Barbara Thomas

Barbara Ann Thomas, age 70 of Oakwood, formerly of Cleveland, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

Mrs. Thomas was born on September 31, 1948, in Cleveland, Georgia, to the late John and Etter Harkins Sears. She worked as a cook and was of the Baptist faith. Barbara was preceded in death by her brothers, John A. Sears, Roy Sears, and Euel Sears; sisters, Bernice Gooch and Ruby Bryan.

Survivors include her husband, Larry Thomas, Oakwood; son, Jerry Thomas, Oakwood; brothers, Benny Sears, Cleveland, and Grady Sears, Cleveland; sisters, Eunice Sutton, Cleveland, and Grace Davenport, Cleveland; grandchildren, Sabrina Humphries, Candi Barron, and Lamar Thomas; 7 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 P.M. Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Donald Gooch and Mr. Randall Davenport will officiate. Interment will follow at Shoal Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave a condolence, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland.

Brenda Palmer

December 18, 1945 – February 15, 2019

Brenda Palmer, age 73 of Cleveland, passed away Friday, February 15, 2019.

Ms. Palmer was born December 18, 1945 in Commerce, GA to the late Amory and Ruth Jackson Barrett. Brenda was a homemaker and a member of Cleveland First Baptist Church. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Palmer and infant sister, Linda Barrett

Survivors include her son, Lee Palmer; daughter and son-in-law, Paige and Casey Tatum, all of Cleveland; grandchildren, Ally Tatum, Anna Tatum, Caroline Tatum; brothers, John Barrett, Amory Barrett; nieces, Aubrey Barrett, Marissa Sellers; nephews, Charlie Barrett and Christian Barrett.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday, February 18, 2019 at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Chris Anderson and Mr. John Barrett will officiate. Interment will follow at Yonah View Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 3-6 PM Sunday at the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave a condolence please visit www.barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.

Billy Joe Smith

JANUARY 29, 1938 ~ FEBRUARY 20, 2019

Billy Joe Smith, age 81 of Clermont, Georgia passed away on February 20, 2019 surrounded by his loving family, pastor and nursing staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Billy was born on January 29, 1938 in Bessemer City, North Carolina to the late Bud Smith and Rena Cobb. Mr. Smith had lived in the Clermont area for the last six years, moving here from Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

Billy was a man who loved his God, his family, the great outdoors and much more. If he was not at home with his family, more than likely he was out on the lake crappie fishing or in the woods waiting on the right deer to wander by. Luckily for Billy, when hunting season was over The Golden State Warriors would be starting their season and he had plenty of time to cheer them on. Another one of his favorite past times was watching, naming, and learning the ways of each and every hummingbird in the area.

In addition to his parents, Billy is preceded in death by his sister, Mickey Kirby. Billy is survived by his wife, Judy Smith of Westminster, S.C.; Daughter Patti (Joseph) Flow of Clermont, GA; Daughter Sheri Jo Gibbs of Powdersville, S.C.; Son Tim (Dawn) Smith of Westminster, S.C.; Son Greg (Pam) Smith of Seneca, S.C.; Nieces Cyndie Roney, Melody Jackson, and Joy Kirby; Nephew, Chuck Kirby; Grandchildren, Trevor Flow, Jeremy Flow, Jessica Bagwell, Melissa Crowder, Heather Cartee, Katie Gillespie, Jared Smith and Kaleb Smith. He also is survived by 15 Great Grandchildren. In addition to his relatives, Billy is survived by his beloved pet companion, “Cooper”, as well as his lifelong hunting, fishing, and story telling partner, Dennis Nash.

A Funeral Service will be held for Billy on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11:30 am at Friendship Baptist Church in Cleveland with Rev. Joey Pritchett officiating. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 10 am – 11:30 am. Interment will follow in the cemetery of Friendship Baptist Church. In Lieu of flowers, Billy’s wishes were for donations to be made to Friendship Baptist Church’s general fund. The family of Billy Joe Smith would like to send a special “Thanks” to the staff at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and especially his nurse, Bree Dykes who took such great care of him and his family during his last days.

Cleveland Funeral Home of Cleveland, Georgia is in charge of these arrangements.

Edward Carew

Edward Alexander Carew, age 97 of Clarkesville, passed away Sunday, February 10, 2019.

Mr. Carew was born July 20, 1921 in New York, NY to the late Daniel Joseph Carew and Margaret Cape Carew. Edward moved from Gainesville to Clarkesville in 2011, prior to that he lived in Dekalb County from 1968-2006. Edward served in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the South Pacific during World War II, he was very instrumental in the invasion of Peleliu and during his time he served in Okinawa, Japan, the Asiatic Pacific area, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Australia. Following his time in the military Edward worked a correctional officer and was of the Catholic Faith. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Carew, daughters, Catherine “Penny” Christie, Patricia Srack and son, Daniel Carew.

Survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Audrey and Ronnie Huff, Clarkesville, GA; Margaret and Ernie Watson, Boulder Creek, CA; 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren also survive.

Graveside services will be held 1:00 PM Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens, 722 Conley Dr. Forest Park, GA 30297-1012.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 P.M. Monday, February 18, 2019 at Barrett Funeral Home.

To share a memory of Edward or to leave a condolence please visit www.barrettfh.com.

Rev. Leon Carter

January 19, 1930 – January 29, 2019

Rev. Leon Carter, age 89, Cleveland, passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

Jesse Leon Carter was born January 19, 1930 in White County to the late David Fred and Hattie Mae Black Carter. He was preceded in death by his son, Rondal Perry Carter, brother, Samuel Carter and sisters, Mary Elizabeth Pruitt, Christine Coleman. He was the last remaining member of his immediate family.

Leon served with honor in the United States Army from 1949-1952 during the Korean War. He received six bronze service stars for bravery. He was very proud to have served his country.

In addition to many jobs, he was a farmer by trade and most of his life raised chickens, cattle and hogs. Leon enjoyed working his land and planted a garden every year until he became disabled. Other than serving his country, he was most proud of his ministry. He pastored several churches in northeast Georgia, which include Double Springs Baptist Church (twice), Wauka Mountain Baptist (twice), Union Baptist and Blue Creek Baptist (twice). He was a member of Blue Creek Baptist Church, where he also served many years as a deacon.

Leon was dedicated to his ministry and put God first. He witnessed to non-believers, visited the sick, brought couples together in holy matrimony, led people to Christ and baptized many. Always available 24 hours, he would help a neighbor in need or go in the middle of the night to pray with a friend. He lived by this verse, “Jesus said to him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22: 34-40.

He had the greatest love for his family and enjoyed spending time, especially his grandchildren.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Mary Ruth Sutton Carter; his sons and daughters-in-law, Lamar and Renee Carter, Cleveland, Scott and Tammy Carter, Cleveland; daughters and sons-in-law, Doris and Bill Swann, Marietta; Robin and Parrish Dudley, Flowery Branch; grandchildren, Alison Autry, Atlanta, Jesse Carter, Cleveland, Brett Carter, Cleveland, Roxie Dalton, Gainesville, and Rachel Carter, Cleveland; and several nieces and one nephew.

The family would like to give special thanks to Leon’s Caregivers: Homestead Hospice, Health Care Angels and Rest Care; Taylor Edge, Betty Lance, Kristen Mitchell, Mickey Hayes, Rebecca Yearwood, and Joy Baker.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 P.M. Friday, February 1, 2019 at Blue Creek Baptist Church.  The Rev. Phillip Robinson, Rev. Lyman Caldwell, Rev. Dave Fortner and Rev. Darren Palmer will officiate.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday, January 31, 2019 at the funeral home.

Any minister is asked to sit at a designated area during the funeral.

The family will acknowledge flowers, but contributions may be made to the Gideons – White County Camp – PO Box 946 Cleveland, GA 30528 and the Alzheimer’s Foundation: 225 N. Michigan Ave Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601.

To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit barrettfh.com.

Ralph Newell

June 12, 1943 – January 29, 2019

Mr. Walter Ralph Newell, age 75, of Gainesville, passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

Mr. Newell was born in Hall County to the late James and Charlotte Brookshire Newell.  He was preceded in death by parents, and brother, Eddie Newell.

Ralph was President of Newell Investigative Services from 1982 until his retirement in 2016.  He was a forensic fire analyst and traveled all over the world investigating fires and testifying as an expert witness for his clients.  Prior to that, he achieved the rank of Captain in the Hall County Sheriff’s Department and was also a Patrolman, jailer, chief jailer, and criminal investigator.

Ralph was a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), and Georgia Fire Investigators Association (GFIA). He was very proud to have served two tours of duty in the US Army, one in Vietnam and one in Korea and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Ralph was a long-time member of Chattahoochee United Methodist Church, where Ralph and Patty married in 1998.

Survivors include wife, Patty Newell, originally from Houston, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Jason Baker, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Crystale Nix and their mother, Gerene Adams Cole; and son and daughter-in-law, Rex and Amy Newell and his mother, Dianne Palmer; brother, Raymond Newell; sister, Maria Thomas; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Chattahoochee United Methodist Church in Helen, GA at a later date.  The Rev. Wayne Wilkes will officiate.  Inurnment will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, because of their amazing service, donations may be made to Northeast Georgia Hospice, 743 Spring Street Gainesville, GA 30501.

To share a memory or leave a condolence, please visit barrettfh.com.

Margie Garrett Helton

September 10, 1932 – January 21, 2019

Margie Garrett Helton, age 86 of Dahlonega, passed away Monday, January 21, 2019.

