Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 10 Oct 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/ *********************************************************************** LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:03 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Leukemia victim will be remembered for her spirit Her death has been hard for me, but I'm beginning to rebound. Although I didn't know Courtney Farmer in the beginning of our relationship, I knew about her family. Loran Smith Her granddaddy was Flip Costa, who was the brother of Georgia's great kicker in the Rose Bowl era, Leo Costa. This family has longstanding ties with the University of Georgia. I knew her sister, Lisa, when she was at Georgia but I had not met Courtney until I went to Emory Hospital for a leukemia analysis. She just bounced into the waiting room, saying right off the bat, ''You will be OK. The doctors here are so highly regarded for their work.'' She was such a bundle of energy and so upbeat. She fully believed that if you have faith and you believe you will make it, then you can. She lifted my spirits and helped me get over devastating depression. At that time she had had a typical treatment, using her own bone marrow. Family and friends were so happy that the treatment might work, but it didn't, and since she had acute leukemia, radical treatment became necessary. She was advised that she should consider an unrelated donor transplant, a procedure which is very risky, but she had it done and that buoyant spirit which characterized her personality was still the same the first time I talked with her after the surgery. The doctors matched her with a bone marrow donor from Texas. Everything seemed to go so well that she was allowed to meet her donor who flew to Columbus to meet Courtney and her husband, Tim. They had a grand time making new friends, and everybody believed Courtney, the pretty young mother with the upbeat spirit, would survive. Nobody thought she would make it more so than Courtney, who had a fierce belief in God. Then things began to worsen, but still everybody thought she would fight through. When an unrelated transplant takes place, the patient must endure many obstacles, the main one being graf vs. host disease, which is a medical term for rejection. Courtney began to slip, and she had a difficult time gaining any weight. She was down to 80 pounds when she died. But her spirits were high until the end, when she had difficulty fighting the disease. Her spirits finally flagged, and she didn't feel up to the fight anymore. When you are weak and food doesn't taste good, it is quite a challenge to continue. One of the reasons she fought so hard for so long was her daughters Costa and Mariana, age 5 and 10. But it is over now. She won't be there for graduations. She won't be there when they are married, perhaps a mother's greatest day other than when she gives birth. But she leaves a great legacy of faith, goodwill, unselfishness. She had no malice in her heart, and she bore no grudges. She was a good person, and at the funeral I thought about what has been written so many times: the good die young. The church was standing-room-only with 200 or more outside. There was no room to stand inside the church. A point that should not be overlooked here is that we can all volunteer to assist needy cancer patients. We can't do anything medically, but in every community there are so many cancer sufferers who could use a little assistance -- like driving them to the doctor. Just having a friendly conversation can mean so much. Cancer is not contagious. Get involved and help those around you. It would be a great memorial for a young person who died so young. In fact, if she had survived, she would have been out there trying to help every cancer sufferer in Muscogee County. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Gifton Thomas Winder Gifton Thomas, 76, died Friday, Oct. 8, 1999. Mr. Thomas was the son of the late Benjamin Hershel and Lelia Pruett Thomas. He was the owner and operator of Thomas Wholesale, which he founded in 1962, and a member of Winder First Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Winder First Baptist Church with the Rev. John Talley officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30. Burial will be in Barrow Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Wages Thomas; a son, Larry Thomas, Bethlehem; a daughter, Mary Ann Floyd, Bethlehem; a brother, Randall Thomas, Bethlehem; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Building Fund of Winder First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 340, Winder GA 30680. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Vivian McAllister Toccoa Vivian Cleland McAllister, 76, of 152 Ola St., died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of Oconee County, S.C., Mrs. McAllister was a daughter of the late Edward Henderson and Minnie Emily Burton Cleland, and was the widow of Ray Harold McAllister. She was a homemaker and a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Naomi Sunday school class. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Whitlock Mortuary, Toccoa, with the Rev. Jack Sosby and Dr. Tim Miller officiating. Burial will be at Stephens Memorial Gardens. Survivors include a daughter, Dianne Elaine McAllister, Toccoa; a son, Thomas Ray, Toccoa; a sister, Sybil Martin, Walhalla, S.C.; a brother, Horace Cleland, Westminster, S.C.; and two grandchildren. The family is at the home of Tommy and Sherrie McAllister, 4644 Ga. Hwy. 184, Toccoa, and will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hands of Love, Inc., 110 E. Franklin St., Toccoa GA 30577. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Erlene Finley Lavonia Sara Erlene Anderson Finley, 74, of 6531 West Ave., died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of Elbert County, Mrs. Finley was a daughter of the late Thomas Alexander Anderson and Edna Haggard Anderson Temples, and was the widow of Hoyt Duard Finley. She was a retired nurse, a member of the Eastern Star, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of the St. Andrew Episcopal Church. A private memorial service is scheduled at a later date. Survivors include two daughters, Becky Finley, Tucker, and Beverly Finley, Lavonia; a sister, Peggy Gonsenhouser, Lithia Springs; three brothers, Billy Anderson, Anderson, S.C., Thomas Anderson, Conyers, and Jack Anderson, Charleston, S.C.; and two grandchildren. Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, is in charge of the arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Henry McGahee Lavonia Henry M. McGahee, 86, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of McDuffie County, Mr. McGahee was a son of the late Albert and Sallie Simons McGahee. He was retired Superintendent of road construction and was of the Methodist faith. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Hamby Funeral Home, Lavonia, with the Rev. Dr. Sheila Hunt officiating. Burial will be in the Lavonia City Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Sara M. Purcell, Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Susie Perdue, Thomson; four brothers, Rubin McGahee, Jacksonville, Fla., Joe McGahee, Cataula, Gene McGahee, Columbus, and Bobby McGahee, Thomson; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:30 until time of service Tuesday. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 John Lewis Hartwell John Neese Lewis, 88, of 533 Hickory Crossing Rd., died Friday, Oct. 8, 1999. A native of Hart County, Mr. Lewis was a son of the late Grover and Mattie Neese Lewis. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Services will be 2 p.m. today at the Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Hartwell, with the Revs. Randy Smith and Furman Lewis officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Lois Herring Lewis; two sons, Gene Lewis, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and George Lewis, Greenville, S.C.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence. Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, is in charge of the arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Robert Slack Eastanollee Robert C. Slack Sr., 83, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of Lock Haven, Penn., Mr. Slack had lived in Stephens county for many years. He was retired from Coats & Clark and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Elks V.F.W., Monday Morning Coffee Club and St. Matthias Episcopal Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, Toccoa. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Slack; a son, Robert C. Slack Jr., Sautee; a sister, Nancy Slack, Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Morrison Slack, Dallas, Texas; and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hand in Hand Hospice or St. Matthias Episcopal Church. Announcement courtesy of Whitlock Mortuary, Toccoa. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Barbara Nash Colbert Barbara L. Nash, 58, of 20 Suddeth Rd., died Friday, Oct. 8, 1999. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Nash was a daughter of Marthie Nix Pressley and the late Howell Pressley and was the widow of Andrew J. Horn. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ross Chapel, Oconee, with the Rev. Lewis Gaddis officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors in addition to her mother include three daughters, Janet McDaniel, Crawford, Janice McDaniel, Bogart, and Linda Frazier, Madison; two sons, Charles O'Kelley, Bogart, and Donald Horn, Bogart; eight sisters, Linda Shelton, Sybil Simpson, Virginia Simpson, Jo Gibbs, Becky McDaniel, Jackie McDaniel, Sue Wilson, and Rosie McDaniel; three brothers, Gene Pressley, Melvin Pressley, and Glenn Pressley; 16 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Pallbearers will be Bo McDaniel, Lewis McDaniel, Donald McDaniel, Jim McDaniel, Lonnie McDaniel, and Lonis McDaniel. The family will receive friends at the residence. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Sarah Haynes Comer Sarah Westbrook Haynes, 74, died Friday, Oct 8, 1999. A native of Madison County, and formerly of Waycross, Mrs. Haynes was a daughter of the late Dr. Robert J. and Desdemona Smith Westbrook and was the widow of William L. Haynes. She was a homemaker and a teacher in Lowndes, Brantley and Ware County schools for 20 years. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at Miles Odum Funeral Home, Waycross, with the Rev. Ray Sullivan officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Joy Schomberg, Athens; five sons, Dale W. Haynes, Hahira, Marc L. Haynes, Austin, Texas, Robert W. Haynes, Laredo, Texas, Randy Haynes, Comer, and Byron Joshua Haynes, Athens; and 11 grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. until the time of service on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Lord & Stephens, East, Athens, is in charge of local arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Eugene Longmire Martin Eugene Miles Longmire Jr., 64, of 1362 Oliver Road, Red Hill community, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999. A native of Fuqua, N.C., Mr. Longmire was a son of the late Eugene and Dorothy Starling Longmire Sr. He was a retired nurse, a mason, and member of the Elks Lodge. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Services will be announced later. Survivors include two daughters, Wendy Crabtree, Martin, and Lori Canup, Douglasville; three brothers, Johnny Longmire, Risely Longmire, and Danny Longmire; three sisters, Pat Longmire, Cookie Longmire, and Donna Crolley; and seven grandchildren. Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, is in charge of the arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Mary Ward Athens Mary Hale Ward, 86, of 127 First St., died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of Clarke County, Mrs. Ward was a daughter of the late Homer G. Hale Sr. and Effie Bramblett Hale and was the widow of W. Breece Ward. She was retired from Chicopee Manufacturing Co. and was a member of Princeton United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Memorial Park, Athens, with the Rev. Russell Pepetske officiating. Survivors include four sisters, Emma S. Cofer, Nicholson, Ida H. Kilgo, Faye H. Rice, and Evelyn H. Fowler, all of Hull; and three brothers, Col. Homer G. Hale Jr., James E. Hale, and Hugh R. Hale, all of Athens. Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of the arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Howardean Vincent Monroe Howardean Joy Vincent, 91, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999. A native of Crothersville, Ind., Mrs. Vincent was a daughter of the late Howard L. and Florence Butt, and was the widow of Alvin K. Vincent. She was a retired elementary school teacher who received a bachelor's degree in education from Bethel College and was a member of School Men's Wives Club and Indiana Retired Teachers Association. She was active with her husband in the local Shrine club and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in South Bend, Ind. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Gardner, Athens, and Judy Woerner, Kansas City, Mo.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of South Bend, Ind. or to the Heart Fund. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of local arrangements. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:05 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Lee Elrod Winder Lee Elrod, 63, died Friday, Oct. 8, 1999. Mr. Elrod, formerly of Moultrie, was a son of the late Joe Harrison and Annelle Hammond Elrod. He was a retired construction engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation, and previously owned and operated a tug-boat in the Gulf of Mexico. He was a member of the Winder First United Methodist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Smith Funeral Home, Winder, with the Revs. Larry Rary and Larry Jones officiating. Burial will be in Barrow Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Sheridan Elrod; two step-sons, Mike Sheridan, Woodstock, and Van Sheridan, Bethlehem; a step-daughter, Darenda Kinney, Winder; a brother, Sam Elrod, Winder; a sister, Becky Mitchell, Monroe; and many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Memorial Fund at the Winder First United Methodist Church, 280 N. Broad St., Winder GA 30680. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc. LEADSTORIES Story last updated at 10:05 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 1999 Charlotte Davis Danielsville Charlotte Frances Roling Davis, 65, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999. A native of Madison County, Mrs. Davis was a daughter of Jewel Christian Roling, Danielsville, and the late Milton R. Roling and was the widow of Dock Davis. Mrs. Davis had lived in this area most of her life and was retired from St. Mary's Hospital. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Evergreen Memorial Park, Athens, with the Rev. Fonzo Randolph officiating. Survivors in addition to her mother include a son, Bobby O'Neal Roling, Brunswick, two sisters, Sue Lavender and Betty Phillips, both of Danielsville; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville. Šopyright 1999 Athens Newspapers Inc.