Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 2 May 1999 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/ *********************************************************************** Sunday, 02-May-99 09:52:49 Mary C. Charles Decatur Mary Lee Crawford Charles, 56, of 249 Forkner Drive, Decatur, died Friday, April 30, 1999. A native of Stephens County, Mrs. Charles was a daughter of Laura Davis Crawford, Toccoa, and the late Clyde C. Crawford. She lived most of her life in DeKalb County and was a service representative of Communicorp in Atlanta. She was a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Acree Davis Funeral Home, Toccoa, with the Revs. Ryan Seawright and Claude Smithmier officiating. Burial will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Byard Charles, Decatur; a daughter, Angela Darling, Santa Fe, N.M.; a son, Matthew Charles, Lawrenceville; two sisters, Virginia Smith, Toccoa, and Sherry Pitts, Baldwin; and two grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Dave Hogsed, Chris Stephens, Mack Fry, Jake Mize, Dennis Brittan, and Paul Smith. The family will be at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Smith, 138 Glencrest Dr., Toccoa, and will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the funeral hour today. Priscilla Cornett Royston Nora Priscilla Randolph Cornett, 52, died Friday, April 30, 1999. A native of Tennessee, Mrs. Cornett was a daughter of Faye Roulette Randolph, Lexington, Ky., and the late Lonnie Harold Randolph. She had been a resident of Hindman, Ky., and of Lavonia. She was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at B.D. Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, with the Revs. Craig Brown and John Forbes officiating. Burial will be in the Hunter's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Jack Cornett, Royston; three sons, George Cornett, Toccoa, Jack Victor Cornett, Milbank, S.D., and James Colburn Cornett, Baldwin, Wis.; a brother, Strother Colburn Randolph, Lancaster, Ky.; two sisters, Augalyn Combs, Richmond, Ky., and Jama L. Bowling, Lexington, Ky.; and two grandchildren. The family is at the residence of George Cornett, 794 Burnette Road, Hunter's Creek Community. Flowers are accepted, or memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. James Rushin Dekle Athens James "J.R." Dekle, 81, of 145 Dekle Drive, died Thursday, April 29, 1999. A native of Thomas County, Mr. Dekle has resided in Athens since 1949. He was a son of the late U.T. and Clara Carter Dekle. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Ocie Thomas Dekle. He had been a building contractor, managed real estate and had trained and shown Tennessee walking horses all of his adult life. He held positions on the board of directors for the Georgia Walking Horse Association and the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association. His horses won numerous state championships. Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include a daughter, Beth Dekle Tolley, Athens; two sons, James McAshley Dekle, Candler, N.C., and Thomas Michael Dekle, Athens; three grandchildren, Michael Shane Dekle, Jodi Lane Dekle and Edward Spencer Tolley, all of Athens; a sister, Marcelle Palmer, Cuthbert; a brother, William A. Dekle, Lithonia; nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Association or to The American Cancer Society. The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East. Bennie Paul Phelps Greensboro Bennie Paul Phelps, 82, of 2710 Old Union Point Highway, died Saturday, May 1, 1999. A native of Greene County, Mr. Phelps was the son of the late Paul and Ellie Jones Phelps. He was retired from the railroad, and was a member of Wesley Chapel Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Wesley Chapel, Greensboro, with the Rev. Timothy Tabler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Louise Hopkins Phelps, Greensboro; a stepson, Reid Mulkey, Athens; a daughter, Linda Buck, Atlanta; two stepdaughters, Kathy Cranford and Bobbie Edwards, both of Athens; a brother, Fred Phelps, Sumter, S.C.; three sisters, Nell Finch, Union Point, Sara Moon, High Point, N.C., and Louise Moody, Tifton; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Charles Stewart, Steve Smith, Ed Clark, Charles Clayton, Doug Moody, and Tommy Phelps. Honorary pallbearers will be Cotton Boswell, Charles Hubbard, Jack Pullknot, Alex Jackson, Edwin Bacon, and Billy Smith, and JR Phelps. The family is at the residence and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Callaway Funeral Home, Union Point. DeWitt Seagraves Lumber City DeWitt Seagraves, 90, formerly of Hartwell, died Thursday, April 29, 1999. A native of Madison County, Mr. Seagraves was a son of the late Lovic and Lucy Burriss Seagraves. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Helen Jeanine Simmon, a brother, Jack Seagraves, and two grandchildren. He was retired from Daniel Construction Company. He was a member of the Nancy Hart Masonic Lodge 690, was a 51-year Masonite, and was a member of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Evergreen Memorial Park with the Revs. John Kesler and Randy Smith officiating. He is survived by his wife, Velma Conley Seagraves; a son, Edward C. Seagraves; two daughters, Peggy Wynell Burton, Athens, and Brenda Gale Brue, Lumber City; three brothers, Otis and Jimmy Seagraves, both of Commerce, and Felton Seagraves, Milledgeville; three sisters, Eula Mae Smith, Greenwood, S.C., Lucille Mize, Gainesville, and Ruth Pittman, Nicholson; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. The family is in residence at 2894 Whippoorwill Trail, Hartwell. The Joseph A. Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of the arrangements. Earl Lamar Simmerson Macon Earl Lamar Simmerson, 60, of McIntyre, died Friday, April 30, 1999. Mr. Simmerson lived most of his life in Wilkinson County. He was employed with Engelhard Corporation for over 40 years. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Big Sandy Baptist Church with the Rev. Justice Garrett officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Grace Simmerson, McIntyre; a daughter, Sherry Shinholster, McIntyre; a brother; two sisters; and a grandson. Gordon Memorial Funeral Home in Gordon is in charge of the arrangements. Emerson Edward Smith Greenville, S.C. Emerson Edward "Bunkey" Smith, formerly of Athens, died Saturday, May 1, 1999. Mr. Smith was a son of Jemina B. Smith, Athens, and the late Chevalier "C.B." Smith. He was retired master chief in the U.S. Navy, and had been employed by the U.S. Post Office in Greenville, S.C., for the past 25 years. He was a graduate of Athens High. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Mert Bridges Smith, Greenville, S.C.; a daughter, Sandra Kay Smith, Greenville, S.C.; a brother, James R. Smith, Athens; and an uncle, the Rev. Gail B. Smith of Jacksonville, Fla. Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced later. This announcement is courtesy of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East. Ezra Smith Royston Daniel Ezra Smith, 57, of 135 Dogwood Trail, Royston, died Friday, April 30, 1999. A native of Horry County, S.C., the Rev. Smith was a son of Ethel Swails Smith, Murrells Inlet, S.C., and the late William Aurby Smith. He was a minister in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and was a member of the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was an electrician and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Goldmine Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Revs. John W. Swails and Bruce Floyd officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Franklin Springs City Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Tawana Allen Smith, Royston; a daughter, Peggy Smith Dove, Royston; three brothers, Aubrey Odell Smith, Florence, S.C., William Earl Smith and Marvin David Smith, both of Royston; and two sisters, Rebecca Smith Mills and Rachel Smith Howell, both of Murrells Inlet, S.C. The family is at his residence and at the residence of Earl Smith, 1398 Campbell Ridge Road, Royston, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Pruitte Funeral Home, Royston. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Goldmine Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2081 Goldmine-Holly Springs Church, Royston, GA 30662, or Trinity Broadcasting Network, P.O. Box A, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Seabon Strange Hartwell Seabon Strange, 97, of 35 Colfax St., died Saturday, May 1, 1999. Winfrey's Mutual Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of the arrangements. Obituary notices are published as a public service. However, we reserve the right to edit funeral notices for content and length. Notices that include information not normally published have been paid for by the family or the funeral home. online athensAthens Daily News/Banner Herald Šopyright 1998 Athens Newspapers Inc.