Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 6 Nov 1996 Thanks for permission from the Athens Daily News /Banner-Herald http://www.onlineathens.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Obituaries James 'Tom' Gunnin Sr. Royston James "Tom" Everette Gunnin Sr., 76, of 124 Higginbotham Road died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Cobb County, Mr. Gunnin was a son of the late John M. and Eliza Abernathy Gunnin. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, where he saw combat action on the battleship U.S.S. California in the Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima. He was a retired truck mechanic for Flowers Sunbeam Bakery and was a Baptist. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Pruitte Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Creason officiating. Graveside services will follow at 4 p.m. in Floral Hills Cemetery, Tucker. Survivors include his wife, Vera Dutton Gunnin, Royston; two sons, James E. Gunnin Jr., Kennesaw, and Rick Gunnin, Tucker; two daughters, Carole Wilson, Hartwell, and Faye Hughes, Midlothian, Va.; two sisters, Lucile Eason, Smyrna, and Chris Prather, Conyers; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. The body is at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. today. The family is at the home. Willie Mae Lockwood Clarkville Willie Mae Lockwood, 84, died Friday, Nov. 1, 1996. Mrs. Lockwood was a native of Stephens County. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Joe Jenkins officiating. Burial will be in Clarkville City Cemetery. Survivors include two sons, Ed Lockwood, Atlanta, and Henry Lockwood, Clarkville; two sisters, Beatrice Gervin, Atlanta, and Ella Harris, Miami; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Avis R. Gurley Jefferson Avis Register Gurley, 66, of 251 Westmoreland Drive died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Laurens County, Mrs. Gurley lived in Jefferson for 47 years. She was a daughter of the late Robert Alva Register and Bessie Knight Register. She was the widow of John James Gurley. She was a retired social worker with Jackson County Department of Family & Children Services. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Jefferson. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Jefferson with the Revs. Bob Nash and Mickey Kirkindoll officiating. Burial will be in Woodbine Cemetery. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred Gurley and DeMaris Gurley, Jefferson, and Bob Gurley and Sherry Gurley, Bremen; and four grandchildren, Ryan Gurley and Taryn Gurley, both of Jefferson, and Jake Gurley and Jed Gurley, both of Bremen. Honorary pallbearers include members of Fidelis Sunday School class and special friends. Flowers are optional; donations may be made to DFACS Needy Children Fund, Jefferson. Jackson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lamar Hayes Braselton Lamar Hayes, 47, died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Jackson County, Mr. Hayes was a son of Lillie Mae Self Hayes and the late Hubert L. Hayes. He was a maintenance employee with Speedway Truckstop, Braselton. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Center United Methodist Church with the Revs. Howard Banks and Mera Head officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Mickey Jean Hayes, Braselton; a son, Dwayne Hayes, Braselton; a daughter, Crystal Hayes, Braselton; a sister, Sara Watkins, Winder; and two brothers, David "Bill" Hayes and Edward Hayes, both of Hoschton. Carter-Stewart Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Gordon Purdy Demorest Gordon Purdy, 72, died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1996. A native of Habersham County, Mr. Purdy was a son of the late Phillip and Nellie Wheeler Purdy. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Minnie Lee Hunter and Elizabeth Ivester; a brother, Junior Purdy; and a grandson, Ronald Lee Purdy. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a truck driver. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Whitfield Funeral Home with the Rev. Paris Whitworth officiating. Burial will be in Clarkesville Cemetery with military honors conducted by Grant Reeves V.F.W. Post 7720. Survivors include his wife, Ethel Broom Purdy, Demorest; two daughters, Martha Ann Fry, Clarkesville, and Mary Jane Garrett, Cornelia; two sons, Ronnie Purdy, Demorest, and Johnny Walker, Abbeville; three sisters, Lora Dover, Pendleton, S.C., Geraldine Holbrook, Buford, and Thedosha Queen, Athens; a brother, Hoyt Purdy, Clarkesville; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Sue D. Crunkleton Carnesville Martha Sue Denton Crunkleton, 57, of 2111 Prospect Church Road died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1996. A native of Peach County, Mrs. Crunkleton was a daughter of the late Paul J. and Agnes Hutto Denton. She was the widow of Buford Swain Crunkleton. She was employed with the Franklin County School System and Paul's Steak House, Helen. She was a member of Prospect United Methodist Church, the UMW of the church and Red Hill Eastern Star. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at the church with the Revs. Darrell Cox and Dennis Kesler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30 p.m. Survivors include a daughter, Cindy Garrison, Carnesville; two sons, Ricky Crunkleton and Jeff Crunkleton, both of Carnesville; a sister, Ann Kesler, Carnesville; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild. Pallbearers will be Willard Kesler, Michael Kesler, Harold Garrison, Roger Garrison, Mike Payne and Harold Garrison II. They are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. The family will be at the home of Kenneth Garrison, Prospect Church Road, and will receive friends 3:30-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today. Acree-Davis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. James H. Langston Eastanollee James Hensley Langston, 73, of Georgia Highway 17 South died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1996. A native of Franklin County, Mr. Langston was a son of the late Ira and Lula Payne Langston. He the widower of Berthene Whitfield Langston. He was a former employee of Economy Auto Store and Coats & Clark, and was a former manager of Stephens County Landfill. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the church with Dr. Butch Franklin officiating. Burial will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens with members of Toccoa Coffee Club as honorary escort. The club is requested to assemble at the church at 1:40 p.m. Thursday. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include a daughter, Lynn L. Moore, Eastanollee; a sister, Ruth Thomason, Carnesville; two grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. The body is at Whitfield Mortuary, where the family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today. The family will be at the home of James Moore, Georgia 17 South. Flowers are optional; memorials may be made to the church's building fund or Hand in Hand Hospice Yellow Team. Doyle Fortson Elberton Jesse Doyle Fortson, 85, died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Elbert County, Mr. Fortson was a son of the late Delancey L. and Lillian Fortson. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a retired stone cutter. He was a member of Elberton First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Hicks Funeral Home with Dr. C.E. Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Ann Fortson, Elberton; a son, Don Fortson, Elberton; two brothers, Harvey Fortson, Hapeville, and Quillian Fortson, New Tazwell, Tenn.; and three grandsons. The family is at the home of Don Fortson, 2117 Athens Highway. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund of the church. Charles W. Moorhead Watkinsville Charles W. Moorhead, 72, died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Davidson County, N.C., Mr. Moorhead was a son of the late Jeptha and Lola Means Moorhead. He was a retired claims adjuster with Georgia Power and was a member of Bethabara Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at the church with the Rev. Frank Johnson and Keith Jones officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Thomas Moorhead; two daughters, Carole M. Walker, Martinsburg, W.Va., and Mary Ellen Collins, Slidell, La.; a son, Dr. Warren Moorhead, Trion; a sister, Dean M. Allen, Savannah; two grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church. Mae S. Bennett Toccoa Floy Mae Sheriff Johnson Bennett, 85, of Brookdale Road died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Hart County, Mrs. Bennett was a daughter of the late William M. and Arabella Kelley Sheriff. She was the widow of Joseph Johnson and Forest Bennett. She was a member of Confidence United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. today at Acree-Davis Funeral Home, Toccoa, with the Rev. Jack Lamb officiating. Burial will be in Bowersville City Cemetery. Survivors include a son, Homer Johnson, Toccoa; a daughter, Mary Jo Register, Apollo Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church. Robert E. 'Bob' Poss Jr. Athens Robert E. "Bob" Poss Jr., 73, died Monday, Nov. 4, 1996. A native of Athens, Mr. Poss was a son of the late Robert E. Poss Sr. and Bertha Thomas Poss. He was preceded in death by a son, Clifford Harrison Poss. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Athens. He was an officer in the Army Air Corps before returning to Athens to join his father in the family business, Poss Famous Foods, Poss Barbecue and the concessions contract for University of Georgia sporting events. He attended the university, where he lettered on the 1942 Rose Bowl team and was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. He was active in civic arenas as an appointee of the state Food Service Advisory Council. He served on the board of directors of First American Bank & Trust and the YMCA. He was past president of the Athens Touchdown Club as well as a member of the Athens City Club, Athens Country Club, University of Georgia Letterman's Society and the Gridiron Secret Society. He was also a member of the President's Club of the university. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Garrett Wilder, Jon Appleton and Jerry Varnado officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include his wife, Betty Burchfield Poss; two daughters, Peggy Sue Williams, Athens, and Cynthia Ann Poss, Hilton Head, S.C.; a son, Robert E. "Bob" Poss III, Athens; a granddaughter, Nanci Williams; three grandsons, Michale Williams, Randy Williams and Eric Moye; and a great-grandson, Samuel Poss Williams. Pallbearers will be Bob Argo, R.E. Budd, Otis Childs, Jack Davis, Leroy Dukes, Tom Griffith, Robert Marion, Hugh Fowler, Braxton B. Rowe, L.L. Scruggs, Loran Smith, Charlie McMullen, John H. Terrell Jr., W. Terrell Wingfield and Buck Griffin. Honorary pallbearers will include members of the Athens City Club and the Tuck Sunday School class of First United Methodist Church of Athens. Memorials may be made to Hope Haven School, 950 Dearing Extension, Athens, Ga. 30606 or to a charity of preference. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (C)opyright 1996 Athens Banner Herald/Daily News