Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
Samuel E. ‘Sam’ Brown
Samuel E. “Sam” Brown, 54, Commerce City Council member and prominent civic and religious leader, died Friday, September 26, 2003, at Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta, following a major heart attack September 18 at his home, 469 Piedmont Street, Commerce.
In addition to being a city councilman, Mr. Brown was a member of the Commerce fire and rescue units, a past president of the Commerce Booster Club, a Mason, a Gideon and a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Mr. Brown was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was employed with the Athens Post Office and Sam Brown Landscaping.
Mr. Brown was born March 22, 1949, in Jackson County, the son of Jimmie McCoy Brown, Commerce, and the late Fred Brown.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Debbie Martin Brown, Commerce; two sons, Gary Brown and Michael Brown, both of Commerce; and one grandchild.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 28, at Mount Olive Baptist Church with the Revs. Verlin Reece and Eric Tyson officiating. Burial was in Grey Hill Cemetery, Commerce.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
LeRoy Pearson
LeRoy Pearson, 72, of Nicholson, died Thursday, September 25, 2003, at his residence.
A native of Clarke County, Mr. Pearson was born January 4, 1931. He was a son of the late Harvey and Bertie Mae Goodrum Pearson.
Mr. Pearson was retired from the United States Navy and was a member of Christian Life Worship Center.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at Christian Life Worship Center with the Revs. Donald Elliott, John Ingham and Dan May officiating. Burial was in the New Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Pearson is survived by his wife, Alice Archer Pearson, Nicholson; two daughters, Tonya Busbin and Tammy Jackson, both of Nicholson; four brothers, Eugene Pearson and Harold Pearson, both of Athens, Frank Pearson, Royston, and Vince Pearson, Watkinsville; six sisters, Rebecca Bradberry, Winterville, Blenda Smith, Athens, Willette Jackson, Center, Lorene Sorrow, Elberton, Vonnie Parnell, Nicholson, and Kathryne Swindle, Ila; and two grandchildren, Andy and Kayla Sorrow, Nicholson.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
Phoebe Henderson
Mrs. Phoebe Henderson, 57, of Athens, died Saturday, September 20, 2003.
A native of Clarke County, Mrs. Henderson was a daughter of Frances Wilson and the late Hoyt Wheless.
She was formerly employed with St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens, and was a member of New Covenant Worship Center.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 22, in the chapel of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, with the Rev. Howard Conine officiating.
Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her former husband, Jerris Henderson, Nicholson; daughter, Donna Henderson, Athens; sister, Vici Parr, Commerce; grandsons, Cody Henderson and Casey Henderson; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Claude and Doris Edwards, The Tolbert Family and Keith Barrett; and mother-in-law, Rachel Whitley.
Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, East, was in charge of arrangements.
Nellie M. Hitchcock
Mrs. Nellie Mae Freeman Hitchcock, 93, of Commerce, died Monday, September 29, 2003.
A native of Madison County, Mrs. Hitchcock was a daughter of the late George B. and Annie Ginn Freeman.
She was a homemaker and of the Baptist denomination. Mrs. Hitchcock was preceded in death by two sisters, Grace Gordon and Dorothy Escoe, and four brothers, Lee, Frank, Clinton and S.B. Freeman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 2, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home, Danielsville, with the Revs. Dayton Logan and Mike McLemore officiating. Burial will be in Danielsville Memorial Gardens. Stanley Watson, Dave Moon, Danny Smith, Jimmy Bird, Steve Whitington and Leon Swindell will serve as pallbearers.
Mrs. Hitchcock is survived by her husband, William Crawford Hitchcock; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ruth and Calvin Smith, Comer; son and daughter-in-law, William and Nina Hitchcock, Danielsville; brother, George B. “G.B.” Freeman, Danielsville; sisters, Gladys Rowland, Anderson, S.C., and Callie McLeskey, Hartwell; grandchildren, Renee and Dave Moon, Commerce, Patti and Danny Smith, Cordele, and April and Stanley Watson, Danielsville; great-grandchildren, Mandy and Michelle Smith, Kendell and Parker Moon and Adrianna Watson; and step-great-grandchildren, Adam and Chris Watson.
The family was to have received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Brown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mae V. Bright
Mrs. Mae Viola Bright, 87, of Commerce, died Saturday, September 27, 2003, at her residence of an extended illness.
A native of the Ellijay Community of Franklin, N.C., Mrs. Bright was the daughter of the late Jim and Jane Loudermilk Webb. She was the wife of the late Luther Bright.
Mrs. Bright had worked at Harmony Grove Mill and Blue Bell Manufacturing Company in Commerce and was a member of Ellijay Baptist Church.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, September 29, in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce, with the Rev. Curtis Green officiating.
Survivors include a daughter, Claudette Wilbanks, Commerce; two sons, Dean Bright, Athens, and Roger Lee Bright, Commerce; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
Dot Sewell
Mrs. Mary Dorothy “Dot” McCurdy Sewell, 88, of the Bold Spring Community, Carnesville, died Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at the Alzheimers Care Center in Commerce.
Born April 24, 1915, in Madison County, Mrs. Sewell was a daughter of the late Charlie Hoyt and Mary Ruby Haley McCurdy. She was married
to the late William Raiford Sewell for 60 years, and was the mother of the late Billy Sewell and the sister of the late Annie Ruth Martin.
Mrs. Sewell was an elementary school teacher at the Sandy Cross, Bold Spring and Carnesville elementary schools for 33 1/2 years. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and a member of Bold Spring United Methodist Church, where she had served as pianist.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 25, at Bold Spring United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kenneth Deitle officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Survivors include a daughter, Bobbie Edwards, of the Bold Spring Community, Carnesville; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ginn Funeral Home, Carnesville, was in charge of arrangements.
Mazie W. Dunahoo
Mrs. Mazie W. Dunahoo, 90, of Winder, died Wednesday, September 24, 2003.
A daughter of the late T.K. and Sara Ray Wilbanks, Mrs. Dunahoo was born in an area of Jackson County that later became Barrow County. She was a member of the Winder First United Methodist Church, where she served as church hostess for many years. She was also a member of The Winder Order of The Eastern Star and The Winder Lions Club Auxiliary.
Mrs. Dunahoo was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Dunahoo.
Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Friday, September 26, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home, Winder, with the Rev. Terry Tippens officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Survivors include three daughters, Marie D. Smith, Jonesboro, Jerrye D. Purcell, Jefferson, and Jo D. Benton, Athens; three sons, H. Ray Dunahoo, Dunwoody, and W.T. Dunahoo and Donald H. Dunahoo, both of Winder; one sister, Vera Steed, Winder; 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to the Winder First United Methodist Church, 280 North Broad Street, Winder, GA 30680.
Carter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Hazel P. Myers
Mrs. Hazel Pruitt Myers, 71, of Jefferson, died Thursday, February 5, 2004, at her residence following a sudden illness.
Born April 4, 1932, in Walton County, Mrs. Myers was the daughter of the late J. Paul and Iva Miller Pruitt.
She was a retired real estate broker and was of the Baptist denomination. Mrs. Myers was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Myers, and a son, Cody Myers Sr.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 7, in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce, with the Rev. Eric Shelton officiating.
Survivors include a daughter, Kay Duckworth, Thomson; two sons, Cody Myers and Paul Myers, both of Jefferson; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of arrangements.
David Goldsmith
David Goldsmith, 41, of Nicholson, died Sunday, February 8, 2004.
Mr. Goldsmith is survived by his mother, Maureen Goldsmith, Phoenix, Ariz.; a sister, Michelle Goldsmith, Phoenix, Ariz.; an ex-wife, Cindy Newell, Nicholson; and two step-daughters, Katie Bradley and Kelly Bradley, both of Nicholson.
Burial will be in Bronx, N.Y.
Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, has charge of arrangements.
Myrna F. Morris
Mrs. Myrna Franquise Bentley Morris, of Athens, formerly of Winder, died Sunday, February 8, 2004.
Mrs. Morris was born August 2, 1933, the youngest of 14 children, to the late Homer L. and Drue Willie Helton Bentley. She married
Julian Thomas Morris on December 26, 1950.
Mrs. Morris was founder and director of Morris School of Dance until 1990. She was the first majorette captain and drum majorette at Winder High School and helped her brother-in-law, Robie Robison, with majorettes in Jefferson when he founded the band there.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 14, at the First Christian Church in Winder, with the Rev. Jim Brooks officiating.
Mrs. Morris is survived by children and spouses, Tom and Ginny Morris, Athens, and Debra and John Gilstrap, Winder; grandchildren, Michael Thomas Morris Jr., John Bentley Morris, Alexander Clayton Morris and Elizabeth Lanier Morris, Athens, and John Richard Gilstrap Jr. and Julian Cayce Gilstrap, Winder; sister, Helen Bachelder, Winder; and brother, Allen Bentley, Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Winder First Christian Church, the Winder-Barrow High School Band, the March of Dimes or the American Cancer Society.
The family will receive visitors following the service at 3 p.m. at the home of Debra and John Gilstrap, 396 N. Fifth Ave., Winder.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is in charge of arrangements.
Lewis Gee
Lewis Gee, 74, of Commerce, died Wednesday, February 4, 2004.
Born in Jackson County on July 2, 1930, Mr. Gee was a son of the late Charlie and Mattie Lou Gaddis Gee.
A veteran of the United States Army, Mr. Gee retired from Oxford and was a member of Victory Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 7, at Victory Baptist Church with the Rev. Swayne Cochran and Johnny Ayers officiating. Burial was in Jackson Memorial Gardens, Commerce.
Mr. Gee is survived his wife, Betty Garrett Gee, Commerce; one brother, Joe Gee, Atlanta; and two sisters, Myrtle Brewer, Jefferson, and Minnie Mae Slater, Commerce.
Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, was in charge of arrangements.
