Jalil Simpson
Jalil Nadrius Simpson, 2 months, infant son of Charlene E. Holliday and Howard Felinta Simpson Sr., of Nicholson, died Saturday, January 13, 2007.
Survivors include brothers, Howard Felinta Simpson Jr. and Hezekiah Simpson; a special siblings, Miracle, Isaiah, Deontrey, Jasilyn and Jinana; grandparents, Mary Joyce and James Smith, Dan Simpson, Mary Crawford, Charlie and Jean Holliday; aunts, Wendy Perry, Atlanta, Cassandra King, Columbus, and Shaconda Teasley, Commerce; an uncle, Rodjohn Harris, Commerce; god parents, Melissa B. Clark, Tat Simpson; and a host of great aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, January 20, at The Spiritual Israel Church and Its Army, Cornelia, with Rev. Elder Johnson officiating. Burial was in Clarkesville City Cemetery.
Moss-Stovall-Neal Funeral Home, Toccoa, was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
Bonnie Jones
Bonnie Jones, 71, of Jackson, died Sunday, January 21, 2007.
A native of Jackson County, she was a seamstress and was Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Jupie Jones, Jackson; sons and daughter-in-law, Stanley K. and Joann Collins, Bethlehem, James Farrell Collins, Auburn, Jeffery Dean Collins, Norcross, and Chad Cooper, Jackson; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty Pruitt and Nan Pruitt, both of Jefferson, Katherine Camp, Winder; brother, Gene Reynolds and David Reynolds, both of Winder; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Pilgrim, Stockbridge, Joyce Stephens, Jackson, and Rachel Raines, Oxford; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 25, at 1 p.m., at Horis A. Ward’s Rockdale Chapel with Pastor Greg Moore officiating. Burial will be in Green Meadow Memorial Gardens in Conyers.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, January 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Rockdale Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
‘Tom’ Ward
Thomas “Tom” W. Ward, 88, of Commerce, died Friday, January 19, 2007, at his residence following an extended illness.
Born in Banks County, where he lived most of his life, he was the son of the late Lemuel and Nettie Payne Ward. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Army during World War II. Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Mary Sue Pilgrim Ward.
Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Anne and Bobby McDonald, Janet and Daniel Wood, Judy and Steve Murray, all of Commerce, and Glenda and Bennie Sauls, Lavonia; sons and daughters-in-law, Tommy and Bonnie Ward, Commerce, Robert “Bob” and Judy Ward, Homer; grandchildren, Stacy McDonald, Michael McDonald, Kristy McDonald, Ricky D. Wood, Timothy Ward, Isaac Ward, Nathan Ward, Megan Ward, Lynn Thomas, Kathy Beck, Michelle Sullivan, Jonathan Sauls, Jeffery Murray, Joseph Murray; great-grandchildren, Erin McDonald, Taylor Jade Wood, Gracie Ward, Bailey Ward, Matthew Gaither, D’Andre Mahaffey, Devon Mahaffey, Anna Hammel, John Earl Thomas; step-grandchildren, Betty Griffin, Brady Killingsworth; and a sister-in-law, Erlene Ward, Thomasville, N.C.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 21, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with the Rev. Jeffery Murray officiating. Burial was in Banks County Memorial Gardens.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
‘Bill’ Wright
William Joseph “Bill” Wright, 68, of Demorest, died Wednesday, January 17, 2007, at Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens, following an extended illness.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, on August 28, 1938, he was the son of the late Johnny Debs and Betty Sage Wright. He was a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps during Vietnam and in Okinawa, Japan, retiring after 20 years of service. Following retirement, he worked in the maintenance department of Hayes Wheels. He was a member of the Cornelia Masonic Lodge #92, F.&A.M. and a lifetime member of the VFW Post #7720, where he served as Past Commander. He was also the State Chaplain for the VFW and loved God, country and family, according to loved ones.
Mr. Wright was preceded in death by a son, Alan Lewis; brother, John Duane Wright; and stepmother, Dolly Wright.
Survivors include his wife, Lavonda Black Wright, Demorest; daughter, Tina Drew, Victorville, Calif., Denise Sutton, Demorest, and Lorna Canup, Alto; sons, John Duane Wright, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Buck Hooper, Demorest, David Lewis and Richard Lewis, both of Norwalk, Calif., and Johnny Lewis, Chino Hills, Calif.; brother, Michael Wright, Maysville; sisters, Nancy Wagner and Beverly Nation, both of Cornelia; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, January 20, at Fairfield Baptist Church with the Rev. Keith Allison officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
‘Junior” Wade
Lawrence Grady “Junior” Wade, Jr., 70, of Commerce, formerly of Lithia Springs, died Sunday, January 21, 2007.
Born in Alabama, he lived the majority of his life in Lithia Springs and was the son of the late Lawrence Grady Wade Sr. and Rosa Bell Wade. Mr. Wade was preceded in death by three brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include daughters, Leesa Hammond, Commerce, Lori Wade, Texas, Leslie Suraz (Wink Parham), Comer, and Jennifer Wade; sons and daughter-in-law, Larry Wade and Lance and Julie Wade, all of Comer; 17 grandchildren, NaTasha Hammond Mathis (Ryan), Dustin Hammond, Kyle Hammond, Brittany Wade, Ethan Wade, Erin Williams, Justin Ward, Jason Ward, Erica Ward, Preston Sterling, Cody Sterling, Victoria Suarez, Nicholas Suarez, Jessie Wade, Jamie Wade, Casie Wade and DesiRay Wade; and one great-grandchild, Rylee Hammond; sisters and brothers-in-law, Florence and Butch Campbell, Kitty Sachse, June and Cecil Bouler, Sandy Wilson, and Rebecca Rudd; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and June Wade; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
David Buriles
The family of David Allen Buriles of Arnoldsville mourns his loss at the age of 38. He was a native of Barrow County and the son of Linda Faye Mize and the late Joe Allen Buriles.
Survivors include a daughter, Alexis Savannah Buriles, Arnoldsville; his mother; brother, Danny Joe Buriles, Commerce; sisters, Dana Weems, Douglasville, Tammy Lynn Parker, Commerce, and Bonnie Sue Skelton, Braselton; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, at 2 p.m., at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home. Burial will be in Arnoldsville cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, January 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
Dorothy Strange
Dorothy Janelle Strange, 90, of Maysville, died Monday, January 22, 2007, at BJC Nursing Home.
She was born April 24, 1916, in Banks County and was the daughter of the late John Wiley and Effie Sims Strange. She was a civil service clerk with the Federal Government and a member of Maysville Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
Survivors include a sister, Wilda Wells, Tampa, Fla.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home with Dr. Carlton Allen officiating. Burial will be in Sunrise Cemetery, Maysville.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
Clyde Leigh
Clyde Richard Leigh, 73, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Friday, January 19, 2007.
He was born on July 9, 1933, in Jefferson, and was the son of the late John and Evelyn Lay. He attended public schools in Jackson County.
He joined Paradise A.M.E. Church at an early age and was a veteran, having served in the United States Army for several years. He was employed as manager of the Housing Authority in Brooklyn, N.Y. for many years. Mr. Leigh was preceded in death by two siblings, Johnnie Ruth (Willie) and Ray Calvin.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Wilson Leigh, Brooklyn, N.Y.; two children, Tamika and Lynn; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Elizabeth and Claude and Bobbie; five sisters, Erma, Wilma and husband, Elie, Myra, Ora Lee and Loretta; one aunt, Juanita Burns, Trotwood, Ohio; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 25, at 1 p.m., at the Paradise A.M.E. Church, 431 M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
The family will be at the home of James Leigh, 503 Gordon St., Jefferson, Ga. prior to the funeral.
Mason Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
‘Buck’ Shelton
William Douglas “Buck” Shelton, 39, of Nicholson, died Friday, January 19, 2007.
Born on July 16, 1967, he was the son of Elmer Shelton and Loraine Blanton.
Survivors include his wife, Melissa Shelton; grandmother, Lois Shelton; stepfather, Charles Blanton; daughters, Faith, Hope and Charity Shelton; brothers, Jeff Blanton, John Shelton; stepbrothers, Edward Blanton, Danny Blanton, Lewis McDaniel; sister, Peggy Whitley; and a stepsister, Mary Young.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 22, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home with the Revs. Larry Townsend and Kenny Baker officiating. Burial was in Mars Hill Baptist Church cemetery.
Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
Donald Baker
Donald L. Baker, 61, formerly having lived in Jackson County, died Saturday, January 20, 2007.
He was the son of the late William and Caroline Baker and was a veteran, having served in the United States Army.
Survivors include a brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Elizabeth Baker, Warsaw, N.Y.; nieces, Linda Grover, Sandra Losey and husband, Robert, Samantha Baker and Caroline Vosburg; grandnieces and nephews, Emily, Celena, Michael, Robert Jr. and Benjamin; cousin, Susan Burgett; special friend, Kirk Vanaman.
Family and friends may call Thursday, January 25, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the New Comer Family Funeral Home, 2636 Ridgeway Ave., where military honors will follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be private.
New Comer Family Funeral Home, is in charge of arrangements.
The Commerce News, January 24, 2007.
