Brown, Collins, Davis, Griffeth, Johnson, Jones, Simmons, Thomas, Watkins, Whitney - Madision 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, November 8, 2000 Dave G. Simmons Dave Gordon Simmons, 21, of Athens, died Sunday, November 5, 2000, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce. Mr. Simmons was born January 10, 1979, a son of June Elrod Ramos, Athens, and Bobby Simmons, Commerce. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 9, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Larry Gailey officiating. Burial will be in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. In addition to his parents, Mr. Simmons is survived by a daughter, Mercedes Seay, Danielsville; one brother, Robert Simmons, Athens; and one sister, Brandy Simmons, Athens; maternal grandmother, Ruth Elrod, Commerce, and paternal grandmother, Betty Free, Homer. The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Ivie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Bertha B. White Mrs. Bertha Bowen White, 94, Cumming, formerly of Gainesville, died Sunday, November 5, 2000, at Baptist North Medical Center following an extended illness. Mrs. White was born January 31, 1906, to M.W. and Lillie Bowen in Gainesville. After graduating from Brenau in 1927, she taught high school for 13 years in Comer, Oakwood, Grayson and Dearing. While living in Gwinnett County with her late husband, Glenn R. Roberts, an attorney and Gwinnett legislator, she began welfare work and eventually became the director of County Welfare in Gwinnett and Habersham counties. While living in New York, Mrs. White earned her master's in social work from Columbia University. Upon her return to Georgia, she worked as a child welfare consultant in the Athens and Gainesville districts until she moved to Atlanta in 1954 to become senior consultant on Adoptions for Georgia. Mrs. White was later promoted to chief of Child Welfare for Georgia, holding that position until her retirement in 1967. After returning to Gainesville, she married the late C.O. White and continued her activities at the First Baptist Church, where she taught the Fidelis Sunday School class for 27 years and served as W.M.U. president. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Glenn R. Roberts, and her second husband, Charles Otto White, and two brothers, Ray F. Bowen and Earnest E. Bowen. Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 8, at the First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Bruce Fields and Dr. Bill Coates officiating. Burial was in Alta Vista Cemetery, Gainesville. Mrs. White is survived by one sister, Edna Bowen Moore, Gainesville; nd three nieces, Martha Bowen Boguski, Barbara Moore Dyer and Faye Moore Taylor. Hillside Funeral Home, Gainesville, was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Gilbert B. Brown Gilbert Boley Brown, 90, of Commerce, died Sunday, October 29, 2000, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce. Mr. Brown was born November 1, 1909, a son of the late Claude and Nina Lord Brown. He was a machinist. Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife, Clisby Lord Brown. Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 31, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce. Burial was in the Beaverdam Baptist Church cemetery. Mr. Brown is survived by one son, Travis Brown, Commerce; three brothers, Harold Brown, John Brown and Truitt Brown, all of Commerce; and two grandchildren, Bressa Brown and Brad Brown. Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Clara S. Thomas Mrs. Clara S. Purcell Thomas, 84, of Commerce, died Sunday, November 5, 2000, at BJC Nursing Home, Commerce. Mrs. Thomas was born April 1, 1916, in Banks County, a daughter of the late William Morgan and Ellie Duncan Purcell. She was a member of Hudson River Baptist Church. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Hoke Thomas. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 7, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Troy Herbert, Henry Webb and Ronnie Moon officiating. Burial was in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce. Mrs. Thomas is survived by two sons, Billy Dean Thomas, Gainesville, and Joe Thomas, Commerce; two daughters, Lois Bridges and Mary Fricks, both of Commerce; 13 grandchildren, 29 great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Little-Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Donald P. Watkins Sr. Donald Pete Watkins Sr., 71, of Nicholson, died Friday, November 3, 2000, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Mr. Watkins was a son of the late Roy and Pauline Potts Watkins. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during the Korean War, and was a retired poultry farmer and school bus driver. Mr. Watkins was a Christian member of the Nicholson Congregational Holiness Church, where he served as a deacon for 25 years, as Sunday School superintendent and as church usher. He was preceded in death by a sister, Runnette Herbert. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 5, at the Nicholson Congregational Holiness Church with the Revs. Howard Rhodes, Dennis Kesler and Junior Sosebee officiating. Burial was in Howington Cemetery. Mr. Watkins is survived by his wife, Hilder Palmer Watkins, a long-time correspondent for The Jackson Herald; sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Deborah Watkins, Commerce, and Lamar and Pam Watkins, Nicholson; son, Bryan Watkins, Nicholson; and two granddaughters, Erin and Ashley Watkins, Commerce. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Ruby G. Jones Mrs. Ruby Gilbert Jones, 77, died Friday, November 3, 2000, at her residence in Danielsville. Mrs. Jones was born March 12, 1923, in Decatur, Ala., a daughter of the late George L. and Pearl Houston Clemons. She was a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge's Order of the Eastern Star #268 and a member of Danielsville United Methodist Church. Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her first husband, former Athens businessman M.L. Gilbert Jr. Graveside services were held Sunday, November 5, at Oconee Hill Cemetery with the Rev. John Alexander officiating. Survivors include her husband, Phillip Jones; son and daughter-in-law, Gary L. and Alice G. Gilbert, Athens; daughter and son-in-law, Diane Gilbert and Richard Bedgood, Athens; three step-sons, Terry Jones, Alpharetta, Stanley Jones, Danielsville, and Gary Jones, Athens; two granddaughters, Renee Hebenstreit, Knoxville, Tenn., and Laurie Flowers, Tallahassee, Fla.; one grandson, Jay Kelly, Thomasville; one great-granddaughter, Natalie Hebenstreit, Knoxville, Tenn.; and one step-granddaughter, Vicki B. Damanti. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Amy C. Johnson Mrs. Amy C. Johnson, 85, of Comer, died Tuesday, October 31, 2000. A native and longtime resident of Madison County, Mrs. Johnson was a daughter of the late George Matthew and Nancy Laura McCurry Carithers. Mrs. Johnson was a retired registered nurse with the University of Georgia Gilbert Memorial Health Services. She was a member of Comer Baptist Church and the Comer Women's Club. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, W.E. Johnson. Funeral services were held Saturday, November 4, at Comer Baptist Church with the Rev. Stuart Lang officiating. Burial was in Comer Cemetery. Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and John Deats, Long Beach, Calif., and Linda and Ron Burroughs, Athens; two sisters, Hilda Mason, Atlanta, and Georgia Poole, Comer; two grandsons, Alex Burroughs, St. Simons Island, and Dax Burroughs, Boston, Mass.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. For further details and guest book, log on to www.legacy.com. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Michael P. Griffeth Michael Paul Griffeth, 48, of Hull, died Sunday, November 5, 2000. A native of Clarke County, Mr. Griffeth was a son of Betty Ann Malcom Griffeth, Jackson, and the late Jesse Paul Griffeth. He was a retired carpenter and of the Protestant faith. Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 8, in the chapel of Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, with the Rev. Larry Pruitt officiating. Burial was in the Ross Chapel Baptist Church cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Yulonda Porter, Watkinsville, and Mirinda Murrow, High Shoals; three brothers, Gary L. Griffeth and Dala G. Griffeth, both of Watkinsville, and Craig S. Griffeth, Jackson; and two grandchildren. Bernstein Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 Roy A. Collins Roy Alpha Collins, 74, of Danielsville, died Saturday, November 4, 2000. A native of Ashburn, Mo., Mr. Collins was a son of the late Alpha and Ella Cloe Mosier Collins. He was a veteran of World War II and was a retired manager for Estech. Mr. Collins was a member of Bethel M Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 7, in the chapel of Brown's Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. Mark Palmer officiating. Burial was in the Bethel M Baptist Church cemetery. Jim Askew, Herschel Dalton, Ricky Dalton, Nick Adams, Gerald Cleghorn, Danny Lord and John Cleghorn served as pallbearers. Survivors include two daughters, Lee Ann Collins, Danielsville, and Kristine Trettel, Naples, Italy; one son, Tim Collins, Comer; two brothers, Lawrence Eugene Collins, Baltimore, Md., and Floyd B. Collins, Ottowa, Ill.; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Brown's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, November 8, 2000 J.M. Davis J.M. Davis, 66, of Danielsville, died Wednesday, November 1, 2000. A native of Madison County, Mr. Davis was a son of the late Samuel Gilford and Mary Sue Highland Davis. He was owner and operator of Davis Heating and Air for 23 years and was a member of Moons Grove Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Friday, November 3, at Moons Grove Baptist Church with the Revs. Ray Jenkins and Thomas Dial officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Darold Booth, Clay Dale, Derek Dale, Toby Davis, Jimmy McKie and Mike White served as pallbearers. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Dale Davis; children, Stan and Katie Davis, Rabun Gap, Jack and Cheryl Huff and Bryan and Kathy Davis, all of Danielsville, Jeff and Kathy Weatherholtz, Clayton, N.C., and Greg and Cathy Davis, Farmington; one brother, Jimmy Davis, Danielsville; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. For further details and guest book, log on to www.legacy.com.