Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 18 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 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Former columnist Firor dies Former Athens Banner-Herald columnist David L. Firor, 76, died Tuesday of a heart attack. Firor wrote for the newspaper for eight years, between 1990 and 1998, often about his family and Athens politics. ''He didn't discriminate -- he probably insulted everybody,'' said his wife, Edna Firor. ''He got a lot of calls from people, some who didn't agree, some who did. ... He said, 'If I was pleasing everybody, I was probably doing something wrong.''' Firor was born in Athens and spent most of his life here. He was a Clarke County commissioner, attended the University of Georgia and served in the Army during World War II. Firor was a dairy farmer and worked for the National Association of Conservation Districts until 1989. After Firor retired, former Banner-Herald editorial page editor Hank Johnson hired him to write a weekly column. ''He always spoke his mind and didn't always agree with the newspaper in its positions, but that's fine -- we needed that,'' Johnson said, adding that Firor would describe himself as ''cantankerous on purpose.'' ''He was a person with a great sense of humor, a lot of wit about him,'' Edna Firor said. ''He always got into a lot of foolishness with family and friends. He had a great love of life -- he lived life to its fullest.'' Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in Oconee Hill Cemetery. Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Susan Irene Mitcham Buckhead Susan Irene Mitcham, 51, of 2099 Cedar Grove Road died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000. A native of Putnam County, Mrs. Mitcham was a daughter of Dorothy Cranford Fuller, Eatonton, and the late Dan Trubey Jr. She was a housewife. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Charles Eugene ''Gene'' Mitcham; two sons, Gene Mitcham, Social Circle, and J.C. Mitcham, Watkinsville; two sisters, Liz Denham, Eatonton, and Teresa Crutchfield, Toomsboro; four brothers, Steve Trubey, California, Danny Trubey, Ohio, Lenny Trubey, Florida, and David Trubey, Lawrenceville; and five grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at Simmons Funeral Home, Madison. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Kathleen Thornton Dewy Rose Kathleen Elizabeth Partain Thornton, 86, of 392 Coldwater Creek Road died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000. A native of Elbert County, Mrs. Thornton was a daughter of the late Lee and Sara Howard Partain and was the widow of James Luther Thornton. She was a homemaker and was a member of Bio Home Demonstration Club and the Togetherness Club. She was a member of Bio Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and was a member of the choir and WMU. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, with the Rev. Ted Kelley officiating. Survivors include a niece, Sara Jean Bond, Canon; a nephew, Billy J. Moorhead, Hartwell; other nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Bio Baptist Church, 2145 Bio Church Road, Hartwell, GA 30643. The family is at their respective residences and will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Morris W.H. Collins Jr. Athens Morris William Hollowell Collins Jr. of 535 Westview Drive died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000. A native of Athens, Dr. Collins was a graduate of the University of Georgia and received graduated degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Harvard University. He was a retired professor and administrator who served as the first director of UGA's Institute of Government, as dean of the College of Public Affairs at the American University in Washington, D.C., and as the founding director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government as well as occupying the John C. Stennis Chair in Political Science at Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss. While at UGA he worked in various advisory capacities for Georgia governors Earnest Vandiver, Carl Sanders and Jimmy Carter. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was retired from the Army Reserves as a Lt. Col. He was an elder at Athens First Presbyterian Church. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Athens First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Glenn Doak officiating. Private burial will be in Oconee Hills Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Maysie Lyons Collins; two daughters, Susan C. Geolot, Bethesda, Md., and Margaret C. Totty, Athens; two sons, Morris H. Collins, Athens, and John G. Collins, Columbia, S.C.; a sister, Gwendolyn C. Smith, Athens; a brother, John Edward Collins, Colbert; and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Morris W.H. Collins Jr. scholarship of Political Science at Mississippi State University, c/o The Mississippi State University Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39759-6149. The family is at the residence. Bridges Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Nicholas Matthew Fiala Cornelia Nicholas Matthew Fiala, infant son of Greg and Deborah London Fiala, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000. Nicholas was born in Habersham County. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Oakey Mountain Baptist Church cemetery with the Rev. Brion K. Williams officiating. Survivors, in addition to his parents, include two sisters, Heather London, Toccoa, and Jessica Meredith, Racine, Wis.; and his grandparents, George and Audrey Besta Fiala, Racine, and Vera Evelyn Phillips, Toccoa. Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:49 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Salvatore DeVincolis Canon Salvatore DeVincolis, 71, of 110 Pecan Drive died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000. A native of Long Island, N.Y., Mr. DeVincolis was a son of the late Louis and Rose DeVincolis. He was a plumber and was a member of Rice Creek Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, with the Rev. Marvin Whitworth officiating. Survivors include his wife, Fay Saucier DeVincolis; two daughters, Roxanne Furnace, New York, and Carolyn Testa, Atlanta; a son, Dale Louis DeVincolis, Atlanta; a brother, Vincent DeVincolis, Florida; and two granddaughters. Memorials may be made to Rice Creek Baptist Church, 3287 Georgia Highway 17, Canon, GA 30520. The family is at their respective residences and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Hayward Bowman Lavonia Hayward Bowman, 47, of 57 Wesleyan St. died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2000. A native of Hart County, Mr. Bowman was a son of Ola B. Bowman, Hartwell, and the late James Lee Bowman. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Union Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. J.T. Hughey officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include a son, Rayland Bowman, Lavonia; five sisters, Sabor J. Bowman, Anderson, S.C., Velee L. Bowman, Hartwell, Daisy A. Rodichaw and Sherrir Ramus, both of Philadelphia, and Kelly Sue Bowman, Elberton; and six brothers, Eddie K. Bowman, Lavonia, Randall C. Bowman, Drew B. Bowman, James Howard Bowman and Jessie M. Bowman, all of Hartwell, and Joe William Bowman, Marietta. The family is at the residence of Eddie Brown, 23 Robin Lane, Lavonia, and will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. today at Mack's Funeral Home, Hartwell. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Carey Sims Jr. Athens Carey Sims Jr., 64, of 8830 Macon Highway Lot 102 died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2000. A native of Oglethorpe County, Mr. Sims was a son of the late Carey Sr. and Janie Howard Sims. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Clarke Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. C.M. Hawkins officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Survivors include a daughter, Peggy Sims, Athens; two sons, Sammie Gary Sims and Danny Louis Sims, both of Athens; five sisters, Mary Frances Sims and Birdie B. Nesbit, both of Chicago, Janie Mae Gesham, Atlanta, Louise Stevens and Patricia Sims, both of Athens; two brothers, Willie Joe Sims and Larry Sims, both of Athens; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the residence of Pauline King, 106 Bazzelle Ave., Athens. Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Dewitt Johnson Washington Dewitt Johnson, 76, died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000. A native of Taliaferro County, Mr. Johnson was a son of the late Burl and Genie Sherrer Johnson and was the widower of Mary Mathews Johnson. He was retired as a foreman from Greensboro Lumber Co. and was a member of Phillips Mill Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He was former Legion Commander of the Athens V.F.W. Post. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Phillips Mill Baptist Church cemetery with the Revs. John M. King and Robert Jacobs officiating. Survivors include a daughter, Martha J. Robertson, Athens; two sons, Dewitt Johnson Jr., Athens, and Gerald Johnson, Crawfordville; a brother, Dewey Johnson, Commerce; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at Hopkins Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Clarence L. Broome Homer Clarence L. Broome, 76, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000. A native of White County, Mr. Broome was a son of the late Onie S. Broome. He was retired from the U.S. Army after 26 years and served in World War II under General Patton's Fifth Army, the Korean and Vietnam wars. During his military career, he received the World War II Victory and Campaign medals, seven Battle Star awards, two Korean Campaign medals, the Army Commendation Medal, European Theater, two Battle Oak Leaf Cluster awards, the Bronze Star and the Vietnam Campaign medal. He was a life member of Grant Reeves Post 7720 Veterans of Foreign Wars, was a former warden with Georgia State Prison System and was a member of Freedom Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, with the Revs. Danny Green, Clyde Garrison and Perry Smith officiating. Burial will be in VFW Memorial Park with the Rev. Austin Kelley officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army Honor Guard from Fort McPherson. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Whitfield Broome; four daughters, Joann Broome and Arlene Ramierez, both of Clarkesville, Dorothy Chayka, Cornelia, and Deborah Blackwell, Homer; three sons, Jimmy Broome and William Broome, both of Clarkesville, and Boyd Broome, Arcade; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Henry L. Howington Athens Henry Lawrence Howington, 65, of 7040 Smokey Road, formerly of Nicholson, died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mr. Howington was a son of Alma V. Howington, Nicholson, and the late Henry Lee Howington. He was employed by Roper Pump Co., Commerce, for 21 years, and was a mailroom supervisor for the Athens Banner-Herald. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and was a member of Lighthouse Holiness Church, Winder. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Bernstein Funeral Home with the Revs. Dennis Kesler and Griff Carithers officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Mary C. Broadwater Howington; two daughters, Susan Marsingill, Hull, and Donna Weathers, Monroe; two sons, David Rose, Athens, and Steve Carter, Bogart; a sister, Sandra Atkinson, Winder; a brother, Gerald Douglas Howington, Grantville; 12 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Ramona B. Morgan Danielsville Ramona Bennett Morgan, 62, of 315 Sunset Drive died Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000. A native of Wilkes County, Mrs. Morgan was a daughter of the late Grady and Lois Staneil Bennett. She was a homemaker and was a member of Danielsville Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Danielsville Baptist Church with the Revs. Mike Hudman and Donnie Morgan officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Danielsville Memorial Gardens. Survivors include her husband, Walter Gene Morgan; a daughter, Pattie Morgan Lord, Comer; a son, Donnie Morgan, Danielsville; two sisters, Marie Simmons, Elberton, and Mattie Williams, Augusta; two brothers, Troy Nix, Elberton, and Clark Bennett, Hull; four grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Danielsville Baptist Church Deacons. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Danielsville Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 56, Danielsville, GA 30633. The family is at the residence of Danny and Pattie Lord, 8605 Georgia Highway 172, Comer, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Brown Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Martha 'Joyce' Mobley Winder Martha ''Joyce'' Mobley, 60, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000. A native of Barrow County, Mrs. Mobley was a daughter of Cora Skinner Barnett and the late Lewis Barnett. She was a retired data processor and was of the Baptist faith. Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Wise-Connolly Funeral Home with the Rev. Kenneth Deaton officiating. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Jerry Mobley; a daughter, Lynn Rivers, Snellville; a son, Jerry M. Mobley, Watkinsville; a sister, Werna Vanderford, Winder; a brother, Roger Barnett, Winder; and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 7:13 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2000 Lt. Col. (Ret.) David L. Firor Athens Lt. Col. (Ret.) David L. Firor, 76, of 5555 Old Lexington Road, Athens, passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2000. A native of Athens, Mr. Firor was a son of the late John William and Mary Valentine Firor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Chick Firor. Mr. Firor attended The University of Georgia where he was involved in the U.S. Calvary. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. Following the war, Mr. Firor went to work for Walton EMC. He was an active member of the Athens Area Retired Officers Association, in which he was a past president. He had served as a Clarke County commissioner and was a member of the Library Board. As well, Mr. Firor was a member of Roundtable Men's Club. From 1990 to 1998, he was a columnist for the Athens Banner Herald. Mr. Firor was an avid fan of the UGA Gymnastics Team. He was a member of Tuckston United Methodist Church. Also, he was on the Board of Directors for Cotton States Insurance Company. Mr. Firor was highly involved in agriculture. He was a dairy farmer and was one of the founders of Bettermaid Dairies. He was an Oconee River District Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor and worked for the National Association of Conservation Districts from 1971 until 1989. He was a past president of the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors. He was the 1994 Soil and Water Conservationist of the Year in the Oconee River District. Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday at 3 o'clock at Oconee Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Wesley Stephens officiating and John Firor delivering the eulogy. Survivors include his wife, Edna Bridges Firor, Athens; a daughter, Mary Firor Thomson, Savannah; a granddaughter, Jessica Margaret Thomson, Savannah; step-children and spouses, Linda Claire and Jim Cohen, Freemont, CA, Charles Walton and Paula Bartlett, Athens, and Susan and Steve McKim, Buford, GA; step-grandchildren, Aram Cohen, Jennifer and Jeff Barros, Jonathan and Rachel Bartlett, Alyssa and Julia McKim; step-great grandson, Andrew Barros; siblings and spouses, Andrew and Anne Firor Scott, Chapel Hill, NC, John William and Judy Firor, Boulder, CO, and Hugh Valentine and Betty Firor, Peoria, IL; a cousin, Dot Firor, and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the J. William Firor, Sr. Agricultural Scholarship at The University of Georgia, Foundation Building, 824 South Milledge Ave., Athens, Ga 30602 or to the charity of your choice. The family is at the residence where they will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 4:30 to 6:30. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc.