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The Paper | Thursday, January 15, 2015
OBITUARIES Denny Arrington
Died Jan. 8, 2015 Paul “Denny” Arrington, 75, of Braselton, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Mary Belle (Merb) Dilbeck Arrington; and sister, Diane Byers Van Devender. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Linda Scott Arrington; children, Greg and Kay Arrington of Lawrenceville and Shane and Cathy Arrington of Buford; grandchildren, Jake Arrington and Amanda Arrington; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ralph and Eloise Scott of Cleveland; nieces, Paige Southard and Terri Christopher; and several cousins. Born Jan. 25, 1939 in Atlanta, he was a 1957 graduate of Northside High School in Atlanta and attended Georgia State University. He retired after 37 years as coowner of Arrington & Blount Ford in Lawrenceville. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a Mason, Shriner and member of Scottish Rite and the Lawrenceville Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Yaarab Temple in Atlanta. He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. He was a member of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. He was an avid golfer and hunter and loved going to his farm in Talmo and cattle shows. Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in the chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with the Rev. Melvin Chandler officiating. Masonic graveside service and interment followed at Gwinnett Memorial Park in Lawrenceville with Masons serving as honorary escort. Flanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Buford The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Rosemary Baerga
Died Jan. 4, 2015 Rosemary Baerga, 60, of Braselton, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015. A private inurnment will take place at Memorial Park South Cemetery. Born Jan. 3, 1955, in Bronx, N.Y. , she was a daughter of Guillermina Baerga and the late Christopher Baerga. Survivors, in addition to her mother, include her brothers, Roberto and Chris; sisters, Naomi and Elizabeth; and nieces and nephews. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Helen Brock
Died Jan. 9, 2015 Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Smith Memory Chapel for Helen Brock, who died Jan. 9, 2015. She was born June 24, 1928.. Burial followed in Barrow Memorial Gardens. Survivors include her children, Gail Gordon and Robert Harbin; sister; Jackie Cash; and a number of grandchildren. Smith Memory Chapel, Winder The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Warren C. Brooks
Died Jan. 9, 2015 Warren C. Brooks, 80 of Nicholson, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at his residence. M Born in Center, he was a son of the late Alvy and Mattie Ruth Mathews Brooks. Mr. Brooks was a farmer and also retired from the University of Georgia. He attended River of Life Worship Center. Survivors include his wife, Carrine Hollifield Brooks; sons, Mike Brooks (Bronda) of Plainville, Keith Brooks of Macon and Todd Brooks (Rhonda) of Nicholson; brothers, Donald Brooks and Marion Brooks, both of
Nicholson; grandchildren, Autumn, Austin, Zaine, Lance, Whitley and TJ; and great-grandchildren, Hunter and Paislee. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, at River of Life Worship Center with the Rev. Bobby Ivester officiating. Interment followed in the Center United Methodist Church Cemetery. Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Betty Roebuck Clark
Died Jan. 6, 2015 Betty Roebuck Clark, 74, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. A native of Buford, she was living in Sautee with her daughter. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dick Clark; parents, Clay and Louise Roebuck; and brothers, Harold Roebuck and Freddie Roebuck. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and John Phillips and Dawn Clark, all of Sautee, and Teresa and Jerry Roberts of Flowery Branch; sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Cindy Clark and Jeff and Pam Clark, all of Winder; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother and sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Diane Roebuck and Christa Roebuck, all of Oakwood, and Paula Roebuck of Buford; and several nieces and nephews and cousins. Graveside services were held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Zion Hill in Buford with the Rev. Danny Newburn officiating. Memorial Park Funeral Home, Gainesville The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Marilyn Sue Elrod
Died Jan. 10, 2015 Marilyn Sue Elrod, 70, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. Born May 4, 1944, she was a daughter of Leroy McElhannon and Flora Epps Potts. Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Charles F. Elrod ; daughters, Debra Sue (Gary) Vaughters, of Dawsonville, Terica ( Rick) Barrett of Winder and Michelle (Ken) Looney of Commerce; sisters, Frances Standridge of Hull, Vernelle Parson of Homer and Geraldine Potts of Hull; grandchildren, Audra Kathleen Vaughters and Bryson Standridge; step grandchildren, Tyler Barrett, Haley Scott, Leanne Looney and Kaitlin Looney; and great-grandchild, Branson Standridge. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at the Little Country Church with the Revs. Bo Whisanant, Swayne Cochran and Gary Thompson officiating. Burial followed in Jackson Memorial Park. Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Wendy Reagin Ham
Died Jan. 8 ,2015 Wendy Reagin Ham, 53, of Buford, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, after an extended illness. A memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Hamilton Mill Christian Church with Pastor Bob Mahan officiating. The family request contributions be made to the American Cancer Society. Survivors include her husband, Tom Ham; parents, Ed and Joanne Reagin of Clearwater, Fla.; sisters, Stacey Belanger and husband Scott of McDonough and Jodi Soucy and husband Rich of Jefferson; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Born in Atlanta, she was a lifelong resident of the area. She had been employed by the DeKalb County Police Department and was a member of Hamilton Mill Chris-
tian Church. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Dacula The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
James Floyd Hayes
Died Jan. 2, 2015 James Floyd Hayes, 70, of Clayton, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. A United States Navy veteran, he was a Golden Glove Boxer. He loved to fish, water ski and spend time with his family and friends. Hayes Survivors include his son, Matthew James Hayes and Dovie Styles of Lula; daughters, Della Sosebee and husband Doug of Gainesville, Tammy Wier of Gainesville and Brandy Fortner Elliott of Hoschton; brothers, Jewell Hayes and wife Ann of Statham, Bobby Hayes and wife Joan of Oakwood, Johnny Hayes of Gainesville and Jimmy Hayes and wife Robin of Gainesville; sister, the Rev. Betty Hambrick and husband Terry of Braselton; grandchildren, Holly, Dylan, Kyle, Chesley and Jesse; and great-grandson Landon. Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in the Lawson Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Dewayne Hayes and the Rev. Betty Hambrick officiated. Interment followed in the Hoschton City Cemetery. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
LaVern Jones
Died Jan. 7, 2015 Mrs. LaVern Jones, 73, of Winder, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center following an extended illness. A native of Hall County, she was a daughter of the late Richard and Sallie Mae Shelton McDougal. Mrs. Jones was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Austin Jones; children, Ricky and Cindy Jones of Bethlehem, Kim and Darrell Ingram of Carrollton, Judy and Jeff Roberts of Statham and Deborah and Robert Mixon of Winder; grandchildren, Mandi Jones, Darrell Ingram Jr., Jake Roberts, Josh Ingram, Nicole Lake, Chris Roberts, Austin Jones and Shannen Roberts; and six great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Carter Funeral Home, Winder The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Jeffrey Bryan King
Died Jan. 5, 2015 Jeffrey Bryan King, 43, of Jefferson, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Brenda and Lonnie Mahan of Jefferson; father and stepmother, Frank and Jean King of Buford; brothers and sister-in-law, Roderick King of Loganville, Eric Mahan of McDonough and Richard and Jennifer King of Hoschton; sister, Renae Glover of Cumming; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Born March 2, 1971, in Atlanta, he was a 1991 graduate of Shiloh High School and at-
tended DeKalb College. Services were held Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in the chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with the Rev. Luis Ortiz officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital in memory of Jeffrey Bryan King. Flanigan Funeral Home & Crematory, Buford The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Brad Lee
Died Jan. 3, 2015 Arthur “Brad” J.R. Lee, 45, of Braselton, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015. Mr. Lee was a loving son and brother. His favorite past time was caring for flowers, dancing and animals. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed life. He was preceded in death by his father Arthur Lee. Survivors include his mother, Mattie Lou Lee of Braselton; brothers, Bobby Ray Lee, Horace Arthur Lee and Jimmy Ray Lee and wife Deborah, all of Braselton; sisters, Nancy Patricia Groves and husband Ronald of Pendergrass, Carol Ann Satterfield of Jefferson and Geraldine Lee Allen of Hoschton; and a host of other relatives. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Truman Humphries officiating. Interment followed in the New Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Peter Mekosh
Died Jan. 8, 2015 Peter Mekosh, 96, of Hoschton, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at home. Born in Centralia, Penn., he was a son of the late Michael and Anna Fago Mekosh. He was retired from Merck Pharmaceuticals, where he worked in maintenance operations. Mr. Mekosh was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and a member of St. Anne’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. His daughter, Joanna, lovingly cared for him for 11 years along with her husband, Ben, and their daughters, Lorinda and Rosanna Cruz. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Victoria Lach Mekosh; son, Gregory Mekosh; and daughter, Patricia Mekosh. Survivors include daughters, Joanna Cruz of of Hoschton, Gloria Lachman, of Sellersville, Penn., Victoria Rosenbaum, of Nicholson and Donna Allen of Middleburg, Fla.; son, Peter Mekosh Jr., of Jackson, N.J.; 10 grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral mass was held Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at St. Anne’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Warrington, Penn. The burial followed in St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont, Penn. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Kelli Larette Nix
Died Jan. 7, 2015 Kelli Larette Nix, 44, of Copperhill, Tenn., formerly of Hall County, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. A visitation was held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Ward’s Funeral Home. Born in Hall County, she had moved to Tennessee two
years ago. She was a homemaker and graduated from Johnson High School. Survivors include her father, Bobby Scott of Copperhill, Tenn.; mother, Betty Brand of Lula; son, Nicholis Riley of Jefferson; daughters, Peryn Dispain of Lula and Olivia Riley of Jefferson; brother, Kevin Nix of Atlanta; grandparents, Inell Scott of Gainesville and Ernest and Jimmie Couch of Lula; aunt, Regina Scott of Gainesville; and uncle, Michael Couch of Cleveland. Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville, The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Richard O’Kelley
Died Jan. 8, 2015 Richard O’Kelley, 71, of Jefferson, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. Born in Cumming, he was a son of the late James “Jimmy” Edward O’Kelley and Nora Faye Metz O’Kelley. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church where he was as Sunday school teacher and an ordained deacon. He was a member of The Gideons International and American Legion Post 56. He served his country during Vietnam in the U.S. Army. He was the retired parts manager of Billy Cain Ford in Commerce. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Eugene O’Kelley, Hayden O’Kelley and Charles O’Kelley; and sister, Elva Mae Harris. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Wilson O’Kelley; daughters, Charlotte Rachelle O’Kelley Gilman and her husband Greg of Commerce and Bess Marie O’Kelley Reinhardt and her husband Tre’ of Hendersonville, N.C.; grandchildren, Newton Gilman, Faith Gilman and Tyler Reinhardt; cat, Sallie; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Faith Baptist Church with Dr. Keith Cudd and the Rev. Bill Carpenter officiating. Burial followed in Evans Memory Gardens with Johnny Poole, Russell Wilson, Darwin O’Kelley, Ricky O’Kelley, Justin Roebuck and David Rush honored as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to the Gideon Memorial Bible Program, P.O. Box 755, Jefferson, GA 30549. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Vickie Ann Moon
Died Jan. 5, 2015 Vickie Ann Moon, 60, of Winder, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Survivors include her daughters, Tonya Harvey and husband Greg of Dacula and Kim Coats and husband Johnny of Winder; brother, Ray Allen of Loganville; sisters, Elaine Childs and husband Butch of Monroe, Mickie Adams of Loganville and Faye Brackin of Chatsworth; grandchildren, Blake, Tori, Bailey, Nick and Jesse; and great-grandson, Brayden. A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Cory Sexton officiating. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
Dr. May DeLacy Jessup Smith
Died Dec. 23, 2014 Dr. May DeLacy Jessup Smith, 68, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, from complications from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. An informal visitation was held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Ward’s Funeral Home in Gainesville. Born in Macon, she was a daughter of the late Lauren Eugene Jessup of Eastman and Katharine Hosch Jessup of Gainesville. She grew up in Macon and Gainesville. She graduated from Gainesville High School, Brenau College and the University of Georgia, where she belonged to Tri Delta Sorority. The UGA chapter was begun by her grandmother, Elizabeth Kimbrough Hosch, a TriDelta regent. May acquired a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctorate. She taught at the high school and college level. Her later years were spent teaching reading at North Hall Middle School. She was also preeceded in death by her grandparents, Lester and Elizabeth Hosch of Gainesville, and W.L. and May DeLacy Jessup of Eastman. May Hall DeLacy Jessup was a founding member of the Adelphian Society of Wesleyan Conservatory, later Wesleyan College in Macon. The Adelphians were the first members of ADPi Sorority. Her paternal great grandfathers were Dr. Philip Jessup, founder of Mercer University and Middle Georgia College, and John Franklin DeLacy, descendant of Roger DeLacy, one of two trappers who founded Fort Augusta for General James Edward Oglethorpe. Her maternal great-grandparents were E.E. and Katharine Worley Kimbrough of Gainesville and William and Angeline Victoria Braselton Hosch of Hoschton and Braselton. The Hosch family made their former home on family land granted to Braselton ancestor, Revolutionary General Nathanael Greene, before moving to Gainesville. Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Dr. William Henry Smith, of Clermont; daughter, Kathryn DeLacy Smith Vinson of Knoxville, Tenn., and husband Christopher Vinson; granddaughters, Elizabeth Kathryn and Amelia DeLacy Vinson; son, Joseph Henry Smith of Knoxville; siblings, Katharine Jessup Evans of Marietta, Lauren Angeline Jessup of Gainesville and William Eugene Jessup of Duluth; and nephews are Charles, William and Jessup Evans of Athens and Marietta. May delighted in her two granddaughters, listening to them read and having tea parties. She was a gifted teacher, a tireless worker and a fearless thinker. May urged her students to immerse themselves in a work of literature, unlocking its secrets with irony and infectious humor. She spent many hours caring for grateful family members. Her family grieves our loss deeply. Memorial contributions may be made to Brenau University by way of the Brenau website https://forevergold. brenau.edu/form/. Ward’s Funeral Home, Gainesville The Paper, Jan. 15, 2015
See OBITUARIES, 5A
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