Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 4 Jan 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/ *********************************************************************** Emory Lee Brinson Sr. Sylvania Emory Lee Brinson Sr., 81, of 4151 Millen Highway died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. A native of Screven County, Mr. Brinson was a member of Bay Branch Baptist Church, Bay Branch Masonic Lodge, American Legion Post 116, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, a U.S. Army infantry veteran during World War II where he received the Bronze Star and was of the rank of lieutenant, a retired assistant commissioner of agriculture for Georgia, retiring in 1978, a former county agent with the University of Georgia Extension Service in Johnson County, and a 1941 graduate of the UGA School of Agriculture. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Bay Branch Baptist Church with the Revs. Ray Black and Dean Cason officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy B. Wyatt, Lilburn; two sons, Emory Lee Brinson Jr., Athens, and Michael Brinson, Bay Branch; a brother, Ward Brinson, Bay Branch; and seven grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Leslie Thompson, Mack Thompson, Leslie Cooper, Chip Bazemore Sr., Wayne Bazemore, Gary Brinson, Roy Brinson, Ed Thompson, and Jay Brinson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Screven County Ag Workers Council, Roland Parker, Edward Brinson, and James Moats. Memorials may be made to Bay Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Frances Thompson, 392 Bay Road, Sylvania, GA 30467. Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Margaret Alice Davis Athens Margaret Alice Davis, 65, of 222 Rockspring Homes died Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998. A native of Oconee County, Mrs. Davis was a daughter of the late Will and Maggie Duhart. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Little Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Slaughter officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Robert A. Davis; two daughters, Deborah Davis Howard and Leta Davis, both of Athens; three sons, Joe Henry Davis, Thomas Alfred Davis, and Randy Howard Davis, all of Athens; two sisters, Emma Duhart, Duhart, Atlanta; a brother, Willie Duhart, Bishop; and 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Hurley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Ruth P. Fagan Winder Ruth P. Fagan, 82, of Woodlawn Ave. died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. Mrs. Fagan was a daughter of the late William Albert and Nancy Segars Page. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Winder. Services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Smith Funeral Home with the Revs. John Talley and Ronald Hewett officiating. Burial will be in Barrow Memorial Gardens. Survivors include her husband, James S. Fagan; two sisters, Willie Nelson and Jewel Langford, both of Winder; and two brothers, Thomas Page, Winder, and Lewis Page, Lawton, Okla. Wanda Goldsmith Hartwell Wanda Witcher Goldsmith, 42, of 90 Craft Road died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. A native of Greenwood, S.C., Mrs. Goldsmith was a daughter of Winnie Caudell Witcher of Hartwell and the late Thomas J. Witcher. She was a certified nursing assistant at Hart County Hospital and a member of Assembly Church of Hartwell. Services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Strickland Funeral Home with the Revs. Bill McCall and Johnny Stowe officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Garden of Prayer. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Carl Goldsmith; a daughter, Mary Goldsmith, Hartwell; a son, John Goldsmith, Hartwell; two sisters, Patricia White and Geraldine Bruce, both of Hartwell; and two brothers, Morris Witcher and Dennis Witcher, both of Hartwell. Memorials may be made to help defray medical and funeral expenses. The family is at the residence and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burice M. Greenway Elberton Burice McMullan Greenway, 90, formerly of the Rockingham Community died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. Mrs. Greenway was a daughter of the late Andra J. and Lunie Crawford McMullan and the widow of Armond A. Greenway. She was a homemaker and member of Rock Branch Baptist Church. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Rock Branch Baptist Church with the Rev. Ed Sayer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include a son, William Alton Greenway, Tucker; two grandchildren, Kay Smith, Norcross, and Ken Greenway, Alpharetta; and five great-grandchildren. Berry Funeral Home, Elberton, is in charge of arrangements. Mary Mask Winder Mary Mask, 75, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. A native of Cedartown, Mrs. Mask was a daughter of the late James Henry and Rose Mary Gilham Goswick. She was a member of First United Pentecostal Church of God. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in Rose Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Tim Copeland officiating. Survivors include her husband, J.B. Mask; three sons, Jeff Mask, Superior, Mont., Wesley Mask, Canton, and Willie Mask, Auburn; a stepdaughter, Cheryl Goldblum, Joliet, Ill.; a sister, Evelyn Tummins; three brothers, James Goswick, Austell, Luther Goswick, Ellijay, and Joe Goswick, Cedartown; and 13 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at Carter Funeral Home, Winder. Elizabeth Quinn Highland Park, Mich. Elizabeth Quinn, 84, of 75 Farrand Park died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998. A native of Wilkes County, Mrs. Quinn was a daughter of the late Wilborn and Ophelia Hill. She was a retired seamstress and member of Flint Hill Baptist Church. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Flint Hill Baptist Church, Washington, with the Rev. Dennis Quinn officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Rufus Quinn; three daughters, Mabel Gartrell and Alma McCoy, both of Highland Park, Mich., and Janice Debra Quinn, Tampa, Fla.; two sons, Troy Mitchell Quinn and Edward Quinn, both of Detroit, Mich.; Washington, and Ruby Nell Harris, Grand Rapids, Mich.; three brothers, Ammie Lee Hill, Washington, Andrew Clark Hill, Philadelphia, Pa., and Robert Lee Hill, Grand Rapids, Mich.; and 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. today at McLendon Memorial Funeral Home, Washington. David Samuel Sanders Hartwell David Samuel "Dave" Sanders, 86, of Glendale Drive died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999. A native of Hart County, Mr. Sanders was a son of the late Lelia Hilley Sanders Driver, the widower of Hazel Belle Hendrix Sanders, and was preceded in death by a son, Lewis Steve Sanders. He was a farmer and member of Flat Shoals Baptist Church. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Strickland Funeral Home with the Revs. Wendell Bannister and Sid Newell officiating. Burial will be in Nancy Hart Memorial Park. Survivors include a daughter, Imogene Evans, Hartwell; two sons, Franklin Sanders and Billy Sanders, both of Hartwell; four sisters, Frances Skelton, Lettie Mae Saylors, Mary Evans, and Naomi Shiflet, all of Hartwell; three brothers, Charles Driver, Anderson, Morris Driver, N.Y., and Hack Driver, Mobile, Ala.; and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Sanders, 974 Clay Brown Road, Hartwell, and will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Lottie Mae M. Shelnutt Greensboro Lottie Mae Melton Shelnutt, 88, of 201 East Elm St. died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999. A native of Newton County, Mrs. Shelnutt was a daughter of the late William Ed and Jennie Reid Mason Melton and widow of John Ralph Shelnutt. She was a spinner at Mary-Leila Cotton Mill and member of First Baptist Church of Greensboro. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at McCommons Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Usry officiating. Burial will be in Greenview Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Cason, Union Point; a niece, Ann Cronic, Union Point; a granddaughter, Kay Bryan; and four great-grandchildren, Jennie Miller, Matt Bryan, Katie Pallbearers will be Richard Cronic, David Cronic, L.A. Melton, Martin Melton, Doug Miller, and James Melton. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Cortez Watkins Eastanollee Merle Cortez Coe "Tez" Watkins, 91, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. A native of Stephens County, Mrs. Watkins was a daughter of the late Claude and Ossie Purcell Coe, widow of Dave Jackson Watkins, and was preceded in death by a son, Jack Watkins, and two grandchildren. She was a homemaker and member of Toms Creek Baptist Church and the Sunshine Sunday School Class. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Toms Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Wayne Marcus and Kenneth Moon officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Edna Moore, Toccoa, and Atha Heard, Conyers; two sons, Tex Watkins, Toccoa, and Blair Watkins, Aiken, S.C.; four sisters, Buena Homyk, Eastanollee, Blonnie Cabe and Sue Williams, both of Toccoa, and Eva McKeever, Beaver Falls, Pa.; and nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Moore on Garland Road, Toccoa, and will receive friends 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. today at Whitlock Mortuary, Toccoa. Hannah Buffington Bowersville Hannah Buffington, 3, of 2360 Lou Gurley Road, daughter of Chris and Sherry Buffington, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, will announce arrangements. Cordelia Milsap Statham Cordelia Milsap, 46, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999. Eberhart & Son Mornounce arrangements. Danny Sargent Canon Danny Sargent of 1911 Airport Road, husband of Evelyn Sargent, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999. Pruitte Funeral Home, Royston, will announce arrangements. Ernie Torres Charlotte, N.C. Ernie Torres, 48, formerly of Athens, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999. McEwen Funeral Service, Charlotte, N.C., will announce arrangements. Story last updated at 10:11 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 1999 Firefighter remembered Hundreds mourn fallen Banks County firefighter By Lee Shearer Staff Writer ALTO -- A Banks County firefighter who died in the line of duty was laid to rest Sunday afternoon as hundreds of North Georgia firefighters stood at attention, shivering in a cold wind. As 27-year-old Loy Williams was buried, investigators continued their search for the person or persons responsible for the young man's death, and members of Banks County's New Salem United Methodist Church, burned to the ground by an arsonist Thursday night, vowed to rebuild. Williams, who volunteered for two fire companies in Banks County, died trying to save the church after it was set afire. Authorities believe a blaze that slightly damaged the Johnson United Methodist Church in Oconee County early Friday morning may have been the work of the same hand that destroyed New Salem. On the two days before Christmas, arsonists set fire to one and perhaps two Murray County churches, both Baptist and just a few miles apart, according to investigators. While state Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for any of the fires, Oconee and Banks County investigators said Sunday there was nothing new to report. In Banks County on Sunday morning, the wreckage of the New Salem sanctuary still smoldered as just over 100 people met in the church's fellowship hall. The charred ruins had first been built in about 1860, but the church itself was founded about 160 years ago -- records go back to at least 1831, according to church members. ''This is probably the hardest day to stand in the pulpit in the four-and-a-half years of my life here,'' said the Rev. Luis Ortiz, New Salem's pastor. ''God has definitely removed every one of us from our comfort zone this week.'' The church had only $87,000 in insurance, and it will cost $400,000 to $500,000 to rebuild the sanctuary, he said. But Ortiz and other church members vowed to rebuild. ''It was like a bad dream. There's things in that church we can never replace, but we can build a church,'' said Alan Purcell, a church lay leader. Ortiz said he had tried all Saturday night to figure out what to say to the congregation of the burned-out church, but nothing came to him until barely an hour before the time of the morning worship service. ''Let light shine out of darkness,'' he said. ''Those are probably the most fitting words we can say today.'' Ortiz paid tribute to Williams, killed when the burning church roof collapsed on him Thursday night. ''If you think Michael Jordan and some of those other professional ballplayers who are getting paid millions are heroes, take another look,'' he said. The ballplayers are just doing their jobs, and are well-paid for it, he said. The real heroes are people like Loy Williams, ''the people in the communities who are doing the work for nothing,'' the minister said. Church members met again Sunday evening to consider future plans. Ortiz said Williams will be memorialized in the new church building. Williams, who left a wife and a 9-year-old daughter, was memorialized again Sunday afternoon in a service at his own church, the Alto Congregational Holiness Church, where some 500 mourners crammed the light-filled church while hundreds more shivered in the cold outside. Williams' body was brought to the church in a flag-draped coffin on the back of a fire truck driven by his brother, also a volunteer firefighter with the Bold Springs community of Banks County. That truck was part of a procession that included more than 100 fire trucks and other official vehicles from all over North Georgia. They came in a slow cortege down U.S. Highway 23 under an arch formed by the high ladders of two big trucks parked on either side of the highway, one from Fayette County, one from Fulton County. In the procession were vehicles and firefighters from seemingly every fire company in the northern part of the state -- from Fulton, White, Hart, Fayette, Barrow, Banks, Stephens, Oconee and DeKalb counties -- among others; from Sandy Cross and Bold Springs, Carnesville and Red Hill, Five Area and Double Churches, Shiloh, Social Circle and Arcade, among many others. Athens-Clarke County sent no engine, but off-duty Athens-Clarke officers formed an honor guard, one of many uniformed honor guards that came to pay respects to a fallen comrade. Hundreds of officers stood at attention in bright sunshine as winds that gusted up to 20 mph whipped around their legs, and a bagpiper wailed as members of Williams' volunteer fire companies bore the coffin into the church. Firefighters and other tearful mourners also lined the long path down to the church cemetery as the piper led the pallbearers down a long winding path on Williams' final journey after the services. The temperature was a few degrees above freezing at the time, but the 15 mph to 20 mph winds made it feel more like it was 15 degrees, according to the National Weather Service's Peachtree City station. The Rev. Russell Cash, who had been a friend of the young firefighter, quoted Proverbs 17:22: ''A merry heart does good, like medicine.'' Williams was like that, Cash said. ''He had a loving heart and a merry heart.''. And Williams' heart was like good medicine, he said. ''Medicine is used to bring healing and make people feel better,'' he said. ''Through his fire work, he brought healing and made many people feel good.'' The Rev. Leon Brown, pastor at Alto Congregational Holiness Church, gave honor not just to Williams but all the firefighters gathered there. ''These good men should be applauded for the work they do. I think it would be appropriate that you give applause to these men,'' he said, and the mourners responded with an ovation of more than a minute. Brown recalled Williams as a musically talented man who could play piano, guitar ''or anything else he put his mind to,'' and though short, ''a stout man who could pull his own weight.'' And he asked those gathered to take a lesson from Williams' tragic death -- life is short, and no one knows when the end will come. ''It is ever a vapor that appears for a little time and then it vanishes away,'' he said, quoting the Biblical book of James. ''Plans, dreams and good intentions -- please don't make your plans and dreams without having God,'' he said.