Banks County

ATLANTA - Moise Coker McDonald, 85, died Monday, November 28, 2011, at her residence following an extended illness.

She was born on February 2, 1926, in Homer, the daughter of the late William Lee and Della Hill Coker. Mrs. McDonald was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Edward McDonald; and a brother, Robert Lee Coker. She was a retired employee of Coats and Clark Incorporated with 15 years of service and was a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Toccoa.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Joe Laurenzo, Atlanta; grandson and his wife, Paul Laurenzo and Erinn, Woodstock; and three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Autumn and Asher Laurenzo, all of Woodstock. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, with the Rev. John King officiating. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour on Saturday.

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, is in charge of arrangements.

WINTERVILLE - Emory Donald Ginn, 81, of Winterville passed away Sunday, November 27, 2011.

He attended Spoken Word Church in Lula. He was a United States Navy Veteran and served in the Korean War. Don was an avid Harley rider and a member of the Athens HOG Chapter. He was a songwriter and musician and loved to travel.

Survivors include his son, James Ginn, Winterville; daughter, Julie Krantz and Garry, both of Comer; sisters, Bonnie Hansford, Colbert, Betty Headrick and Jim of Maryville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Asa Compton, Grace Strickland, Cole Ginn, Abby Driskell and Jeremy.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 1, at the McCurley Family Farm located at 295 Melton Rd., Winterville, GA with the Rev. Samuel Dale officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family for a plaque and tree to be planted and live on in Don's memory.

Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton, is in charge of arrangements.

COMMERCE - Cornelius Rucker was born April 15, 1917 to the late Dallas and Florence Rucker in Banks County. Cornelius grew up in the rural areas of Banks County, where he lived until he parted this life. He grew up in church and was a lifelong member of Neal’s Grove Baptist Church, where he attended and served faithfully until his death. Cornelius was affectionately known to his family as “Big Daddy,” and has been a strong, God-fearing leader and patriarch of the Rucker Family. Just before he turned 20 years old, Cornelius met and married the love of his life, Ruby Nelle Martin. They celebrated 74 years of marriage before she preceded him in death earlier this year (July 11, 2011). The two worked hard and built a family farm where they raised their children and took care of their grandchildren.

Cornelius retired from Harmony Grove Mills after working there almost 30 years. He believed in hard work and the value of a dollar. The hard work ethic and the respect for yourself and others is what Cornelius leaves as a legacy to his children, grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren who he has had a chance to influence. Whether it was working on his farm, working in his community, helping his children and family or just taking care of home, “Big Daddy” was always dedicated to excellence in everything he did.

Cornelius is preceded in death by his loving wife of 74 years, Ruby Nelle Rucker; two children – Cornolius Rucker and Betty Rucker, both of Commerce; all five of his brothers – Sylvester (“Jack”) Rucker, Timothy Rucker, Claude Rucker, Fate Rucker and Curtis Rucker; and two sisters, Beatrice Rucker Bush and Myrtie Rucker Carruth. He leaves as a legacy his five remaining children, two sons, Columbus Rucker (Alice) and James Rucker (Rosia, deceased) both of Commerce; and three daughters, Ruby Williams (Billy) and Shirley Reed (Sam) both of Commerce, and Floncie Walker (Bonnie), Hoschton; four sisters, Geradine Tabor, Detroit, Mich., Sophie Carruth, Commerce, and Chester Fluellen and Zurlee Davis, both of Columbus, Ohio. In addition, he leaves behind 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, November 19, at Neal’s Grove Baptist Church, Sims Bridge Road, Commerce, with Pastor Johnny Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Neal’s Grove Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, November 18, from 6 to 7p.m.

Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.

BALDWIN - Ellen Garrison Alexander, 82 died Sunday, November 6, 2011, at Northside Hospital.

Born in Habersham County on March 10, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Frank D. and Ruth Shelton Garrison. Mrs. Alexander graduated from Baldwin High School, class of 1946, where she was named valedictorian. After graduation, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, Phi Beta Kappa. She also obtained a master’s degree in Fine Arts from New York University. Mrs. Alexander used her talents and taught many students in North Fulton, Elberton and also overseas in Germany. Fluent in Portuguese, Mrs. Alexander taught for 30 years in the slums of Brazil. Mrs. Alexander was a member of Homer Presbyterian Church and was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Glenn Rauh.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Charles C. Alexander, Baldwin; daughter, Ruth Alexander, Baldwin; son and daughter-in-law, Shafe and Elaine Alexander, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; grandchildren, Reed Alexander, Savannah Alexander and Morgan Alexander; sisters and brothers-in-law, Sarah and Sydney Heindel, Cornelia, and Virginia and Louis Leone, North Hampton, Mass.

Ellen loved Christ and lived her life for Him.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 9, at Homer Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Alex Stephens, Billy Ford, Rebekah Maul and Jesse Alexander officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart of Cornelia is in charge of arrangements.