Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 22 Mar 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 8:19 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Ex-POW dies at 79 By Eric Gonzalez Staff Writer Athens resident Richard Haskill, a World War II prisoner of war and survivor of the Bataan Death March, died Saturday. He was 79. A member of Prospect United Methodist Church, Haskill and his wife, Betty Jo Draper Haskill, moved to Athens about a year ago to move into a retirement home close to their son, Stephen Charles Haskill, his son said Tuesday. Richard Haskill was captured by the Japanese on April 9, 1942, and was a prisoner of war until Sept. 18, 1945. He retired from the military as a tech sergeant. His capture ''caused a lot of physical and emotional scars my father dealt with the rest of his life,'' Stephen Haskill said. ''He was a very caring individual who loved his pets and animals and focused on making sure my mother was taken care of,'' he said. ''He was very close to the vest about his experiences as a prisoner of war.'' Richard Haskill did speak occasionally about being baptized just before his capture by a nun in a monastery in the Philippines, Stephen Haskill said. ''That was the moment he accepted Jesus Christ, and he had a very deep faith in Jesus Christ outside of any organized religion,'' he said. More than 10,000 Americans and 65,000 Filipinos captured at Bataan were forced to march more than 60 miles in blazing heat. Thousands died on the trek, and thousands more died in captivity from malnutrition, beatings by the Japanese and disease. Stephen Haskill said his father suffered from dysentery, malaria and other injuries as a result of the march and years in prison. After being released in 1945, Haskill worked as a school bus mechanic in Williamston, Mich., before retiring in the late 1970s, Stephen Haskill said. ''It was a very menial job but it was one thing he enjoyed doing because he left like he was making a contribution,'' Stephen Haskill said. Richard and Betty Jo Haskill spent decades traveling in a mobile home after retiring, and ultimately settled in Lake Seminole, Fla., before moving to Athens. Among Richard Haskill's military honors are the Victory Medal, the American Theater ribbon, the American Service Defense Ribbon with a bronze star, the Philippines Defense Ribbon with a bronze battle star, and seven overseas service stripes, Stephen Haskill said. Services will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Prospect United Methodist Church with the Rev. Peggy Little officiating. Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Rosie Benton Bird Commerce Rosie Benton Bird, 98, of 1020 Short Segraves Road died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Banks County, Mrs. Bird was a daughter of the late Wiley and Maggie Ingram Benton and was the widow of Neri Esli Bird. She was a member of Rogers Baptist Church and was a retired seamstress from Blue Bell Inc. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Rogers Baptist Church with the Rev. Carlton Peters officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Nell Segraves, Commerce; two brothers, Ollie Benton and Vernon Benton, both of Commerce; nieces and nephews. The family is at the residence and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Ivie Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Michael Skelton Hartwell Harry Michael Skelton, 41, of 892 B. Bailey Road died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Hart County, Mr. Skelton was a son of Harry E. and Barbara Segars Skelton, Hartwell. He was a member of Bass Anglers, the N.R.A. and Sardis Baptist Church. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Sardis Baptist Church with Drs. Dan Vincent, Marshall Tribble and the Rev. Wayne Durden officiating. Burial will be in Nancy Hart Memorial Park. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Chitwood Skelton; a stepdaughter, Jamie Peppers, Hartwell; three stepsons, Doug Campbell, Dewy Rose, Stacy Campbell, Hartwell, and Jason Campbell, Elberton; a sister, Kristi Evans, Athens; his grandmothers, Virginia Segars, Hiawassee, and Doris R. Skelton, Hartwell; and nine step-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Sardis Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1219, Hartwell, GA 30643. The family is at the residence of Harry and Barbara Skelton, 2309 Old Highway 29, Hartwell, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Strickland Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Rev. Hershel O. Bryson Demorest The Rev. Hershel Odell Bryson, 74, of 255 Bryson Drive died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Macon County, N.C., Mr. Bryson was a son of the late Zeb and Margaret Watkins Bryson. He was a member of Cresent Hill Baptist Church and preached in Rabun County. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Cresent Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Nathan Nix, Donald Fuller and Furman Wilson officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Worley Bryson; three daughters, Frances Wigley, Dahlonega, Marie Eller, Toccoa, and Linda Carnes, Turnerville; three sons, Roy Lee Bryson, Mount Airy, Wayne Bryson, Randleman, N.C., and Clarence Bryson, Clarkesville; a sister, Edith Holt, Clarkesville; three brothers, Hayward Bryson and Neville Bryson, both of Clarkesville, and Rev. Paul Bryson, Demorest; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rev. Hershel Bryson Memorial Fund, 255 Bryson Drive, Demorest, GA 30535. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Lillie Theo Mouchet Toccoa Lillie Theo Mouchet, 78, of Falls Road died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Hart County, Miss Mouchet was a daughter of the late T.S. and Delia Adams Mouchet. She was a member of Hill Street Baptist Church and was retired from Coats and Clark after 42 years. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Acree-Davis Funeral Home with the Rev. Jarrett Ragan officiating. Burial will be in Stephens Memorial Gardens. Survivors include a sister, Jessie Grubbs, Gainesville; nieces and nephews. The family is at their respective residences and will receive friends from noon until the hour of service at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Edgar M. Rice High Shoals Edgar M. Rice, 96, formerly of Mineral Bluff, died Monday, March 20, 2000. Mr. Rice was the widower of Nettie Hawkins Rice and was preceded in death by a son, Paul Rice. He was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Shady Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Billy Driskell, Ned Golden and Jerry Rice officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include three daughters, Irene Bailey, Braselton, Margaret R. Clay, Buford, and Nell Cloud, Lilburn; two sons, David R. Rice, Lexington, and Herbert Rice, Auburn; a brother, George Rice, Mineral Bluff; 10 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Henry Cochran Funeral Home, Blue Ridge, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Bertha Carter Winder Bertha Carter, 87, died Saturday, March 18, 2000. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at White Oak Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Alfred Hazel officiating. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial will be in Washington Memorial Gardens, Decatur. Survivors include nieces and nephews. Eberhart & Son Mortuary, Winder, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 William T. Chester Nicholson William T. Chester, 82, of 650 Lake View Drive died Tuesday, Mach 21, 2000. A native of Johnson County, Mr. Chester was a son of the late Isaac Tillman and Lula Vaden Brantley Chester. He was preceded in death by a son, Isaac Thomas Chester. He was a retired carpenter and was a member of Nicholson Congregational Holiness Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Nicholson Congregational Holiness Church with the Revs. Dennis Kesler, H.L. Moore and Howard Rhodes officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Nicholson Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Cathel Mae Palmer Chester; four daughters, Pamelia Jan Daniel, Catherine Phyllis Vaughn and Wanda Elizabeth Weldon, all of Nicholson, and Barbara Jean Wilson, Watkinsville; four sons, Kenneth Christopher Chester, Jefferson, Oral Chester, Comer, Ray LaVaughn Chester and William Randall Chester, both of Nicholson; a sister, Mildred Ollis, Atlanta; a brother, Harrison Chester, Virginia; 25 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today at Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 George Johnson Jr. Sparta George Johnson Jr., 62, formerly of Lexington, died Sunday, March 19, 2000. A native of Oglethorpe County, Mr. Johnson was a son of Daisy Byrd Adkins and the late Roy Mitchell Adkins. He was a member of Clark Grove Baptist Church, Stephens. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Clark Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Service Hurst officiating. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include a daughter, Valerie Johnson, Athens; two sons, Michael A. Johnson, Athens, and Quinton Johnson, Sumter, S.C.; a brother, Sarah A. Adkins, Comer; six brothers, Roy Mitchell Adkins Jr., Marion Adkins, Horace Adkins and Gonzales Adkins, all of Athens, Johnnie G. Adkins and Ned S. Adkins, Crawford; grandchildren; nieces and nephews. The family is at the residence of Marion Adkins, 164 Dwight Road, Athens. Watts Funeral Home, Union Point, has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Pearl Stamey Ward Athens Pearl Stamey Ward, 81, died Sunday, March 19, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Ward was a daughter of the late Harry Lenton and Ruby Kittle Fields and was the widow of William Francis Stamey and Drennan Durell Ward. She was preceded in death by two sons, Charles W. Stamey and James E. Stamey. She was a member of Sunlight Baptist Church and was retired from Athens General Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bridges Funeral Home with the Rev. Dan Corbett officiating. Burial will be in Mizpah Cemetery, Jackson County. Survivors include four daughters, Virginia Stamey Anthony, Athens, Nettie Stamey Smith, Bryon, Peggy Stamey, Colbert, and Patricia Stamey Warner, Augusta; two sons, Frank Stamey, Stafford, Va., and Roy L. Stamey, Saudi Arabia; two stepdaughters; three stepsons; three sisters, Ellie Mae Shedd, Macon, Frances Ophelia Horne, Cochran, and Virginia Ann Grammer, Macon; two brothers, Thomas ''Buddy'' Fields, Oxford, and Charles T. Fields, Ila; 27 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Elizabeth P. Kimbrough Athens Elizabeth Prather Kimbrough, 89, of 139 Alps Road died Tuesday, March 21, 2000. A native of Elbert County, Mrs. Kimbrough was a daughter of the late Wesley and Mollie Christian Prather and was the widow of John F. Kimbrough Sr. She was a homemaker and was a member of Crawfordsville Presbyterian Church. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today at Oak Hill Cemetery, Quitman, with the Rev. Charlie Cook officiating. Survivors include a daughter, Betsy Kimbrough, Douglasville; a son, John F. Kimbrough Jr., Athens; and a granddaughter. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice or to the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, P.O. Box 2525, Macon, GA 31203. Bernstein Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Essie M. Fleming Athens Essie M. Fleming, 80, of 120 Herring St. died Saturday, March 18, 2000. A native of Madison County, Mrs. Fleming was a daughter of the late James and Lula Pattman. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fairplay Baptist Church, Hull, with the Rev. Gazzara Mitchell Sr. officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Lula Fleming, Athens, and Shirley Mathis, Atlanta; four sons, Melvin Fleming, Arizona, Robert L. Fleming, Atlanta, Roosevelt Fleming, Washington, D.C., and Nelson Fleming, Athens; three sisters, Claudia M. Collins, Athens, Lucille Aaron, Atlanta, and Jimmy Ruth Wingfield, Monroe; five brothers, Jesse Pattman, M.C. Pattman and Neal Pattman, all of Athens, J.P. Pattman, Colbert, and Henry Grady Pattman, Raleigh, N.C.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. today at Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home, Athens. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 John Verdell Savage Homerville John Verdell Savage, 78, died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Habersham County, Mr. Savage was a son of the late John Thomas Savage and Bertie Mae Whitworth. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was of the Baptist faith. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at McGahee-Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, with the Revs. Paris Whitworth, Donnie Elliott, Curtis Woods and Autry Gosnell officiating. Burial will be in Unity Baptist Church cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Louise Anna Savage; two daughters, Mary Glenn Smith, Homerville, and Cathy Cunningham, Alto; five sons, David Savage, Hoschton, Randall Savage, Homerville, Tony Savage, Oakwood, Danny Savage, Cornelia, and Roy Savage, Lula; two sisters, Denise Gragg, Toccoa, and Lillie Mae Nix, Demorest; two brothers, Lavaughan Savage and Samuel Lewis, both of Winder; 24 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Cathy Cunningham, 580 Wheeler St., Alto, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:04 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Montine McGee Smith Danielsville Montine McGee Smith, 92, of 400 Griffeth Road died Monday, March 20, 2000. A native of Elbert County, Mrs. Smith was a daughter of the late Amos and Sarah Alexander McGee and was the widow of Perry S. Smith. She was a social worker for the Department of Family and Children Services. She was a member of Danielsville Baptist Church and Athens Chapter No. 268 Eastern Star. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brown Funeral Home with the Revs. Mike Hudman and Tony Lee officiating. Burial will be in Bowman Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Dwight Griffeth; four grandchildren, David and Tana Griffeth, Colbert, Joe and Katie Griffeth, Danielsville; and four great-grandchildren, Jesse and Lee Griffeth and Kristen and Samantha Pickren. Pallbearers will be David Griffeth, Joe Griffeth, Pete Sisk, Tim Arthur, Phil Griffeth and Walter Freeman. The family is at the residence and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. @obit tagline:Athens Daily News, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:05 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Richard Monroe Haskill Athens Richard M. Haskill, 79, of 3864 Tallassee Road, Athens died Saturday, March 18, 2000. A native of Webberville, MI, Mr. Haskill had lived in Athens for the past year, coming from Chattahoochee, FL. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W., the American Legion and the D.A.V. He was a veteran of the US Army Corps. While serving in WWII, he was captured in the Philippines by the Japanese on April 9, 1942 and was a P.O.W. until September 18, 1945. Mr. Haskill was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He retired from the military as a Tech Sgt. He was a member of Prospect United Methodist Church. Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Prospect United Methodist Church with Rev. Peggy Little officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, GA. Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Draper Haskill, Athens; sons, Richard Allen Haskill, Ringgold, GA and Stephen Charles Haskill, Athens; daughters, Helen Leslie Montelo, Williamston, MI, Jacqueline Howeiler, Woodward, OK, Barbara Jean Stinson, Woodward, OK, Margaret Ann Duke, Kalamazoo, MI and Patty Ann Scott, Superior, WI; sister, Goldie Petsch, Webberville, MI: and fourteen grandchildren. He was preceded in death by grandchildren, Ricky Inman and Wendy Dawn Stinson. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Prospect United Methodist Church, 334 Prospect Church Road, Athens, GA 30607. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Bernstein Funeral Home. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Wednesday, March 22, 2000 @obit head:Natalie Back Eberhardt @Paid obit city:Marietta Natalie Back Eberhardt, of Marietta, Georgia died Tuesday morning March 21, 2000 following a prolonged illness. She was 58 at the time of her rest. Mrs. Eberhardt was the daughter of Nathaniel A. Back of Roanoke, VA, and the late Kathryn D. Back of Arlington, VA. She was last employed by Southern Polytechnic University as a program coordinator in the Department of Continuing Education. Mrs. Eberhardt is survived by her husband: Robert T. Eberhardt III, Marietta, GA; two sons, Michael Eric Eberhardt, Athens, GA and Mark Randall Eberhardt, Marietta, GA: a sister: Karen B. Bachman, Wayland, MA; two granddaughters: Madison Dianne Eberhardt and Meaghan Elizabeth Eberhardt both of Athens, GA; as well as 2 nieces and 1 nephew. Mrs. Eberhardt was educated at Villa Maria Academy, Malvern, PA and graduated from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, with a B.A. degree. She made a career of developing and coordinating post-graduate educational courses in the technical field at the University of Georgia, Clemson University, and Southern Polytechnic University. Mrs. Eberhardt was also a dedicated mother and spouse. The Family will receive friends Wednesday, March 22, 2000 from 7:00 until 9:00 pm at Bridges Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at Bridges Funeral Home Chapel, Thursday, March 23, 2000 at 11:30 A.M. with Father Frank Namee of the Saint Peter Chanel Catholic Mission officiating. Serving as Pall-bearers will be: William Ariant, Ralph W. Donald, Paul Chastain, Terry Green, Allan Gabriell, Andrew Brachman, Charles Hart and Buddy Hart. Interment will follow at Comer Cemetery in Comer, GA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Natalie B. Eberhardt Fund at SunTrust Bank, Athens, GA to benefit the University of North Carolina Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit. Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, GA has charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 8:05 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Lt. Willie George McGaha Birmingham, Ala. Lt. Willie George McGaha of 744 Lamplighter Lane died Saturday, March 18, 2000. Mr. McGaha was a son of Catherine McGaha. Services will be at noon Thursday at New Pilgrim Baptist Church, Birmingham, with the Rev. Nelson H. Smith officiating. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Olivia Turner McGaha, Birmingham; a daughter, Jasmine McGaha, Birmingham; two sons, Daryl McGaha and John Mark McGaha, both of Birmingham; two sisters, Rebecca Spence, Corinth, MS, and Suzette Southward, Tuscumbia, Ala.; and two brothers, Gary Allen McGaha and Michael Anthony McGaha, both of Tupelo, MS. Bushelon Funeral Home, Birmingham, (205) 786-3449, has charge of arrangements. A courtesy of Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home, Athens. Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald , Wednesday, March 22, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc.