Thursday, April 30, 2009

Lois Pless

Ms. Lois Black-Evans Pless, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in the Spring Valley Healthcare Center.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 3pm from the chapel in Hicks Funeral Home. Rev. Douglas Huff and Rev. Dwight Morgan will officiate. Burial will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 Thursday, April 30, 2009 at Hicks Funeral Home.

Flowers will be accepted.

Born in Elbert County, Ms. Pless was the daughter of the late Cal Black and Dollie Whitman. She was a homemaker and a member of the Holiness Faith. Mrs. Pless was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Pless.

Survivors include her daughter, Caldon Clinkscales; sons, Luther “Bubba” Evans and Larry Evans. Several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren also survive.

Please visit www.hicksfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Hicks Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements for Mrs. Lois Black-Evans Pless.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Douglas Oglesby, Jr.

Douglas Oglesby, Jr., age 5, of Elberton died Monday, April 27, 2009 as a result of injuries he receive in a car accident.

The arrangements, which are incomplete, are pending with the C.W. Phelps Funeral Home.

Call 706-283-5748 for additional information.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Thomas Joseph Hunt

Thomas Joseph Hunt, age 84, entered into rest on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11am from the chapel in The McCullough Funeral Home. Interment will follow at 4pm in Elmhurst Cemetery in Elberton. The family will receive friends from 10-11 prior to the service in The McCullough Funeral Home.

Mr. Hunt was born on January 28, 1925 in Elberton, Georgia. With great pride and honor, he served his country in the United States Navy and the United Staes Air Force for a total of thirty-one years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. He was a decorted veteran of three wards, WW II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict. Mr. Hunt loved woodworking and traveling worldwide. He will truly be missed by his family and many friends both in American and overseas. His brothers, John Benjamin Hunt and Ralph Leonard Hunt, and his parents, Leonard Hung and Nuell Bullard Hunt preceded him in death.

His memory will forever by treasured by his loving wife of fifty-five years, Micheline Maillot Hint; sisters-in-law, Martha Stratton Hunt, of Elberton and Betty Hunt, of Faith, North Carolina; nephews, David (Barbara) Hunt, of Elberton and Scott Hunt, of Faith, North Carolina; grand-nephews, Russell Hunt, of Warner Robins, Bradley Joseph Bowen, of Tucker, and Brandon Lee Bowen, of Elberton.

Please visit www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the online register.

The McCullough Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Berry Funeral Home assisted them with the graveside arrangements.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Ernie Peghiny


Ernest L. "Ernie" Peghiny, age 84, formerly of Elberton, passed away on April 24, 2009 in Winter Park, FL.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 6:00 PM in Elmhurst Cemetery. Rev. Jeff Willis of Van's Creek Baptist Church will officiate. The family will receive friends and family Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:30 PM in Hicks Funeral Home prior to the service.


Ernie was born in Elberton, GA on December 9,1924. Son of Ernesto Peghiny and Bertha Thornton Peghiny of Elberton. During boyhood he resided with his mother and 2 younger brothers at the home of his grandparents, Frank and Carlotta Thornton, on Railroad Street. He attended the elementary grades at the Stevens School on Tate Street and then attended High School on College Avenue where he graduated with the class of 1941. During this time he delivered the Atlanta Journal to homes on his bicycle, and then became an usher at the newly built Elbert Theatre and at the older Strand Theatre on the square. Later he became projectionist at both locations. World War II found him in the Army Air Corps at Scott Field Ill, and at Biloxi, MS where he trained as a Radioman/Gunner on bombers, becoming a Staff Sergeant. Flight training was at Drew Field in Tampa, FL where he was aboard two aircraft which were involved in crashes. Luckily escaping injury in the first crash, he was seriously injured in a second B-17 during take-off that crashed through trees and a house adjacent to the airfield. He was treated at the local base hospital and later transferred to Valley Forge Military Hospital in Pa. where he remained for 16 months recovering from severe burns.

