Beck Funeral Home

Sandra Credle Gilbert, age 74, of Rabun Gap, Georgia passed away on April 30, 2024. Sandra was born on May 5, 1949 in Natchez, Mississippi to the late Annie Jo Davis and the late Benjamin Silas Credle. After school, she spent her days working as a nurse before founding and operating her own nursing staffing agency. Sandra enjoyed boating in Abaco, Bahamas. She loved her husband, Bob, and her two sons. Sandra has been married to the love of her life for a wonderful 57 years. She also enjoyed spending time with her dogs. In addition to her parents, Sandra is preceded in death by her grandmother, Annie Mae Godard; and nephew, James E. "Trey" Neely III. Sandra is survived by her loving...

Mary Alice King Forbes, age 82, passed away on March 17, 2024. Mary was born in Edgefield, South Carolina on December 4, 1941 to the late Clarence Collier King and late Adelaide Thurston Powell King. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Norman Dean Forbes; and siblings, Carolyn Liboff and David King. Mary is survived by children, Christopher Forbes, Kenneth Forbes, Kevin Forbes, Keith Forbes, and Kelly Forbes Jones; siblings, George King and Grady King; grandchildren, Ethan Forbes, India Forbes, Ariahna Waddle, Amber Lively, Justin Forbes, Emily Forbes, Cameron Forbes, Kayla Forbes, Katie Forbes, Julliana Forbes and Isaac Forbes; and great-grandchild,...

Sylvia Ann Zetterower Hodges passed away on December 4, 2023 from surgery complications. She was 85 years old. Sylvia was born on December 22, 1937, in Statesboro, Georgia, to Sallie Pearl Buie and Lehmon Zetterower. She grew up in Denmark and Statesboro, graduating from Statesboro High School in 1955. Sylvia met Gene in 1951 and they dated until June 19, 1960, when they married in her parents' home. Sylvia attended some college courses at Georgia Southern but elected to start working for Georgia Power as a customer service representative in 1957. She continued to work for Georgia Power as a secretary after they married and relocated to Atlanta. Sylvia gave tours of the new Georgia...

Kirby Ivern Butler, 73, of Tiger Georgia went to his heavenly home on November 11, 2023 with his loving family at his side. Kirby was born in Lumberton, North Carolina the son of the late Duncan Ivern Butler and the late Lucille Nunnery Butler. After high school Kirby went to work in public safety and worked as paramedic and was an instructor. During his career he worked in Barrow, Jackson, White, Counties, and Blue Ridge EMS. He also worked for Hall County Fire, He retired from DeKalb County EMS in 2004, and then worked for Rabun County EMS. He was an instructor at Lanier Tech School as well. Kirby was a loving husband who loved and doted on his wife Sue. Kirby never met a stranger and...

After an adventurous 84 years, Martha Ezzard, journalist, former Colorado State Senator, attorney, and former winery owner passed away on Sunday, October 29 at home in Tiger, Georgia. Born to George Davant McElveen and Gladys Lewis McElveen in Atlanta, Martha was taught by her parents to voice her opinion in difficult situations and that silence meant consent. With this as a guiding principle, Martha earned her BA in journalism at the University of Georgia. It was there that she met the love of her life, John Arrendale Ezzard. They were married in 1960, and Martha went on to earn her MA in Journalism at the University of Missouri. They relocated to Denver in 1968, where they raised their...

John Wayne Brown, age 42, passed away October 13, 2023. He was born March 24, 1981, the son of Carol Ann Brown and the late John Wayne Wadlington. John was preceded in death by his father and grandmother Carol Ann Brown. In addition to his mother, he is survived by Gary Lee; two sons Jacob Martinez of Seneca S.C., and John Brown of North Dakota; one daughter Makayla Martinez of Seneca, S.C.; one grandchild Weston Lane Bryant; Grandparents Chuck and Ann Brown of Ocala, Fl. John was a loving father and loved his mother very much. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and love to fish and enjoyed riding horses. He worked in the Construction Industry. He grew up in Rabun County and...

Victor Carroll McNeil 74 died of heart failure on August 28, 2023 in Rabun County, GA. Vic was a proud native Atlantan. He was born on July 8, 1949 at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta to Joicy Howington McNeil and Thomas Ernest McNeil. Vic attended Roosevelt High School, Stetson University and later Georgia Tech. He began a 30 year career with the City of Atlanta where he found his true passion for wastewater and environmental control. After a brief retirement he joined Kazmier and Associates where he traveled the state assisting and training clients in wastewater management for the next 19 years. He was a proud Life Member of Georgia Association of Water Professionals. He leaves his...

Barbara Preece Spitsnogle, age 79, of Rabun Gap, Georgia passed away on July 10, 2023. Barbara was born in Inez, Kentucky, to the late Everett and late Dorris DeLong Preece. She graduated from Shawnee High School in Louisville, Kentucky, earned her Bachelor's Degree at University of Western Kentucky and her Master's Degree from University of Louisville in social work. She then served as a social worker for the State of Georgia for over 30 years and was a licensed clinical health social worker as well the supervisor of the Adult Unit. Barbara loved gardening, decorating her house and spending time with family. She also found great joy in traveling, relaxing on the beach, shopping for...

Mary Catherine Bray of Clayton, Georgia, passed away on Thursday May 18, 2023. Mary was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 10, 1952 to the late Robert Darrell Wilson Sr. and Mary Francis Hood. Mary was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, a devoted Christian who was a loving wife and mother who raised 2 boys. She was an educator, homemaker, and was an avid reader. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Educational Psychology at GA State University. She loved animals and rescued dogs. She was also a member of the Daughters of American Revolution. She is survived by her husband Crandle Bray Sr. of Clayton, Georgia, two sons; Clifton Crandle Bray Jr. (Lauren),...

Anthony "Tony" Michael Pavlovich, age 48 of Greer, S.C. passed away on December 21, 2022. Tony was born the son of Dale and Frances Pavlovich on August 23, 1974. He moved to Georgia in 1987 and attended Thomasville High School. He attended Middle Georgia College where he played baseball. He was drafted by Milwaukee Baseball Organization where he played for two years. He then went on to play for six years for the Pittsburg Baseball Organization. He went on to work in Sales for PFG, where he was awarded the Circle of Excellence. Tony was a devoted father of four girls. He was preceeded in death by his maternal grandparents, Paul and Alvesta Buck; his paternal grandparents, Dorothy and Bernard...

Elaine Marie Jensen, aka EJ, age 77, passed away, Dec 11th 2022, peacefully in her home in Clayton GA surrounded by loved ones. EJ, was born in Madison WI to the late Lloyd and Helen (Jelinek) Jensen. She grew up on a farm in Sun Prairie WI and graduated from Madison East highschool in 1963, then attended the University of Wisconsin Madison, where she receiveda bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and a masters degree of science degree in allied health from Boston University Sargent College. EJ, was an avid hiker and whitewater kayaker. She absolutely loved being outdoors. She always had a place in her heart for animals. At one point of her life, at a home in Canton GA, she had...

Alice Ruth McManuels, 72, of Sky Valley, GA passed Wednesday, November 2, 2022, peacefully at home with her beloved daughter and pets. Born in Harrisburg, PA, she was the daughter of the late Ammon Rufus McManuels and Mary Elizabeth McManuels and wife of the late Jerry Lamar Johnson. Alice was an EMS Dispatcher and Paramedic, who retired from St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, GA, after over 35 years serving others in their time of need with an unparalleled calmness under pressure. She was an avid Bulldog fan and devote lover of the Beatles and Hallmark Christmas movies, often watching the same one multiple times in a week. Survivors include her siblings, Nancy Dubose (Husband, Leon Dubose),...

Robert Lemuel ("Lem") Sumner, 82, of Buford, Georgia, passed away peacefully in his home on October 26, 2022, in the company of his loving family, after a long and heroic battle with cancer and Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gayle Miller Sumner, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, two daughters, Susan Denise Sumner of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Donna Kaye Sumner Price (Jason) of Newborn, Georgia, one granddaughter, Ashley Brown Barnes (John), a great grandson, John Shepherd Barnes, and many nephews and nieces. Lem was born July 28, 1940 in McAlpin (Suwannee County) Florida, the son of the late Walter M. and Illa Mae Parker Sumner. He graduated in 1957...

Euel Wade, 85 of Lakemont, Georgia passed away peacefully Sunday, October 23 at his home on Seed Lake. Euel was born in Fulton County, Georgia on June 8, 1937. He grew up in Jackson, Georgia and graduated from Jackson High School in 1955. Euel attended Georgia Tech for one year before accepting an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point and married his high school sweetheart, Julia Ann Pettigrew, on his birthday, June 8, 1960. Euel served in the US Army as a Ranger in the 101 st Airborne Division. After 3 years, he resigned as a First Lieutenant and accepted a job with Georgia Power Company. After multiple positions with Georgia...

