MRS. MARTIN
Homemaker
COMMERCE - Mrs. Loudez Byrd Martin, 92, died Thursday, November 30, 2000, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce.
Mrs. Martin was born March 27, 1908, in Banks County. She was a daughter of the late Obe and Annie Georgia Martin Byrd.
Mrs. Martin was a homemaker and a member of Hudson River Baptist Church, Commerce. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie W. Martin.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 1, at Hudson River Baptist Church with the Revs. Troy Herbert and Ronnie Moon officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Martin is survived by one son, Fred Martin, Commerce; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MRS. WOOD
Maysville resident
MAYSVILLE - Mrs. Lois H. Wood, 87, died Monday, December 4, 2000, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce.
Mrs. Wood was born October 26, 1913, a daughter of the late Bob and Eddie Chasteen Haynes.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, J.C. Martin, and her second husband, Leman Wood, and a son, Paul Martin.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, December 7, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce. Burial will be in the Martin Family Cemetery, Talmo.
Survivors include two sons, Junior Martin, Commerce, and Bobby Martin, Athens; three daughters, Martha Ginn, Commerce, and Linda Parson and Barbara Snipes, both of Maysville; one sister, Dorothy Staples, Orangeburg, S.C.; 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MRS. ROPER
Retired schoolteacher
HATTIESBURG, MISS. - Mrs. Mary Barrett Roper, 91, formerly of Cornelia, died Tuesday, November 28, 2000, following a brief illness.
Mrs. Roper retired from Habersham schools after teaching for 38 years. She was a member of Level Grove Baptist Church, Cornelia.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 1, in the chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, with the Revs. Terry Rice and Verner London officiating. Burial was in the Level Grove Cemetery.
Survivors include two sisters, Nell House, Greenville, S.C., and Dorothy Kelly, Hattiesburg, Miss.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Level Grove Baptist Church.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MR. JOHNSON
U.S. Army veteran
COMMERCE - David Phillip Johnson, 53, died Monday, December 4, 2000, at his residence.
Mr. Johnson was born November 4, 1947, in Wilkes County, N.C. He was a son of Hazel Ravis Johnson, Statesville, N.C., and the late Henry G. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during Vietnam, and had worked as a trim carpenter. He was of the Baptist denomination.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 6, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Earl Pirkle officiating. Burial was in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Karen Herbert Johnson, Commerce; one daughter, Sherry Leigh Howard, Flovilla; two brothers, Danny Johnson, Pendergrass, and Edward Johnson, Washington, D.C.; two sisters, Recia Carson, Pendergrass, and Thresia Hallam, Statesville; and one grandson, Cameron Hadley, Flovilla.
Little-Ward Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MRS. JONES
Homer Baptist member
HOMER - Mrs. Rosa Adams Jones, 91, died Tuesday, December 5, 2000, at BJC Medical Center, Commerce.
Mrs. Jones was a native of White County and the daughter of the late Dolph and Zora Mae Abernathay Adams.
She was a homemaker and was a member of Homer Baptist Church. Mrs. Jones was married to the late Raleigh Newton Jones.
Funeral services were to have been held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 6, in the chapel of Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Charles Crabb officiating. 
A second funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 8, in the chapel of Brigman's Valley Funeral Home, Black Mountain, N.C., with Dr. Jerry Periara officiating. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary Lois Eterno, Homer, and Euretha Jane Richez, West Branch, Mich.; two sons, George Conley Jones, Hazel Park, Mich., and Hoyt Jones, Oxford, Mich.; two sisters, Madeline Jarrard, Ashville, N.C., and Ruby Tysor, Douglasville; 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
The family was to have received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Little-Ward Funeral Home. The family will also receive friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Brigman's Valley Funeral Home.
Little-Ward Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MRS. WOOD
Jackson Memorial 
Gardens rites
HULL - Mrs. Vera Estelle Wood, 82, died Wednesday, November 29, 2000, at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Wood was born September 9, 1918, a daughter of the late Perry and Lonie Belle Wilbright Youngblood.
Funeral services were held Friday, December 1, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Revs. Porter and Newman officiating. Burial was in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce.
Mrs. Wood is survived by her husband, Luther E. Wood, Hull; three sons, Luther E. Wood Jr., Neese, Stanley Wood, Nicholson, and Thomas Wood, Ila; five daughters, Marie Carson, Commerce, Dorothy Haper, Ocala, Fla., Shelia Herring, Comer, Mary Helen Quarles, Watkinsville, and Patricia Wood, Hull; two brothers, Robert Youngblood, Crawford, and Virgil Youngblood, Ocala, Fla.; three sisters, Julia Mae Jordan, Tignal, Vivian Reese, Hull, and Velma Williamson, Nicholson; 32 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MR. DALTON
Stephens County 
High graduate
TOCCOA - Roger Dale Dalton, 46, died Sunday, December 3, 2000, at his residence.
Born February 6, 1954, in Stephens County, Mr. Dalton was a son of Mildred Greemon Dalton, Toccoa, and the late Tom E. Dalton. 
He was a graduate of Stephens County High School and had been employed by Trogdon's Furniture Co., Shoney's and by the Toccoa Nursing Center. Mr. Dalton was of the Baptist denomination.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 5, at Mountain View Baptist Church with the Revs. Roy Bainey and Anthony Shore officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Dalton is survived by one brother, Winferd Lynn Dalton, Mt. Airy.
Acree-Davis Funeral Home, Toccoa, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, December 6, 2000

MR. ALINGER
U.S. Army veteran
ALTO - Ernest A. Alinger, 81, of the Hollingsworth Community, died Tuesday, February 27, 2001, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. Alinger was born in Livingston, N.J., on May 3, 1919. He was a son of the late Michael and Bertha Mitschelle Alinger, and was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Ann Robinson Alinger.
Mr. Alinger was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II, and was retired Captain with the Livingston, N.J., police department with over 25 years of service. 
He was a member of the Cattleman's Association and previously served as chaplain with the Hollingsworth Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Alinger was also a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Rock Springs Baptist Church with Pastor Gary Wilson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. James G. Dolphus, Athens, and Martha Alinger Frady, Clarkesville; one sister, Doris M. White, Whippany, N.J.; and six grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Rock Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, 631 Rock Springs Road, Lula, GA 30554.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MRS. SCROGGS
Homemaker
BALDWIN - Mrs. Ruby Smith McConnell Scroggs, 86, died Saturday, March 3, 2001, at Habersham County Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mrs. Scroggs was born in Banks County on March 7, 1914, a daughter of the late John E. Smith and Sally Boling Smith. 
She was a homemaker and a member of Double Springs Baptist Church. Mrs. Scroggs was preceded in death by her first husband, Perry James McConnell, and her second husband, Bascom Fred Scroggs.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 5, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, with the Rev. Luther Williams officiating. Burial was in Yonah .Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include one daughter, Betty Ann Copeland, Douglasville; two sons, Ralph Edward McConnell, Baldwin, and Kenneth John McConnell, Mt. Airy; one brother, Fred E. Smith, Demorest; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MR. SEIN SAN U
Rogers Baptist service
TOUNGOO, BURMA - Gyaw Jon Sein San U, 100, passed away recently. 
Mr. Sein San U was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn Aye Nu Sein San U.
A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Rogers Baptist Church with the Rev. Carlton Peters officiating.
Mr. Sein San U is survived by Bonsco, Sherwin and Lillian Sein San U, all of Toungoo, Burma, and Kendrick and Dana Sein San U, Maysville; and granddaughters, Amanda and Holly.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MR. WATKINS
World War II veteran
BALDWIN - Tom Watkins, 85, died Tuesday, February 27, 2001, at his residence following an extended illness.
Mr. Watkins was born June 26, 1915, in Banks County. He was a son of the late William and Ethel Watson Watkins, and was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Paul Watkins.
Mr. Watkins was a member of Lamar Christian Church and was retired from Chicopee Manufacturing Company, with 23 years of service. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and served in the Central Pacific as an antiaircraft artillery gun crewman. Mr. Watkins earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star and the American Defense Service Ribbon with one Bronze Star.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 2, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, with Tommy Wilkinson officiating. Burial was in the Lamar Christian Church cemetery.
Survivors include one daughter, Dora Hill, Baldwin; one son, George Watkins, Lula; two sisters, Lucille Cook, Alto, and Janell Watkins, Baldwin; four brothers, John Watkins, Cornelia, Clyde Watkins, Demorest, Fred Watkins, Mt. Airy, and Wilton Watkins, Baldwin; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MR. FORESTER
U.S. Army veteran
CORNELIA - Leo Forester, 78, died Monday, March 5, 2001, at his residence following a sudden illness.
Mr. Forester was born July 17, 1922, in Habersham County, a son of the late Rossie and Geneva Powers Forester.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II, and had worked as a supervisor with Chrysler Corp. in Detroit, Mich. Mr. Forester was a member of the Mt. Airy Masonic Lodge #141 F.&A.M., was a Shriner and was a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post 7720 of Cornelia. He was of the Baptist denomination.
Mr. Forester was preceded in death by a step-son, Louis Glaze, and a brother, Earl Forester.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, at New Hope Baptist Church with the Revs. Hoyt Skelton and Chris York officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with full military honors provided by Rabun Co. D.A.V. Chapter #15.
Mr. Forester is survived by his wife, Ruth Colston Forester, Cornelia; one daughter, Janet Alexander, Detroit, Mich.; four sisters, Mary Jane Taylor and Pearl Williams, both of Cornelia, Edna Brady, Baldwin, and Dexter Stewart, Oklahoma City, Okla.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MR. POPE
Electrician, plumber
JEFFERSON - Walter DeLeon Pope, 43, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at Crawford Long Hospital following an extended illness.
Mr. Pope was born March 6, 1957, in Fulton County. He was a son of Sidney L. and Betty N. Howard Pope, Jefferson.
Mr. Pope was employed as an electrician and plumber and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson. He was the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Howard, Jefferson, and the late Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Pope Sr., Covington.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in the chapel of Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, with the Revs. Kevin Page and Tilly Welborn officiating. Burial was in the Howard Family Cemetery, Jefferson. Mr. Pope's sons and brothers served as pallbearers.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Pope is survived by his wife, Cynthia Pope, Jefferson; three sons, Jody Lee Pope, Canton, Joshua Eugene Pope, Gillsville, and Walter Duane Pope, Jefferson; one daughter, Leslie Elaine Pope, Jefferson; three brothers, Kevin Pope, Jefferson, Lanny Pope, Commerce, and Lee Pope, Covington; and one grandson, Caleb Andrew Pope, Gillsville.
Evans Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MRS. ROBERTS
General Time retiree
JEFFERSON - Mrs. Frances "Mie Mie" Parks Roberts, 74, died Tuesday, February 27, 2001, at Athens Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
Mrs. Roberts was born December 15, 1926, in Banks County, a daughter of the late Henry Osborne and Lucille Segars Parks.
She was retired from General Time, Athens, and was a member of Dry Pond United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Roberts was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie B. Roberts, a sister, Ruby Swenney, and three brothers, Garnett Parks, Willie Parks and H.O. Parks.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Dry Pond United Methodist Church with Minister Tom Plank and the Rev. Phil Williams officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Ricky Hemphill, Tim Aiken, Michael "Tater" Davis, Larry Davis, Tommy Swenney, David Parks, Walt Parks and Jeff Streetman served as pallbearers.
Survivors include one son, Gene Roberts, Newport News, Va.; two daughters, Shirley Bond, Jefferson, and Pat Stephens, Athens; three sisters, Betty Davis, Clara Hemphill and Alma Aiken, all of Jefferson; one brother, John Parks, Tifton; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MR. DALTON
Logger
CANON - Thurmond Dalton, 56, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at Ty Cobb Hospital.
Mr. Dalton was born March 15, 1944, in Georgia, a son of Guy Dalton, Ila, and Ellaree Wade, Alto.
He was a logger.
Mr. Dalton was preceded in death by a son, Jeffery Dalton.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with the Rev. Doug Duncan officiating. Burial was in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church cemetery, Alto.
Survivors include three daughters, Cynthia Bond, Royston, and Gail Sellers and Pam Dellinger, both of Danielsville; seven brothers, Charles Dalton and Earl Dalton, both of Colbert, Guy Dalton, Gainesville, Melvin Dalton, Lloyd Dalton and William R. Dalton, all of Danielsville, and Gene Wade, Alto; two sisters, Carol Dalton, Danielsville, and Ruth Kesler, Homer; and eight grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MRS. WILSON
Mother of six
COMMERCE - Mrs. Eula Gladys Wilson, 88, died Saturday, March 3, 2001, at her residence.
Mrs. Wilson was born November 19, 1912, in Georgia, a daughter of the late Rossie Brown.
She had worked as a sales clerk with Commerce Sports Wear.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 5, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, with Pastor Jeff Coalson and the Rev. Curtis Green officiating. Burial was in the Wilson Family Cemetery, Commerce.
Survivors include two sons, Dwight Wilson, Nicholson, and Johnny Wilson, Commerce; four daughters, Betty F. Hanley, Hull, Elizabeth Nelms, Commerce, Linda Lassiter, Athens, and Sarah Raulerson, Homer; 34 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001

MRS. COTTON
Hambersham Co. native
BALDWIN - Mrs. Sandrael Fowler Cotton, 46, died Sunday, March 4, 2001, at Habersham County Medical Center following a short illness.
Mrs. Cotton was born June 6, 1954, in Habersham County. She was a daughter of Marie Bailey Fowler, Baldwin, and the late Frank Fowler.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, with the Revs. Danny O'Kelley and Billy Harris officiating. Burial was in the Nails Creek Baptist Church cemetery.
Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her husband, Donald Cotton, Baldwin; and brother, Tony Fowler, Baldwin.
Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
The Banks County News, March 7, 2001