Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 5 Oct 2000 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/ *********************************************************************** OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Joan H. Martin Nicholson Joan H. Martin, 71, of 219 Stapler Drive died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000. A native of Georgia, Mrs. Martin was a daughter of the late Ralph and Ellis Wilbanks Hosch and was the widow of Guytrell Martin. She was a clock maker. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Henry Webb, Kent Crawford and John Turlington officiating. Burial will be in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Survivors include a daughter, Nora Martin, Martin; a son, Guy Martin, Commerce; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Sally Frances Simmons Jefferson Sally Frances Simmons, 73, of 2167 Old Winder-Jefferson Highway died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Barrow County, Mrs. Simmons was a daughter of the late James R. and Lizzie Mae Brumbalow Stinchcomb and was the widow of Newell K. Simmons. She was a seamstress and was a member of Union Baptist Church, Winder. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Union Baptist Church with the Rev. Rusty Newman officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include a son, Kermit Simmons, Jefferson; two stepdaughters, Shirley Finch, Jefferson, and Jackie Hayes, Winder; two sisters, May Jenkins, Rutledge, and Julia Jones, Auburn; and two grandchildren. Evans Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Roy Glenn Hester Elberton Roy Glenn Hester, 64, of 1059 Grady Cleveland Road died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Ada, Okla., Mr. Hester was a son of the late Otto and Mona Hall Hester. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and was a member of Temple Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla. He was retired as a cook from the restaurant business. There will be no funeral service. Survivors include a daughter, Gayla Hester, Oklahoma City; a son, Rusty Hester, Denver; and a sister, Rene Connally, Elberton. Hicks Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 James Bennett Rylee Commerce James Bennett Rylee, 82, of 332 Rylee Road died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Banks County, Mr. Rylee was a son of the late Hillard Hoyt and Essie Ann Smith Rylee. He was retired from A&P Food Stores and was a member of New Salem United Methodist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Rylee officiating. Burial will be in New Salem United Methodist Church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Frances Louise Swanson Rylee; a daughter, Debra Conner, Lilburn; a son, the Rev. Jerry Rylee, Demorest; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Henry Kinzey Branham Washington Henry Kinzey Branham, 69, of 551 Branham Road died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Wilkes County, Mr. Branham was a son of the late Charlie Edward Branham and Lola Kinzey Branham. He was a superintendent of the Washington Waste Treatment Plant for 36 years and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a master mason of the Washington Lafayette Lodge 23 and was a Shriner. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he attended the Willing Workers Sunday School class, was a member of the Young at Heart Club and volunteered at the church's food pantry. Services will be at 11 a.m. today in the Branham Family Cemetery, Washington, with the Rev. Chip Wilson officiating. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Stevens Branham; a daughter LuAnn B. Holmes, Trenton, S.C.; two sons, Henry Kinzey Branham Jr., New Orleans, and Walter Stevens Branham, Crawford; and three sisters, Sara Dorn, Clark Hill, S.C., Mazie Thornhill, Atlanta, and Evelyn Nale, Grayson. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 518, Washington, GA 30673. Hopkins Funeral Home, Washington, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Nancy Ennis Martin New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Nancy Ennis Martin, 66, of 656 Louella Ave. died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000. A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Mrs. Martin was a daughter of Mary Ann Timco Ennis, New Smyrna Beach, and the late Gilbert J. Ennis. She was retired as a licensed practical nurse after 30 years, 15 of which were spent at Minnie G. Boswell Memorial Hospital, Greensboro. She was a member of Greensboro First Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East. Burial will be in Athens Memory Gardens. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Wyatt C. Martin; two daughters, Melanie Martin Rice, New Smyrna Beach, and Victoria Lynn Tarpley, Union Point; a son, Joseph A. Martin, New Smyrna Beach; and five grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East. Settle-Wilder Funeral Home, New Smyrna Beach, has charge of arrangements in Florida. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Essie M. Brewer Watkinsville Essie Montine Brewer, 104, of 7520 Macon Highway died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Brewer was a daughter of the late John Williams Roberts and Eliza Jane Venable and was the widow of Warren Vester Brewer. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Onita Leggett, and by a son, the Rev. James Brewer. She was a homemaker and was a member of Bogart Baptist Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Bogart Baptist Church with the Revs. Randy Strickland and Bill Hayes officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Runa Kinman, Bogart, and Nell Thomas, Watkinsville; a son, Mell Brewer, Arnoldsville; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, West, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 George V. Thurmond Jacksonville, N.C. Major George Verlyn Thurmond, 62, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Franklin County, Mr. Thurmond was a son of the late George Sherman and Ruby Ragsdale Thurmond. He was retired as a U.S. Marine Corps Major and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Fowler officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Hunters Creek Baptist Church cemetery, Carnesville, with full military honors provided by the U.S. Marine Corps. Survivors include his wife, Sue Sikes Thurmond; a daughter, Susan Renee Thurmond, Jacksonville; a son, Dr. George Sherman Thurmond II, Greensboro, N.C.; a sister, Nedra Lee Thurmond, Laurens, S.C.; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to In Touch Ministries, P.O. Box 7900, Atlanta, GA 30357. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Whitlock Mortuary, Toccoa. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 James Brantley Harris Athens James Brantley Harris, 59, of 155 Green Hills Road died Monday, Oct. 2, 2000. A native of Marietta, Mr. Harris was a son of Floy S. Harris and the late J. Robert Harris. He was retired as professor emeritus of extension education at the University of Georgia and was a member of Athens First Baptist Church. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Athens First Baptist Church with Dr. Bill Ross and the Rev. Claude McBride officiating. Private burial will be in Nacoochee United Methodist Church cemetery, Sautee-Nacoochee. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Emily Byrd Harris; two daughters, Cynthia H. Brett, Swainsboro, and Elizabeth H. Weismann, Atlanta; two sons, James Brantley Harris, Houston, and Robert Edward Harris, Athens; a sister, Anne H. Lavoie; and four grandchildren. The family is at the residence and will receive friends in the church fellowship hall immediately following memorial services. Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:02 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Ina Mildred Gerschefski Chattanooga, Tenn. Ina Mildred Gerschefski, 92, formerly of Athens, New York City, Spartanburg, S.C, and Albuquerque, N.C., died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000. A native of Bridgeport, Conn., Mrs. Gerschefski was the widow of Edwin Gerschefski. She was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Bridgeport High School, attended Simmons College, Boston, and received a bachelor's degree in music from Yale School of Music. She taught piano and music theory at Converse College, Spartanburg. Her orchestral work, ''Incident at Newgate,'' was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Survivors include two daughters, Jo Ellen Wade, Mars Hill, N.C., and Martha Schaum, Atlanta; three sons, Dr. Peter Gerschefski, Chattanooga, Michael Gerschefski, Fairbanks, Alaska, and John Gerschefski, Montgomery Village, Md.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Heritage Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:36 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Emmett Williams Lavonia Charles Emmett Williams, 58, of Hillcrest Drive, Lavonia, passed away Tuesday morning, October 3, 2000, at the Cobb Memorial Hospital. Born December 3, 1941, in Franklin County, he was the son of Charles and Sarah Lee Gaines Williams. He was a retired auto parts dealer, owner of Williams Brothers Auto Parts and Toccoa Ford Inc. He was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church of Lavonia. Survivors include: his parents, Charles and Sarah Lee Gaines Williams of Lavonia; his wife, Angie Weaver Williams; his daughter, Shelia Lane, Hartwell, Ga.; one stepson, Kevin Pruitt, Lavonia; one granddaughter, Lauren McGee; one brother, Donnie Williams, Lavonia; and three sisters, Annette Williams, Carnesville, Agnes Means, Toccoa, and Pat DeFoor, Toccoa. Funeral Services were 3pm Wednesday afternoon at the B.D. Ginn Memorial Chapel of Ginn Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Renfro and the Rev. Truitt Brawner officiating. Burial was in the Hunter's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family is at the home and received friends from 7 until 9pm Tuesday evening at the funeral home. www.legacy.com Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:36 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Homer Mercer Watkinsville Thomas Homer Mercer, 94, of 1251 Briar Lakes Court, died October 4, 2000. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, he was a son of the late Thomas Edward and Nellie Richardson Mercer. He had made his home in Tampa, Fla., most of his life, where he was president of Office Outfitters Inc. for 56 years. He was a charter member of Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church, PCA. He loved his lord, his wife, his family, his clients, his employees and customers. Homer was a musician, and an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing, motorcycles, horses and sailing. Funeral services will be Friday, October 6, 2000, at 2:00 PM at Faith Presbyterian Church, PCA, with Drs. James Saxon, Tim McKeown, Bob McAndrew and the Rev. Kevin Burrell officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Dr. Robert E. Kelley, Millard Braswell, Barry Johnson, Thomas H. Mercer II, Stephen J. Mercer and Matthew R. Mercer. Honorary pallbearers will be Elders and Deacons of Faith Presbyterian Church, Mr. Joe Bucha, the Rev. Kevin Burrell, Dr. Chip Pettigrew and Dr. Mark Mosher. Survivors include his wife, Constance Mercer; two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas George Mercer and Mary Alice Mercer of Williston, Fla., and Terry Lee Mercer and Celia Schwanebeck Mercer of Watkinsville; five grandchildren, Mary Lynn Mercer, Thomas Homer Mercer II, Stephen Joseph Mercer, Mary Julia Constance Mercer and Matthew Robert Mercer. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 7:00 until 9:00 PM. Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, West, is in charge of arrangements. For more information and guest book, go to www.legacy.com. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:36 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2000 Ophelia A. Hanson Lawrenceville Ophelia A. Hanson, 86, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, formerly of Athens, Georgia, passed away Wednesday, October 4, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Hanson was the daughter of the late Thomas Elmer and Minnie Baker Aaron. She was preceded in death by her husband, former Athens building contractor, Elford L. Hanson Jr. Also, she was preceded in death by infant daughters, Alice and Catherine, and a brother, Raymond Aaron. She was a retired bookkeeper for Orkin Pest Control. Mrs. Hanson was a member of the Athens First Baptist Church where she was a member of the M & M Sunday School Class and was active in the WMU. She was a member of the initial graduating class of Milton High School in what was then Milton County and is now North Fulton County. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 o'clock from the chapel of Bridges Funeral Home with the Rev. Tom Lang officiating. Interment will follow in Oconee Hill Cemetery. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Lafayette and Elizabeth Hanson, Atlanta; a stepgrandson, Robert Simmons, Athens; nephews, Les Hanson Jr., Statham, and Jerry Aaron, Napierville, IL; nieces, Virginia Hale Crawford, Athens, June Hanson Ehlers, Dahlonega, Gloria Aaron Diana, Manchester, CT; and a host of other relatives and friends. Pallbearers will be L.T. Fournier, Steve Fournier, Les Janson Jr., David McConnell, Lane Pinson, and Edward Crawford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Athens First Baptist Church Building Fund, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 until 8. For further details and to sign an online guest book, go to www.legacy.com. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc.