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Francis Alonzo Dales
Burke County lost one of its World War II heroes this past weekend when Francis Alonzo “Lonnie” Dales died Saturday, March 29, 2003 in an Augusta hospital.
A memorial service was held yesterday (Tuesday, April 1) at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Waynesboro.
His heroic efforts in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II earned him the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal awarded at the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His citation noted that he was being honored for “heroism above and beyond the call of duty” after his merchant ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. Despite the intense damage his ship suffered, he and several other crew members stayed aboard after other crew members abandoned ship to man antiaircraft guns to ward off German fighters that were trying to sink the heavily damaged ship.
They managed to get the ship, which was under tow to the Island of Malta with its cargo of much needed commodities and oil for the beleaguered island.
Last year, residents of the Island of Malta honored Dales and the other seamen for their heroic actions in fighting off the Germans to get the ship into port with its valuable cargo. Because of ill health, Dales could not make the trip almost around the world, and his son, Cliff Dales of Savannah, went to Malta to receive the award on behalf of his father. A native of Augusta and educated in Waynesboro and Augusta, Dales entered the Merchant Marines as a cadet-midshipman and when he retired he had obtained the rank of captain.
Several years ago the city of Augusta honored him by placing a plaque on Heroes Overlook located on the Riverwalk commemorating his heroic actions.
Besides being a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, he was a member of the BI-LO Morning Coffee Club, a member of American Legion Post 120 and a former president of the Waynesboro Exchange Club.
In 2001, a British journalist, who was writing a book on Americans who distinguished themselves in World War II, came to Waynesboro to interview Dales. A part of his exploits are contained in the book, which was published in England last year.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Odom Dales, and three children, Donna D. Lovett of Waynesboro, Dorothy D. Hankins of Guyton and Clifford H. Dales of Savannah; grandchildren: Mark Lovett, Leslie Lovett, Katie Lovett, Matt Lovett, Natalie Hankins, Ben Hankins, Walker Dales and Frances Dales; and a great granddaughter, Baylie Lovett. Friends were invited to attend a Memorial Services, Tuesday morning April 1, 2003 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 515 Liberty Street, Waynesboro at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Patricia Reuss officiating. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be made to St. Michael’s Memorial Fund P.O. Box 50 Waynesboro, Ga. 30830. DeLoach Kennedy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mary Tanner
Mrs. Mary Belle Tanner, 77, entered into rest Tuesday, March 25, 2003 at Doctors Hospital, Augusta. Graveside services were Thursday, March 27, at 1 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Augusta, with the Rev. John L. Beck officiating.
Mrs. Tanner was a registered nurse, retired from Veterans Administration Hospital, Augusta. She was a Baptist and a member of the Legion Post 178 Auxilary.
Survivors include her husband, Eugene M. Tanner of Augusta; two daughters, Myrna Hullum of Waynesboro and Karen Rhodes of Blythe; two sons, Roy Tanner of Evans and Jon Tanner of Augusta; and five grandchildren, Dana Ford, Nathan Ford, Hannah Hall, Libby Rhodes and Sean Tanner. The family received friends Wednesday, March 26 from 6-8 p.m. at DeLoach-Kennedy Funeral Home, 2546 Hwy. 88, Hephzibah.
Louis “Bo” James
Mr. Louis “Bo” Milton James, 63, entered into rest April 1, 2003 at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at DeLoach-Kennedy Funeral Home Chapel in Hephzibah, with the Rev. Jerry Rockefeller officiating. Interment was at Hephzibah-Vance Cemetery.
Mr. James was a lifelong resident of Richmond County and a member of Mt. Lebonan Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army and was a retired pipefitter for the Local 150 Union. He also spent many years as a farmer before retiring from farming. Mr. James was preceded in death by his parents, Robert James; and Hazel Mulligan James; a brother, Hubert James and a grandson, Little Ray James.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Shirley W. James of Hephzibah; four sons, Ray James, Roger James and Glenn James, all of Hephzibah; and Ronnie James of Waynesboro; three daughters, Lisa James Davis of Evans and Tonia James and Sonia James Cook, both of Hephzibah; four brothers, John James of Warrenton, Clarence James of Jesup, Tutt James and Mac James, both of Hephzibah; four sisters, Netti Cliatt, Betty Shirey and JoAnn Rountree, all of Hephzibah and Barbara Creed of Belvedere, S.C.; 21 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Pallbearers were Johnny Boy James, Chris Dore, Vincent James, Jeffery Phillips, Larry Wayne Cliatt, William Shirey, Frank Williams and Roger D. James. The family received friends April 2, from 6-9 p.m. at DeLoach-Kennedy Funeral Home, 2546 Hwy. 88, Hephzibah.
Mrs. Myrtle Braswell
Mrs. Myrtle E. Braswell, age 91, died Wednesday, April 2, 2003.
Funeral services were held Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with interment in Magnolia Cemetery, Waynesboro, at 4:30 p.m., with the Rev. Dan Wilson officiating. Mrs. Braswell was born in Waynesboro and moved to Macon in 1956. She was a member of Cherokee Heights United Methodist Church. She held the positions of executive secretary for Macon Federated Garden Club, president of Rutherford Garden Club and the recording secretary for Designers Critique Garden Club. She was awarded a lifetime membership with the State, by Designers Critique Club and also by Rutherford Garden Club of Macon at the Federated Garden Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Harold Braswell of New York City and Connecticut. Survivors include a son, Dr. Emory H. Braswell of Storrs, Conn.; daughters, Carol B. Dunn of Macon and June Sallee of Middleton, N.J.; nine grandchildren to include Elaine Dunn Ard of Macon and Wendy Dunn Rozier of Byron; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Rev. Reginald O. Edenfield of Soperton.
The family received friends at the funeral home on Saturday, April 5, from 7-9 p.m.
Contributions in Mrs. Braswell’s name may be made to The Methodist Home, 304 Pierce Avenue, Macon, Ga. 31204.
Ms. Cammie L. Turner
Ms. Cammie L. Turner, sister of the late Lessie Roberts, Sardis, entered into rest Friday, March 28, 2003, at Burke County Medical Center in Waynesboro.
A memorial service was held Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Golden Camp Road, Augusta.
Ms. Turner, a native of Burke County, lived most of her life in Florida. She resided in Augusta for the past 11 years. She was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Survivors include a brother, Lawrence Turner of Augusta; three sisters-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Mrs. Melrose J. Sapp
Mrs. Melrose Jackson Sapp, 89, of Perkins died Monday, March 31, 2003 at her residence. Funeral services were Thursday, April 3, at 2 p.m. at Habersham United Methodist Church. Burial was at the church cemetery. Mrs. Sapp was born in Burke County. She was a homemaker and a seamstress. She was a member of Habersham United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Russell “Speedy” Sapp; and a son, Jimmy D. Sapp. Survivors include five daughters, Jeanette Brantley Turner of Perkins, Joyce Lanier, Velma Bragg and Carolyn Law, all of Millen and Marilyn Welch of Las Vegas, Nev.; two sons, Gene Sapp and Melvin Sapp, both of Perkins; 15 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchilden. Active pallbearers will be grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be the United Methodist Men of Habersham United Methodist Church and Dr. Lamar Murray.
Mr. L. Clifford Adams, Jr.
Mr. L. Clifford Adams Jr., 70, passed away Friday morning, April 4, 2003, at his home at 192 Heard Drive in Elberton of pancreatic cancer.
Services for Mr. Adams were held in Elberton at The First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, and in Atlanta at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. Mr. Adams was born in Sylvania, the son of the late Vincy Mallard Adams and Lolan Clifford Adams, and was an alumnus of Waynesboro High School, North Georgia College and the University of Georgia Law School.
He received his Commission at the University of Georgia in the Army and served in the 11th Calvary and the 83rd Reconnaissance Battalion of the 3rd Armored Division stationed in Budengen, Germany. He attained the rank of Major.
He assisted in forming the Georgia Municipal Association and was its first General Counsel and was instrumental in the formation of the Electric Cities Unit of G.M.A.
He conceived the idea of the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, drafted its legislation and worked tirelessly in the legislature for the passage of the act creating MEAG power in 1975. He served as its General Counsel until his retirement in Dec. 2001. Mr. Adams was appointed to Leadership Georgia by President Jimmy Carter and served under Sen. Zell Miller on the Georgia Judicial Board for seven years.
After leaving the Georgia Municipal Association, Mr. Adams was associated with Oliver and Maner Bonding Attorney. He then joined the law firm of Heard and Leverett in Elberton. He served as city attorney for 20 years. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce for two terms and twice received the Distinguished Service Award. He was a past president of the Kiwanis Club and a member of the First Methodist Church.
He was elected to the Board of Visitors at the University of Georgia Law School and was a member of the Gridiron Society. He served as chairman of the North Georgia College Foundation and president of the board of trustees. The college honored him by naming the Student Union Hall after him. He belonged to the Commerce Club, the Atlanta Lawyers Club, the Old War Hoarse Club and served on the state cancer board.
He was a featured cook of the week in the Atlanta Journal and was famous for the Atlanta quail, gumbo suppers. He was listed in the Atlanta Magazine: Best Lawyers in Atlanta as the best utility lawyer. He loved art, travel and people and was noted for his generosity. He is survived by his wife, Emily Chandler Adams; a daughter, Holly Adams Ter Haar; a son, Cliff Adams III; granddaughters, Abigail Adams, Madeline Adams and Chandler Adams; a sister, Jane Adams Finn; and a brother-in-law, Chap Chandler.
Donations may be made in honor of Mr. Adams to the Georgia Division of the American Cancer Society, The First United Methodist Church in Elberton, the Elberton Little Theater and the North Georgia College Foundation.
Mrs. Bessie G. Bruce
Mrs. Bessie Godbee Bruce died Friday, March 21, 2003 at Mariner Health Nursing Home in Glen Burnie, Md. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 25 at Arlington Funeral Home in Arlington, Va. with the Rev. Ed Winkler of Arlington Forest Methodist Church officiating. Interment was at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Va.
Mrs. Bruce was born in Girard to the late W. King and Agnes Godbee. She graduated from St. Elizabeth Nursing School in Washington, D.C. and after graduation was appointed head nurse at the Interstate Commerce Commission where she served for 40 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Bruce.
Survivors include a sister, Louise McGhan of Linthicum Heights, Md.; a brother, W. King Godbee Jr. of Palo Alto, Calif.; a nephew, Wayne Buxton of Girard; and seven nieces, Mary Greenwell of Forestville, Md., Naomi Jenkins of Newington, Patricia Chandler of Girard, Carol Mather of Corse Gold, Calif., Peggy Rowden and Pamela Pittard, both of Athens and Patricia Maypole of Toccoa.
Mr. James L. Crews
Mr. James L. “Cotton” Crews, 69, of Sardis, died Friday, April 4, 2003 at University Hospital. His funeral was 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Millen Church of God with the Revs. Wilma Byrd and Spencer Britt officiating. Burial was in the Sardis Cemetery.
Mr. Crews was born in Bulloch County. He was owner of Sardis Paper Co. and a member of Millen Church of God and the Men’s Fellowship. Survivors include his widow, Shirley Jean Godbee Crews of Sardis; two sons, James Louis Crews Jr. of Franklin, N.C. and Terry Wayne Crews of Hephzibah; a brother, Jessie E. (Buddy) Crews of Sardis; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers were Ronnie Overstreet, James Davis, Gene Howard, Carlton Britt, Jeremy Britt and Danny Lee Burke.
