Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 20 Apr 1998 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/ *********************************************************************** Kelly Brown Athens Kelly Howard Brown, 38, of 170 Broomsedge Trail died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Blacksburg, Va., Mr. Brown was a son of R. Harold and Patricia C. Brown of Athens. He was a member of Tuckston United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Tuckston United Methodist Church with the Rev. Herb Owen officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. In addition to his parents, survivors include three sisters and brothers-in-law, Angela and Greg Patton, Crawford, Janet and Kevin Talbot, Baton Rouge, La., and Vicki and Jason Averbook, Roswell; and two nieces, Allison Patton and Ansley Patton, both of Crawford. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tuckston United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, from 7-9 p.m. today. Mary Chandler Danielsville Mary Jeanette Chandler, 85, of Route 4 Box 4135 died Sunday, April 19, 1998. A native of Madison County, Mrs. Chandler was a daughter of the late Homer R. and Heddie Gunnells Adams and widow of George Raymond Chandler. She was a member of Union Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Union Baptist Church with the Revs. Walter Singletary and Ray Jenkins officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include three sons, Jimmy Chandler, Howard Chandler, and Troy Chandler, all of Danielsville; two sisters, Hazel Freeman, Anderson, S.C., and Sarah Chambers, Reidsville, N.C.; and seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Wayne Chandler, Stacey Chandler, Kevin Chandler, George Chandler, Don Chandler, Tim Stamps and Ryan Peloquin. The family will receive friends at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, from 7-9 p.m. today. Carl Ferguson Athens Carl Thomas Ferguson, 63, of 154 McLeroy Drive died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Greene County, Mr. Ferguson was a son of Sadie Randall Ferguson and the late Carl Raymond Ferguson. He had lived in this area since 1964, was employed with Sears, and was formerly president of the Whitehead Civitan Club. He was of the Presbyterian faith. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West, with the Revs. Crist Camden and Ray Rhodes Jr. and Dr. Jim Caton officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Mary Anna Smith Ferguson; two daughters, Debbie Underwood, Watkinsville, and Teri Gunter, Bogart; two brothers, Sam Ferguson, Fairburn, and Curtis Ferguson, Watkinsville; and three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Tom Edge, Gerald Bowie, Rodney Higginbotham, Jimmy Meeler, Richard Brooks and Melvin Duvall. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m. today. Joseph LaRocca Athens Dr. Joseph Paul LaRocca, 77, of 115 Fortson Circle died at his home on Friday evening, April 17, 1998. Born in LaJunta, Colo., on July 5, 1920, Dr. LaRocca was the son of the late Vito and Mary Parlapiano LaRocca of Pueblo, Colo. He attended the University of Colorado on a football scholarship, receiving his bachelor's degree in pharmacy in 1942. He earned a master's degree in medicinal pharmacy from the University of North Carolina in 1944. After his service in World War II as a medical corpsman with the U.S. Army, Dr. LaRocca completed his doctorate at the University of Maryland in 1948. Dr. LaRocca served the University of Georgia from 1949 to 1986 as a professor, Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, and Director of Graduate Studies of the College of Pharmacy and held the Pfieffer Research Fellowship in 1956. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was the author of some 25 research publications. Dr. LaRocca was instrumental in establishing the master's and doctoral degree programs of the College of Pharmacy and was the consultant on the design of the present Pharmacy Building. He also served the University of Georgia as a member of the Athletic Board from 1958 until 1986, when upon retirement he became an emeritus member. Dr. LaRocca was a member of numerous professional organizations including the American and Georgian Pharmaceutical Associations, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Georgia and New York Academies of Science, Phi Kappa Phi (past president), Rho Chi, Phi Delta Chi, and Sigma Xi (past president). A long-time member of the Athens Rotary Club and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Dr. LaRocca was active in civic affairs as a past president of the Board of Directors of the Clarke County Unit of the American Cancer Society, as well as the Athens Clarke County Community Chest, and as a worker for the Athens Association for Retarded Children, most notably as one of the original organizers of Hope Haven School for the Developmentally Disabled. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Father Joy Nellissery and Father Albert Jowdy officiating. Graveside services will follow at Oconee Hills Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Blair Camak LaRocca; three daughters, Mary Blair LaRocca, Gracewood, Charlotte A. LaRocca, Glastonbury, Conn., and Beth LaRocca-Pitts, Durham, N.C.; a son, Carl A. LaRocca, Milstead; a grandson, Frank LaRocca Hickey, Glastonbury, Conn.; an aunt, Josephine Cascio, Pueblo, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Helen LaRocca, Pueblo, Colo.; and two sons-in-law, Gene Hickey, Glastonbury, Conn., and Mark LaRocca-Pitts, Durham, N.C. Pallbearers will be Harold Hodgson Sr., Mack Lowery, Chester Sosebee, Horace Bell, Lee Pierson, Bill Hartman and Lamar Downs. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Athens Rotary Club and the Faculty of the College of Pharmacy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Dr. LaRocca to Hope Haven School, Newton Bridge Road, Athens, Ga., 30606; Gracewood School and Hospital, P.O. Box 1299, Gracewood, Ga., 30812; or St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 134 Prince Ave., Athens, Ga., 30601. A prayer service conducted by Deacon Bill Lakin will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at Bridges Funeral Home, followed by visitation from 7-8:30 p.m. Gladys Loyd Colbert Gladys Digby Loyd, 90, of 54 Tree Lane died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Jasper County, Mrs. Loyd had lived most of her life in Athens. She was a daughter of the late Mark and Georgia Womack Digby and widow of Noah Loyd. She was of the Methodist faith. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Bernstein Funeral Home. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include a daughter, Mildred Dixon, Athens; a son, Ralph Loyd, Bogart; two grandchildren, Brenda Esco and Ralph Jackson Loyd; and seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Peachtree Hospice, 3600 DeKalb Technology Parkway, Atlanta, Ga., 30340. Homer McCall Elberton Homer L. McCall, 86, died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Macon County, N.C., Mr. McCall was a son of the late Thomas Taylor McCall and Mary Ann Vinson McCall. He was a retired farmer. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Berry Funeral Home, Elberton, with the Rev. David McConnell officiating. Burial will be in Mallorysville Baptist Church Cemetery, Tignall. Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be nephews. The family has requested that flowers not be sent. Family members are at their respective homes and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday. Thomas Richardson II Winterville Thomas A. Richardson II died Friday, April 17, 1998. A native of Passaic, N.J., Mr. Richardson was a son of the late Oscar and Lillian Demarest Richardson. He was a longtime resident of East Providence, R.I., and an electrician for over 40 years for the Okonite Company. He was a past member of the Boys and Girls Club and the Hamilton House, both of East Providence, R.I. Mr. Richardson was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Lily W. Richardson; two daughters, Sue A. Richardson, Lake Bluff, Ill., and Beth Richardson, Winterville; three sons, Thomas A. Richardson III, Mishawaka, Ind., Bruce S. Richardson, Minneapolis, Minn., and Stephen W. Richardson, Central Falls, R.I.; a brother, Jack Richardson, Riverside, R.I.; and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, is in charge of arrangements. Bertha Sosby Lavonia Bertha Leola Herron Sosby, 95, of 6919 Georgia Highway 59, died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Franklin County, Mrs. Sosby was a daughter of the late A.B. and Julia Williams Herron Sr. and the widow of John Sears Sosby Sr. She was preceded in death by a son, John S. Sosby Jr. Mrs. Sosby was a homemaker and an organist and pianist at Tom's Creek Baptist Church and Allens United Methodist Church for many years. She was a member of and Sunday school teacher at Fairview Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, with the Revs. Bruce Moore, Jewell Gaines and Paul Jameson officiating. Burial will be in the Allens United Methodist Church Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Sara Sue Sosby Garner, Martin; a daughter-in-law, Reba Sue Mullinax Sosby, Lavonia; a sister, Jewel Herron Walters, Martin; and five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. The family is at the home of her daughter, 133 Herron Road, Martin. Ethel Watts Elberton Ethel Mashburn Watts, 62, of 104 Cactus Hill Road died Saturday, April 18, 1998. A native of Elbert County, she was a daughter of the late Charles Willis Mashburn and Maude Hammond Mashburn. She was retired from the granite industry and was a caterer. She was a member of Elberton First Presbyterian Church, Elberton Elks Aidmore Auxiliary, the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce, the America Legion, North East Animal Shelter of Georgia, and was a U.S. Army veteran. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Berry Funeral Home, Elberton, with the Rev. Glenn Gilstrap officiating. Burial will be in Elmhurst Cemetery, Elberton. Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Gail Johnson, Elberton; a son, Jack L. Watts Jr., Elberton; a granddaughter, Shannon Carter Higginbotham; and a cousin and life-long friend, Patsy Griffith, Elberton. The family has requested that flowers not be sent. Family members are at their respective homes and will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. Sara Yon Athens Sara Alice Seabolt Yon, 74, of 390 Crestwood Drive died Sunday, April 19, 1998. A native of Morgan County, Mrs. Yon was a daughter of the late Wheeler and Mary Olive Seabolt and widow of James Edwin Yon Sr. She was a homemaker and a member of Edwards Chapel Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, with Dr. Harry Kinchen and the Rev. Jack Segars officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include a daughter, Cindy Marie Williams, Watkinsville; two sons, James Edwin Yon Jr., Tallulah Falls, and Robert Wayne Yon, Bostwick; a brother, Wilburn Seabolt, Winterville; and 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7-9 p.m. today. Anna Smith Greensboro Anna Smith, 66, of 530 Morningside Apartments died Friday, April 17, 1998. Norrington Funeral Home, Greensboro, will announce arrangements. ______ ______________________________ Athens Daily News/Banner Herald Šopyright 1998 Athens Newspapers Inc.