Birchmore, Brooks, Chastain, McCurley, McEver, Smith, Ward, Watkins - Madison Co, GA ***************************************************************** 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, March 22, 2000 Cumi W. Birchmore Mrs. Cumi Whitworth Birchmore, 99, of Ila, died Friday, March 17, 2000. Mrs. Birchmore was born in Madison County, a daughter of the late William and Ellia Thompson Whitworth. She was a retired registrational nurse with Blue Bell and was a member of Colbert United Methodist Church. Mrs. Birchmore participated in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant Army Nurse during World War II. She received three Overseas Service Bars, an Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Medal, one Bronze Service Star, a World War II Victory Medal and an American Theatre Campaign Medal. Mr. Birchmore was preceded in death by her husband, Willis C. Birchmore Sr. Funeral services were held Sunday, March 19, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. Edd Wadsworth officiating. Burial was in the Colbert Cemetery. Survivors include one step-daughter, Barbara Gaissett, Palm Beach, Fla.; one step-son, W.C. Birchmore Jr., Athens; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Athens Chapter #268 Order of the Eastern Star or to Colbert United Methodist Church. Brown Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 G.W. McCurley Jr. G.W. McCurley Jr., 76, of Winterville, a lifetime resident of Madison County, died Saturday, March 18, 2000, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Mr. McCurley was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. G.W. McCurley Sr. He attended the University of Georgia before entering the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning home, he became one of the most successful farmers in Madison County. He was a longtime member and served on the Board of Directors of the Madison County Farm Bureau for more than 20 years. Mr. McCurley was also a member of Colbert Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a son, Greg McCurley. Funeral services were held Monday, March 20, at Colbert Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Fuller officiating. Burial was in the Colbert City Cemetery. Mark Hansford, Dr. Dan Daniels, Roger Murray, Paul Burroughs, Narlan Lord, Jerry Lord, Charles McCartey and John Wagner served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Board of Directors of the Madison County Farm Bureau. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Eloise Ginn McCurley; two daughters, Donna Jarnigan, Winterville, and Linda Murray, Athens; siblings, Henry McCurley, Augusta, Woodlyn Chastain, Hilda Hardeman and Grady McCurley, all of Athens, and Pearl allace, Ellenwood; grandson and wife, Scott and Angela McCartey, Colbert; two great-grandsons, Eli and Hayes McCartey, both of Colbert; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clarke County Unit, or to stroke research. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 James W. Watkins Sr. James Wesley Watkins Sr., 74, of Comer, died Thursday, March 16, 2000. A native of Mooresville, N.C., Mr. Watkins was a son of the late James Wesley and Judy Brooks Watkins. He had lived in Madison County for the last nine years. Mr. Watkins was a retired from the textile industry and was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 18, in the chapel of Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, with the Revs. James Creason and Robert Passmore officiating. Survivors include his wife, Vinita Fabris Watkins; one daughter, Jakie Kay Richie, Kannapolis, N.C.; one son, James Wesley Watkins Jr., China Grove, N.C.; three sisters, Mary Lee Marlowe, Kannapolis, N.C., and Wilear Hammit and Della Hayes, both of Mooresville, N.C.; one brother, Bud Watkins, Virginia; three step-daughters, one grandchild and a number of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clarke County Unit, 545 Research Drive, Suite B, Athens, GA 30605, or to Oak Grove Baptist Church, Hwy. 172, Comer, GA 30629. Bridges Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 Montine M. Smith Mrs. Montine McGee Smith, 92, of Danielsville, died Monday, March 20, 2000. Mrs. Smith was born in Elbert County, a daughter of Amos and Sarah Alexander McGee. She had worked as a social worker with the Department of Family and Children Services and was a member of Danielsville Baptist Church. Mrs. Smith was also a member of the Athens Chapter #268 Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry S. Smith, and a brother, Allen L. McGee. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Revs. Mike Hudman and Tony Lee officiating. Burial will be in Bowman Cemetery. David Griffeth, Joe Griffeth, Pete Sisk, Tim Arthur, Phil Griffeth and Walter Freeman will serve as pallbearers. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Dwight and Sara Griffeth; grandchildren, David and Tana Griffeth, Colbert, and Joe and Katie Griffeth, Danielsville; and great-grandchildren, Jesse and Lee Griffeth and Kristen and Samantha Pickren. The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Brown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 Ruth R. Brooks Mrs. Ruth Rogers Brooks, 87, died Saturday, March 4, 2000, in Holmes, N.Y., following an extended illness. Mrs. Brooks was born and raised in the Roger's Mill area of Madison County. She was a daughter of the late Cora Murray and Lloyd Rogers. Mrs. Brooks was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Cuff, and two brothers, Raymond Rogers and James Murray Rogers. Mrs. Brooks is survived by one son, Jack Brooks, Weed, Calif.; and one daughter, Sylvia Brooks, Holmes, N.Y. Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home, Fishkill, N.Y., was in charge of arrangements. The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 Pearl S. Ward Mrs. Pearl Stamey Ward, 81, of Athens, died Sunday, March 19, 2000. A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Ward was a daughter of the late Harry Lenton and Ruby Kittle Fields. She retired from Athens General Hospital in 1982 and was a member of Sun Light Baptist Church. Mrs. Ward was preceded in death by her first husband, William Francis Stamey, her second husband, Drennan Durell Ward, two sons, Charles W. Stamey and James E. Stamey, two brothers, Jonnie C. Fields and Harry E. "Gene" Fields, and a sister, Ruby Nell Atkins. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 24, in the chapel of Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, with the Rev. Dan Corbett officiating. Burial will be in Nizpah Cemetery. Mrs. Ward's grandsons will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers. 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; three sisters, Ellie Mae Shedd and Virginia Ann Grammer, both of Macon, and Frances Ophelia Horne, Cochran; two brothers, Thomas "Buddy" Fields, Oxford, and Charles T. Fields, Ila; three step-sons, two step-daughters, 27 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, one uncle and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 Woodlyn M. Chastain Mrs. Woodlyn McCurley Chastain, 86, of Athens, died Sunday, March 19, 2000, at her residence. Mrs. Chastain was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. G.W. McCurley Sr. She was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. Family members say that Mrs. Chastain enjoyed her association with the Jolly Elders and the Extension Service Sewing Club. A sports enthusiast, she loved to attend the many athletic events of her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Chastain was preceded in death by her husband, H.E. Chastain, a retired UGA District Extension Agent. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 21, at Green Acres Baptist Church. Burial was in the Colbert Cemetery. Mrs. Chastain's grandsons and grandsons-in-law served as pallbearers. Members of the Jolly Elders Sunday School class served as honorary pallbearers. Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Fay and Stan Brassie and Edwina and Tom Johnson; sons and daughters-in-law, Woody and Susanne Chastain and Ricky and Betsey Chastain; two brothers, Ret. Col. Henry McCurley and Grady McCurley; two sisters, Pearl Wallace and Hilda Hardeman; grandchildren, Chas, Lucy and Elizabeth Chastain; grandchildren and spouses, Trey and Saskia Thompson, Wyatt Johnson and Celsa Gonzalez, Christa and Bill Shaffer, Kelley and Cole Barks, Tal and Karen Thompson and Melaney and David Perno; and great-grandchildren, Chap and Tessa Thompson, Keller Barks and Saidee Perno. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Woodlyn Chastain Church Organ Memorial Fund, c/o Green Acres Baptist Church, 2085 Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA 30605. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 22, 2000 Henry W. McEver Henry Wiley McEver, 92, of Madison, Tenn., died Sunday, March 19, 2000, at Tennessee Christian Medical Center. Mr. McEver was born April 15, 1907, in Banks County. He was a son of the late Jake and Carrie Bruce McEver. Mr. McEver was a retired pipe fitter and was a member of Silver Spring Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet, Tenn. He was preceded in death by his wife, Katharine Wagner McEver. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 22, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Russ Stevens, Charles Hamlin and Al Adams officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Survivors include one son, Billy Rozerl, Madison, Tenn.; one daughter, Lucille Barrett, Madison, Tenn.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Little-Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.