THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 25. 2024 - PAGE 5B
Obituaries
Douglas Duncan officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the American Cancer Society or ASP-
CA.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral
arrangements.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Reece F. Simmons
BALDWIN — Reece F. Simmons, 86, Baldwin,
went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, De
cember 17, 2024, following a brief illness.
Bom in Baldwin on
October 07, 1938, he
was a son of the late Gar
nett and Ina Eller Sim
mons. Reece served his
country proudly in the
United States Army. He
retired as a buck driver
with Kenbar Manufac
turing with many years
of dedicated service.
Reece was proud to
have received the Ryder
Safety Award for no accidents for 25 years.
He enjoyed working with his Farmall tractor,
hunting and fishing, as well as caring for his dogs,
Dolly and Ruger. Reece loved his family tremen
dously and attended Cornelia Congregational Ho
liness Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in
death by his daughter, Rhonda Simmons Brewer;
granddaughter, Kimberly Brewer; brother, Coy
Simmons; sisters, Carol Simmons, Cozette Eller
and Reba Zimmerman.
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years,
Ruby Mae Armour Simmons; daughter and son-in-
law, Rebecca and Brian Mason; son-in-law, Rev.
Ed Brewer; grandsons, Adam Brewer and Colby
Mason; great-grandchildren, Natalie Brewer, Ca
leb Brewer and Brennan Brewer; brother and sis
ter-in-law, Roy and Edith Simmons; several niec
es, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral service: Saturday, December 21, 2024,
at 11 a.m. from the chapel of McGahee-Griffin and
Stewart Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry Ben-
field and Bishop Clarence Reynolds officiating. In
terment will follow in the Harmony Baptist Church
Cemetery with full military honors provided by the
Grant Reeves Veterans Honor Guard.
Family to receive friends: Friday, December 20,
2024, from 6 until 8 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 registry is available
for the Simmons family at www.mcgaheegriffi-
nandstewart.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
JoNell Patton Steele
COMER — JoNell Patton Steele, 95, Comer,
passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
She was the daughter of Joe Thomas and Ada
Patton; also preceded by her husband, James Ar-
mell Steele; two brothers, Fred Patton and Thomas
Patton; and four sisters, Frances Headspeth, Doris
Reagin, Gertrude Patton and Hilda Patton.
Survivors include her daughter, Vivian Steele;
and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service: Friday, December 6, 2024, at
2 p.m. at Glade United Methodist Church.
Family to receive friends: Friday, December 6,
2024, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. The interment
will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, you may make memorial do
nations to the Glade United Methodist Church, c/o
Lori Brazell, 1799 Lexington Carlton Rd., Carlton,
Ga. 30627.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, Danielsville,
Danielsville, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
www.lordandstephens.com.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
Mattie Joyce White
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Mattie
Joyce White, 86, ascended peacefully to the eter
nal realm surrounded by her family at her home in
Jefferson.
Mrs. White (Mattie
Joyce Hardy) entered
the world on May 3,
1938, one of nine chil
dren bom to parents
Ralph and Mattie (Bur
gess) Hardy in Jeffer
son. She was preceded
in death by two sisters,
Annie Catherine (Har
dy) Moon and Ruby
Jean (Hardy) Danner;
and one brother, Ralph
Edgar Hardy.
A lifelong Jefferson resident, Mrs. White is a
member of the Bryan High School Class of 1957.
She worked diligently in the poultry processing in
dustry, reaching the position of trainer and supervi
sor before retiring in 2001 with many professional
accolades.
Mrs. White dedicated her life in service to her
family and the New Salem Baptist Church. A
founding member of the church’s E.T. Smith Se
nior Choir, she served faithfully as lead soprano for
more than 60 years, and as choir president for more
than 20 years. Mrs. White also served as a church
deaconess for 25 years.
She is survived by her husband, Deacon Saul
White; her two daughters, Adrian Bailey Carver
(Darryl) and Sande Bailey-Gwinn (Macon); one
sister, Pearl Hardy Kinney (Clarence); three broth
ers, Thomas Hardy (Linda), John A. Hardy and
Kelvin Hardy; five grandchildren; and several lov
ing nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral service: Monday, December 23,2024, at
12 p.m. at the New Salem Baptist Church, 787 New
Salem Church Road, Jefferson, Georgia. Interment
will take place at Jackson Memorial Gardens, 6825
Jefferson Rd. Commerce, Georgia 30529.
Family to receive friends: Monday, December
23, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church.
Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
Week of December 23-29
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