Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 6 Aug 1997 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 header ANET Options Walter Austin Danielsville Walter Austin, 69, of Route 2 died Sunday, Aug. 3, 1997. A native of Athens, Mr. Austin was a son of the late Callie Mae Cape and John Gaston Austin. He was a textile worker at Harmony Grove Mills and sang gospel music. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Dennis Kesler, Larry Phillips and Harvey Smith officiating. Burial was in Galilee Holiness Church Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Ina Austin; two daughters, Shirley Austin, Danielsville, and Gladys Phillips, Winterville; a brother, Dillard Austin; and two grandchildren. Louise K. Black Toccoa Louise K. Black, 83, of 102 Pleasandale Road died Monday, Aug. 4, 1997. A native of Stephens County, Mrs. Black was a daughter of the late Lee and Louanna Banks King. She was retired from General Telephone Co. and was a member of First Baptist Church of Toccoa and the Friendship Sunday school class. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. today at Acree-Davis Funeral Home with the Revs. Dr. Henry Fields and David Turner officiating. Burial will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens. Survivors include three sons, Don Black, Albany, Dan Black, Morrow, and James Black, Salem, S.C.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a nephew. The family is at the residence. Rachel Dove Royston Sara Rachel Hill Dove, 75, of 960 Shirley Road died Monday, Aug. 4, 1997. A native of Madison County, Mrs. Dove was a daughter of the late Ezra and Daisy Hill and the widow of Shular "Stud" Dove. She was a retired seamstress at Oxford Manufacturing and was a member of Franklin Springs Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Franklin Springs Baptist Church with the Revs. Williard Crider and Marion Prather officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include a daughter, Gwinnett Bryant, Bowman; two sons, William Dove Sr. and Douglas Dove, both of Royston; a sister, Annie Sue Langford, Royston; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family members are at their respective homes. Pruitte Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Benson Dowell Royston Early Benson Dowell, 72, of 1524 Campbell Ridge Road died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. A native of Franklin County, Mr. Dowell was a son of the late John and Parilee Birch Dowell. He was a farmer and an Army veteran of World War II. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Dennis Phillips officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include three sisters, Lula Mae Bryant, Jefferson, Eula Crow, Hartwell, and Bulah McCollum, Royston; three brothers, Lee Ervin Dowell, Canon, Ernest Dowell, Sandy Cross, and George Dowell, Royston; and nieces and nephews. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family is at the residence and will receive friends 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at Pruitte Funeral Home. Thomas Gibson Royston Thomas Gibson, 72, of 425 Hale Crossing Road died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. A native of Elbert County, Mr. Gibson was a son of the late Elmer and Mary Bryson Gibson. He was retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation and was a member of Pennington Chapel United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Pennington Chapel United Methodist Church with the Revs. Merritt Waters and Robert Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Zidon Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Woody Gibson; five daughters, Mary Ann Beck, Bowersville, Diane Sosby, Canon, Jan Amos, Lithonia, and Judy Shiflet and Jean Shiflet, both of Royston; two sons, Tommy Gibson and Frankie Gibson, both of Royston; five sisters, Jenny Creamer, Palm Harbor, Fla., Helen Burchard, Dunedin, Fla., Lindy Foxworth, Chipley, Fla., Mildred Holcomb, Vernon, Ala., and Cathalene Harlow, Branson; five brothers, Clyde Gibson, Melvin Gibson, Donald Gibson, Willie Gibson and L.C. Gibson, all of Brooksville, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Tommy Gibson, 397 Hale Crossing Road, and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today and Thursday at Pruitte Funeral Home. Marjorie Gray Athens Marjorie Gray, 86, of 110 Mimosa Drive died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. A native of Morgan County, Mrs. Gray was a daughter of the late William Henry and Nora Rice Lovern and the widow of Dan Gray. She was a homemaker and a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Evergreen Memorial Park with the Revs. James Bowden and Luther Fouche officiating. Survivors include three daughters, Danna Ree Mathews, Augusta, Beth G. Norris, Norcross, and Patsy G. Waldrep, Watkinsville; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. The family is at the residence of Patsy Waldrep, 1131 Castle Drive, Watkinsville, and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at Bernstein Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1065 Gaines School Road, Athens, Ga. 30605, or to a favorite charity. Edna Mathis Commerce Edna Merle Wheeler Mathis, 89, of 3072 Maysville Road died Monday, Aug. 4, 1997. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Mathis was a daughter of the late Daniel J. and Ina Doss Wheeler and the widow of Comer Mathis. She was a retired supervisor and a member of Oconee Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Revs. David Harbin and Barry Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial Gardens. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Survivors include four sisters, Nell Brown and Wilda Martin, both of Maysville, Sara Daniels, Norcross, and Alda Harbin, Gainesville; and a brother, Dan Wheeler, Commerce. Louise Sauls Rutledge Louise Shepherd Sauls, 90, of 1260 Walter Shepherd Road died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. A native of Morgan County, Mrs. Sauls was a daughter of the late John Beasley and Susie Virginia Baskett and the widow of Walter L. Shepherd. She was a housewife. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Rutledge Methodist Church with the Rev. Bonnie Peters officiating. Burial will be in Rutledge City Cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Survivors include three daughters, Helen Louise Tubbs and Nell S. Kenny, both of Rutledge, and Joan S. Bell, Madison; a son, Walter Bonny Shepherd, Rutledge; two sisters, Tinnie Johnson, Conyers, and Ouida Johnson, Atlanta; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Simmons Funeral Home, Madison, is in charge of arrangements. Thomas Sheats Jr. Athens Thomas Sheats Jr., 65, of 957 Reese St. died Sunday, Aug. 3, 1997. A native of Clarke County, Mr. Sheats was a son of the late Thomas Sheats Sr. and Malvina Eberhart Sheats. He was owner and CEO of Sheats Construction Inc. and an active member of Timothy Baptist Church, where he served on the deacon and trustee boards. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ebenezer Baptist Church West, 205 N. Chase St., where the Rev. Dr. Winfred M. Hope is pastor, with the Rev. Jerry F. Hutchins, pastor of Timothy Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. The family will assemble at the residence at 10:45 a.m. Those who will forever cherish his memories are his wife, Lucile Sims Sheats; a daughter, Cynthia Sheats, Athens; two sons and daughters-in-law, Alvin and Brenda Sheats, Athens, and Victor and Lori Sheats, Atlanta; a stepson, Emmitt Smith Jr., Athens; a sister and brother-in-law, Marion and Bishop Fred Redden, Atlanta; two stepsisters, Hilda Williams and Sandra Williams, New York; and eight grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. today at Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home. Fredrick A. Smith Greenbush, Mich. Fredrick A. Smith, 77, died Saturday, July 26, 1997. A native of Lemington, Ontario, Mr. Smith was the widower of Ann Smith and was preceded in death by a son, Glennie Smith. A Navy veteran of World War II, he was a retired supervisor of N.G. Gilbert Co. Forestry Division. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. July 31 at Aspey Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry Smith officiating. Burial was in Washington Cemetery, Carsonville, Mich. Survivors include two sons, Fredrick J. Smith, Oscoda, Mich., and Terry M. Smith, Madison; two sisters, Betty Falls, Port Sanilac, Mich., and Madeline Lamount, Deckersville, Mich.; a brother, Frank Smith, Carsonville, Mich.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Light for Living Children's Home in India, P.O. Box 210, Madison, Ga. 30650. Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. Thurston Sorrow Maysville Thurston Curtis Sorrow, 74, of 230 Tom Yarbrough Road died Monday, Aug. 4, 1997. A native of Commerce, Mr. Sorrow was a son of the late Ila Slater and Otis Sorrow. He was self-employed as a logger. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Walter Swain and Jimmy Owensby officiating. Burial will be in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Bunice Sorrow; a sister, Ruth Swain, Commerce; three brothers, Ambray Sorrow, Homer, and Gene Sorrow and Hoyt Sorrow, both of Commerce; and nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Robert A. Walker Athens Robert A. "Bob" Walker, 52, of 142 Reed St. died Friday, Aug. 1, 1997. A native of Ohio, Mr. Walker was a graduate of Kent State University and a former advertising representative with WNGC. Remembrance and fellowship services will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the residence of Harriett Lay-Garrett, 380 Glenwood Drive. Survivors include three daughters, Linda W. Ott, Adrienne Lee Ku and Rebecca Lee Brewer, all of Illinois; a son, Michael Robert Walker, Illinois; a granddaughter; and four grandsons. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Georgia Chapter, 2045 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 800, Atlanta, Ga. 30309-1405. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. C.O. Weathers Winder C.O. "Jimmy" Weathers, 50, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Weathers was a son of the late James Oliver and Grace Edna Seon Weathers. He was employed by General Motors. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Carter-Stewart Funeral Home. Burial will be in Barrow Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife, Amy D. Weathers; two daughters, M.W. Church, Winder, and Kimberly Ann Weathers, Roswell; a son, Nathan Todd Weathers, Winder; two brothers, Wayne Wilmoth, Monroe, and Donnie Wilmoth, Sparta; and a grandson. The family will receive friends 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Cora Zeagler Sylvania Cora Usher Zeagler, 76, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 1997. A native of Effingham County, Mrs. Zeagler was the widow of Garnett Edward Zeagler. She was retired after 20 years at Torrington Co. and was a member of Bay Branch Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Bay Branch Baptist Church with the Revs. Ray Black and Jack Hudson officiating. Burial will be in the Zeagler family cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Merna Haynes, Bolivia, N.C.; three sons, George Sharpe, Lincolnton, N.C., Jimmy Parker, Kyle, Texas, and Edward Zeagler, Athens; three sisters, Sadie Shearouse and Monteen Maulden, both of Springfield, and Frieda Morgan, Savannah; three brothers, Wilson Usher and Calvin Usher, both of Savannah, and Woodrow Usher, Guyton; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. DEATH NOTICES Elizebeth Jones Elizebeth Jones, 74, of 199 Lavender Road died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1997. Eberhart & Son Mortuary, Winder, will announce arrangements. ______ ______________________________ Athens Daily News/Banner Herald Šopyright 1998 Athens Newspapers Inc.