Barden, Bridges, Conley, Echols, Greer, Haggard, Owens, Payne, Sorrow, Smith, Thurmond, Wansley - Madison County, GA 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 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Kirby A. Greer Kirby Allen Greer, 89, of Danielsville, died Saturday, September 28, 2002. A native of Gwinnett County, Mr. Greer was a son of the late John H. and Mary Henderson Greer. He was preceded in death by a son, John Allen Greer. Mr. Greer was an automobile mechanic and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Ila Baptist Church. Mr. Greer was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. James Sexton officiating. Burial was in Danielsville Memorial Gardens. Mr. Greer’s nephews served as pallbearers. Survivors include his wife, Sara Jones Greer; son, Jason Corbitt Greer, and his wife, Phyllis, Ellenwood; daughter-in-law, Mary Nelle Greer, Duluth; step-daughter, Sandra Doolittle, Danielsville; grandchildren, Jay Greer, Duluth, and Danna Greer Daughtry, Lawrenceville; great-grandchildren, Wesley Daughtry, Samantha Daughtry and Justin Daughtry; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 767 Oglethorpe Avenue, Athens, GA 30606. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Willie B. Bridges Mrs. Willie Genoa Bruce Bridges, 75, of Comer, died Wednesday, September 25, 2002, at her home. Mrs. Bridges was born in Oglethorpe County on August 11, 1927, a daughter of the late Tom and Mary Ann Harrington Bruce. She was a homemaker and a member of the Corinth Congregational Holiness Church in Bowman. Mrs. Bridges was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin Griffin Bridges, and a grandson, Michael Jones. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Friday, September 27, in the chapel of Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, with the Rev. Carl Herring officiating. Burial was in the Macedonia Holiness Church cemetery. Jimmy Strickland, Tony Scoggins, Scottie Bruce, Josh Johnson, Terry Shelton, John Sims and Mitchell Brooks served as pallbearers. Survivors include three daughters, Ethelene Jones and Dora Ann Scoggins, both of Bowman, and Linda Strickland, Comer; five sons, Tony Bruce, Martin, David Bruce and Wayne Bruce, both of Bowman, Greg Bruce, Royston, and Dale Bruce, Lavonia; two brothers, Freeman Bruce and Claude Lee Bruce, both of Comer; 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Pruitt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Della M. Sorrow Mrs. Della Mae Sorrow, 73, of Danielsville, died Saturday, September 28, 2002. Born in Madison County, Mrs. Sorrow was a daughter of the late James Oscar and Bessie Thurmond Cooper. She was a homemaker and a member of Moon’s Grove Baptist Church. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. Ray Jenkins officiating. Burial was in the Union Baptist Church cemetery. Mrs. Sorrow’s grandsons served as pallbearers. Mrs. Sorrow is survived by her husband, Hoyle Thomas Sorrow, Danielsville; one daughter, Dorothy Mae Parham; one son, Richard Wayne Sorrow, Danielsville; one sister, Rose Virginia Mann, Hull; three brothers, James A. Cooper and Willie Ed Cooper, both of Colbert, and Jerry T. Cooper Sr., Hull; four grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. Brown Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Nancy V. Barden Mrs. Nancy Virginia Barden, 68, of Elberton, died Thursday, September 26, 2002. Born in Anderson, S.C., Mrs. Barden was a daughter of the late Ralph and Mary Smith Calvert. She had been employed in the textile industry. Mrs. Barden was preceded in death by her husband, William Andrew “Bud” Barden. Survivors include two daughters, Sherry Mattox, Comer, and Susan Perkel, Idaho; one son, William Patrick Barden, Elberton; one sister, Nellie Ruth Calvert, South Carolina; one brother, Joe Calvert, South Carolina; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Mary A. Smith Mrs. Mary Annette Smith, 65, of Jefferson, died Sunday, September 29, 2002, at her residence following an extended illness. Mrs. Smith was born July 24, 1937, in Jackson County, a daughter of the late Curtis and Addie Jackson Dowdy. She was a homemaker and a member of Bethany United Methodist Church, Jefferson. Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by a brother, Lyndon Dowdy. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 1, at Bethany United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dennis Kesler officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Cody Dowdy, Jerry Dowdy, Chris Nelms, Donald Segars, Curtis Smith, Lee Tompkins and Jerry Wilkes served as pallbearers. Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband, Jerry Smith, Jefferson; two daughters, Bonnie Anglin, Maysville, and Janice Nelms, Jefferson; one son, Curtis Smith, Ila; one brother, Branson Dowdy, Jefferson; and 11 grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Bethany United Methodist Church Emergency Fund. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Ruth Thurmond Mrs. Ruth Davis Thurmond, 91, of Athens, died Wednesday, September 25, 2002. A native and longtime resident of Madison County, Mrs. Thurmond was a daughter of the late Samuel Marshall and Dora “Belle” Blackwell Davis. She was the widow of Paul Edward Thurmond. Mrs. Thurmond was a former member of the Ladies Garden Club, Colbert, and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, September 27, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Rev. Barry Black officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church cemetery. Mrs. Thurmond is survived by a sister-in-law, Allene Thurmond Barton, and a number of nieces and nephews. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Travis L. Echols Travis Lee Echols, 56, of Gainesville, died Tuesday, October 1, 2002. Mr. Echols was born January 5, 1946, in Banks County to the late Andrew and Bertha Shubert Echols. He had lived in Hall County for the past 20 years. Mr. Echols was a former supervisor with Milliken and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce. He was preceded in death by a brother, the Rev. Doug Echols, and a sister, Lois Baggs. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 3, in the chapel of Hillside Funeral Home, Gainesville, with the Rev. Ralph O. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Gardens, Gainesville. Mr. Echols is survived by his wife of 36 years, Annette Echols, Gainesville; daughters, Tammy Peterson and Trica Ritter, both of Gainesville; son, Ricky Echols, Gainesville; sisters, Dean Herbert, Atlanta, Dot Hill and Nancy Ledford, both of Commerce, and Joyce Carter, Clarkesville; brothers, Lloyd Echols, Gillsville, David Echols, Commerce, and Jimmy Echols, Danielsville; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a Clinical Depression Charity. The family was to have received friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Hillside Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Johnny E. Payne Johnny Edward Payne, 75, of Porterdale, died Thursday, September 26, 2002. A native of Newton County, Mr. Payne was a son of the late Arlowe and Pauline Payne. Memorial services were held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28, in the chapel of Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, Covington, with Lamar Scarbrough officiating. Survivors include one son, Johnny Payne, Colbert; eight sisters, Dolly Faye Payne, Myrtle Frances Owens, Linda Moyer, Ila Mae Taylor, Betty Specht, Helen Westmorland, Patricia Crumbley and Angela Ricks; three brothers, R.G. “Shorty” Payne, Leon Payne and Alvin Payne; two grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several step-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to offset funeral expenses to Johnny Payne, P.O. Box 298, Colbert, GA 30628. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 O.V. Owens O.V. Owens, 90, of Toccoa, father of Vivian Haynes, Commerce, died Thursday, September 26, 2002. A native of Madison County, Mr. Owens was a son of the late Vandiver L. and Cora Vaughn Owens. He was the husband of the late Louise Andrews Owens. Mr. Owens was retired from LeTourneau and WABCO Cos., with 34 years of service, and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and was a member of the Men’s Sunday School Class. Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 28, at New Hope Baptist church with the Rev. David Sosebee and Clarence Davis officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with the Rev. Jewell Gaines officiating. Mr. Owens’ grandsons served as pallbearers. Survivors, in addition to his daughter, include two other daughters, Polly Whitworth and Jessie Martin, both of Toccoa; two sons, Talmadge Owens, Toccoa, and Travis Owens, Canton; 13 grandchildren 21 great- grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and nieces and nephews. Acree-Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 F. Richard Conley F. Richard Conley, 74, of Athens, died Monday, September 30, 2002. A native of Clarke County, Mr. Conley was a son of Annie Bell Johnson Hines, Athens, and the late Norman A. Conley. He was a member of New Covenant Worship Center. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, at New Covenant Worship Center with the Rev. Howard Conine officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors, in addition to his mother, include three sisters, Mary Lou Fisher, Colbert, Syble Dove, Bogart, and Sarah Pendergrass, Athens; and six nieces. Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Mattie L. Haggard Mrs. Mattie Lou Haggard, 85, of Danielsville, died Wednesday, September 25, 2002. A native of Gordon County, Mrs. Haggard was a daughter of the late John P. and Ida Bennett Pettit. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Mell V. Haggard. Mrs. Haggard was a retired nurse, having worked at BJC Hospital and Harmony Grove Mills. She was a member of Ila Baptist Church. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 28, in Ila Cemetery with the Rev. Dayton Logan officiating. Brad Snelling, Brian Snelling, Clint Haggard, Russell Haggard, Tommy Haggard and Kent Black served as pallbearers. Survivors include a son, John Haggard, Danielsville; son and daughter- in-law, Robert and Becky Haggard, Hull; daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Charlie Snelling, Macon; grandchildren, Brad Snelling, Brian Snelling, Clint Haggard and Russell Haggard; great-grandchild, Hannah Snelling; and a niece. Memorials may be made to Ila Perpetual Care Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 203, Ila, GA 30647. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, October 2, 2002 Gaynelle S. Wansley Mrs. Gaynelle Seagraves Wansley, 95, of Athens, died Tuesday, September 24, 2002. A native of Clarke County, Mrs. Wansley was a daughter of the late Harvey Lee “Bob” Seagraves and Julia Suddeth Seagraves. She was the widow of Russell Edward Wansley. Mrs. Wansley was a homemaker and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Order of Eastern Star and the Athens Business Girls Club. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Judd B. Farr Sr. Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, with Dr. Bill Ross officiating. Burial was in Oconee Hill Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Julia Farr Holtzworth, Jupiter, Fla.; a son, Judd B. Farr, Greenville, S.C.; sisters, Rebecca Baugh, Athens, and Barbara Carter, Alabama; brothers, David Seagraves, Alabama, and Donald Seagraves, Colbert; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 700 Oglethorpe Avenue, Athens, GA 30606.