Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 24 Feb 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/ *********************************************************************** Wednesday, 24-Feb-99 09:51:02 Howard M. Abney Athens Howard Morton Abney, 78, formerly of Athens, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Lumpkin County, Mr. Abney was a son of the late Howard Teasley and Martha Cole Morton Abney. He was a graduate of Athens High and attended the University of Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army and was a sales representative for Cluett Peabody Co., La. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday in Oconee Hill Cemetery, with the Rev. Jon Appelton. Survivors include two daughters, Martha Allen, Clearwater, Fla., and Carol Ann Watson, Forsyth; a son, Lt. Col. Howard M. Abney Jr., Cadwell; his stepmother, Mary Abney, Athens; a sister, Jane Hawkins, Riverside, Calif.; two brothers, Dr. Ray Abney, Bradleboro, Vt., and Dr. Howard Abney, Watkinsville; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. The family is at the residence of Mary Abney, 159 Dearing St., Athens, and Dr. and Mrs. Howard Abney, 33 Harden Hill Road, Watkinsville. Memorials may be made to the St. Charles Baptist Church, 7100 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Tommie J. Atkinson Royston Tommie J. Carey Atkinson, 55, of 228 Dovetown Road, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Franklin County, Mrs. Atkinson was a daughter of the late Joe and Rilla Duncan Carey and was the widow of Milford "Smiley" Atkinson. She was a homemaker and was a member of Riverside Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. at Pruitte Funeral Home, with the Revs. Darvin Cash and Chris Lecroy officiating. Burial will be in Franklin Memorial Garden, South. Survivors include a daughter, Karen Oliver, Royston; a son, Ervin Atkinson, Royston; a sister, Jean Morrison, Royston; two brothers, J.O. Carey and James Carey, both of Hartwell; and six grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Karen and William Oliver, 391 Bonds Bridge Road, Royston. Mamie A. Avrett Athens Mamie Allgood Avrett, 97, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Athens, Mrs. Avrett was a daughter of the late John and Maude Brooks Allgood and was the widow of Harris Boynton Avrett. She was retired from the Southern Bell Telephone Company and was a member of the Pioneers Life Member Club and the First Christian Church. At the time of her death she was the oldest living member of her church and the Pioneers. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church of Athens, with the Rev. Ray Austin officiating. Burial will be in Oconee Hills Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Zadie and Julian Scott, Atlanta; granddaughters and grandsons-in-law, Cindy and Rustin McAlister, Athens, Peggy and Kevin Spillane, Marietta; and six great-granddaughters, Brooks and Ansley McAlister, Courtney Spillane, Rachel Spillane, Olivia Spillane and Emily Spillane. Pallbearers will be Bradford Allgood, Carlas Allgood, Matthew Allgood, Allen Hunter, William Miller and Lamar Pittard. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Bridges Funeral Home. Robert L. Bennett Jr. Commerce Robert Lee Bennett Jr., 66, of 1368 B. Wilson Road, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Fulton County, Mr. Bennett was a son of Corine Johnson Cleveland, East Point, and the late Robert Lee Bennett Sr. He was a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Retired U.S. Air Force Sergeant Association. He was a member of Sylvan Hill Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Little-Ward Funeral Home, with the Revs. Verlin Reece and Carlton Peters officiating. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial Gardens. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Betty Snelling Bennett; four daughters, Teresa Cornell, Marietta, Linda Hadden, Dallas, Texas, Carol Schneider and Donnah Sparks, both of Commerce; a son, Robert Lee Bennett III, Snellville; three sisters, Flora Cleveland, College Park, Elizabeth Ford, Forest Park, and Carolyn Peck, Gainesville; and 10 grandchildren. The family is at the residence. Doc L. Bonds Lula Doc L. Bonds, 91, of 5529 Old Cornelia Highway, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. A native of Banks County, Mr. Bonds was a son of the late William Asbury and Willie Jamp Bonds. He was a retired textile and construction worker and was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, with the Revs. Ralph Smith and Bethel Midgett officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Nelle Kimsey Bonds; three sons, David Bonds, Maysville, Denver Bonds, Gillsville, and Deveret Bonds, Lula; a sister, Bernice Norris, Cornelia; a half sister, Geraldine Pruitt, Homer; a half brother, Oscar Bond, Homer; and five grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at Whitfield Funeral Home. Wardell Carter Athens Wardell Carter, 34, of 8830 Macon Highway, Lot No. 2, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999. Mr. Carter was a son of the late Gwendolyn "Henry Ann" Bell. He was a truck driver. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Morton Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Rugene Bryant officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Diane Carter; a daughter, Raquita Carter, Athens; and an aunt who raised him in her home, Frankie Carter, Athens. The family is at the residence. Mack & Payne Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Randell Coile Bowman Randell Coile, 54, of 49 W. Ginn St., died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Elbert County, Mr. Coile was a son of Susie Mae Barton Coile, Bowman, and the late Harold Coile. He was an arc welder employed at Monroe Auto Equipment. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pruitte Funeral Home, with the Rev. Johnny Stowe officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Shirley Scoggins Coile; two stepdaughters, Angela Massey, Bowman, and Regina Moore, Lawrenceville; four sisters, Mildred Parker, Kathleen Pierce, Joan Ray and Susan Coile, all of Bowman; and seven grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Darren Pierce, Shane Brown, Adam Brown, Cliff Adams, Billy Todd and Andrew Adams. The family is at the residence and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Flowers are optional and memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Martha Little, P.O. Box 147, Carnesville, GA 30521. Carolyn Dixon Toccoa Carolyn Ann Kelley Dixon, 51, of Nub Garland Road, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. A native of Stephens County, Mrs. Dixon was a daughter of Tressie Ramey Kelly and the late Buford Kelley. She was employed with the Stephens County school system for 18 years and was of the Baptist faith. Services will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Tates Creek Baptist Church, with the Revs. Jewell Gaines and Edward Hood officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include three daughters, Michelle Bolman, Toccoa, Regina King, Mount Airy, and Shelia Dixon, Martin; a son, Michael Dixon, Cleveland; a sister, Angel Simpson, Toccoa; two brothers, Sonny Kelley and Charles Kelley, Toccoa; and five grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Chuck Kelley, Boyd Kelley, Fred Bentley, Joe Kelley, Brian Kelley and Ronnie Simpson. The family is at the residence and will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at Acree-Davis Funeral Home. Emma S. McAllister Duncan Athens Emma Susie McAllister Duncan, 74, of The Whitehall Community, died Tuesday, Feb. 23 1999. A native of Greensboro, Mrs. Duncan was a daughter of the late Charlie E. and Clyde Elanor Partridge McAllister and was the widow of Oscar H. Duncan. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Becky Marlowe. She was a homemaker and was a member of the Full Gospel Lighthouse Tabernacle Church, Ila. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Bernstein Funeral Home, with the Rev. Wilson Hembree officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include three daughters, Marjorie Peek and Freda Roberts, both of Whitehall, and Jeanne Scoggins, Danielsville; five sisters, Virginia Dooley and Nell Burnette, both of Watkinsville, Myra Jean Davis, Carolyn Bales and Patricia "Prissy" Tanksley, all of Athens; three brothers, Franklin "Bo" McAllister, Whitehall, Jesse Thomas McAllister, Winder, and Bobby McAllister, Athens; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Jessie C. Peek, Larry R. Scoggins, Michael Scoggins, Gabe Scoggins, Stephen Roberts and Joseph Roberts. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Benjamin H. Lord III Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Benjamin Hampton "Hamp" Lord III, 46, formerly of Athens, died Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999. A native of Clarke County, Mr. Lord was a son of Benjamin Hampton Jr. and Martha Mathews Lord, Athens. He was preceded in death by a son, Benjamin Hampton Lord IV. He was a graduate of Athens High School and the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy. He was a member of Chi Psi Fraternity. He worked as a pharmacist for many years and was a self-employed motel operator. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years and was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Bernstein Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jeff Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his wife, Beverly Hancock Lord; two stepsons, Preston Horne and Gregory Mitchell, both of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; a sister, Ann Maxey, Atlanta; and a brother, Mark Lord, Athens. Pallbearers will be Jake English, Rick Grayson, Andy Gibson and Ty Morris. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association of Clarke County, 196 Alps Road, Athens GA 30606. Dennis O. McElreath Greensboro Dennis Odell McElreath, 39, of 1031 Rhodes St., died Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999. A native of Commerce, Mr. McElreath was a son of Odell McElreath and the late June Farmer Moye. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Ivie Funeral Home, with the Rev. Douglas Duncan officiating. Burial will be in Center Methodist Church Cemetery, Center. Survivors, in addition to his father, include three daughters, Krystal McElreath and Leigh Ann McElreath, both of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Samatha Walker, Greensboro; a son, Isaiah McElreath, Commerce; three sisters, Jane Duncan, Commerce, Brenda Martin, Tampa, Fla., and Barbara Spooner, White House, Fla.; a brother, Hubert McElreath, Ila; and a grandchild. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. Gladys H. McSwain Atlanta Gladys Hudson McSwain, 88, of 946 Alloway Place, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Lanette, Ala., Mrs. McSwain was a daughter of the late Jesse David Hudson and Minnie Cummings. She was a member of Hightower Memorial United Methodist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Hightower Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Joe Hassell officiating. Burial will be in South View Cemetery, Thomaston. Survivors include three daughters, Gerry M. Bartlett and Lynda G. McSwain, both of Atlanta, and Dianne McSwain Hutto, Athens; a sister, Dora H. Wilson, Winter Garden, Fla.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home, Thomaston, is in charge of the arrangements. Randy K. Ramsey Cornelia Randy Kenneth Ramsey, 40, of Lakeview Heights, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Habersham County, Mr. Ramsey was a son of Nadene McConnell Ramsey, Cornelia, and the late Kenneth "Casey" Ramsey. He was a 1976 graduate of Habersham Central High School. He was a used-car manager for Hardy Chevrolet, Cornelia, and was a member of Fairfield Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Whitfield Funeral Home, with the Revs. Ed Aiken and Rod Ramsey officiating. Burial will be in Fairfield Baptist Church cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Connie Cotton Ramsey; a daughter, Kimberly Ramsey, Cornelia; a son, Christopher Ramsey, Cornelia; a brother, Keith Ramsey, Clarkesville; and his grandparents, Clara McConnell and Bruce Ramsey, both of Demorest. Lewis E. Safrit Elberton Lewis Edward Safrit, 72, of 1067 Ruckersville Road, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. A native of Rowan County, Mr. Safrit was a son of the late Charles B. Safrit Sr. and Ethel Brown Safrit. He was retired from the granite industry, was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict and was a lifetime member of the Elberton Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a charter member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Elberton. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Elmhurst Cemetery, with the Rev. Barbara Engelbrecht officiating. Survivors include his wife, Betty Hall Safrit; two daughters, Patricia Matthews, Hartwell, and Laura Ward, Ashboro, N.C.; a brother, Jim Safrit Jr., Forest Park; and a granddaughter. The family will be at the residence and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Berry Funeral Home. The family has requested no flowers and memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 951, Elberton, GA 30635. Laura Steward Athens Laura Helen Steward, 83, of 180 Pebble Creek Drive, died Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999. A native of Portage County, Wis., Mrs. Steward was a daughter of the late Sylvester and Veronica Bukowski Zywicki and was the widow of Lewis Charles Steward. She was retired from JC Penney Department Store and was a member of St. Stephens Catholic Church, Stevens Point, Wis. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Barbara Rebekah Lodge No. 9. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 1 at St. Stephens Catholic Church, Stevens Point, Wis. Survivors include two daughters, Noreen Steward, Athens, and Mary Miller, Paso Robles, Calif.; three sisters, Sophie Kvatek and Tillie Konopacky, both of Stevens Point, Wis., and Lynn Lutz Ruenger, Wausau, Wis.; a brother, Sylvester Zywicki Jr., Stevens Point, Wis.; and a grandson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or a Hospice organization of your choice. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, is in charge of local arrangements. Horace U. Whitaker Rutledge Horace Usher Whitaker, 84, of 251 W. Main St., died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. A native of Morgan County, Mr. Whitaker was a son of the late Thomas Usher Whitaker and Cassie Knight and was the widower of Georgia Belle McHan Whitaker. He was owner and operator of Standard Oil station in Rutledge for 22 years and was postmaster for 23 years. He was a member of Dewald Lodge and the Triangle Council No. 42 and was a Royal Arch Mason. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Rutledge Baptist Church, with the Revs. Wayne Ghann and Jim Hollis officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Rutledge City Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Jolene W. Parkman, Greenville, S.C.; a son, Horace Whitaker Jr., Columbia, S.C.; two sisters, Helen Patrick, Oxford, and Doris Jones, Rutledge; and six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rutledge Baptist Church. Simmons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements Thomas M. King Royston Thomas M. King, of 475 Phillips St., died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. Pruitte Funeral Home will announce arrangements. George P. Lattimore Athens George P. Lattimore, of 150 Anderson St., died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. Mack & Payne Funeral Home will announce arrangements. Margerite M. McDermott Athens Margerite M. McDermott, formerly of Watkinsville, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999. Bridges Funeral Home will announce arrangements. Mandia Smith Lexington Mandia Smith of Salem Road, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999. Jones Lexington Funeral Chapel will announce 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.