About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2025)
PAGE 8A - THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025 Obituaries Dewey Jordan Bentley WINDER — Dewey Jordan Bentley, 91, Winder, passed away Friday, January 31, 2025. He was a native of Gwinnett County and a longtime resident of Winder. Dewey was a member of Winder First United Method ist Church where as a young couple, he and his wife Jo were youth leaders for several years and later held important roles in the life of the church. He worked and retired from Paramount Pictures and after retirement held financial roles with Lar ry’s Easy Pay and Winder First United Methodist Church. He was also a travel agent for G and G Travel which gave him and his wife Jo many oppor tunities to travel the world together, and with their grandchildren. He was the true definition of a gentleman and took every opportunity to make people feel special and welcome. He believed in serving his communi ty and was one of the founders of the Auburn Lions Club. He also spent many years with the Winder Kiwanis Club. Dewey was preceded in death by the love of his life for 62 years, Leslie Jo Knight Bentley; his par ents, Albert and Beatrice Jenkins Bentley; and his sister, Bobbie Cooper. He is survived by his son, Mike Bentley (Chance), Winder; his brother, Jerry Bentley (Violet), Snell ville; two grandchildren, Leslie Jordan Cook (Sean) and Mallory Paige Still (Andrew); and three great-grandchildren, Caroline and Madeline Cooke and Thomas Still. Funeral service: Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Winder First United Methodist Church. Family to receive friends: Sunday, February 16, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Par kinson’s Research or Winder First United Method ist Church. Smith Funeral Home, Winder, has charge of ar rangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of February! 10-16 Nora Ruth Nix Brown 4 i DECATUR — Nora Ruth Nix Brown, 89, Deca tur, entered into rest Friday, February 7, 2025. Mrs. Brown was born in Alto, the youngest child of the late John Benjamin Nix and the late Nora Belle Bow man Nix. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Scott Brown Jr.; daugh ter, Janet Willbanks Camp; father of her chil dren, Donald Edward Willbanks; and six siblings, Sarah Nix Hockman, Elfreida Nix Flowers, John Berlin Nix, Mary Nix Scroggs, Charles Haygood Nix and Joseph Herbert Nix. Mrs. Brown was a graduate of O’Keefe High School in Atlanta, and retired from the DeKalb County School System, where she worked as a procurement specialist. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Jefferson, and enjoyed quilting, working in her garden, bird watching, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Survivors include two daughters, Pamela Ann Willbanks Green, Clayton, and Marjorie Lynn Willbanks. Decatur; two grandchildren, Richard Alan Camp (Jennifer), Clover, South Carolina, and Crystal Camp Brennan (Tatsu), Bonaire; two great-grandchildren, Brock and Reeves Camp; and son-in-law, Larry Alan Camp, Warner Robins also survives. Funeral service: Saturday February 15, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverends Stephen Burrell and Gerry Wiley of ficiating. Burial will follow at B.C. Grant Baptist Church Cemetery, Alto. Family to receive friends: Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org. Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder High way, Jefferson, Georgia, 706-367-5467. Online condolences at www.evansfiineralhomeinc.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of February! 10-16 Carol Prestridge Cooper PENDERGRASS — Carol Prestridge Cooper, 89, Pendergrass, entered rest Saturday, February 8, 2025. Mrs. Cooper was bom in Atlanta, a daughter of the late Eddie W. and Mozelle Gilmer Pre stridge. Mrs. Cooper retired from SunTrnst Bank and was a mem ber of Talmo Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Coo per is preceded by a sis ter, Gloria Prestridge. Survivors include 9 her husband, Howard Cooper, Pendergrass; two daughters, Amy Brown (Randall), Pendergrass, and Betsy Gamer (Joel), Buford; grandchildren, Melissa Thomas (Chris), Pendergrass, and Eric Garner, Buford; two great-grandchildren, Breelan Thomas and Braylee Thomas, Pendergrass; broth er-in-law, Larry Cooper (Brenda), Lafayette, Loui siana; and a number of other relatives also survive. Funeral service: Monday, Febmary 10, 2025, at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Evans Funeral Home with the Reverends Doug Merk and Richard Merk officiating with burial to follow in Talmo Baptist Church Cemetery. Gentlemen honored as pallbear ers are Greg Bell, Willie Pittmon, Jimmy Cole, Mitch Chapman, Lamar Elrod and Matt Rouse. Family to receive friends: Sunday, February 9, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Evans Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Mrs. Carol P. Cooper to Eagle Ranch at WWW.eagleranch.org. 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 February! 