ACS Oconee Chapel

On September 5th, Marylou Griffin, devoted Catholic, wife, mother, nana, sister, and friend passed away surrounded by family in her home. After a 2.5 year battle with cancer, she is now peacefully resting in Heaven. Marylou was a lifelong caregiver, peacemaker, and supporter of her loved ones and community. She was married to George Griffin for nearly 45 years. They met young, fell in love, and defied the odds with their long and loving time together. She was known to bring family together through her selfless demeanor, acts of kindness, and, of course, her delicious cooking. Whether running the bull pen at a swim meet, teaching Sunday School, acting as PTA president, providing childcare to...

Dr. John Bourke Van Houten, Jr., 84, died on March 24, 2022, at his home in Athens, Georgia. Born April 17, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia, he graduated from the Marist School (1955)and earned a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry from The Georgia Institute of Technology (1959) where he was the first athletic trainer to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. After completing medical school and a residency in anesthesiology at Emory University, he practiced medicine at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga for over 40 years. He knew that medicine is a calling not a career choice and inspired surgeons and patients alike to rely on his visionary medical instincts. He will be remembered dearly by his...

Dr. John Bourke Van Houten, Jr., 84, died on March 24, 2022, at his home in Athens, Georgia. Born April 17, 1937, in Atlanta, Georgia, he graduated from the Marist School (1955)and earned a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry from The Georgia Institute of Technology (1959) where he was the first athletic trainer to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. After completing medical school and a residency in anesthesiology at Emory University, he practiced medicine at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga for over 40 years. He knew that medicine is a calling not a career choice and inspired surgeons and patients alike to rely on his visionary medical instincts. He will be remembered dearly by his...

Robert Calvin Duerr, 96, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, passed into eternal rest at his home in Bishop, GA on March 6, 2022. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Margaret Sue Leya Duerr, his mother, Helen Hatch Duerr, father Lyman Clifford Duerr, step-father Leonard Dugan, sisters Audrey Lax & Geraldine Mixter, & brother David Duerr. He is survived by his daughter Jayne Duerr, son & daughter in law, Darryl & Leslie Duerr, granddaughters Stefanie Myer (Joseph Myer), Alison Clark (Alexander Clark), 3 great-grandsons, Aubrey Myer, Ethan Myer, Andrew Myer, and great-granddaughter Naomi Clark. A private family ceremony will be held at a future date at Lakewood...

James (Jim) Robert Dunlap, 79 of Bishop, Georgia, passed away on August 5, 2021. Jim was born on June 24, 1942 in Falkville, Alabama to the late James P. & Marguerite Dunlap. Jim was raised in Columbus, GA & graduated from Baker High School Class of 1960. He was voted best personality and most sincere in high school, and was nicknamed "Little Jim" and "Dynamite Dunlap" because he was small in stature, but was quite a character and always the life of the party! He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served his country from 1960 to 1964 as an air policeman. After the military he married and worked for Carnation, which is now Nestle Company, until he retired. He...

Jim Hathcote, 76, of Athens, passed away Thursday, March 11, 2021, of Leukemia. Jim was the son of the late James Raiford and Eva Marie Hathcote. Survivors include his wife, Jan Montgomery Hathcote of Athens; children, Stephanie Hathcote Evans of Central, South Carolina, and James Michael Hathcote of Gilbert, Arizona. Jim was an avid golfer and tennis player, and active in Classic Center Kiwanis Club and St. Thomas Anglican Church. As per his request, no memorial service will be held. Those wishing to remember Jim may make donations to St. Thomas Anglican Church P. O. Box 49617, Athens, GA 30604. Athens Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

Brother Todd Alton Nance passed away on August 19, 2020, in Athens, Georgia, at 57. His death leaves an irreplaceable void in anyone's life who knew him. Todd's musical accomplishments render him insured beyond the grave. Todd ranked as a musician of the highest order. His excellent musical aptitude and grounded personality accentuated his impenetrable sense of time. He also counted as a generous soul to friends and strangers alike. His graceful persona personified the definition of laid back. He grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, playing music with his close friend Michael Houser. Todd soon moved to Atlanta. He reconnected musically with Michael Houser a few years later in Athens and they...

Brother Todd Alton Nance passed away on August 19, 2020, in Athens, Georgia, at 57. His death leaves an irreplaceable void in anyone's life who knew him. Todd's musical accomplishments render him insured beyond the grave. Todd ranked as a musician of the highest order. His excellent musical aptitude and grounded personality accentuated his impenetrable sense of time. He also counted as a generous soul to friends and strangers alike. His graceful persona personified the definition of laid back. He grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, playing music with his close friend Michael Houser. Todd soon moved to Atlanta. He reconnected musically with Michael Houser a few years later in Athens and they...

Dr. Gautam Dasgupta died on May 26, 2020, after a 3 year battle with lung cancer. Dr. Dasgupta was born in Calcutta, India on January 8, 1941 & moved to the United States in 1965 to complete his medical residency training in internal medicine, first in Washington DC & then at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey. He moved to Augusta, Georgia to pursue a fellowship in nephrology, after which he joined the faculty at the Medical College of Georgia. He moved to Athens in 1977 to open his own medical practice, and in the following years opened dialysis clinics in Elberton, Washington, Americus, Cordele, Waycross, Greensboro & Demorest as well as in Chattanooga, Tennessee...

Ronnie Eugene Wilson, 71, husband of Brenda Horne Wilson, died March 10, 2020. Born in Athens, he was the son of the late C. W. Wilson and Retha Self Wilson, grandfather to the late Tyler Bradford Reeder and brother to the late, W.C. Wilson, Barbara Dillard and Rita Wilson Mize. Ronnie retired from Pilgrims Pride and ridding his special companion, Daisy, around on her golf cart. Survivors included his wife; children: Tina Miller of Hull, Tammy Reeder of Sandy Springs; sisters: Doris Chambers of Hull, Connie Smith of Danielsville, Shirley Ivey of Woodstock; grandchildren: Grant, Kara and Carson Reeder and Brittany Riddle and Zachary Miller; special nephew: Wesley Wilson and a number of...

Joe Maxey Durden, 62, of Athens, GA, passed away on March 2nd, 2020. The son of Eugene Durden and Alice Durden, he worked for the majority of his adult life as a golf course superintendent before moving to Athens to be closer to friends and family. Joe Durden is survived by his three children, Ciera, Karli, and Jacob Durden, and his brother, Dave Durden. Visitation and ceremony will be held March 7th, 2020, at Oconee Chapel, 2370 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville, GA, 30677. Visitation will be 2:00-3:00 pm with a ceremony from 3:00-4:00 PM. Light food will be held at 4:30 PM at First Christian Church of Watkinsville, 4 North Mainstreet, Watkinsville, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family...

Gordon Raymond Bienvenue, died on February 6, 2020 at St. Mary's in Athens, GA. Born on October 11, 1946 in Fall River, MA he was the son of the late Raymond Bienvenue and Yvette Chouinard Bienvenue. Following graduation from Prevost High School in Fall River, Gordon attended the University of Massachusetts, and later, finished his MA at the University of Michigan and PhD in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Pennsylvania State University. He served as Captain in the US Army and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. He graduated seminary from the Wesley Theological Seminary and served as a pastor in the United Methodist Church in Germantown, Cortlandt-Manor, and Riverhead...

Joe L. Palmer, aged 82, died January 22, 2020 after a 5 month battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on July 3, 1937 to Harry F. Palmer and Elizabeth Lerner Palmer. He is survived by his sister, Bettye Ann Slay of Duncanville Texas, and many nieces and nephews. He married the love of his life, Marianne Reed Palmer, September 1, 1966. He served in the US Air Force, received BA and MA from North Texas State and PHD from the University of Colorado, He was Spanish Professor at University of Georgia, Director of Division of Spanish and Portuguese at Northern Illinois University, Director of Building and Grounds and Associate Dean of Adult and Continuing Education...

Paul Terrell Hardy, 66, of Athens, died January 1, 2020. He lived a loving full life. He was born in Perry, Georgia, February 10, 1953, to Agnes Lawrence and Terrell Franklin Hardy. He enjoyed a Mayberry-esque childhood growing up among cousins and under the watchful eyes of many guiding aunts, uncles, and family friends. He is survived by his wife Mary Stakes, his sister Sally Tolbert (Frank), nephew Benjamin Tolbert, niece Melissa Tolbert, and a large extended family. A graduate of the University School of Law, Paul worked at the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He specialized in local government law, coauthoring many handbooks for city and county officials. As legal staff to the...

Jerry Roach, 84, a lifelong resident of Bogart GA passed away peacefully on the morning of November 10, 2019. Jerry was born on April 5th, 1935, the youngest son of the late Pat and Ethylene Roach. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Joanne Roach, and his brother, Jack Roach. Jerry was a 1953 graduate of Bogart High School and served in the US Army. He spent his career in the industrial bearing business, through which he made many lifelong friends. He retired from Dixie Bearings Inc, in 1996. He was a member of Living Word Baptist Church in Bogart. Jerry is survived by his daughter, Lynn Dillard; his daughter and son-in-law, Nickie and Rick Carter;...

Joanne Roach, age 82, died on June 28, 2019, at her home in Bogart. A lifelong resident of Oconee County, Joanne was born on February 1st, 1937, the youngest daughter of the late Austin and Mollie Pruett Owens. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Jerry Roach; her daughter, Lynn Dillard; her daughter and son-in-law, Nickie and Rick Carter; her granddaughter, Lauren Dillard; her two sisters, Trellie Arthur and Maureen Patton, and several nieces and nephews. Joanne attended Bogart High School where she excelled on the girls basketball team. Her team was undefeated in the 1951 season and went on to win the district championship in 1953, the year she was named All State guard. She...