Fortson, Holcomb, Martin, Moore, Nelms, Sanders, Seagraves, Wigley Obituaries from The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 ***************************************************************** 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/ Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net Thanks to The Madison County Journal and Mike Buffington for his permission to upload the obituaries to the Madison County GAGenWeb Archives - 23 April 2001 http://www.mainstreetnews.com/Active/Mad.html ***************************************************************** The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Evelyn O. Nelms Mrs. Evelyn O. Nelms, 74, of Hull, died Thursday, February 10, 2000. A native of Washington County, Mrs. Nelms was a daughter of the late Arthur L. and Julia Wiggins O'Quinn. A graduate of Towns County High School and the University of Georgia, she had lived in Madison County since 1946. Mrs. Nelms was retired from Madison County High School as a teacher, with 27 years of service. She also served as head of the Business Education Department. For a number of years, Mrs. Nelms was manager of the Madison County Teachers Federal Credit Union and Annual Staff sponsor. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 12, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Robert Passmore, Ray Jenkins and Bill Wood officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mike Rice, Fred Chambers, Ron Miller, Jim Perkins, John Jackson and W.G. Kesler served as pallbearers. Survivors include her husband, J. Hoyt Nelms; three daughters, Angela Rouse and Linda Kay Holloman, both of Hull, and Judy Cochrane, Marietta; one son, Leonard H. Nelms, Houston, Texas; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Madison County Cancer Society Relay for Life, 1060 Gaines School Road, Athens, GA 30605. Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Tempie L. Fortson Mrs. Tempie Lord Fortson, 91, of Royston, died Sunday, February 13, 2000, at Cobb Memorial Hospital in Royston. Mrs. Fortson was born September 6, 1908, in Madison County. She was a daughter of the late Sumner Jewel and Lula Dalrymple Lord. Mrs. Fortson graduated from Ila High School, attended Georgia State Teachers College and received her bachelor's degree from Piedmont College. She taught in the elementary schools of Madison and Franklin Counties with 40 years of service, having retired in 1970. Mrs. Fortson was a homemaker and a member of Royston Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Grover G. Fortson. Mrs. Fortson was the last member of her immediate family, being the youngest of 10 children, six sisters and three brothers. Funeral services were held Tuesday, February 15, in the chapel of Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, with the Rev. Danny Barton officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Paul Brown, Robert Fortson, Mitchell Phillips, Scotty Phillips, Sumner A. Reed and Larry Sartain served as pallbearers. Mrs. Fortson is survived by eight nieces and five nephews. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Royston Baptist Church, 767 Church Street, Royston, GA 30662, or to the charity of one's choice. Pruitt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Ralph Sanders Ralph A. Sanders, 88, of Danielsville, died Sunday, February 13, 2000. A native and lifelong resident of Madison County, Mr. Sanders was a son of the late Thurman and Myrtle Daniel Sanders. He was a retired farmer and a member of Danielsville United Methodist Church. Mr. Sanders was a lifelong member of the Madison County Farm Bureau, as well as a charter and honorary lifetime member of the Madison County Cattlemen's Association. He was also a member of the Georgia Cattlemen's Association. Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 16, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. Ray Jenkins officiating. Burial was in Danielsville Memorial Gardens. Grant Hayes, Buddy Higginbotham, John Davis Higginbotham, Ricky Higginbotham, Dwayne Jordan, Randolph Moore, Kelly Paul and Larry Pierce served as pallbearers. Members of the Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Clarence Higginbotham Jr. served as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include his wife, Allene H. Sanders; sons and daughters-in- law, Al and Shirley Sanders, Watkinsville, Ed and Faye Sanders, Danielsville, and Bobby and June Sanders, Athens; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1060 Gaines School Road, Athens, GA 30605. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Oatha R. Martin Oatha R. Martin, 83, of Watkinsville, died Friday, February 11, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital, Athens, following a long illness. Mr. Martin was born April 24, 1916, in Banks County. He was a son of the late George and Lucy Sisk Martin. Mr. Martin was of the Presbyterian faith. Funeral services were held Sunday, February 13, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. David Perkins officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Arlene Clark Martin; two sons, Royce L. Martin, Nashville, Tenn., and Ronnie L. Martin, Watkinsville; two daughters, Ruby M. Berryman, Watkinsville, and Jeannie M. Mullin, Tustin Ranch, Calif.; one brother, Cecil Martin, Monroe; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Annie K. Wigley Mrs. Annie Kate Wigley, 78, of Dahlonega, died Wednesday, February 9, 2000, at Chestatee Regional Hospital, Dahlonega, following an extended illness. Mrs. Wigley was a native and lifelong resident of Lumpkin County. She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Friday, February 11, at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church with the Revs. Philip Robinson, Dean Bryant and Lyman Caldwell officiating. Burial was in the Oak Grove Baptist Church cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Allen Wigley; daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Jimmy McGinnis, Colbert, and Peggy and Jerry Hatcher, Dahlonega; daughter, Ann Wigley, Dahlonega; sons and daughters-in-law, Marvin and Wanda Wigley and Kenneth and Frances Wigley, all of Dahlonega; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ethel Lou and Johnnie Paul Jones and Corene and James Jones, all of Dahlonega; sister, Allagene Beck, Dahlonega; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Gladys Edwards, Suwanee, and George and Valorie Edwards and John L. and Alma Edwards, all of Dahlonega; sister-in-law, Mrs. Chris Edwards, Murrayville; grandchildren, Jared and Justin Hatcher, Neal and Kim McGinnis and Kyle Wigley; great-grandchild, Milli McGinnis; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. McKinney Funeral Home, Dahlonega, was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Halford E. Seagraves Halford Edwin Seagraves, 69, of Athens, died Thursday, February 10, 2000. A native of Madison County, Mr. Seagraves was a son of Dessie Mae Bullock Seagraves, Hull, and the late James Roy Seagraves Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Rebecca Wehunt Seagraves. Graveside services were held Friday, February 11, in the Tuckston United Methodist Church cemetery with the Rev. Herb Owen officiating. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include one daughter, Debbie Anderson, Easley, S.C.; one son, James Seagraves, Simpsonville, S.C.; five sisters, Herscheleen Vickery and Linda Bourne, both of Athens, Betty Smith, Royston, Trudy Evans, Hull, and Valerie Tyner, Charleston, S.C.; two brothers, James Roy Seagraves Jr., Athens, and Larry Seagraves, Watkinsville; two grandchildren, two step- grandchildren and one great-grandson. Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Dorothea S. Holcomb Mrs. Dorothea S. "Dot" Holcomb, 76, of Athens, died Thursday, February 10, 2000. A native of Comer, Mrs. Holcomb was a daughter of the late Hawkins and Gladys Dillard Moore. She was graduate of Comer High School, where she played on the State Championship Girls Basketball Team. Mrs. Holcomb was a member of Prince Avenue Baptist Church, Athens, the Couples Sunday School Class and the XYZs. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 12, at Prince Avenue Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill Ricketts and Howard Greer officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. David Jones, Larry Jones, Gerald Tolbert, Wayne Moore, Michael Moore, Denny Moore and Ronnie Lampkin served as pallbearers. Members of the Couples Sunday School Class served as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include her husband, James "Jake" Holcomb; daughter, Sandra E'Lane Wahl, Lincolnton; daughter and son-in-law, Theresa Dianne and John Heffernan, Americus; four brothers, Milton Moore, Milledgeville, Newman Moore, Athens, Frazier Moore, Warner Robins, and Hiram Moore, Greensboro; grandchildren, Ashleigh-Anne, Faireleigh and Spence Wahl, Holly Branum and Kristin and Andrew Heffernan; and one great-grandchild, Dasia Derby. Memorials may be made to Prince Avenue Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1112, Athens, GA 30603. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. --------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, February 16, 2000 Ruby G. Moore Mrs. Ruby Gaines Moore, 90, of Elberton, died Tuesday, February 8, 2000. A native of Elbert County, Mrs. Moore was a daughter of the late Peter Pierce and Lula Queenie Ward Gaines. She was retired from the Elbert County School System, with 35 years of service, and was a member of Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, Decatur. Mrs. Moore had lived with her daughter for six years in Philadelphia, Miss., prior to moving back to Georgia in December 1998. She was preceded in death by her husband, Neal Isaac Moore. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 12, at Antioch Baptist Church with the Revs. Grady Collins and Jonathan Peppers officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Survivors include one daughter, Doris Collins, Candler County; one son, Isaac J. Moore II, Atlanta; two sisters, Lucy Ophelia Taylor, Comer, and Lettie Hudson, Stone Mountain; two brothers, Rabun Gaines, Jeffersonville, Ind., and Paul Gaines, Tifton; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2479 Antioch Church Road, Elberton, GA 30635. Hicks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.