10-16 Walter McCoy Hilton I % a w, he 1.. Walter McCoy Hilton, 74, was born March 22, 1950, the son of Walter Curtis and Coralee Med- ders Hilton. He passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Athens. Mr. Hilton was pre ceded in death by his wife, Malissa; and his parents. A native of Alma, he was a retired CPA and a computer whiz who could fix anything. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Jef ferson. He will be great ly missed by his family. Survivors include his daughter, Kimberly Parker (Bruce); and grandson, Alex Parker, Jefferson. The youngest of four, he is survived by one sister, Phyllis Schmidbauer; plus many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Betty Wall and Joyce Tarpley. A private family memorial — celebration of life will be held 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 February! 10-16 Salvatore Sam Merola Jr. JEFFERSON — Salvatore Sam Merola Jr., af fectionately known as “Sal”, 68, Jefferson, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025. Born in Athens on June 28, 1956, Sal was the son of the late Sal vatore Sam Merola Sr. and the late Betty Anne Ewing Paul. After high school, Sal spent much of his professional ca reer in the trucking industry. He was em ployed with Pepsi Bot tling Company, Garrett Paving, E. R. Snell, Inc. and several other companies. In his retirement years Sal enjoyed antiquing and repurposing all things old, and creating his moun tain themed man cave at his home. Sal was a very Christ centered, faith filled man, and was steadfast in his commitment to serving Jesus and others. He was passionate about pursuing more knowledge about Jesus Christ through education at Charis Bi ble College. Sal was a member of Purpose Church at Bethel Temple in Demorest. In addition to his parents, Sal is preceded in death by daughter, Kellie Merola Jennings; and mother- in-law, Marie Arnold. Survivors include his wife, Roxie Arnold Mero la, Jefferson; daughter and son-in-law, Kayla and Ryan Ginn, Clarkesville; father-in-law and moth er-in-law, Joe and Elaine Arnold, Athens; son-in- law, Josh Jennings, Jefferson; brothers and sisters- in-law, Reggie and Donna Merola, Winder, and Timmy and Brenda Merola, Watkinsville; sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and Guy Gordon, Wat kinsville; grandchildren, Caiden Samuel Jennings, Elie Roxann Ginn, Adalyn Marie Jennings and Eli Ryan Ginn; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family. Funeral service: Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. at The Jefferson Church, 21 Cobb Street, Jefferson, Ga. The Revs. Ned Davis, Kayla Ginn and Ryan Ginn will officiate. Interment will be on Friday, January 7, 2025, in Purpose Church at Bethel Temple Cemetery, Demorest, Ga. Family to receive friends: Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. at the church. Funeral arrangements are in the care and profes sional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville, Ga. An online guestbook is available and may be viewed at HillsideMemorial- Chapel.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of February! 10-16 David Myles Rigby BETHLEHEM — David Myles Rigby, 70, Beth lehem, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb ruary 8, 2025, at his residence. Mr. Rigby was a mem ber of Calvary Baptist Church in Statham. He was a master electri cian by trade and retired from Gwinnett County in 2016 as the mainte nance supervisor in the detention center. Da vid was an avid fisher man and was a former Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America where he loved mentoring young men. He was also a judge for the Kansas City BBQ Society for numerous years. David will be remem bered best as a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. Mr. Rigby was preceded in death by his parents, Owen Rigby Jr. and Esther Virginia Everett Rigby; and siblings, Carey Everett and Andy Rigby. Mr. Rigby is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jean Pyle Rigby, Bethlehem; sons, Josh ua Rigby, Winder, and Michael (Shelby) Rig by, Winder; sister, Debra Gasaway, Winder; five grandchildren, Kimberly Rigby, Houston, Texas, Caleb Rigby, Statham, Whitley Rigby, Statham, Marley Porter, Winder, and Karli Porter, Winder; one great-grandchild, Winter Rose Siddons, Hous ton, Texas; along with numerous nieces and neph ews also survive. Funeral service: Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Maddox-Carter Memorial Home with the Rev. Matt Dibler officiating. Burial will follow the service at Barrow Memorial Gar dens. Flowers are accepted for the funeral service of Mr. Rigby. Maddox-Carter Memorial Home, Winder, is en trusted with the arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of February! 10-16 Joanne Rose (Gersey) Schmidt ATHENS — Joanne Rose (Gersey) Schmidt, 88, long-time resident of Athens, passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Joanne was born in the village of Crescent in the Colerain town- ship of Belmont County, Ohio, in 1936 to Martin Gersey and Joanna E. Vicich. She graduat ed from John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana, in 1954, and Holy Cross Central School of Nursing in 1957. She worked as an RN in South Bend, Indiana, and briefly in Athens, continued on next page
