Local Obituaries
James Simmons
Oct 7, 2021
James L. “Don” Simmons, age 82 of Cornelia, passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2021. Born in Alto, Georgia on August 27, 1939, he was a son of the late William Vasco Simmons and Ora Mae Wade Simmons. Mr. Simmons was the plant manager of Schnadig for 41 years. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. In...
Teresa Mullinax
Oct 6, 2021
Teresa Kay Mullinax, age 61 of Clarkesville, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Born in Demorest, Georgia on May 29, 1960, she was a daughter of the late Guy Howard and Emma Forrester Mullinax. Teresa was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Demorest and previously worked for Standard Telephone, Alltel and Windstream. She was a caregiver who...
Janet Whitfield
Oct 5, 2021
Janet Carol Smith Whitfield, age 67 of Demorest, passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Born in Toccoa, Georgia on November 16, 1953, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Travis Smith and Frances Emmalene Savage Smith. Janet loved her family, arts and crafts. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by brothers, Joey Smith and...
Dorothy Martin
Oct 5, 2021
Dorothy Marilla Martin (b. November 21, 1944), died Tuesday, October 5, of complications related to multiple myeloma. Marilla, often referred to as “Wah” by many of her family members, was a master gardener and lasagna maker, as well as a retired art teacher who worked for 30 years in the Habersham County Department of Education. She was preceded in death...
Lauretta Fry
Oct 4, 2021
Lauretta Joan “Lou” Fry, age 60 of Mt. Airy, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021. Born in Gainesville, Georgia on November 10, 1960 she was a daughter of the late Benton Fry and Doris Ann Scott. Lou was an avid sports fan, always cheering for the Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks and the Georgia Bulldogs. Surviving are her brothers...
Rev. Julian Wiley
Oct 3, 2021
Rev. Julian David Wiley, age 89 of Lula, passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2021 surrounded by his family. Born in Lula, Georgia on August 16, 1932, he was a son of the late David Adeline Wiley and Millie Ann Savage Wiley. Rev. Wiley was the pastor of Living Word Tabernacle which he founded in 1975. He was also a...
Mary Jo Lalonde
Oct 2, 2021
Mary Jo Savage LaLonde, age 78, of Cornelia, passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Born on December 25, 1942, in Baldwin, she was a daughter of the late Otis and Lulah Savage. She worked as an account manager for Badcock Furniture. Ms. LaLonde loved playing Bingo at the V.F.W. She was of the Christian faith. In addition to her...
Mildred Irvin
Oct 1, 2021
Mildred Laverne Zimmerman Irvin, age 79, of Cornelia, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021. Born on January 28, 1942, in Cleveland, she was a daughter of the late Dan and Alice Payne Zimmerman. Mrs. Irvin was the office keeper at Irvin Lumber Company. She enjoyed gardening and quilting and was a talented seamstress and wonderful cook. Mrs. Irvin was...
Russell Collins
Oct 1, 2021
Russell Edwin Collins, age 81, of Demorest, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021. Born on August 13, 1940, he was a son of the late William Earl and Maude George Collins. Most of his career involved automotive paint and body work, service manager for GM, and most recently, 18 years as Fleet Maintenance Manager for U-Haul. He was a...
Jeffrey Holbrook
Sep 29, 2021
Jeffrey Louis “Jeff” Holbrook age 61 of Recluse, Wyoming formerly of Clarkesville, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. Jeff was born on May 30, 1960 in Toccoa, Georgia to the late John Louis “Jack” Holbrook and Marilyn Johnson Davis. He was a truck driver for Hulsey Propane Transport of Cornelia as well as LP Gas for several years before...

Judith Harrington
Sep 28, 2021
Judith Ann Bishop Harrington, age 82 of Cornelia, passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced soon. Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19. An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com. MCGAHEE-GRIFFIN & STEWART FUNERAL HOME OF...
Shirley Nix
Sep 27, 2021
Shirley Ann Carson Nix, age 70 of Cornelia, passed away on Monday, September 27, 2021. Born in Clarkesville, Georgia on December 27, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Elfred and Mildred York Carson. Mrs. Nix was a machine over hauler with Mt. Vernon Mills for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed spending time with her family,...
Paul Mote
Sep 26, 2021
Paul Timothy Mote, age 52, of Maysville, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Born on June 15, 1969, in Commerce, Georgia, he was a son of the late Terry Spencer and Carolyn Edith White Mote. Mr. Mote was a landscaper and worked for Environmental Creations Landscaping. Paul loved his family and was a hard worker. Paul enjoyed football and...
Jervis Williams
Sep 25, 2021
Jervis Williams, age 70, of Cornelia, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Born on August 28, 1951, in Cornelia, Georgia. He was a son of the late Ernest Williams and Addie Lee Cherry Williams, of Cornelia. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his life partner, Patricia Faulkner. He was retired from the City of...
Chevalier Ruff (Bam)
Sep 25, 2021
Chevalier Yoshia Ruff (Bam) was born on July 31, 1968, in Seneca, South Carolina, to the late Mizell Holland and Gloria J. Swilling-Holland. Late in the evening on September 25, 2021, she was called home. Chevalier was educated in the Stephens County School System and graduated with the class of 1986. During her educational years, she was active in various...
Neal Smith
Sep 23, 2021
Neal James Smith, age 79 of Carnesville, Georgia passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Born in Carnesville, Georgia on January 16, 1942, he was a son of the late Rupert Smith and Eudie Cash Smith. Mr. Smith retired from Tencate with over 20 years of service. He loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. Surviving are his...
Laura Beddingfield
Sep 21, 2021
Laura Gayle Vandiver Beddingfield, age 68 of Rex, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Born in Atlanta Georgia on July 7, 1953, she was a daughter of the late Almer Vandiver and Laura Gwendolyn Smith Vandiver. Mrs. Beddingfield was a home maker and loved to help people. She was committed to participating in community service and helping with...
Virginia "Ginny" Kelly
Sep 21, 2021
Virginia “Ginny” Chase Kelly passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. She died peacefully, surrounded by members of her family. She was a special woman, loved by many and she will be sorely missed. She was born in Atlanta Georgia, on July 21, 1938. Called “Ginny-Boo” by her father, she was one of 2 children born to Charlie Chase and...

Jose Santos Albarran
Sep 20, 2021
Jose Santos Albarran, age 40 of Commerce, passed away on Monday, September 20, 2021. Born in Michoacan, Mexico on May 26, 1981, he was a son Jose Santos Albarran and Rutilia Albarran. Mr. Albarran was a grounds keeper with Chimney Oaks Golf Course. In addition to his parents, survivors include his wife, Norma Lilia Garfias Albarran of Commerce; sons, Jose...
Frank Kinney
Sep 19, 2021
Frank M. Kinney, age 93 of Clarkesville, passed away on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Born in Clarkesville, Georgia on November 16, 1927, he was a son of the late Marvin Kinney and Evelyn Smith Kinney. Mr. Kinney was a self-employed brick mason and taught Masonry courses at North Georgia Technical College. He was a member of the VFW Post #7720....