Black, Branyon, Edwards, McLendon, Moore, Pruitt, Self (2), Sheriff, Thomas - 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. *********************************************************************** Bill Branyon William Copeland “Bill” Branyon, 70, of Hull, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. A native of Greene County, Mr. Branyon was a son of the late Calvin S. and Lois McCarty Branyon. He retired from Westinghouse after 31 years of service, and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Branyon was a member of Bluestone Baptist Church. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 17, at Bluestone Baptist Church with the Revs. George Lovely and Ray Jenkins officiating. Missy King provided the eulogy. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. Kevin Rich, Andy Branyon, Johney Bryant, Clayton Bryant, Tim Branyon and Fred Hall served as pallbearers. Mr. Branyon is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Wadine Slay Branyon; son, James Kenneth Branyon, Hull; daughter, Deborah Rich- Pierce, Hull; sister, Melba Branyon Bryant, Hull; and three grandchildren, Michael Kevin Rich, Andrew William Branyon and Melissa Anne King. Memorials may be made to Bluestone Baptist Church. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Robert Sheriff Robert Hayden Sheriff, 90, a resident of Cobb Health Care Center in Comer, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at Cobb Memorial Hospital, Royston. Born December 23, 1912, in Stephens County, Mr. Sheriff was a son of the late John and Effie Elrod Sheriff. He was a retired carpenter and a member of Tom’s Creek Baptist Church. Mr. Sheriff was preceded in death by three sons, Bobby, Dewey and Dwight Sheriff, two daughters, Rudene Burnette and Mae Blakely, a brother, Charles Sheriff, and three sisters, May Chapman, Etta Hill and Velma Martin. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in B. D. Ginn Memorial Chapel of Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, with the Rev. Wayne Marcus officiating. Burial was in Franklin Memorial Gardens. Lynn Sheriff, Ricky Burnette, Thomas Sheriff, Clinton Sheriff, Johnny Brewer, Daniel Sheriff, Donald Blakely, Stanley Woodall and Robbie Sheriff served as pallbearers. Survivors include three sons, Johnny Sheriff, Ellijay, Paul Sheriff, Cumming, and Bruce Sheriff, Lavonia; two daughters, Joyce Henderson, Carnesville, and Barbara Neese, Duluth; three sisters, Carrie Smith, Marine Grover and Ozelle Cothran, all of Toccoa; 18 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Ginn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Fran Black Mrs. Frances Mae “Fran” Black, of Hull, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. A native of Madison County, Mrs. Black was a daughter of the late Clarence and Effie Meadow Brewer. She was a retired security guard for Oxford Security and was of the Holiness denomination. Mrs. Black was preceded in death by a daughter, Frankie Greene. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Evergreen Memorial Park with the Rev. Wayne Wills officiating. Survivors include three sons, Harold Vaughn Greene, Monroe, Ray Mattox, Commerce, and Vernon McDonald, Winterville; two daughters, Deborah Dubin, Florida, and Charlotte Compton, Sandy Cross; two brothers, Joel Sorrow, Elberton, and Quincy Sorrow, Winterville; two sisters, Joyce Pursley, Winder, and Rosa Lee Brooks, Arnoldsville; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Oglethorpe-Madison County Animal Shelter. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Judy A. Pruitt Miss Judy Ann Pruitt, 43, of Royston, died Wednesday, March 12, 2003, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Miss Pruitt was born in Franklin County on July 31, 1959, a daughter of Ruth Goodwin Wehunt, Lavonia, and the late Monroe Pruitt. She was a homemaker and of the Holiness denomination. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, in the chapel of Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, with the Revs. Dorsey Homes and Randall Porter officiating. Burial was in Bowers Memorial Gardens. Angelo DiCara, Darrell Harrison, Larry Norris, Wendell Wehunt, David Wehunt and Ricky Crozier served as pallbearers. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include three brothers, Hamp Wehunt Jr., Winder, and Larry “Bo” Wehunt and Terrell Wehunt, both of Lavonia; and three sisters, Evelyn Brown and Glenda Pruitt Harrison, both of Royston, and Rosita DiCara, Athens. Pruitt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Luther ‘Reeves’ Thomas Luther “Reeves” Thomas, 100, of Commerce, died Friday, March 14, 2003, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce. Mr. Thomas was born September 3, 1902, in Madison County, a son of the late Ollie and Lou Smith Thomas. He was a retired row crop farmer and a member of Erastus Christian Church. Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Hughes Thomas. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. David Harbin officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Survivors include one son, Odell Thomas, Commerce; one daughter, Mozelle Dabbs, Commerce; one brother, Howell Thomas, Commerce; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Little-Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Evie L. ‘Bootie’ Moore Mrs. Evie Lee “Bootie” McCannon Moore, 75, of Ila, died Monday, March 17, 2003, at Cobb Health Care in Comer. Born in Madison County, Mrs. Moore was a daughter of the late Naomi and Howard McCannon, Ila. She was the widow of Dennis Alson Moore, and was preceded in death by four brothers, Raymond McCannon, Walter McCannon and Billy McCannon, all of Ila, and Bob McCannon, Snellville, and two sisters, Margaret Durden, Athens, and Mildred Gaines, Hull. Mrs. Moore was retired from Commerce Sportswear and was a lifelong member of Ila Baptist Church. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. “She was a devoted wife and mother and was dearly loved by her children, grandchildren and her friends,” said family members. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 20, in Ila Cemetery with the Rev. Dennis Wester officiating. Mrs. Moore is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. (Linda) Ken Whitehead, Comer; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Dennis (Mahala) Moore, Colbert; grandchildren, Victoria Moore, Catherine Bates, Mike Whitehead, Melissa Yarbrough and Matt Whitehead; three great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Clara McCannon; and several nieces and nephews. The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, Danielsville, is in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Will H. ‘Bill’ Self Will H. “Bill” Self, 82, of Watkinsville, died Thursday, March 13, 2003. A native of Oglethorpe County, and a resident of Oconee County for over 65 years, Mr. Self was a son of the late Homer E. and Ruth C. Self. He retired from Chicopee Manufacturing Co., with 28 years of service, and was a member of Crawford Pentecostal Church. Mr. Self was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific Front, and was a retired minister of United Pentecostal Church of Athens. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patsy Williford, a grandson, Ted Self, a sister, Martha Lee Daniel, and five brothers, Hillman Self, Robert Self, John C. Self, Joe Junior Self and Tom Self. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, with the Revs. Donald Wineinger and Harold Wilson officiating. Burial was in Lester Cemetery. Irby Daniel, Carlton Daniel, Roger Daniel, Ray Self, Donny Self and Jerry Self served as pallbearers. Mr. Self is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy D. Self; four children, Peggy Brock, Thomaston, and Eddie Self, Diane Burger and Melinda Bernard, all of Watkinsville; one sister, Willie Hammond, Bishop; three brothers, Coyt Self and Sam Self, both of Colbert, and John W. Self, Charlotte, N.C.; 12 grandchildren, 17 great- grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Annie S. Edwards Mrs. Annie Sue Martin “Mama Sue” Edwards, of Hull, died Saturday, March 15, 2003. Mrs. Edwards was born February 22, 1919, in Madison County. She was a daughter of the late Will and Rosie Martin. Mrs. Edwards was the wife of the Rev. Virgil Edwards for 64 years and served with him in his ministry for more than 60 years. “She was a devoted wife and mother and was dearly loved by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends that came to know her over her many years of faithfulness as companion and pastor’s wife to her husband,” said family members. “People will remember her for her love of cooking, especially the delicious cakes she so enjoyed baking.” Mrs. Edwards was a member of The Baptist Faith. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Dessie Mae Seagraves, Beatrice Seagraves and Thelma Tumbleston. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the chapel of Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, with the Rev. Harold Venable, Reidsville, N.C., officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. Her grandsons, Rick Dover, Randy Dover, Paul Edwards, Scott Edwards and Martin Kimsey, along with her grandsons-in-law, Rocky Williamson, Bruce Jeffers and Nile Faulkner, served as pallbearers. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Edwards is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Doug Towns and Gay and Don Kesler; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Linda Edwards; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Vera Brewer, Athens; and brothers, Ovin Martin and Gene Martin, both of Hull. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Sarah B. Self Mrs. Sarah B. Self, 102, of Hull, died Sunday, March 9, 2003. A native of Oglethorpe County, Mrs. Self was a daughter of the late Charles E. and Mary G. Bonner. She was the widow of Renus V. Self, and was preceded in death by two sons, Joe T. Smith and Bobby Self. Mrs. Self worked for many years caring for the elderly, first at Yearwood’s Nursing Home, and later in her own home. “Her own long life can be credited to the loving care she received in her later years from her eldest son, Roy, and to her love of the Lord,” it was stated. “Mrs. Self loved and was loved by many friends whom she considered family.” During her lifetime, Mrs. Self was a faithful member of several different churches, and most recently was a charter member of Joy Baptist Church in Hull. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Joy Baptist Church with the Revs. Barry Black and Tony Smith officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Tony Smith, David Llewellyn, Ricky Llewellyn, Donnie Llewellyn, Brian Smith and Billy Burell served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Warren Compton, Joe Duncan, Herbert (Pee Wee) Pruett and Coyt Self. Survivors include a son, Roy J. Smith, Hull; son and daughter-in- law, James R. and Linda Self, Winterville; daughter, Lucy B. Llewellyn, Athens; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------ The Madison County Journal, March 19, 2003 Willie J. McLendon Mrs. Willie Jewel McLen-don, 84, of Commerce, died Wednes-day, March 12, 2003, at her residence of an extended illness. A native of Madison County, Mrs. McLendon was a daughter of the late Willie and Rosa Lee Davis. She was the widow of Bill McLendon. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Revs. Doug Duncan and Andy Bond officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Survivors include four sons, Jimmy McLendon, Robert McLendon, Albert McLendon and Tommy McLendon, all of Commerce; one sister, Sara Culpepper, Commerce; 8 grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.