Brown, Epps, Gary, Gearing, Hardison, Shepherd - Madison Co, 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, May 19, 2004 Marvin L. Brown Marvin Lee Brown, 47, of Nicholson, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 13, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Palmer Pace officiating. Burial was in the Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery. Mr. Brown is survived by a brother, Harry C. Thomas, Ila; and two sisters, Martha Worley, Homer, and Dorothy Garrett, Nicholson. He was preceded in death by a brother, Hank Brown. Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, May 19, 2004 Mary L. Epps Mrs. Mary Lela Burger Epps, 81, of Athens, died Monday, May 17, 2004, in the Winder Rehab Center. Mrs. Epps was born December 11, 1922, in Oconee County, to Florine Burger. She moved to the Mallison Cordage Mill Village at the age of 5, and lived in Oconee County for 33 years. Mrs. Epps retired from Wellington Mills after 47 years of service, where she was a member of the 25 year club. She was also a member of the Auxiliary VFW Post and a member of Princeton United Methodist Church, Athens. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Wm. Jessie Earl “Early” Epps Sr., her mother, Florine Burger Couch, a brother, James Alvin Burger, her grandparents, Ed and Lela Pugh Burger, and numerous other relatives. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 20, in Evergreen Memorial Park, Athens, with the Rev. Larisa Parker officiating. Mrs. Epps is survived by her children, Connie Epps Bond, Athens, Judy Epps Akridge, Bogart, and Wm. Jessie Earl Epps Jr., Comer; grandchildren, Benjamin, Matt, Greg and Trey Akridge, Chris and Natile Bond and Chandlee, Elizabeth, Kayla, Katherin and Angelina Epps; great-granddaughter, Ashley Akridge; brother-in-law, Thomas Jerome (TJ) Epps; sisters-in-law, Mildred Epps, Bessie Epps, Thelma Norman and Dorothy Dottery; and nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Princeton United Methodist Church. The family will be at the residence of Connie Bond, 285 Travis Drive, off Tallassee Road, and was to have received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bridges Funeral Home, Athens. Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, May 19, 2004 George C. Gary George Christopher Gary, 42, of Commerce, died Monday, May 17, 2004, at his residence. Mr. Gary was born December 13, 1961, in Jackson County. He was the son of James and Ethel Pendergrass Gary, Commerce. Mr. Gary was employed as a machinist. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Nicholson Fire Baptized Holiness Church with the Revs. Marty Smith and Terry Smith officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gary is survived by his wife, Pamela Sellers Gary, Commerce; one son, James E. Gary, Garfield Heights, Ohio; one daughter, Shannon L. Morris, Athens; and two grandchildren. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, May 19, 2004 Beverly F. Hardison Beverly F. Hardison, of Macon, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at her residence. Mrs. Hardison was a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Georgia. While serving as the Administrator of Eastview Nursing Home for the past 30 years, Mrs. Hardison made numerous contributions to the Middle Georgia Health Care Community. She was a member of the Georgia Nursing Home Association and was the “Administrator of the Year” in 2003 for the American College of Health Care Administrators. Mrs. Hardison was a member of Ila Baptist Church. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, at Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe McDaniel officiating. Burial was in Macon Memorial Park. Mrs. Hardison is survived by her husband, Jerry Hardison, Macon; son, Chris Hardison, Macon; her mother, Mildred Fitzpatrick, Ila; sister, Wanda Thomas, Ila; brother, Tim Fitzpatrick (Cheryl) Mooresville, N.C.; brother-in-law, Mike (Debra) Hardison, Sparta; mother-in-law, Martha Hardison, Macon; nieces, Tammy Hardison, Warner Robins, Deana Hardison, Tallahassee, Fla., Erin Fitzpatrick, Mooresville, N.C., and Jessica Pardue, Ila; nephews, Timothy Fitzpatrick and Ben Fitzpatrick, both of Mooresville, N.C.; and a host of other loving and admiring family and friends. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Bibb County Unit, P.O. Box 4408, Macon, GA 31208. Hart’s Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, May 19, 2004 Penny R. Gearing Mrs. Penny Renee Gear-ing, 35, of Commerce, died Friday, May 14, 2004, at her residence of a sudden illness. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Tom West officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce. Mrs. Gearing is survived by her husband, Bobby Gearing Jr., of the home; one daughter, Faith Hope Gearing, of the home; her parents, John and Peggy Cooper, Texas; two brothers, Cliff Cooper, Texas, and Chris Cooper, Washington; and four sisters, Pat Brant, Susan Adams and Sharon Hale, all of Texas, and Debbie Day, Holbort, Okla. Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ---------------------------------------- The Madison County Journal, May 19, 2004 Leonard ‘Shep’ Shepherd Leonard “Shep” Shepherd, 81, of Athens, died Saturday, May 15, 2004. Born in Morgan County, Mr. Shepherd was a son of the late Thomas Jeff and Mary Brewer Shepherd. Following his retirement with Classic City Beverages, Mr. Shepherd began selling apples throughout the area and became widely known as the “Apple Man.” He attended Whitehall Baptist Church for 18 years and was a member of New Covenant Worship Center. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, it was stated. Mr. Shepherd was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Arwood Shepherd, a brother, Johnny Shepherd, a half-brother, Fox Shepherd, and a half-sister, Alma Almond. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, with the Revs. Howard Conine, Beth Stephens and Buford Lockman officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Vicky Shepherd, Hull; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Shepherd, Athens; and granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Michelle and Tim Jackson, Hull. Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements.