Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 19 Aug 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 10:47 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 James Ronald ''Ron'' McElroy Athens Ron McElroy of 1133 Old Creek Road, Athens, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Madison County, Mr. McElroy was the son of J.C. McElroy of Danielsville and the late Johnnie Merle Booth McElroy. He retired from Westclox in Athens after 21 years and served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. He was a member and an usher of Prince Avenue Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Prince Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Ricketts, the Rev. John Verschuren and the Rev. Howard Greer officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 2:00 p.m. Private family internment services will be at Evergreen Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Dennis Whitfield, Chuck Weaber, Wayne Lyle, Mike Almond, Todd McElroy and Bob Turner. Honorary pallbearer is Dr. John Davis. Survivors, in addition to his father, include his wife, Shari R. McElroy of Athens; one sister, Mary Ellen Simms of Danielsville; two brothers, Gene O. McElroy of Jefferson and Troy L. McElroy of Danielsville; two nieces, four nephews, one great niece and one great nephew. Mr. McElroy is also survived by two God children, Katie Sinclair and Megan Teeuwen of Versailles, Mo., and his beloved Pomeranian, Brieanne. The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home. Those desiring to do so may make memorial contributions to the Prince Avenue Baptist Church Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 1112, Athens, GA 30603. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. See www.legacy.com. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:47 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Wallace Leroy Seagraves Athens Wallace L. Seagraves, 79, died Monday, August 14, 2000. A native of Clarke County, Mr. Seagraves was the son of the late Charles E. and Alti Richard Seagraves. He was retired from National Can Co., Atlanta, GA. Mr. Seagraves was a past Governor of the Moose Lodge 1406, an American Legion member and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2872 for many years. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters on a Naval Destroyer in the U.S. Navy during WWII, receiving the Bronze Star. Survivors include his sister Edna L. Seagraves of the home, sister-in-law Mrs. Ralph D. Seagraves, niece Sharon S. Barham and daughter Joli Barham, all of Charlotte, NC; niece Peggy S. Hurd and son Philip Hurd of Douglas; great niece Mrs. Greg Bissnet and husband of Clarkesville, GA; great nephews Jimmy Kemp, Michael Kemp, Ricky Kemp and wife Rhonda, and Kelly Kemp, all of Athens. Services will be held graveside at Oconee Hill Cemetery Sunday, August 20, at 2:00 P.M. Eulogist will be Lloyd Mackey with members of VFW Post 2872 as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the cemetery after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Oconee Street United Methodist Church, 717 Oconee Street, Athens, GA 30603, or to the American Heart Association, 1353 Jennings Mill Road, Athens, GA 30606. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Charles E. Booth Cornelia Charles E. Booth, 80, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Branchland, W. Va., Mr. Booth was a son of the late Charlie and Elizabeth Napier Booth. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Leutrelle Dillashaw. He was a self-employed carpenter and was a member and deacon of Hillside Baptist Church. He was a member of Mount Airy Masonic Lodge No. 141 F. & A.M., was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 7720 of Cornelia and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 42. He was a volunteer with the Habersham Civil Defense for 15 years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Hillside Baptist Church with the Revs. Billy Burrell and Billy Harris officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the Rabun Co. DAV Chapter 42. Burial will be in Yonah Memorial Gardens, Demorest. Survivors include his wife, Maxine Smith Booth; a daughter, Regina Jenkins, Alto; two sons, Edwin Booth, Baldwin, and Mack Booth, Mount Airy; a sister, Ruth Cremeans, Branchland, W. Va.; a brother, James Booth, Lakeland, Fla.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence, 332 Fay St., and will receive friends from 10 a.m.-noon today at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Gilbert Nicholas Colunga Winder Gilbert Nicholas Colunga, 73, of 583 Carl-Cedar Hill Road died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000. A native of Galveston, Texas, Mr. Colunga was a son of the late Gilbert D. Colunga and Helen Rivera. He was a pipefitter and was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of World War II. He was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include a son, Gilbert ''Moose'' Colunga, Winder; a sister, Theresa Reynes, Galveston, Texas; and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the M.D. Foundation. Wise-Connolly Funeral Home, Winder, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Dr. Paul Royce Smith Mount Airy, N.C. Dr. Paul Royce Smith, 82, of 572 Reeves Mill Road died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Winder, Dr. Smith was a son of the late George D. and Newell Thomas Smith. He was a retired professor of English teaching in Indiana, Virginia and South Carolina. He received his masters degree from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church. Memorial services will be Monday at Central United Methodist Church with the Rev. Phillip Cole officiating. Survivors include his wife, Stella Tilley Smith; a sister, Martha Hale, Statham; a brother, Willie Joe, Winder; and nieces and nephews. Moody Funeral Home, Mount