Clarke Co. GA - Obits from the Athens Daily News/Banner-Herald 26 Dec 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 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Sandra Gaines Troutman, N.C. Sandra Wilkes Gaines, 41, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. A native of Habersham County, Mrs. Gaines was a daughter of the late Otis Fred Wilkes and Betty Katherine Wilkes, Winder. She was a homemaker and a member of Cool Springs United Methodist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in McGahee-Griffin-Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, with the Revs. Abraham Cox, Michael Wilkes and Darren Wilkes officiating. Burial will be in Cool Springs United Methodist Church cemetery. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Glenn Ramsey, Troutman, N.C.; two sons, Edward Nathaniel Ramsey and Erik Jerrard Ramsey, both or Troutman, N.C.; three brothers, Roger Wilkes, Demorest, Charles Wilkes, Clarkesville, and Donald Wilkes, Clermont; a sister, Brenda Smith, Athens; and nieces and nephews. The family is at the residence of Roger Wilkes, 949 Georgia Highway 105, Demorest, and will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Rev. Edwin Sorrells Toccoa Edwin Oakley Sorrells, 82, of 8610 Prather Bridge Road, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. A native of Jackson County, the Rev. Sorrells was a son of the late G.S. and Cornelia Hicks Sorrells. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, retired from Wabco after 31 years of service, and was an ordained Baptist minister. He had served as pastor at Antioch, Pleasant Grove, Mullins Ford and Broad River Baptist churches. He was a member of the Baptist Ministers Association and the Shiloh Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Elizabeth Sorrells. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Acree-Davis Funeral Home with the Revs. Mike Westbrook and Roger Elrod officiating. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Cater Sorrells; a son, Richard Sorrells, Toccoa; two granddaughters and a great-grandson. The family is at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sorrells, Prather Bridge Road, and will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Bonnie Mae Nicely Cleveland Bonnie Mae Nicely, 88, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2000. A native of White County, Mrs. Nicely was a daughter of the late Charlie and Ida Dorsey. She was a member of St. John Baptist Church. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at St. John Baptist Church with the Revs. Franklin Winters and Billy Joe Jenkins officiating. Survivors include her husband, Clifford E. Nicely. Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home, Toccoa, is in charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Ruth Adams Hartwell Irma Ruth Hardaway Adams, 78, of 2020 Lightwood Road, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. A native of Merriweather County, Mrs. Adams was a daughter of the late Ira Eugene and Leola Angie Norris Hardaway and wife of Carey M. Adams, Hartwell. She was retired from the Internal Revenue Service as an accountant with 30 years of service. She was a member of the Magnolia Garden Club, Cornerstone Baptist Church and the Lamplighters Sunday School Class. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Cornerstone Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Meeks officiating. Burial will be in the Sardis Baptist Church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 10:30 a.m. In addition to her husband, she is survived by one brother, Harry Howard Hardaway, Hartwell; and three sisters, Rose H. Lee, Grantville, Helen H. Rowe, LaGrange, and Peggy H. Wilson, Dacula. The family is at the residence, and will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. today in Strickland Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Buelah Wilder Elberton Buelah Leon Clayton Wilder, 91, of 1322 Thirteen Forks Road, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. A native of Ball Ground, Mrs. Wilder was a daughter of the late Sanford and Mattie Andrews Clayton and was the widow of Carl Martin Wilder. She was a retired clerk from Reagin Super Market and a member of Deep Creek Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a son, Clarence Wilder. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Deep Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Adams officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Survivors include three daughters, Marie McCannon and Judy Harison, both of Elberton, and Lois Ivester, Dewy Rose; two sons, Herman Wilder and Jimmy Wilder, both of Elberton; four sisters, Blanche Lones, Gladys Peterson, Hazel Blaylock and Laura Mae Allen, all of Tennessee; 25 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and 13 great, great-grandchildren. The family is at the residence of Lois and Marvin Ivester, 1322 Thirteen Forks Road, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Hicks Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Mary Griffith Maysville Mary Asalee Griffith, 84, of 1779 Wheeler Cemetery Road, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Griffith was a daughter of the late Newt and Sally Hix Smallwood. She was retired from Jefferson Mills. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by two sons, Bobby Martin and Charlie Martin. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Dennis Kesler officiating. Burial will be Woodbine Cemetery, Jefferson. Survivors include her husband, Harold Griffith; three sons, Ken Griffith and Tommy Griffith, both of Homer, and Billy Martin, Loganville; three daughters, Mary White, Norcross, Dillis Whitmire, Maysville, and Betty Worley, Jefferson; 24 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great, great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Danny Adams, Ricky Baker, Wayne Dobbs, Nickie Peppers, Randy Satterfield and Cain Tate. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Geneva Lawrence Sparta Geneva Lawrence, 92, formerly of Greene County, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000. A native of Greene County, she was a daughter of the late Austin and Mary Lou Criddle Lawrence. She worked at Adams Poultry Farms, and was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and later joined Zion Wrightsville Baptist Church. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Wrightsville Baptist Church with the Revs. Grady Lawrence, David Bloukum and Jerry Hurst officiating. Survivors include a nephew, Louis Lawrence of Greensboro, a cousin, and other nieces and nephews. Watts Funeral Home, Union Point, is in charge of arrangements. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:19 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Jake Balchin Elberton Jessie J.E. ''Jake'' Balchin, 81, of 1338 Balchin Road, died Monday, Dec. 25, 2000. A native of Elbert County, Mr. Balchin was a son of the late Claude Balchin and Mattie Chandler Balchin, and the husband of Catherine LaVera Anderson Balchin, Elberton. He was a member of Bethlehem Methodist Church, was retired from the textile industry and was a farmer. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Berry Funeral Home with the Revs. Phillip Hart and Alvin Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Coldwater Methodist Church Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include three daughters, Phillys B. Kinser, Joyce B. Wagoner and Reba B. Moon, all of Elberton; one son, Roger E. Balchin, Elberton; three sisters, Claudine Balchin, Ninety Six, S.C., Sue Bailey, Elberton, and Martha Richey, Abbeville, S.C.; one brother, Jack Balchin, Greenville, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family will be at the home of Reba and Gerald Moon, 1364 Balchin Road, and will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Berry Funeral Home. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:05 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Lamar Blackwell Bogart Gustavus Lamar Blackwell, 92, of 4330 Mars Hill Road, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000. Born in Cobb County, Mr. Blackwell was the son of the late George G. and Beulah Viola Gantt Blackwell. A 1931 graduate of the University of Georgia, was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and AGHON. He retired in 1965 from the Oconee County School District, where he taught Vocational Agriculture. He was also former secretary of the Oconee County Farm Bureau and past president of the GA Vocational Agriculture Association. He was a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church. He was predeceased by his wife, Elsie Chambers Blackwell, and a son, Charlie Blackwell. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West. The Rev. Randy Strickland will officiate. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Dianne B. and David C. Mattison of Due West, S.C.; daughter-in-law, June Blackwell of Sautee; granddaughter, Terri Blackwell of Dawsonville; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Chuck and Anita Blackwell of Dover, Del.; and a great-granddaughter, Jordan Blackwell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chapelwood United Methodist Church Building Fund, 100 Janice Drive, Athens, GA 30606. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000 Šopyright 2000 Athens Newspapers Inc. OBITUARIES Story last updated at 10:16 p.m. on Monday, December 25, 2000 Bill Stevens Jr. Athens William F. ''Bill'' Stevens Jr., a life-long resident of Clarke County, Georgia, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2000. He was 88. Mr. Stevens was the son of the late Mr. William F. and Emma Bailey Stevens. He was preceded in death by his wife, Florine Shackelford Stevens. Mr. Stevens was a graduate of Watkinsville High School and attended aircraft mechanic school during WWII, and he retired from Wellington Puritan Mills. He was a member of Princeton United Methodist Church. Mr. Stevens is survived by two daughters, Angelia Stevens Wood and her husband Merle of Roanoke, Va., and Bille Rene Link and her husband Thomas of Watkinsville, Ga.; one sister, Lily Pejsa of Duluth, Ga.; two grandchildren, Amy and her husband Doug Baxter of Watkinsville, Ga., and Steven and his wife Traci Link of Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C.; two great-grandchildren, Charity Elizabeth Baxter and Jordan Ard; and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000. The funeral service will be held in Bridges Funeral Home Chapel, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Martha Courie officiating. Interment will be in Winterville Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Donald Parr, Chester Lee, Harry Lee, Jimmy Hamilton, Major Rice, Donald Shackelford, Al Shackelford, James Shackelford and George Durden. In lieu of flowers, make contributions to Princeton United Methodist Church, 2390 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, Ga. 30606, or to Friendship Presbyterian Church, 8531 Macon Highway, Athens, Ga. 30606. The family will be at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Link in Watkinsville. Athens Daily News, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000