JEFFERSON - Chad Archer, 36, died on Thursday, September 29, 2011 following a brief illness.
Born in Atlanta, he was the son of Aletta Archer of Jefferson and the late Ronald Archer. He graduated from Jackson County High School in 1994. Chad had worked for the family business, Archer Used Oil Company, where he was the third generation family member in the business.
Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Kim Archer, Jefferson; sons, Hagen Archer and Raiden Archer, both of Jefferson; a sister, Maranda Archer, Jefferson; and a number of other relatives.
Funeral services will held be Sunday, October 2, at 2 p.m. from Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Cameron officiating. Interment will be at the Redstone United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday Oct. 1, at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.
Jackson County - Topics from September, 2011
Nell Townsend (9-29-11)
MAYSVILLE - Nell Gunter Bradshaw Townsend, 83, died on Thursday, September 29, 2011.
She was born in Elbert County, the daughter of the late David Gibson and Georgia Hickenbottom Gunter. Mrs. Townsend was preceded in death by her husbands, John Franklin Townsend and W.C. Bradshaw; and children, Janice Nell Bradshaw, Billy Ray Bradshaw and Donald Allen Bradshaw. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist denomination.
Survivors include children, Shirley and Hinton Patrick, Watkinsville, John Bradshaw and Diane and Willie Marlow, all of Maysville, David and Pam Bradshaw, Bogart, and Faye and Dale Fountain, Arcade; seven brothers and sisters; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1, at 3 p.m. in the Victory Baptist Church in Hull with the Rev. Rick Lewis officiating.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.
She was born in Elbert County, the daughter of the late David Gibson and Georgia Hickenbottom Gunter. Mrs. Townsend was preceded in death by her husbands, John Franklin Townsend and W.C. Bradshaw; and children, Janice Nell Bradshaw, Billy Ray Bradshaw and Donald Allen Bradshaw. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist denomination.
Survivors include children, Shirley and Hinton Patrick, Watkinsville, John Bradshaw and Diane and Willie Marlow, all of Maysville, David and Pam Bradshaw, Bogart, and Faye and Dale Fountain, Arcade; seven brothers and sisters; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 1, at 3 p.m. in the Victory Baptist Church in Hull with the Rev. Rick Lewis officiating.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph Swafford (9-28-11)
GAINESVILLE – Ralph J. Swafford died Wednesday, September 28, 2011, at the Kindred Hospital in Atlanta.
Born in Gwinnett County, he was the son of the late Joe and Mary Lou Phillips Swafford.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Keller Swafford, Gainesville; children, Cindy Baughcum, Sheila Blankenship, Tina Bullock and Scott Swafford, all of Gainesville, Tracey Curry, Auburn, and Brandon Swafford, Lawrenceville; stepchildren, Melinda Chatham, Dacula, and Winfred Pass, Commerce; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and brothers, Joseph Martin Swafford and Harold Ray Swafford, both of Pendergrass.
The body was cremated and memorial services are scheduled for Friday, September 30, at 3:30 p.m. from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Gwinnett County, he was the son of the late Joe and Mary Lou Phillips Swafford.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Keller Swafford, Gainesville; children, Cindy Baughcum, Sheila Blankenship, Tina Bullock and Scott Swafford, all of Gainesville, Tracey Curry, Auburn, and Brandon Swafford, Lawrenceville; stepchildren, Melinda Chatham, Dacula, and Winfred Pass, Commerce; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and brothers, Joseph Martin Swafford and Harold Ray Swafford, both of Pendergrass.
The body was cremated and memorial services are scheduled for Friday, September 30, at 3:30 p.m. from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
Virginia Bradford (9-27-11)
Virginia Elizabeth Brooks Bradford died Tuesday, September 27, 2011, following a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by sisters, Kathleen Murphy and Nell Evans; and a brother, James Brooks.
Survivors include her husband, William C. “Bill” Bradford; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael Joseph Bradford, Mark William Bradford, Mitch Alan and Stephanie Bradford, all of Conyers; sisters, Emma Dennis, Atlanta, and Patricia Maddox, Statesboro; brothers, Emory Brooks, Lawrenceville, Bill Brooks, Smyrna, and Davis Brooks, Rome; grandchildren, Laurie, Mollie, Tyler, Daniel, Andrew, Jarrett, Davis; and great-grandchildren, Isabelle and Beth.
Mrs. Bradford was born in Jackson County on November 9, 1929 the daughter of the late Earnest and Rose Haggard Brooks. Her mother died when she was 11 years old, leaving a family of nine children. Her father later married the children's first grade teacher, Hester Tanner, who became an important figure in her life. She graduated high school in 1948 from the Berry Schools in Rome and studied Early Childhood Education at Berry College. After leaving Berry, she was employed by The First National Bank of Atlanta in the bookkeeping department. It was in Atlanta that she became reacquainted with Mr. Bradford who had been a high school classmate at Berry. They met again at the old Plaza Drugstore on North Highland Avenue and discovered their apartments were only a few miles apart with hers in the old Candler Mansion in Inman Park and his in a home on Springdale Road. They eventually married on October 30, 1955. In 1962, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford and their two young sons, Mike and Mark, moved from Atlanta to Conyers to live on the old family farm home place of Mr. Bradford's mother, Belle Wilson Bradford. Third son Mitch was born in 1965. In 1963, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford established the first professional child care center in the county, and operated Bradford's Day Care for ten years before selling the successful business. It is still in operation. Following a few years of early retirement, Mrs. Bradford began a new career as substitute teacher for the county and then as permanent teacher for the Rockdale Head Start program. For many years she utilized her love for teaching small children and her skill for leading a disciplined classroom for the benefit of hundreds of children. Her exceptional wit and sense of humor was also important to her success in the classroom as well as to the enjoyment of family, friends and all who met her. She finally retired at the age of 75, and enjoyed traveling with her husband as well as trips with her beloved four sisters. Her family was the most important thing in her life, and she will be missed by each and every one.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Rockdale Baptist Church, 1295 Smyrna Road, Conyers, GA 30094 the with Revs. Fred Maddox and Billy Moss officiating. Burial will be at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens.
Family will receive friends Friday, September 30, from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Those who wish may honor her memory by contributing to a favorite charity.
Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com.
Scot Ward Funeral Services, Conyers, is in charge of arrangements.
She was preceded in death by sisters, Kathleen Murphy and Nell Evans; and a brother, James Brooks.
Survivors include her husband, William C. “Bill” Bradford; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael Joseph Bradford, Mark William Bradford, Mitch Alan and Stephanie Bradford, all of Conyers; sisters, Emma Dennis, Atlanta, and Patricia Maddox, Statesboro; brothers, Emory Brooks, Lawrenceville, Bill Brooks, Smyrna, and Davis Brooks, Rome; grandchildren, Laurie, Mollie, Tyler, Daniel, Andrew, Jarrett, Davis; and great-grandchildren, Isabelle and Beth.
Mrs. Bradford was born in Jackson County on November 9, 1929 the daughter of the late Earnest and Rose Haggard Brooks. Her mother died when she was 11 years old, leaving a family of nine children. Her father later married the children's first grade teacher, Hester Tanner, who became an important figure in her life. She graduated high school in 1948 from the Berry Schools in Rome and studied Early Childhood Education at Berry College. After leaving Berry, she was employed by The First National Bank of Atlanta in the bookkeeping department. It was in Atlanta that she became reacquainted with Mr. Bradford who had been a high school classmate at Berry. They met again at the old Plaza Drugstore on North Highland Avenue and discovered their apartments were only a few miles apart with hers in the old Candler Mansion in Inman Park and his in a home on Springdale Road. They eventually married on October 30, 1955. In 1962, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford and their two young sons, Mike and Mark, moved from Atlanta to Conyers to live on the old family farm home place of Mr. Bradford's mother, Belle Wilson Bradford. Third son Mitch was born in 1965. In 1963, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford established the first professional child care center in the county, and operated Bradford's Day Care for ten years before selling the successful business. It is still in operation. Following a few years of early retirement, Mrs. Bradford began a new career as substitute teacher for the county and then as permanent teacher for the Rockdale Head Start program. For many years she utilized her love for teaching small children and her skill for leading a disciplined classroom for the benefit of hundreds of children. Her exceptional wit and sense of humor was also important to her success in the classroom as well as to the enjoyment of family, friends and all who met her. She finally retired at the age of 75, and enjoyed traveling with her husband as well as trips with her beloved four sisters. Her family was the most important thing in her life, and she will be missed by each and every one.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Rockdale Baptist Church, 1295 Smyrna Road, Conyers, GA 30094 the with Revs. Fred Maddox and Billy Moss officiating. Burial will be at Green Meadow Memorial Gardens.
Family will receive friends Friday, September 30, from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Those who wish may honor her memory by contributing to a favorite charity.
Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com.
Scot Ward Funeral Services, Conyers, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Sears (9-14-11)
COMMERCE – Mary Sears, 73, died Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at her residence following an extended illness.
Survivors include two sons, Brian Sears, Commerce, and David Sears, New Orleans, La.; a daughter, Julie Garret, Commerce; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 17, from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Vickery officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two sons, Brian Sears, Commerce, and David Sears, New Orleans, La.; a daughter, Julie Garret, Commerce; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 17, from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Vickery officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
Steven Allen (9-25-11)
MAYSVILLE – Steven Floyd Allen, 63, died Sunday, September 25, 2011.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Jeanne Allen, Maysville; a daughter, Kelley Gerrin, Monroe; son, Christopher Floyd Allen, Raytown, Mo.; two sisters, Sue Ann Renfore, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Mary Shields, Kansas City, Mo.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, September 29, at 2 p.m. from Ivie Chapel. The family will receive friends after the service.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Jeanne Allen, Maysville; a daughter, Kelley Gerrin, Monroe; son, Christopher Floyd Allen, Raytown, Mo.; two sisters, Sue Ann Renfore, Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Mary Shields, Kansas City, Mo.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Thursday, September 29, at 2 p.m. from Ivie Chapel. The family will receive friends after the service.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
David Latham (9-22-11)
AUBURN - David Clarence Latham, 68, died Thursday, September 22, 2011.
David loved his dog Peanut. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn Latham; a son, Scott Latham, Auburn; daughter, Sheila Johnson and husband Chuck, Bethlehem; brother, Bill Latham, Roswell; sister, Elizabeth Latham, Norman, Okla.; and grandchildren, Ryan, Anthony, Amanda, Montana, Savannah and Haley.
Funeral services were held Sunday, September 27, from Lawson Funeral Home.
Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton, was in charge of arrangements.
David loved his dog Peanut. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn Latham; a son, Scott Latham, Auburn; daughter, Sheila Johnson and husband Chuck, Bethlehem; brother, Bill Latham, Roswell; sister, Elizabeth Latham, Norman, Okla.; and grandchildren, Ryan, Anthony, Amanda, Montana, Savannah and Haley.
Funeral services were held Sunday, September 27, from Lawson Funeral Home.
Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton, was in charge of arrangements.
Johnny Marsingill (9-22-11)
Johnny Micah Todd Marsingill, infant son of Michael Shawn Marsingill and Malorie Hope Hollis, died on Thursday, September 22, 2011.
