Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 16 Jul 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 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Betty Hodge Los Gatos, Calif. Betty Hodge, who spent many years living in Athens, Georgia, passed away June 21, 2000 in Los Gatos, California. She was the wife of the late Dr. Milton Hodge, who was a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia from 1959 to 1992. While in Athens, Betty raised two boys and was an avid gardener and artist. She was active in the Athens Art Association and knew many in the art community. Betty's last years were laced with many hardships which she bore with a grace and determination that won her friends and admiration. Almost five years ago on her birthday, Betty received a fateful diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She and her husband had just moved to Atlanta with hopes of living out their final years by traveling and enjoying cultural opportunities. This was not to be. The next June, Milton died unexpectedly after an apparently successful operation to clear blocked arteries. Betty bravely sold her house and moved to a residential care facility near her son in California. Once in California, Betty made many new friends and was forced to cope with the ever debilitating progression of ALS that affects your body but not your mind. She lived all but her last five months in her own apartment, and made the daily trek to dinner first with the aid of a walker and later using a small electric cart. She coped with her increasing limitations with an independence and grace that amazed fellow residents. A few weeks ago, Betty made a courageous decision that many of us hope to never face: she stopped eating. Less than a week later, she died. She is survived by two sons: Bruce Hodge of Palo Alto, California, and Steven Hodge of Little Rock, Arkansas; two brothers; and four grandchildren. A service has been held in California. The family welcomes contributions to the ALS Association, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 94301-5104, Tel 818/880-9007. Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, Los Gatos, Calif., has charge of the arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 George Thornton Hartwell George Robe Thornton, 88, of 20 Cherry St., died Friday, July 14, 2000. A native of Anderson County, S.C., Mr. Thornton was a son of the late Frank Gordon and Minnie Skelton Thornton, and was the widower of Nellie Ruth Moreland Thornton. He was a Mason and the retired owner of Triangle Food Store in Breaman, Ga. He was a member of the Economy Drug Store Coffee Club and Hartwell First Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Strickland Funeral Home with Dr. F. Hugh Kirby officiating. Burial will be in Nancy Hart Memorial Park. Survivors include three daughters, Dorothy Redding and Vivian Bryan, both of Easley, S.C., and Ruth Jacobs, Decatur, Ill.; a son, James A. Thornton, Easley, S.C.; a stepdaughter, Shelia Ruth White, Cordele; four grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Family is at their respective homes and will receive friends from 1-2:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hartwell First Baptist Church, 81 East Howell St., Hartwell, Ga. 30643. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 James F. Bridges Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla. James F. Bridges Jr., 81, died Thursday, July 13, 2000. A native of Athens, Mr. Bridges was a son of the late James F. and Martha Odessa Darracott Bridges Sr., and was the widower of Wilma Butler Bridges. He was a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for 30 years, a Mason and a member of the Chief Petty Officers Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. He attended St. Luke's Methodist Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Woodlawn Chapel, St. Petersburg, Fla. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Survivors include three daughters, Martha Scheidell, Homosassa, Fla., Linda Joyce Riley, New Port Richey, Fla., and Debbie J. Merdin, Magna, Utah; three brothers, Calvin Bridges and David Bridges, both of Athens, and Charles Bridges, Smyrna; 7 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Announcement courtesy of Bridges Funeral Home, Athens. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Muriel Robinson Clarkesville Muriel Helen Robinson, 69, died Friday, July 14, 2000. A native of New York, Mrs. Robinson was a daughter of the late George Bennett and Florence Hand Wooley Thieme, and was preceded in death by her stepparents, Betty McGregor and Emilior Puig. She was a bookkeeper, accountant and retail salesclerk in the Cornelia and Helen areas. She was a member of American Society of Women Accountants, The Order of Eastern Star and Episcopal Church of Resurrection. Services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Episcopal Church of Resurrection, Duncan Bridge Road, Sautee, with the Revs. Steve Lipscomb and Sue Duffield officiating. Survivors include her husband, James ''Glenn'' William Robinson; a daughter, Betty Allen, Clarkesville; two sons, Glenn Robinson, Sautee, and William Robinson, Clarkesville; and eight grandchildren. The family will receive friends after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Episcopal Church of Resurrection, P.O. Box 536 Sautee, Ga. 30571 c/o Mrs. Robinson. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 John Ward Athens John Wesley Ward, 77, of 245 Atlanta Ave., died Saturday, July 15, 2000. A native of Greene County, Mr. Ward was a son of the late Willie and Maggie Ward. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Gardenview Funeral Chapel with the Rev. H.L. Dotson officiating. Burial will be in Eastlawn Cemetery. Survivors include two sisters, Vera Bradford, Athens, and Chenetta Thomas, Decatur; and a niece and nephew raised in the home, Shawn Fields, Athens, and Mario Harris, Washington, D.C. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily news/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Martha Haley Royston Martha Cornelia ''Jennie'' Haley, 92, of 640 Haley Road, died Friday, July 14, 2000. A native of Franklin County, Mrs. Haley was a daughter of the late William J. ''Bill'' and Nelie Dove Haley. She was a homemaker and farmer and attended the Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church. Services will be at 5 p.m. today at the Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Revs. Sammy Cutshall and Bert Synan officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 4:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Trinity United Methodist Church cemetery. Survivors include a brother, Ludy Criss Haley, Royston; nieces and nephews. The families are at their respective homes. Pruitt Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Odessa Pitchford Chicago Odessa Mapp Pitchford, formerly of Athens, died Tuesday, July 11, 2000. Mrs. Pitchford was a daughter of the late Adian and Grace Mapp. She attended Athens Industrial High School, was retired from Aldens in Chicago and was a member of New Grove Baptist Church in Winterville. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Chicago. Survivors include her husband, Sylvester Pitchford; two daughters, Cynthia Kyle and Nannette Pitchford, both of Chicago; a son, Aaron Pitchford, Cincinnati; four sisters, Virginia Johnson, Emma Johnson and Mable Callaway, all of Athens, and Thelma Binford, Cincinnati; two brothers, Charlie Mapp and Curtis Mapp, both of Cincinnati; and two grandchildren. Mack and Payne Funeral Home, Athens, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Janice Woodard Hoschton Janice Elizabeth Hayes Woodard, 35, of 4570 Highway 53, died Friday, July 14, 2000. A native of Barrow County, Mrs. Woodard was a daughter of Claudette Austin, Hoschton, and the late Kenneth Hayes. She was a homemaker and member of White Plains Baptist Church. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, with the Revs. Kevin Page and Ron Hewitt officiating. Burial will be in Oconee Hills Cemetery, Athens. Survivors in addition to her mother include her husband, Van Woodard; a daughter, Emily Woodard, Hoschton; two sisters, Hope Ruark, Hoschton, and Kelly Kennedy, Auburn; and grandparents, Mildred Ruark and Lilly Mae Hayes, both of Winder. Pallbearers will be Troy Jones, Jason Jones, Toby Jones, Ryan Ruark, Justin Ruark and Jason Ruark. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Lillian Higginbotham Elberton Lillian Kelley Moon Higginbotham, 79, of 2204 Indian Hill Road, died Saturday, July 15, 2000. A native of Franklin County, Mrs. Higginbotham was a daughter of the late Henry Dilliard and Mayo Westmoreland Kelley, was preceded in death by her stepmother, Elvie Kelley, and was the widow of Joseph Marion Moon and W.W. Higginbotham. She was a homemaker and a member of Falling Creek Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. today at Hicks Funeral Home with the Revs. Jack McVeigh and Steve Forsythe officiating. Burial will be in Falling Creek Baptist Church cemetery. Survivors include seven daughters, Mae M. Hill, Vernell M. Rhodes, Roosa M. Huff, Betty Jane M. Huff, Susie M. Dixon and Edna Joyce M. Franklin, all of Elberton, and Violet M. Payton, Carlton; three sisters, Dorothy Belle K. Brown and Carolyn K. Fleeman, both of Bowman, and Pearl K. Roach, Easley, S.C.; a brother, Henry H. Kelley, Elberton; 53 grandchildren; 107 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Grandsons will be pallbearers . The families are at their respective homes. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2000 Richard Lane Hartwell Richard Lee Lane, 49, of 148 Glendale Drive, died Saturday, July 15, 2000. A native of San Diego, Calif., Mr. Lane was a son of Betty Hurst Lane Roberts, Hartwell, and the late James Edward Lane. He was a self-employed mechanic and was of the Baptist faith. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Milltown Baptist Church cemetery with the Rev. Mike Mimms officiating. Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Jennifer Lazzaro Lane; three daughters, Amber Garner, Katie Garner and Christina Garner, all of Hartwell; a son, Joshua Garner, Hartwell; five sisters, Sharon Bowmont and Karen Lane, both of Denton, Texas, Martha Ann Smith, Austell, Rebecca Perkins, Hartwell, and Patricia Kirchmeier, Spokane, Wash.; and nine brothers, Charles Lane, Tim Lane, Mervin Lane, Johnny Lane and Ronald Lane, all of Hartwell, Carl Roberts, Stockbridge, James Edward Lane Jr., Carnesville, Robert Ross Lane, Loganville, and Paul Lane, Dallas, Ga. The family is at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Lane, 609 Milford Road, Hartwell, and will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Strickland Funeral Home. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Sunday, July 16, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc.