Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
MR. FERGUSON
Vietnam Veteran
MISSOURI - James Dwight Ferguson, 50, diedSunday, June 20, 1999.
A native of Riverside, Calif., Mr. Ferguson was bornNovember 21, 1948. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. James I. Ferguson, Maysville.
Mr. Ferguson attended Jefferson High School during his sophomore year. After graduating from Marysville High School in California, he immediately joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne assigned to the Green Berets, Fort Bragg, N.C.
While serving in Vietnam, Mr. Ferguson was a POW, but he escaped and later was wounded in battle. He was transferred back to the United States to recover from his injuries.
After recovering, Mr. Ferguson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a Load Master at Travis Air Force Base, California. Following his service in the Air Force, he worked several civilian jobs, but decided to make a career in the military and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Before retirement in 1995, Mr. Ferguson worked in the Pentagon.
Mr. Ferguson's numerous medals include three Bronze Stars, six Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.
Full military services were held at the Jefferson Barracks National Memorial Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo., on Tuesday, June 29. A memorial service was held at the Church of Christ in Commerce on Sunday, June 27, with Jeff Colson officiating.
Survivors, in addition to his parents, include one daughter, Christina Ferguson, Rolla, Mo.; one son, Richard Ferguson, Rolla, Mo.; six brothers, Bill Ferguson, Wayne Ferguson and Troy Ferguson, all of California, David Ferguson, Missouri, Derral Ferguson, Michigan, and Tony Ferguson, Texas; a local aunt and uncle, Buster and Hazel Parks, Pendergrass; and many nieces and nephews.
MRS. SUGGS
Retired seamstress
WINDER - Mrs. Betty Suggs, 86, diedThursday, July 8, 1999, at Barrow Medical Center following a brief illness.
A native of Banks County, Mrs. Suggs was a daughter of the late Robert and Minnie Lee Patterson Sailors.
She had resided in Barrow County for most of her life and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church, where she attended the Mother's Sunday School Class. Mrs. Suggs was a retired seamstress from Cherokee Manufacturing Company of Winder.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy Suggs.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 10, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home, Winder, with the Rev. Kenneth Deaton officiating. Burial was in Barrow Memorial Gardens.
Survivors include one daughter, LaAnn Patrick, Snellville; two sons, Hinnard Suggs, Winder, and Johnny Suggs, Hoschton; one sister, Mary Brown, Eastonnollee; six grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.
Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
MRS. SWAIMS
Homemaker
COMER - Mrs. Beveline L. Swaims, 84, diedWednesday, July 7, 1999.
A native of White County, Mrs. Swaims was a daughter of the late Calvin Kytle and Maggie Louise Jones Loggins.
She was a member of Comer First Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 10, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Revs. Douglas Duncan, Danny Whistle and David McDonald officiating. Burial was in the Oconee Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Henry W. Swaims; two daughters, Maggie D. Watkins, Eastonnollee, and Evelyn Keithbrock, Nicholson; two sons, Jay Swaims, Comer, and Thomas Swaims, Albuquerque, N.M.; four sisters, Olivia Randolph and Florance Aaron, both of Athens, Mamie Lou Watkins, Gainesville, and Elizabeth Ledbedder, Clayton; one brother, W.C. Loggins, Comer; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Brown Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
MRS. HILL
Homemaker
FLOWERY BRANCH - Mrs. Martha Gartman Hill, 78, diedThursday, July 8, 1999, at Gwinnett Medical Center following an extended illness.
Mrs. Hill was a native of Chorus, Ala. She was a homemaker and a member of the Flowery Branch Church of God.
Funeral services were held Sunday, July 11, at the Flowery Branch Church of God with the Revs. Ben Coggins and Barry Len Pirkle officiating. Burial was in Broadlawn Memorial Gardens, Buford.
Survivors include seven sons, David Hill, Cumming, William Hill, Maysville, Bobby Hill, Cartersville, Ralph Hill, Buford, Jimmy Hill and Johnny Hill, both of Blue Ridge, and Albert Hill Jr., Flowery Branch; one daughter, Jean Barton, Dalton; one brother, Joseph Gartman, Gadsden, Ala.; one sister, Stella Hurst, Fort Payne, Ala.; 32 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Tapp Funeral Home, Buford, was in charge of arrangements.
Nora Y. Sorrow
Miss Nora Yvonne Sorrow, 38, of Hull, diedFriday, July 2, 1999.
A native of Hall County, Miss Sorrow was a daughter of Norman O. Sorrow and the late Janie Ruth Ward Whisnat.
She was a member of Kingdom of Jesus Ministries.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 5, in the chapel of Brown's Funeral Home, Danielsville, with Pastor Janice Loggins and Jack Butler officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park.
Survivors, in addition to her father, include one daughter, Susan Ashley Lavender, Hull; two sisters, Susan Hobbs, Ila, and Greta Rowland, Hull; and two brothers, Donny Sorrow, Bethlehem, and Tommie Sorrow, Flowery Branch.
Brown's Funeral Home, Danielsville, was in charge of arrangements.
Lester Blakeman
Lester Blakeman, 78, of Athens, diedMonday, June 28, 1999.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Blakeman was a son of the late Harvey and Ruth Willis Blakeman.
He was retired from the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Athens Christian Church. Mr. Blakeman was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Elizabeth Loomis Blakeman.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 2, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West, with the Revs. Mark Clark and Carl Shearer officiating. Entombment was in Evergreen Memorial Park. Fred Zimmerman, Marv Westfall, T.L. Turman, Conrad Spratlin, Rod Walston and Gary Webb served as pallbearers.
Survivors include one daughter, Barbara Ann Wilkins, El Paso, Texas; two sons, Chuck Blakeman, Colbert, and Lester Lee Blakeman, Dover, Del.; one sister, Helen Reynolds, Illinois; two brothers, Jim Blakeman, Arkansas, and Thales Blakeman, Arizona; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, West, was in charge of arrangements.
Mary P. Johnson
Mrs. Mary "Lat" Powers Johnson, 88, of Hull, diedTuesday, June 29, 1999.
A native of Madison County, Mrs. Johnson was a daughter of the late Jeff and Mattie Powers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fletcher "Johnny" Johnson.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 3, at Gholston Baptist Church, Comer, with the Rev. William Jennings officiating. Burial was in the Colbert Grove Baptist Church cemetery, Colbert. Mrs. Johnson's nephews served as pallbearers.
Survivors include one daughter, Carrie Mae Dowdy, Hull; two sisters, Jessie Griffith, Chicago, Ill., and Thelma McCurry, Athens; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
Jackson-McWhorter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
William B. Thornton
William Bud Thornton, 62, of Bishop, diedWednesday, June 30, 1999.
A native of Madison County, Mr. Thornton was a son of the late Arthur L. and Ethel Hill Thornton.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the 82nd Airborne Division, and was retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Mr. Thornton was a member of Church of the Way, Monroe.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 2, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park.
Survivors include one daughter, Danna Lynne Visocky, Danielsville; two sons, William Michael Thornton and Jeffrey Glen Thornton, both of Bishop; one sister, Jackie Bennett, Winterville; one brother, Joe Thornton; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements.
Sara Lee B. Autry
Mrs. Sara Lee B. Autry, 69, of Statham, diedMonday, July 5, 1999.
A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Autry was a daughter of the late Tilman and Bessie Bagwell.
She had resided in Barrow County since 1944. Mrs. Autry was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Carolyn Autry.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 7, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home, Winder, with the Revs. Jerry Worley and Andy Bond officiating. Burial was in the Cabin Creek Baptist Church cemetery, Jackson County.
Survivors include her husband, Frank Autry Jr.; four sons, David Autry, Rock Mountain, N.C., Ralph Autry, Statesboro, and Frank Autry III and Glenn Autry, both of Statham; five daughters, Dale Willoughby, Rosa Lee Hamrick, Connie Cudak, Brenda Autry, all of Statham, and Gail Allred, Auburn; brothers and sisters, Tilman Bagwell, Homer Bagwell, Ruth Anthony, Mary Embrick and Frances Worley, all of Commerce, Lois Moore, Honea Path, S.C., Frances Shedd, Akins, S.C., Martha Reeves, Woodrougg, S.C., Bobby Bagwell, Mary Duncan and Euri Patrick, Bogart, Charles Patrick, Stockbridge, Clyde Beck, Arcade, Ann Akins, Winder, Opal Sherwood, Hull, Howard Bagwell, Farmington, and Morris Patrick and Pam Cash, both of Statham; 31 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Carter Funeral Home, Winder, was in charge of arrangements.
Curtis L. Hooper
Curtis Lee Hooper, 68, of Nicholson, diedWednesday, June 30, 1999, at his residence.
A native of Cleveland, Mr. Hooper was bornJuly 12, 1930. He was a son of the late Fred and Cora Edge Hooper.
Mr. Hooper worked as a janitor with Commerce City Schools. He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Hooper.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 3, at Full Gospel Holiness Church with the Revs. Toby Dyer and Larry Dyer officiating. Burial was in the Antioch United Methodist Church cemetery, Nicholson.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel Lucille Hooper; two sons, Kenneth Hooper and Michael Hooper, both of Nicholson; three daughters, Christy Hooper, Barbara Moore and Laverne Moore, all of Nicholson; two brothers, Billy Hooper, Conyers, and Charles Hooper, Carnesville; two sisters, Julie Jackson, South Georgia, and Ruby Turpin, Winder; two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
