
School System in the 1960s.
He met his wife, Judy, while coaching at Cham
blee where she was the librarian. Having married
in 1966, they were married for 57 years until her
death on December 15, 2023. They had two chil
dren, a daughter and a son. He had the joy and hon
or of coaching his children and grandchildren in
sports.
In his free time, Nathan loved to play golf and
watch University of Alabama football and Braves
baseball. In an Atlanta area competitive golf tour
nament in the early 2000s, Nathan scored a hole-
in-one on a par three hole.
He loved God, his family, and competitive sports,
where he excelled.
He is predeceased by his parents Dortch and Ella
Bedford; his loving wife of 57 years, Judy Baird
Bedford; brothers, Johnny Bedford, Leroy Bed
ford, Willie Bedford and K.D. Bedford; and sisters,
Aliean Daughtry and Virginia Holzkamm.
Nathan is survived by his daughter, Christy Bed
ford; son, Nathan Scott Bedford; grandchildren,
Kaitlyn Forester (Kenneth) and Jarrett Thomas
(Chelsea); and great-grandchildren, Freya Forester
and Willow Forester (due in March).
The family ask that if he ever coached you in
a sport, please wear your jersey to the visitation,
bring old photos and stories to share.
Funeral service: Monday, December 23,2024, at
2 p.m. in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home. Burial
will follow at Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Family to receive friends: Sunday, December 22,
2024, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a do
nation to Lithonia First Baptist Church, RO. Box
378, Lithonia, Ga. 30058, in his memory.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of ar
rangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Paul Leroy Duncan
COMMERCE — Paul Leroy Duncan, 90, Com
merce, passed away on Wednesday, December 18,
2024, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Cen
ter.
Mr. Duncan was bom
in Homer to the late
Hoyt W. and Marie Wil
son Duncan. Mr. Dun
can taught at Athens
Technical College, was
a U.S. Army Veteran and was a member of Webbs
Creek Baptist Church. In addition to his parents,
Mr. Duncan was also preceded in death by his
great-granddaughter, Emerson Duncan.
Mr. Duncan is survived by his wife, Mollie Wil
son Duncan, Commerce; daughter, Paula Han
cock (Mark), Commerce; son, Ricky Duncan
(Lesa), Commerce; six grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren.
Funeral service: Saturday, December 21, 2024,
at 2 p.m. from the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral
Home with the Rev. Chase Rylee and Mark Fitz
patrick officiating with the interment following at
Webbs Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Family to receive friends: Friday, December 20,
2024, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
Webbs Creek Baptist Church.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in
charge of arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Brian Joseph Fields
JEFFERSON — Brian Joseph Fields, 45, Jef
ferson, passed away on Thursday, December 19,
2024.
Mr. Fields was bom in
Atlanta, a son to Philip
W. and Norma DaPos
Fields. Mr. Fields was
a bus driver for the Jef
ferson City Schools and
was a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints.
Brian had a large love
for life and being of ser
vice to others. He also
enjoyed fishing, diving,
spending time at the beach and watching his chil
dren play sports. As a bus driver for Jefferson City
Schools, he was loved by all the students, faculty
and staff. He was known for his giving nature, his
kindness and devotion to both his family, friends
and every one he met. Brian’s love for others was
evident in everything he did.
Survivors in addition to his parents include his
wife, Rebecca Fields, Jefferson; sons, Owen Fields
and Leland Fields; daughter, Emma Fields, all
of Jefferson; sister, Suzanne Culpepper and her
husband Nicholas of Reno, Nevada; nieces, Gal-
adriel, Anastasia, Fiona and Liara; father-in-law,
James Throndsen and his wife Sandra, Dawson-
ville; mother-in-law, Patrice McClain and her part
ner John Marks, Palmetto, Florida; sister-in-law,
Amanda Throndsen, Fort Worth, Texas also sur
vives.
Funeral service: Monday, December 23,2024, at
6 p.m. in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, 706 Whitehead Road, Athens, Georgia. In
accordance with the wishes of Mr. Fields, his re
mains will be cremated after the service.
Family to receive friends: Monday, December
23, 2024, from 5-6 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made
to the Jackson County Family Connection, Warm
Hands, Warm Hearts at www.jcfamilyconnection.
com.
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 December 23-29
Nina Hitchcock
Nina Hitchcock, 81, went to see Jesus on Mon
day, December 16, 2024.
She was the daughter of the late Benjamin F.
Moore and Willie Graham Moore. In addition
to her parents, she was preceded in death by her
brother, Ray Moore (Addie); and her sister, Jack
Carol Booth (Henry).
Surviving relatives include her husband of 62
years, William Hitchcock; daughter, April Watson
(Stanley); brother, Frank Moore (Elsie); grand
daughter, Adrianna Watson; nephew, Wayne
Booth; and brother-in-law, Calvin Smith.
Nina was a lifelong resident of Danielsville and
retired from the Madison County Tax Commis
sioner’s Office.
Nina enjoyed softball (in her younger years),
bowling, game shows and the Braves. She was
voted “wittiest” in high school, always had a lot
of personality and was a much-loved wife, Mama,
Gran and friend. She was a member of Friendship
Baptist Church and faithfully attended for as long
as she was able to.
In keeping with her wishes, no public funeral ser
vices will be held. The family cordially asks that no
food be prepared, provided or brought to the home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
be made to Friendship Baptist Church, PO. Box
299, Danielsville, Ga. 30633; or St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis,
Tennessee 38105; or a charity of one’s choice.
The family greatly appreciates the staff of
Brookside in Commerce, Agape Hospice, and Del
la Pass for all of their care and support.
Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville
Chapel, is in charge of arrangements, www.lor-
dandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Rex Dennis Kenyon Jr.
JEFFERSON — Rex Dennis Kenyon Jr., 54, Jef
ferson, entered rest Monday, December 16, 2024.
Mr. Kenyon was bom
in Madison, Tennessee,
the son of Rex Dennis
Kenyon and Linda Lou
Teal of Florida. Mr.
Kenyon was a Veter
an of the United States
Air Force and worked in safety and inspection at
Kubota Manufacturing in Jefferson.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Kenyon is survived
by his wife, Mandi Wanner Kenyon; step-son,
Austin Brooks, Jefferson; sons, Trey Kenyon and
Ryan Kenyon, Florida; daughter, Kendall Kenyon,
Florida; and grandson, Talon, also survives.
In accordance with the wishes of Mr. Kenyon,
his remains will be cremated and a memorial ser
vice will be held by the family at 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 December 23-29
Dave B. Sailors
ATHENS — Dave B. Sailors, 82, Athens, passed
away peacefully Friday, December 13,2024.
Dave was bom in Al
bany to the late Mack
Norman and Flossie
Faulkner Sailors. He
graduated from Madi
son County High School
in 1960. He served in the
United States Coast Guard from 1960-1964 and re
tired from Bell South after 30 years of service.
Dave, an avid golfer and former member of Lane
Creek Golf Club loved to play cards, especially
Gin Rummy. He was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by brother, Larry Sailors; and sister, Audrey
Sailors.
Dave, Daddy, D-Dad is survived by his wife,
Sarah Gillooly Sailors; children, Colleen (Tim)
Ledford, Danielsville, Angela (Robert) Stokes,
Gainesville, Chad (Amanda) Sailors, Hull, and
Paula Ann (Russell) Segraves, Braselton; sister,
Janice Saylors, Morganton; nine grandchildren;
six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Private graveside service: Thursday, December
19, 2024, in Colbert City Cemetery with the Rev.
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