Laura Haywood Gurley died at her home in Lakemont, Georgia on October 22, 2022, after a brief illness. A native of Atlanta and a sixth-generation Georgian, Mrs. Gurley was a graduate of Ridgeview High School and of the University of Georgia. She was born October 21, 1959, daughter of Betty Jo McDonald and Gene Thomas Haywood. She was Chair of the Rabun County Tourism Development Authority, President of the Sky Valley POA, and President of the Rabun County Music Festival Association, founded by her father in 1999. She spent many years as an employee and Bible study leader at the First United Methodist Church in Alpharetta where she touched countless lives and enjoyed opportunities to share...

Robert Crandall Holt, 85, died at his home in Clayton, Georgia on October 18, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Linda Dodson Holt; his son, Samuel Holt; granddaughter, Grace Holt; step-sisters, Lysbeth Bainbridge (Steve Ramberg), Sarah Bainbridge Akridge (Chip); and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Beck Funeral Home in Clayton is handling arrangements, www.beckfuneralhome.com

Dr. William Neal Cobb, 83, passed away October 1, 2022 following an extended illness. He was preceded in death by parents Billy Sunday Cobb, Frances Virginia Leach Cobb and son-in-law Alan DeWitt Morris.He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty Jane Hefner. His children, Dr. William Mark Cobb (Mandy), Kimberly Leigh Morris (partner Rich Wagner), Sheri Elizabeth Rawlinson (Chuck). His grandchildren, Emma Leigh Morris (Brad Sniper) and Addie Leigh Morris Terry (Kyle). Sister, Lynn Cobb Orr (Ronnie) and sister-in-law, Peggy Jean Kirkman, a nephew, several nieces, and cousins.Neal attended North Georgia College, Georgia State University and graduated from Emory University School of...

Harry Clayton Wilkins, 88, of Tiger, GA passed away peacefully on August 24, 2022. Harry was born in Chicopee, GA and lived most of his life in the Atlanta/North Georgia area. He was married to the love of his life, Martha Cobb Wilkins for 68 years. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.In high school Harry was a standout gymnast, specializing in the rings and pommel horse. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War Campaign at Fort Bragg, NC for several years. During his twenties, Harry served as a Leader in the Boy Scouts of America, and again later when his sons, Tony and Steve, were in scouting. Harry was a man with many abilities; after the...

Kay Combs left this world suddenly on July 30, 2022. Kay was a loving wife of 52 years, daughter, sister and friend to many. She was born on September 16, 1948, to Lorene Hoopingarner and the late John D. Hoopingarner. She is survived by her husband Larry, her sister Gail and brother- in- law Burk Thompson. Kay met Larry at Carmel (IN) High School and they attended Indiana University where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After graduation, she taught at Webb Elementary in Franklin, IN, and obtained her Master's degree in Education. She followed her passion for interior design and opened a studio. She moved to Sarasota, FL, in 1986 and continued her interior design...

Mary Paula Cutright Thomas , age 77, of Clayton, Ga., passed away April 27, 2022. She was born May 14, 1944 the daughter of the late Paul Parker Cutright and Winnifred Dougherty Cutright. Mrs. Thomas was the director of Religious Education for eleven years at ST. Helena R.C. Church, Clayton, Georgia. Paula was a graduate of Holy Spirit High School and later received her A.A. degree from the USF Tampa, FL. Paula loved gardening, teaching arts and crafts; she was devoted to her cats and dogs. She is survived by her loving husband Charles Richard Thomas Jr. She had two daughters Kristina Reilly and Maureen Monreale and one son Drew Monreale. Paula had six grandchildren and four great...

Virginia McLeod Perteet, died on April 27, 2022 in North east Georgia Medical Center. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was a native of Atlanta until her retirement to Rabun County. She resided in DeKalb County for most of her life. She was a graduate of Georgia State University and a member of Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority for over 50 years. She was employed by the Department of the Army and the Centers for Disease Control for a total of 44 years. She was a member of the Clayton Baptist Church and the Agape Sunday School Class. She was also a member of the Clayton Music Club and the National Active and Retired Employees. She enjoyed traveling both in the United States and many areas of the...