After discharge he returned to Elberton and resumed his projectionist job at the Elbert Theatre. During this period, he also played for the Elberton Baseball team and was well known for his pitching, affectionately being called "Lefty". The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team twice asked him to attend their farm club during this period. Later, in the 1950's, he attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta and studied Electronics Engineering, graduating in 1955. He first worked in Rome GA for the General Electric Company designing large power transformers, and later accepted a position with RCA as an electronics design engineer at Cape Canaveral in FL. He married Bobby Howell of Rock Branch and moved to Melbourne, FL where he remained for most of his career. During this period he designed pedestals to radars, telescopes and lasers and antenna mounts to track missiles and satellites which were launched both at the Cape and by other countries. Extensive travel was involved in his work and he traveled to dozens of countries and islands supervising the tracking systems for each launch. He would frequently tell of his exciting visit to the mountains in Iran where a U.S. site was involved in detecting ussian missile launches. Following retirement" he moved to Satellite Beach, FL and consulted many years in tracking large missiles and shuttles during launches at the Cape.

Due to failing health, he recently moved to Winter Park, FL to be near his four children who loved him dearly, Melanie Sabino, Patricia McDaniel, Lynn Mells, and Ernest Peghiny,Jr., all of whom live in the Winter Park, FL area. He is also survived by two brothers, Roger Albanese of Elberton, and James Peghiny of Auburndale MA. Also grandchildren, Ryan Thompson, Sophia Sabino, Erin Sorensen, Johnny Sorensen, Robby McDaniel, Lauren Mells, Alexis Peghiny and Ernie Peghiny III. Also daughter-in-law Lisa Peghiny and son-in-law Mitch Mells.

Please visit www.hicksfuneral.com to sign the online register and view a memorial video.

Hicks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Huford Payton

Huford Payton, age 85, of 1028 Ridgeway Road, Elberton passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, APril 27, 2009 at 3pm from the memorial chapel in Berry Funeral Home. Internment will be in Harmony Baptist Church cemetery. The family will be at the home, 1028 Ridgeway Road, Elberton and will receive friends from 1-3 Monday prior to the service in Berry Funeral Home. Flowers are optional and memorials may be made to Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel Price Payton; sons and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Angela Payton and Keith Payton; one sister, Sara Payton Brown; and one granddaughter, Kristen Payton.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Judy Radnor

Mrs. Jewell “Judy” Radnor, age 88 of Anderson, South Carolina, formerly of the Sweet City/Elberton area passed away April 23, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 1pm from the chapel in Hicks Funeral Home. Rev. Marshall Tribble will officiate and burial will be in the Doves Creek Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends form 12-1 prior to the service in Hicks Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Doves Creek Baptist Church or Elberton First Baptist Church

She was very active in Doves Creek Baptist Church as well as Elberton First Baptist Church. Mrs. Radnor was a professional cosmetologist for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Radnor, 6 brothers and 2 sisters.

Survivors include her son, Jeffrey A. Radnor of Anderson, SC; granddaughters, Julie Radnor Usherwood of Anderson, Sc and Jennifer Radnor Owens of Spartanburg, SC; great-grandchildren, Katie Usherwood and Nicholas Owens; and one brother, O. Wayne Anderson.

Please visit www.hicksfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Hicks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Rayford Nash

Rayford Henry Nash, age 94, of 1490 Washington Hwy, Elberton, died April 22, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 3pm from the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home. The family will be at the home, 1490 Washington Hwy and will receive friends from 6-8 Thursday night.

Survivors include his wife, Eddielu Jones Nash; two sisters, JoAnne Morton of Washington and Vera Graham of Elberton; two brothers, Charlie Nash and Thomas Roy Nash.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Donnie Saddler

Donnie Saddler, age 63, of 2268 Saddler Road, Elberton, died Monday, April 20, 2009 at Elbert Memorial Hospital.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 4pm from the Norman Grove C.M.E. Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. They body is in Mack's Funeral Home of Hartwell and will be placed in the church at 3pm.