Airy, N.C., has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Hollis Fleming Hartwell Hollis Fleming, 92, of 1410 New Hope Church died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Hart County, Mr. Fleming was a son of the late Peter Luke Fleming and John Ellen Carnes Fleming. He was a retired farmer and was a former justice of the peace. He was a U.S. Army Air Corp veteran of World War II having served in Africa and was a member of Reed Creek Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Reed Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Ted Kelley and Jason Danuser officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include seven nephews and a niece. Pallbearers will be Wayne Bowers, Jack Fleming, Bob Bowers, Don Fleming, Wade Fleming and Bill Bowman. The family is at their respective residences. Flowers are optional and memorials may be made to Reed Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 130 Boleman Hill Road, Hartwell, GA 30643. Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Clarence P. LeCroy Toccoa Clarence P. LeCroy, 94, of 8892 Rock Quarry Road died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Franklin County, Mr. LeCroy was a son of the late Thomas C. and Elizabeth Hall LeCroy and was the widower of Blanche Sailers LeCroy. He was a retired supervisor with Coats & Clark with 29 years of service. He was a member of Toccoa Masonic Lodge and Toccoa Shrine Club. He was the oldest member of Toccoa Creek Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Whitlock Mortuary with the Rev. Charles Savage and Mr. Lee Sullens officiating. Entombment will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens. Survivors include two sons, Robert P. LeCroy, Douglasville, and Steve T. LeCroy, Toccoa; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. The family will be at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Steve LeCroy, 8890 Rock Quarry Road, and will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Toccoa Creek Baptist Church. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 John Henry Vickery Bowersville John Henry Vickery, 81, of 3560 Bowersville Highway died Friday, Aug. 18, 2000. A native of Hart County, Mr. Vickery was a son of the late William Z. Vickery and Venie Vickery Vickery. He was retired from Newton Mills as a weaver and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II having served in the European Theater. He was a member of the VFW. He was a member and usher of Flat Shoals Baptist Church and the Men's Sunday school class. Services will be at 4 p.m. today at Flat Shoals Baptist Church with the Rev. Eddy Mattison officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in Nancy Hart Memorial Park. Survivors include his wife, Frances Cheek Vickery; and two sisters, Mildred Deadwyler, Athens, and Marie Kirkland, Hartwell. The family is at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Jackson 287 Gurley Road, Bowersville. Strickland Funeral Home, Hartwell, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Sadie Marrett Wilbanks Commerce Sadie Marrett Wilbanks, 88, of 325 State St. died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000. A native of Fulton County, Mrs. Wilbanks was a daughter of the late Etta Brown Marrett and Millard Marrett and was the widow of Hoke D. Wilbanks. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Altice. She was retired from General Times and was a member of Community Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Little-Ward Funeral Home with the Rev. David Strickland officiating. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial Gardens. Survivors include a daughter, Betty Wilson, Fort Mill, S.C.; two sons, Benny Wilbanks, Athens, and Billy Wilbanks, Commerce; three sisters, Inez Davis, Jasper, Nannie Lou Gunn, Clarkesville, and Ola Leikert, Bradenton, Fla.; four brothers, Charles M. Marrett, Atlanta, Joseph Marrett, Conyers, Millard Marrett Jr., Alabama, and Thomas Watson Marrett, Lafayette; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:08 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 Willie Belle Cowart Arcade Willie Belle Cowart, 70, of 105 Lake St. died Friday, Aug. 18, 2000. Mr. Cowart was a son of the late Addie Mae Baxter Jordan and John Thomas Jordan. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ivie Funeral Home with the Revs. Donald Wilson and Jimmy Owensby officiating. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial Park, Commerce. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Ann Cowart and Lois Flynn, Winterville; a son, Jeffery Allen Cowart, Nicholson; two sisters, Geraldine Jordan and Sara Dell McKie, both of Commerce; and a brother, Eugene Lenward Jordan, Alto. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 11:38 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2000 John Harmon Newspaper bureau chief BLAIRSVILLE -- A memorial service is scheduled today for John Harmon, chief of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's north Georgia bureau, who died Thursday of cancer at Union General Hospital. He was 45. Harmon, who grew up on the Georgia coast, fell in love with the Georgia mountains after hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1979. During his 13-year newspaper career, he wrote about environmental issues and economic and social change in north Georgia. Survivors include his wife, Lisa Harmon of Blairsville; two sons, Walker and Wilson Harmon, both of Blairsville; his mother, Marion Parrish Harmon of Gray; a sister, Claudia Schlottman of Macon and St. Simons Island; and a brother, Paul Harmon of Statesboro. A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. today at Providence United Methodist Church in Blairsville. The body was cremated. Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of arrangements. -- Associated Press Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc.