OBITUARIES

Feb 16, 2020

Charlie Thomas Rush, 66, died February 16, 2020.

A native of Athens, GA, Mr. Rush was a son of the late Betty Jewell Payne Rush and William Howard Rush.

Charlie was a beloved husband and father. He was a truck driver for most of his life.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 19,...

Feb 16, 2020

Vernon Lanier Simmons, cherished husband, father and grandfather passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at the age of 78.

Born in Mooresville, NC, he was the son of the late Lonnie Walker Simmons and Eula Mae McConnell Simmons. Mr. Simmons served in the United States Navy and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was a member of...

Feb 16, 2020

Fay Eulene Esco 91 of Winterville passed away on February 16, 2020. She was the daughter of the late, Otis & Gertie Landrum; also preceded in death by husband, Grady M. Esco and her sisters, Vivien Belote, Myrtice Kilpatrick, Helen Dawson, and Frances Campbell. She was a member of Grove chapel congregational holiness church.

The visitation will...

Feb 16, 2020

Nicholas Ray Paski, age 55, passed away peacefully at his home on February 16, 2020.

Nick was born in Merriam, Kansas on December 28, 1964 to Theodore Allen and Judith Bethel Paski. He was a graduate of Madison County High School in 1983. Nick married Lisa Joy Duncan Paski on March 24, 1984. Together they raised two...

Feb 15, 2020

Mrs. Claudia Green Roberson, age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Claudia was a native of Bostwick Ga in Morgan County. She was a graduate from North Georgia College and went on to become an elementary school teacher for 30+ years in DeKalb County. She was active in her community and involved in her retired teachers...

Feb 15, 2020

James Edward Smith, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the age of 66.

Born in Royston, he was the son of the late JD Smith and Mozelle Virginia Loggins Smith. Mr. Smith was a Veteran of the United States Army.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Hancock Smith;...

Feb 15, 2020

Raymond Eugene Lawrence, Jr., 61, passed away February 15, 2020. A native of Port Saint Joe, FL, he is the son of the late Raymond Eugene Lawrence, Sr. and Elizabeth Carter Adkins. After playing football for the Florida Gators from 1977-1981, Raymond made his home in Athens where he began his passion for campus ministry for over 35 years....

Feb 15, 2020

Kenneth Leroy Hammond, 87, of Bogart, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2020.

Born in Edgefield, SC, he was a son of the late Clarence Samuel Hammond and Ina Bell Ogletree Hammond. Mr. Hammond was a lifelong Christian and was an active member of Edwards Chapel Baptist Church where he served as Choir Director and enjoyed singing...

Feb 14, 2020

Matthew "Pete" Hayek passed away on Feb. 14, 2020 after a short battle with cancer. He was born in St. Louis, MO on Sept. 14, 1963 and moved to Slidell, LA in 1975, where he graduated from high school. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, he moved to Athens. He was a longtime employee of Talking Books of...

Feb 14, 2020

Justin Franklin Griffith, 29, died Friday, February 14, 2020. Born in Athens, he was the son of Tommy and Tammy Griffith.  He was preceded in death by his brother: Jacob Thomas Griffith and maternal grandfather; Garley Church, Sr.  Justin graduated from East Jackson High School, and the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business, where he was a member...

Feb 13, 2020

Thomas Eugene LaCount, 89, of Winterville, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2020, following a brief illness.

Tom was the son of Thomas Jefferson LaCount and Mary Peterman LaCount. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Louise Sheridan; a brother, Henry Franklin LaCount; two wives, Janice Hunt LaCount of...

Feb 11, 2020

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MR. POTTS HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND MAY BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.

John Boyden Potts, 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Banner Elk, North Carolina on October 17, 1938, to Beulah and Gurney Potts.  He graduated from Clinton High...

Feb 11, 2020

Richard ‘Harold’ Hall, 85, of Watkinsville, GA, passed away Tues., Feb. 11, 2020 following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Harold was born to James William (Bill) Hall and Eula Kirkland Hall at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Nov. 24, 1934. He attended Hapeville High School where he was active in track, football and was student body president his senior year. After...

Feb 11, 2020

James Brian Miller, 61, of Monroe, died Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

Born in Atlanta, he was the son of James “JB” Miller and Opal Teet Miller. Mr. Miller had a passion for music and guitars and was the music director at New Life Ministries for many years. He was an avid collector of Hot Wheels and enjoyed...

Feb 10, 2020

Jannifer Grace Aaron Upchurch passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday February 10, 2020 at around 11 am. Born in Oglethorpe County, on January 18, 1946, Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Aaron and Grace Kenney Aaron and one brother, Joe Aaron. Jan was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and retired from the...

Feb 8, 2020

Olivia Chamblee Wright died in High Shoals, GA on February 8, 2020. Mavis Olivia Chamblee was born on August 25, 1931, to Lavinia and John Chamblee, in Choctaw Co., MS. In 1951, Libby graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. She served as a librarian for schools across Georgia and Truett McConnell College. She and her husband, William Wright...

Feb 7, 2020

Melody Ann Hynes, 58, died Friday, February 7, 2020. Born in Athens, GA she was the daughter of Forrest and Billie Hines of Winterville.  She worked in the health care as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital and Athens Regional Medical Center. Melody was an avid Georgia Bulldog Fan.

Survivors in addition to her parents include two...

Feb 7, 2020

Virginia Sue (Jinx) Rosemond Baldwin was born January 6, 1929 in Hillsborough, N.C.   She died at home on February 7, 2020 with her family beside her.

She was predeceased by her parents, James Leonard Rosemond and Sybil Walker Rosemond.  She was also predeceased by her brothers Robert Leonard Rosemond, Clarence Edward Rosemond, and Kenneth Walker Rosemond, and...

Feb 7, 2020

Faye Coker Kellar, 78, of Watkinsville was called home to her Lord and Savior Friday, February 7, 2020.

A lifelong resident of the Mars Hill community of Oconee County, and member of Mars Hill Baptist Church since childhood, Faye was the daughter of Carl and Doris Coker of Watkinsville, and wife of William Norman Kellar, Jr, (“Bill”)...

Feb 6, 2020

Susan Adele Sullivan 70 of Athens passed away on February 6, 2020. She was the daughter of the late, John and Charlotte Sullivan.

A Memorial service will be Tuesday, February 11, 2020 11:00 am at Lord & Stephens, East Chapel with Rev. Mr. Jim Gaudin officiating.

Survivors include Companion, Mark Secrist; brother, Todd Sitomer; sister,...