A native of Elbert County, he was a son of Lonnie Saddler, Sr. of Dewy Rose and the late Margie Saddler. Mr. Saddler was once a member of Norman Grove CME Church in Elberton where he served as a steward. Donnie later joined Mount Moriah Methodist Church in Hartwell, where he served as the recording steward. He was employed by the Elbert County School System's maintenance and transportation departments.

Survivors, in addition to his father, include his wife, Vennie Saddler of Dewy Rose; a son, Donnie Oneal Saddler of Dewy Rose; four brothers, Lonnie Saddler Jr. of Dewy Rose, Leroy Saddler of Elberton, Marshall Saddler of Dewy Rose and Charles Saddler of Dewy Rose; four sisters, Bobbie Jean Allen of Dewy Rose, Reba Perlotte of San Antonio, Texas, Arleen Smith of Dewy Rose, and Jimmy Lois McLendon of Elberton; and one grandchild.

Mack's Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Funderburk, Sr.

Mr. Robert E. Funderburck, Sr., age 62, of Dewy Rose died April 19, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 2pm from the graveside in Elmhurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6until8 Tuesday evening in Hicks Funeral Home.

Born in Atlanta, Mr. Funderburk was the son of the late George Henry and Ester Lorraine Connan Funderburk. He was a devoted husband and father. Mr. Funderburk was a welder for Whitlow Electric for over 20 years and was preceded in death by his son, Robert E. Funerburk, Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Sara N. "Nell" Funderburk; daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Patrick Glenn; son and daughter-in-law, John and Tara Funderbruck, all of Elberton; brothers, Grady Funderburk of Augusta and Dennis Funderburk of Athes; ans sisters, Glenda Funeralburk of LA and Georgia Segars of Bogart.

Please visit www.hicksfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Hicks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jack Watts, Sr.

Mr. Jack Lewis Watts, Sr. age 74 of 213 Elizabeth Street, Elberton, died on April 14, 2009 in Elbert Memorial Hospital.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 2:30pm from the graveside in Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Survivors include his daughter, Sharon Johnson; a son, Jack Lewis Watts, Sr.; two sisters, Marge Roach and Doris Miller; a brother, Michael Watts; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Hubert Hughes


Mr. Hubert Hughes, age 70, of Dewy Rose, GA was ushered into eternal rest on April 10, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 1pm from The Oak Grove Baptist Church. Revs. Mac Hughes, J.R. Partlow, Clifford Craft, H.T. Butler and Melvin Fortson will officiate. Internment will follow in the church cemetery. The body is in McKinney~Neal Mortuary.

Born in Dewy Rose, GA on October 13, 1938, he was a son of the late J.P. Hughes and Evangelist Lula Estelle Cade Hughes. He was a member of The Oak Grove Baptist church, where he joined at an early age and served as an usher. He attended the Elbert County School System and resided most of his life in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Hughes was employed by Aluminum Supply for 43 years as a truck driver, where he received numerous safety awards and a certificate of achievement from Temple University. Herbert retired and returned to Elbert County in 1999. He was first joined in Holy Matrimony to Mae Bryant and to this union 5 children were born. One preceded him in death, Jerome Hughes. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, three brothers, Henry Jones, Nathaniel Hughes, and James Hughes; and six sisters, Eva Lois Hunt, Minnie Lee Handy, Shirley Loteal Hughes, Eurene Umber, and Clara Belle Mattox.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories a loving and devoted wife of 35 years, Mrs. Dianne English Hughes; four children, Patricia Hughes, Robin Hughes, Herbert Hughes, Jr., and Wanda Hughes; one step son, Donnie English, Jr.; brothers and sisters, Aaron (Doris), Brenda Trimble, Geneva Glaze, Gail Walton, Rev. Mac (Shirley), Troyce Turner and Greg Hughes; 27 Grandchildren; 16 Great Grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Please visit www.msnfuneralhome.com to sign the online register.

The McKinney~Neal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Homer Brady

Homer Brady, age 96, 1608 Brady Drive, Elberton, passed way on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in the Spring Valley Healthcare Center.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 11am from the Memorial Chapel in Berry Funeral Home. Internment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery. The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends from 6-8 Friday night in Berry Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Cathleen Adams Brady; daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Jean Webb, Geraldine Hall, Earline & Hoke Archer, and Peggy & Jerry Clemons; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard & Sandra Brady, Mike & Cathy Brady, Dennis & Merita Brady, and Rick & Phyllis Brady; one sister, Mozelle Wilder; 20 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.

Cornelia Kidd

Cornelia Moore Kidd, age 88, of 545 Rhodes Drive, Elberton, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 11am from the graveside in Elmhurst Cemetery. Rev. Gary Purvis is scheduled to officiate. The family will be at 545 Rhodes Drive in Elberton and 200 S. Thomas Street in Elberton and will receive friends from 7-9 Friday night at Berry Funeral Home.

Born in Elberton County, she was the daughter of the late David P. Moore and Ruby Murtis Seymour Moore. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elberton and was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, the late James Vernon Kidd Sr.

Survivors include two sons, James Vernon Kidd Jr. of Nenman, GA and Ronald David Kidd of Elberton; 6 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

Flowers are greatly appreciated and memorials may be made in her honor to Faith Manor 64 Mill St. Royston, GA. 30662.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home in charge of the funeral arrangements for Mrs. Cornelia Moore Kidd

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Beverly Jean Eberhardt

Mrs. Beverly Eberhardt, age 41, of Lena Drive, Elberton passed away on Tuesday, April 7,2009 in Athens Regional Medical Center.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 12noon in Hunter's Chapel AME Church. The internment will follow in the church cemetery. The body is in McKinney~Neal Mortuary, Inc.

The McKinney~Neal Mortuary, Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Rachel Jones

Rachel Maxwell Jones, age 76, of 3008 Catamaran Cove, Villa Rica, GA, formerly of Elberton, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2009 in Cobb Wellstar Community Hospice in Austell.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 4pm from the Memorial Chapel in Berry Funeral Home. Internment will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park. The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends from 3-4 Monday just prior to the service.

Surviving are her children, Frank I. Jones of Douglasville, GA and Connie Jones of St. Simons Island; siblings, Chandler and Louis Maxwell, both of Dewy Rose, Ga, Bill Maxwell of Tucker, Stuart Maxwell of Snellville, Betty Vines of Marietta, Wynona Ginn of Lavonia, and Hortense Justice of Lawrencville; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to a charity of ones choice.

Please visit www.berryfuneral.com to sign the online register.

Berry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bill Swygert

William Thomas "Bill" Swygert, age 66, of Elberton, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2009 in Athens Regional Medical Center.

The memorial service is scheduled to be held later this month.

He was born on March 17, 1943 in Jenkinsville, SC to Albert McMeekin Swygert, Sr. and Sarah Thomas Crowder Swygert. Bill moved to Elberton with his family in 1968 and worked in the granite industry for over 30 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Albert McMeekin Swygert, Sr. and Sarah Thomas Crowder Swygert; and two brothers, Albert "Mac" Swygert, Jr. and John Bailey "Johnny" Swygert. Bill enjoyed playing baseball as a young man and was known in the Columbia, SC area as a very talented player, a switch-hitter who was able to pitch left or right handed. He was a SEC football and NASCAR fan. Mr. Swygert was soft-spoken and very polite. Bill, who lived a modest and honest life, will be missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his brother, Ted W. Swygert; niece, Heidi Louise Swygert; nephews, John Thomas Swygert, Mitchell Wayne Swygert, Richard McMeekin Swygert, Talmadge Bailey Swygert, and Scott Thomas Swygert. His aunt, Janet Carrington and her daughter and son-in-law, Judy & Neal Dixon; her son, Butch Carrington; and their families.

In the spirit of life of Bill Swygert, donations and acts of goodwill to the less fortuante citizens in your city will be greatly appreciated

Cremation Society of the South, Marietta GA cremated the body.

The family is conducting the memorial service.

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