OBITUARIES

Dec 24, 2024

NOTICE: The memorial service for Mrs. Norris has been rescheduled and will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 1:00PM at Grace Fellowship Church. 

On December 24, 2024, Merle Reynolds Norris, age 84, passed peacefully from the temporal realm to the eternal to be with her family and the Lord. Born in Hazelhurst, Georgia to James Edgar Reynolds and Evvie...

Dec 24, 2024

Born in Oglethorpe County, to John Frank and Maude Chandler. He grew up in Madison County in the rural community of Colbert. He enjoyed playing basketball and baseball in school. But spent most of his early years working on the farm to support his Mother and siblings after his father passed when Bobby was 14 years old. He married Miriam...

Dec 22, 2024

Paula Jane (Hunt) Lunsford, 60, of Lexington, Georgia, passed away on December 22, 2024 following a brief illness.

After her graduation from Greenup County High School (Kentucky), Paula graduated from Anderson Area Medical Center School of Radiographic Technology in Anderson South Carolina, and has worked as a registered radiographic and mammography technologist since. She had a deep love for her profession,...

Dec 22, 2024

Dec 22, 2024

Sharon Dyer Hix, cherished mother, grandmother, daughter and sister, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the age of 67.

Born in Atlanta, she was a daughter of Willene Gailey Dyer and the late Edgar Dyer. Sharon was a longtime Registered Nurse having worked at St. Mary's Hospital and in home health care for a number of years. She adored...

Dec 22, 2024

Jacqueline Swindler Pettigrew, 95, passed away peacefully on December 21 in Watkinsville Georgia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Colonel Dee W Pettigrew, Jr., and her brother Roger Swindler. She is survived by her sister Charlotte Webber, by her children Jennie (Rick) Pettigrew and Chip (Norma) Pettigrew, and by 8 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 4...

Dec 21, 2024

Paul Vincent Hartman, MD, 83 years old, of Athens Georgia, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on December 21st, 2024.

In addition to being a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Paul was known for his fierce loyalty to friends and animals, particularly his beloved dogs. He was renowned for his rapier wit, love of literature, and zest for...

Dec 21, 2024

Melissa Wood Russell, 58, died on December 21, 2024. Born in Amarillo, TX, she was the daughter of Victory Wood of TX and the late Frances Coley Wood. Melissa worked for the Clarke County Board of Education as an accounting clerk. Survivors include her husband of 16 years, Charles Darren Russell; three children: Casey and Brandon, both of Texas and...

Dec 20, 2024

Susan Delle Webb of Flowery Branch, Ga. died on December 20, 2024, in Athens, Ga. Born on August 25, 1960, she was the daughter of John J. and Nancy K. Webb of Watkinsville, Ga.

Susan graduated from Oconee County High School in 1978 and from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga. and obtained a master's degree in education from Piedmont College in...

Dec 20, 2024

Clayton Shane Scott, born on May 11, 2020, in Hanford, California, passed away on December 20, 2024, in Bogart, Georgia.

Clayton was the beloved son of Kyle and Alexa Scott and the cherished younger brother of Charlotte Scott. He was deeply loved by his grandparents Keith and Jacquelyn Toms, Rob and Cindy Scott, and his paternal great-grandparents Earl and Shirley Easter...

Dec 20, 2024

Richard Leonard Hansford, 69, husband of 46 years to Lola Bradshaw Hansford, died on Friday, December 20, 2024. Born in Bogart, GA, he was the son of the late Jurdge Richard Hansford and Katherine Tucker Hansford. Richard worked as a machine operator for Peterson Spring in Athens for 20 years, was a member of First Apostolic Church of Whitehall and...

Dec 20, 2024

Linda Faye Blevins was a loyal, energetic, fierce protector. To know her was to know the feeling of true love. Through struggles, grief, and heartbreak, she was a guiding light for those around her. Outside of her family, she helped many souls through her work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. To find joy in life, she would bowl her heart...

Dec 20, 2024

Norma J. Knight 67 of Danielsville, GA passed away December 20, 2024. She was the daughter of the late, Leonard & Helen Horne; also preceded in death by her brothers, Tommy and Joe Horne.

Funeral service Friday at 2:00 PM at Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, Danielsville chapel. The family and friends will visit at the funeral home, from 6:00 PM...

Dec 19, 2024

Doris F. Dibling of Watkinsville, GA. died at the age of 95 years and 8 months on December 19, 2024. Mom was preceded in death by her husband of almost 74 years Carl W. Dibling.

Parents, Jack and Emma Freiburg of Union Beach NJ.

Brother’s Gene (Donna) Freiburg of Union Beach NJ. and John (Carol) Freiburg of Freehold, NJ.

Sister Lorraine (Ken) Robinson...

Dec 19, 2024

William Lawrence Waggoner, “Larry”, 76, of Winterville, passed away on December 19, 2024. Born on November 1, 1948 in Ohio, he was the son of the late Dr. William Horace Waggoner, Jr. and Ruth Cook Waggoner.

Larry had many interests and careers during his lifetime including a police officer and deputy sheriff in Athens, cross country truck driver, and gunsmith. He...

Dec 19, 2024

Dianne C. Thompson, 71, of Colbert, passed away on December 19, 2024. Born on September 26, 1953, she was the daughter of the late Olin Clements and Leota Reeves Clements.

Dianne’s life faith in the Lord was unwavering. She showed this daily with her endless devotion to God, her church, and her family. She often expressed her love by cooking meals...

Dec 19, 2024

Ronnie G. Gillespie, age 78, passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024 after a long battle with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. He was definitely one-of-a-kind in this world; he loved to laugh and joke, no matter what life may have thrown at him at times. His sweet disposition and faith in the Lord served him well all the...

Dec 16, 2024

Brenda Sailors Blanton, 83, born in Jackson County, raised in Ellijay and a longtime resident of Athens, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2024 at her assisted living home in Marietta, GA. Born on August 18, 1941, she was the daughter of the late William H. Sailors and Ruth Chambers Sailors of Ellijay, GA.

Brenda was a dedicated REALTOR® and Broker/Owner...

Dec 16, 2024

Charlie Franklin Waters, 77, died December 16, 2024. 

A native of Gainesville, GA, he was a son of the late Henry LaFayette Waters of Gainesville and Naomi (Jimmy) Archer Waters of Athens. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Terry Waters of Athens. 

Charlie grew up in Athens then was a building contractor for commercial, residential and restoration projects all...

Dec 16, 2024

Nina Hitchcock, 81, went to see Jesus on December 16, 2024. 

She was the daughter of the late Benjamin F. Moore and Willie Graham Moore. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ray Moore (Addie) and her sister, Jack Carol Booth (Henry).

Surviving relatives include her husband of 62 years, William Hitchcock; daughter, April Watson (Stanley);...