Adams, Boyles, Duckett, kesler, Mixon, Nelms, Poole, Smith, Taylor, Tonge, Varsakelis - 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 http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************************************************************** The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Callie A. Boyles Mrs. Callie Alice Burress Boyles, 90, a resident of the Comer Nursing Center, Comer, formerly of Lavonia, died Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at Hart County Hospital, Hartwell. Born January 28, 1913, in Tazewell, Va., Mrs. Boyles was a daughter of the late Stewart Lafayette and Flora Mae Perdue Burress. She retired from the Armour Meat Packing Company and was a member of the First Church of God of Princeton, W.Va. Mrs. Boyles was preceded in death by her husband, David Brown Boyles, and a sister, Hazel Boyles. Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 16, at the First Church of God of Princeton. Survivors include two sons, Douglas Boyles, Lavonia, and Alfred Lee Boyles, Jacksonville, Fla.; four grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren. Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Edith M. Taylor Mrs. Edith M. Taylor, 79, of Danielsville, died Friday, August 22, 2003. A native of Forsyth County, Mrs. Taylor was a daughter of the late Matthew and Lucinda Gibson. Memorial services were held at noon Monday, August 25, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce. Mrs. Taylor is survived by her husband, Jerry S. Taylor, of the home; and a son, Robert Kenneth Moulder, Danielsville. Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Irene P. Mixon Mrs. Irene Pack Mixon, 98, of Carnesville, died Friday, August 22, 2003, at the Comer Health Care Center. Mrs. Mixon was born May 28, 1905, in Lawrence County, Tenn. She was the daughter of the late Walter Eugene Pack and the late Florence Lee Binkley. She was a homemaker and a member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Carnesville. She was also a member of the AARP-Franklin County Chapter. Mrs. Mixon was preceded in death by her husband, Rowland Asbury Mixon, a daughter, Minnie Moore, and two brothers, J.D. Mitchell and Ed B. Mitchell. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, August 24, at Cross Roads Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Bell officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. David Moore, Tim Moore, Brannon Thomas, Reed Risner Jr., Jimmy Risner and Terry Christian served as pallbearers. Survivors include a daughter, Lena Beatenbough, Hull; sons, John L. Mitchell, Douglasville, William Eugene (Bill) Mitchell, Gainesville, and Mason Lee Mitchell, Phoenix, Ariz.; step-daughters, Janie Risner, Florence, Ala., and Sarah Kinsler and Daisy Kinsler, both of Rico; 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and many great-great- grandchildren. Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Golden E. Adams Miss Golden Elizabeth Adams, 88, of Commerce, died Monday, August 25, 2003, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Miss Adams was born September 20, 1914, in Madison County. She was the daughter of the late Will and Lizzie Adams. Miss Adams was a homemaker and a member of Erastus Christian Church. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, at Erastus Christian Church with the Rev. Billy Glossen and Carl Beckham officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Miss Adams is survived by a sister-in-law, Lula Mae Adams, Commerce; and a number of nieces and nephews. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Robert L. Smith Robert LaVohn Smith, 64, of Royston, died Thursday, August 21, 2003, at his home. Mr. Smith was born in Rabun County on September 28, 1938, a son of the late Virgil and Mary Ellen Ryan Smith. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service, working as a boiler operator and pipefitter. He worked the last 15 years with King’s Auto Alignment in Royston, and was a member of Joy Baptist Church, Rabun County. Mr. Smith also attended Compassion Baptist Church in Carnesville, and was a member of the Harrison McCreary V.F.W. Post #4828. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Curtis, Jack and Ed Smith. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 24, at Joy Baptist Church with the Revs. Lawrence (Monty) Montgomery and Tim Vaughn officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with full military honors. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Monnie Chester Smith, Royston; sons, Robert J. (Bobby) Smith, Hilton Head, S.C., James A. Smith, Hartwell, Kenneth L. (Kenny) Smith, Royston, and Michael L. (Mike) Smith, Carnesville; step-sons, Steve Chester and Milton Chester, both of Dawsonville; step-daughters, Tammy Chastain, Dawsonville, and Michelle Kelley, Bowman; brothers, Earl Smith, Rabun County, and Clifford Smith, Tiger; sister, Gladys Stancil, Wiley; 14 grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Dr. Joel B. Tonge Dr. Joel Bradford “Brad” Tonge, 51, of Commerce, died Tuesday, August 19, 2003. A native of Bibb County, Dr. Tonge was a son of the late Jack Stephens Tonge Sr. and Eloise Pope Tonge. Prior to moving to Madison County, Dr. Tonge practiced optometry for several years in Brunswick. He and his family maintained a second home in Livingston, Mont., and was a member of the Episcopal Church. Burial will be at a later date at St. Johns Episcopal, Bainbridge. Dr. Tonge is survived by his wife, Brenda Cross Tonge; daughter, Tegan Elizabeth-Eloise Tonge, Commerce; sons, Cole Bradford Tonge and Samuel Davis Tonge VI, both of Commerce; brothers, Dr. Jack Stephens Tonge Jr., Winder, and Timothy Palmer Tonge, Covington; brother and sister-in-law, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Davis Tonge V, and Sharon Varner Tonge, Waycross; 11 nieces and nephews and several cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1060 Gaines School Road, Ste. B2, Athens, GA 30605, or to the American Heart Association, 1353 Jennings Mill Road, Ste. A, Bogart, GA 30622. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Larry Duckett William Larry Duckett, 54, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., a native of Franklin County, died Monday, August 4, 2003, at his home. Born June 18, 1949, in Royston, Mr. Duckett was the son of the late B.L. and Edna Casey Duckett. He was a truck driver and a contractor in the television industry. Mr. Duckett was of the Christian faith. Services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 8, in B.D. Ginn Memorial Chapel of Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, with the Rev. Leon Carson officiating. Burial was in Franklin Memorial Gardens. Mr. Duckett is survived by his wife, Darlene Davidson Duckett; son, William Larry “Billy” Duckett, Lavonia; son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Brian and Cindy Duckett, Royston; grandchildren, Jacob, Maria, Haley and Tyler; and sister and brother-in-law, Gene and Patsy Eavenson, Carnesville. Ginn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Robert H. Poole Robert Herman Poole, 69, of Athens, died Saturday, August 23, 2003. A native of Franklin County, Mr. Poole was a son of the late Charlie and Sally Pruitt Poole. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was retired from Gulf Oil. Mr. Poole was an active member of West End Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and usher and was a member of the Long Sunday School, Brotherhood and the Tuesday Morning Crew. He was preceded in death by a son, Jason Poole, two sisters, Lucille Hooper and Bert Smith, and three brothers, Conrad Kesler, J.T. Kesler and John Poole. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, August 25, at West End Baptist Church with Drs. Larry Elliott and Larry Finger officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Poole is survived by his wife, Patricia Segars Poole, Athens; daughter, Marilyn Barnett Meadows, Winterville; daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Chuck Garrett, Bogart; sons, Robert A. Poole, Carlton, and John Mark Poole, Bogart; sister, Nell Shaw, Hartwell; brothers, Charles Poole and Verner Poole, both of Hartwell; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to West End Baptist Church, 890 Boulevard, Athens, GA 30601. Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Mary G. Varsakelis Mrs. Mary Grace Gordon Varsakelis, 59, of Gallatin, Tenn., died Tuesday, August 19, 2003, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens. A native of Banks County, Mrs. Varsakelis was a daughter of Dorothy Gordon, Commerce, and the late John Berry Gordon. She was a homemaker and a member of Laguardo Baptist Church, Lebanon, Tenn. Mrs. Varsakelis was preceded in death by a son, Robert Henderson. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 21, at Webbs Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. John Gordon officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. In addition to her mother, Mrs. Varsakelis is survived by her husband, Pete Varsakelis, Gallatin, Tenn.; daughters, Donna Garrison, Maysville, and Deborah Stone, Portland, Tenn.; sisters, Polly Brown and Emily Gaines, both of Commerce; brother, John Gordon, Crawford; grandchildren, Amber Garrison, Matthew Garrison, Hannah Garrison, Seth Garrison, Markie Stone and Robert Stone. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Sallie Nelms Mrs. Sallie Victoria Scarboro Nelms, 81, of Danielsville, died Saturday, August 23, 2003, at her home. Mrs. Nelms was born February 14, 1922, in Madison County, a daughter of the late Noah Webster and Lissie Jane Campbell Scarboro. She was a homemaker and had been employed with Zeb’s Bar B Que and Chicopee Manufacturing. Her husband was the late George D. Nelms. Mrs. Nelms was also preceded in death by two sisters, Myrtie Booth and Bertha (Jo) Crowe. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 26, in Danielsville Memorial Gardens with Jerome Hill officiating. Mrs. Nelms’ nephews served as pallbearers. Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn Dove, Danielsville, and Sally Dixon, Greenwood, S.C.; two sisters, Gertrude Cromer, Concord, N.C., and Jane Cromer, Kannapolis, N.C.; one brother, N.W. (Pete) Scarboro, Kannapolis, N.C.; four grandchildren and five great- grandchildren. Pruitt Funeral Home, Royston, was in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, August 27, 2003 Linda F. Kesler Mrs. Linda Faye Seagraves Kesler, 58, of Nicholson, died Monday, August 25, 2003, at Athens Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Kesler was born December 20, 1944, in Jackson County, a daughter of the late William Horace and Helen Elizabeth Howington Seagraves. She was a homemaker and a member of the Nicholson Congregational Holiness Church. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, at Nicholson Baptist Church with the Revs. Terry Smith and Gary Prather officiating. Burial was in Howington Cemetery, Nicholson. Mrs. Kesler is survived by her husband, John T. Kesler, Nicholson; four sons, Danny Kesler, Ila, Derrick T. Kesler, Hull, and Kim Kesler and Kirby Kesler, both of Nicholson; two daughters, Lisa Abbott, Commerce, and Leslie Kesler, Nicholson; five brothers, Allen Seagraves, Thomas Seagraves and Paul Seagraves, all of Nicholson, David Seagraves, Winder, and Weymon Seagraves, Jefferson; four sisters, Bobbie Archer, Brenda Kirby and Gail Sorrow, all of Nicholson, and Carol Ivey, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and five grandchildren. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.