Mrs. Helton was born September 10, 1932 in Murphy, NC to the late Williams and Edith Rose Garrett. Margie was a homemaker and  joined Town Creek Baptist Church on September 1, 1946. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, James Helton; brothers, Robert Garrett, Floyd Garrett, Ross Garrett, Willard Garrett; sisters, Lou Billy Garrett Radford and Hattie Garrett Miller.

Survivors include her son, Eddie Helton; grandchildren, April Helton Hubbard, Athens, GA; Pamela Helton Price, Ranger, GA; great grandchildren, Hannah Coleman, Christen Hubbard and Steven Price.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Thursday, January 24, 2019 at The Chapel of Barrett Funeral Home. The Rev. Marty Garrett and the Rev. Phillip Robinson will officiate. Interment will follow at Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave a condolence please visit www.barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.

February 04, 1959 – December 28, 2018

Mrs. Sonya Renee Williams, age 59, of Lakemont, GA, passed away Friday, December 28, 2018.

Mrs. Williams attended Macon College and received her bachelor of Science in Nursing at Georgia Southwestern. She was a retired Nurse at Habersham County Medical Center.

Survivors include mother, Rosalie Montes, Warner Robins, Georgia; father, Robert Anderson, Santa Ana, California; sister, Deborah Mullis, Adrian, Georgia; and many other relatives and friends.

A gathering of Sonya’s friends and family will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 2 to 3 pm at Barrett Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to www.coonhoundrescue.com

To share a memory or leave a condolence, visit barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.

Mrs. Ingrid “Inger” Hunt passed away on January 1, 2019 at the age of 87. It was Mrs. Hunts wishes to be cremated. No service will be held.

September 11, 1945 – December 06, 2018

James Phillip Ward, age 73 of Cleveland, passed away on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Mr. Ward was born on September 11, 1945, in Gainesville, Georgia, to the late Thomas Minyard and Cora Belle Brock Ward.  He worked as a machine operator, loved volunteering as a coach for youth athletics, and was a member of Union Grove Congregational Holiness Church.  Phillip proudly served his country as a member of the 101^st Airborne Division and a Green Beret in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Ward.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Sandra Ward, Cleveland; son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Melissa Ward, Ila; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Robbie Haynes, Cleveland.  He was the best papa to his doonks (precious grandchildren) Madison Haynes, J. Ben Haynes, and Matthew Ward.  Survivors also include his brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Laurel Ward, Homer, and Homer and Carolyn Ward, Lawrenceville; sister, Alice Warwick, Clarkesville.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Union Grove Congregational Holiness Church.  The Rev. Mike Spence, the Rev. J.D. Sosebee, and the Rev. Paul Flynn will officiate.  Interment will follow at Gateway Memory Park.

The family will honor this husband, daddy, and papa by receiving friends from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.

Flowers are accepted or contributions may be made to White County High School Athletics in memory of Phillip Ward, 2600 Hwy 129 North Cleveland, GA 30528.

To share a memory or to leave a condolence, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland.

Mary Lee Shoffeitt

January 27, 1936 – May 13, 2019

Mrs. Mary Shoffeitt, age 83, of Cleveland, passed away Monday, May 13, 2019.

Mrs. Shoffeitt was born in White County to the late Charlie and Ruby Lee Etris Nix. She was preceded in death by parents, and husband, Paul Shoffeitt. Mary was also preceded in death by her brother, Stanley Nix. Mrs. Shoffeitt was a member of the Past Matron Club of Eastern Star, the White County Historical Society, American Legion Auxillary, and an active member of the Heart Association. She was secretary with Rexall Drug until her retirement and a devoted member of Town Creek Baptist Church.

Survivors include sister, Evelyn Cantrell, Cleveland; sisters and brothers-in-law, Franchion and James Turner, Cleveland; Janet and Clifford Cox, Sautee-Nacoochee, and Brinda and Walter Reid, Cleveland; special friend, Ivan Boggs, Demorest; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and many many friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 4pm Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Town Creek Baptist Church. The Rev. Phillip Robinson, Rev. Darin Cain, Rev. Ross Wheeler and Rev. Benson “Trey” Cantrell will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 pm Tuesday, May 14, 2019 and again on Wednesday, May 15th from 2-3 pm at the funeral home.

Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the Catalyst Christian Learning Center: PO Box 1267 Cleveland, GA 30528 or Town Creek Baptist Church: 664 Narrow Lane Cleveland, GA 30528.

To share a memory or leave a condolence, visit barrettfh.com.

Raymond Lloyd Carl

January 09, 1935 – May 10, 2019

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland announces the death of Mr. Raymond Lloyd Carl Sr., age 84 of Cleveland. Mr. Carl passed away Friday, May 10, 2019.

No local services for Mr. Carl are planned and complete obituary will follow.