Survivors in addition to his parents are grandparents, Johnny Wayne and Patricia Lynn Marsingill, Todd and Teressa Hollis, all of Pendergrass; great-grandparents, Ross and Alice Taggart, Dahlonega, Danny and Myrtle Baker, Arcade, Peggy Cooper, Maysville, Jerry and Jackie Cooper, Pendergrass; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 25 at the graveside in the Mountain Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Shane Hollis and Jeff Graham officiating
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors in addition to his parents are grandparents, Johnny Wayne and Patricia Lynn Marsingill, Todd and Teressa Hollis, all of Pendergrass; great-grandparents, Ross and Alice Taggart, Dahlonega, Danny and Myrtle Baker, Arcade, Peggy Cooper, Maysville, Jerry and Jackie Cooper, Pendergrass; and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 25 at the graveside in the Mountain Creek Baptist Church Cemetery with the Revs. Shane Hollis and Jeff Graham officiating
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.
James Richey (9-22-11)
James Thomas (Bouy) Richey, 79, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2011.
He was born in Commerce, on January 12, 1932, the son of the late Jesse and Bertie Martin Richey. He attended Commerce schools and served in the United States Air Force for ten years. He met his wife, Kayla, while serving in Puerto Rico. They married in 1958 and returned to live in her hometown of Blue Earth, Minnesota, managing the Hanson Shoe Store for many years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed photography, woodworking, golf, travelling and getting together with the guys for coffee. He was very interested in family history, geography and world events. Mr. Richey was preceded in death by four brothers, Jesse, Gerald, Bill and Charlie.
Survivors include his former wife, Kayla and their four sons, Lohnn, Haines, Alaska, James "Jamie", Blue Earth, Minn., Tim (Raelynn), Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Scott, Fairmont, Minn.; three grandchildren, Kyle (Jodi), LeMars, Iowa, Jordan and Erin; one great-grandson, Connor; three sisters in Georgia, Frances Elrod, Commerce, Martha Smith, Maysville, and Faye Smith, Sugar Hill; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, September 6, in Blue Earth, Minn.
He was born in Commerce, on January 12, 1932, the son of the late Jesse and Bertie Martin Richey. He attended Commerce schools and served in the United States Air Force for ten years. He met his wife, Kayla, while serving in Puerto Rico. They married in 1958 and returned to live in her hometown of Blue Earth, Minnesota, managing the Hanson Shoe Store for many years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed photography, woodworking, golf, travelling and getting together with the guys for coffee. He was very interested in family history, geography and world events. Mr. Richey was preceded in death by four brothers, Jesse, Gerald, Bill and Charlie.
Survivors include his former wife, Kayla and their four sons, Lohnn, Haines, Alaska, James "Jamie", Blue Earth, Minn., Tim (Raelynn), Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Scott, Fairmont, Minn.; three grandchildren, Kyle (Jodi), LeMars, Iowa, Jordan and Erin; one great-grandson, Connor; three sisters in Georgia, Frances Elrod, Commerce, Martha Smith, Maysville, and Faye Smith, Sugar Hill; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, September 6, in Blue Earth, Minn.
Jose Ramsey Jr. (9-19-11)
HUDSON, FLA. & PENDERGRASS - Jose Ramsey, Jr., died Monday, September 19, 2011 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville following a period of declining health.
He was born in Tamp, Fla., the son of the late Joseph Ramsey and Ophelia Artal. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Navy. Mr. Ramsey had retired from Pasco County Florida Board of Education where he was plant manager of the maintenance department for River Ridge Middle and High School in New Port Richie, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce K. Ramsey, Hudson, Fla. and Pendergrass; a sister, Sonia (John) Lee, Holiday, Fla.; and niece, Monica Watson.
No services are planned at this time.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.
He was born in Tamp, Fla., the son of the late Joseph Ramsey and Ophelia Artal. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Navy. Mr. Ramsey had retired from Pasco County Florida Board of Education where he was plant manager of the maintenance department for River Ridge Middle and High School in New Port Richie, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce K. Ramsey, Hudson, Fla. and Pendergrass; a sister, Sonia (John) Lee, Holiday, Fla.; and niece, Monica Watson.
No services are planned at this time.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy