The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

John Charteris Thompson, Jr., 88, of Roswell GA died April 19, 2024. "Jack" Thompson, is preceded in death by his parents Virginia and John Charteris Thompson, Sr., his sister Virginia Thompson Schenck and his granddaughter Lyndie Life Thompson. Jack grew up in Wellesley, MA, but traveled south to Atlanta to attend and graduate from Georgia Tech. He married the love of his life Sara Annette Grubbs Thompson and they enjoyed 66 years together. Jack had a successful career in insurance with The Equitable and later became the founding member of Benefit Concepts, LLC; an employee benefit consulting firm. He was an active member of Rock Springs Presbyterian Church and later Roswell Presbyterian...

Milton Henry "Woody" Woodside, Jr., 76, of Brunswick, Georgia, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2024, at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, surrounded by his family. Born on May 27, 1947, in Durham, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Milton and Nan Woodside. Woody grew up in Clinton, North Carolina, and was the oldest with 3 sisters and a brother. He was a proud alumnus of Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia, and The Citadel - the Military College of South Carolina (class of 1970), where he served as a Summerall Guard. Before making his home in Brunswick and the Golden Isles in 1973, Woody lived in Washington D.C. serving on former U.S. Congressman Ronald "Bo"...

William Moran Vondersmith Jr., aged 90, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024, after a brief illness. He was born on November 17, 1933, in Hanover, Pa to William and Evelyn Vondersmith, and raised in Reisterstown, Maryland. William-or Bill, as he was affectionately known-grew up with a deep-seated passion for aviation that would shape his entire life. William 'Duke' Vondersmith attended the University of Maryland from 1951 to 1955, earning the nickname 'Duke' from his friends. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Maryland Alpha chapter. During his fraternity days, he became a Big Brother to Bob Messersmith and later served as the best man at Bob's wedding. Both Duke and Bob...

Dorothy "Dot" N. Dean, age 94, died Thursday, April 11, 2024. Funeral and visitation will be held Monday, April 15, at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning at 11am followed by a Chapel service at 12pm with Rev. Alex Stroud officiating. Survivors are: Daughter - Nancy Dean Milton (Steve); Son - Walter Franklin Dean; Grandchildren - Nicole Underwood (Matthew), Jeffrey Milton (Erin), Christopher Dean, Michael Dean (Amanda), Sarah Dean, and Elliot Dean (Lisa); Great Grandchildren - Emma and Abby Underwood; Ellie, Gracie, and Bennett Milton; Cooper and Eli Dean. Dorothy was preceded in death by her Parents - Henry & Norma Naab as well as her Sister -...

Ruby Steger Guillory began her life on February 26, 1923 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Her parents were Georgia Mack Steger and Ferdinand Matt Steger. She graduated form Banner High. After graduating, she served her country working at Kansas Ordinance plant. This company supplied 35mm shells to our troops overseas. She accepted Christ at an early age. She loved to read. She liked remembering bible verses and poetry by Henry Wadworth and John Greenleaf Whittier. She learned the trade of re-styling women's and mens shoes, and was called a Lady Cobbler. Another trade was Invisible reweaving. This skill, she would take thread by thread to reweave the snag or tear to almost completely hide...

James David Stokes, age 81, died April 10, 2024. Services will be held on Friday, April 19, at 11:00 AM at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3003 Howell Mill Road in Atlanta. Visitation will follow. Born in Macon, Georgia, in 1942, Jim graduated from Lanier High School in 1960. After starting college at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, he completed his undergraduate degree at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. He returned to his hometown to attend Mercer Law School, completing his JD and being admitted to the Bar in 1967. As a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, he was admitted to the U.S. Military Court of Appeals in 1968. He completed a tour of duty in Vietnam before being...

Paul Leroy Roberts, age 90, passed away on April 9, 2024. Mr. Roberts was born June 12, 1933, in Palco, Kansas where he grew up along with his three brothers. He went to St. Benedicts College in Atchison, KS on a basketball scholarship where he was a member of the 1954 Basketball National Championship Team. In recognition of those accomplishments, he was recently inducted into the St. Benedicts Hall of Fame for athletic achievements. Aside from being a stellar athlete, the highlight of Paul's college years involved meeting and eventually marrying the love of his life, Georgann (Abie) Kinkead. After graduating college, Paul served in the Army and after completing his military service he...

Patricia Hickman Price of Cumming, GA passed away April 7th, 2024. She was born October 10th, 1930 in Buffalo, NY to William Snody Hickman and Norma (Carlson) Hickman. At 16 Patricia moved to Columbia, TN, later graduating from Chattanooga High School. After graduating from Tennessee Wesleyan College she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee. Patricia later received a Master of Arts in Guidance & Counseling from Northwestern University. She went on to teach school for 10 years, including two years in Glynn County, GA, and was Assistant Dean of Girls at Pensacola High School in Florida. There Patricia met and married Col. William Griffin Price, USMC, who...

William "Bill" Dodd Adamson, 85, formerly of McCormick and Savannah Lakes, SC and widower of Janice Dyess Adamson, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Emerald Gardens in Greenwood, SC. Bill was born in Detroit, MI, the beloved son of the late John Randal and Louise McCarson Adamson. He had a passion for Georgia Tech, proudly supporting his alma mater, and later graduated from the University of South Carolina. Before his retirement, Bill dedicated himself to his work at Canterbury Antiques & Reproductions, a business owned by his brother, in Atlanta, GA. An active member of the community, Bill found joy in singing with the choir at the Lutheran Church in Savannah Lakes...

Early on Sunday, April 7th 2024, Douglas Ross Morgan, a beloved uncle passed away peacefully in his home.. He was born on October 22, 1929. He was 94 years young. Douglas graduated from Tucker High School in 1948 and served in the United States Navy from 1948 until he was honorably discharged in 1957. He was an Aviation Ordanceman - Second Class. Douglas became a Shriner in 1957 once he left the Navy and served as a deacon at Valley Brook Baptist Church from 1986-1988. He worked for the telephone company from 1957 until retirement. He joins his beloved wife Helen Wellmaker Morgan, who passed away in August 2020. They were married 49 years. Also, Douglas joins his only son, Harold...

Norma Lee Fields Hawkins, age 86, of Roswell, Georgia, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024. She was born on August 8, 1937 to Audrey Scott and Herbert C. Fields of Alpharetta, Georgia. Norma graduated from Roswell High School in 1955 and attended Tift College before teaching first grade at James L. Riley Elementary School in Sandy Springs. She married her high school sweetheart, Rick, in 1958 and they both graduated from the University of Georgia in 1959. Norma started the Roswell First Baptist Church Kindergarten, and remained director for 36 years before retiring. A member for 69 years, Norma was very involved at Roswell First Baptist in choirs, youth groups and Sunday School. Norma...

Patricia Lee Smith, age 90, of Roswell, Georgia passed away April 5, 2024. She is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Harold Hugh Smith and is survived by her children Laura L. Smith (Philip Hasty) of Roswell, Scott C. Smith (Lori) of Cumming, Betsy S. Summers of Canton, and Bradley A. Smith (Aly) of Roswell, and by her nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Patricia was an only child, born to Loy Rufus Lee and Doris Townley Lee, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where she graduated from North Fulton High School, making cherished life-long friends. She married Harold in 1955 and began a family that grew to four children. Patricia, with her husband, was a founding...

There is absolutely no doubt that Kevin "Catfish" Jackson intentionally made the world a much better place. His love for his wife, children and grandchildren was infinite. The person Kevin loved best in this world was his wife Libby, whom he affectionately called his best friend and "The Family Oak". He and Libby faithfully reared their children Elizabeth, Kev, and Mary Margaret and loved their spouses Tyler, Kate, and Thomas like their very own. Kevin thanked God daily for his children and eight grandchildren, and he was immensely proud of his family. Kevin was born on June 2, 1961, in Rome, Georgia to the late June and Richard Jackson of Carterville, Georgia. Kevin graduated from...

Charles Gary Mutz passed away April 3, 2024, after a long illness, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Fossum Mutz, and his children Dr. Eric F. Mutz (Schuyler Rideout), Stacey Katherin Mutz Howe (Michael), Charles Garrett Mutz (Christen) all residents of Atlanta. He adored his six grandchildren James Walker Mutz and Elizabeth Avery Mutz residents of Pensacola and Samuel Patrick Howe, Anna Welsh Howe, Charles Grayson Mutz and Connor Garrett Mutz of Atlanta. Gary was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 26, 1941, to Charles George Mutz and Mary Katherine Nation Mutz. He grew up in Lombard, Illinois, and graduated from Glenbard High School. Gary...

Sarah Tahler Draut, known equally by loved ones as Sarah and Sally, left this earthly life in the early morning hours on April 2nd, 2024, at the age of 67. Her final months, weeks, and moments were spent surrounded by dear ones and her beloved Boston Terriers at her home in Decatur, Georgia. Sarah's essence is captured in a remembrance written by Prosper Hedges. "It is not possible to articulate Sally's impact on my life, my friend's lives, and those whose lives we touch. She is as big as the sky. Her compassion was unwavering. Over and over again she chose to transform grief into love, fear and anger and overwhelm into a chrysalis that split into new life. And because she had done it she...

Dawn Kramer (nee Heil), 80, formerly of Marietta, died on Tuesday after a long illness. She is survived by her children Keri (Sean Carr), Brad (Tara), Jill, and Stephanie, and her grandchildren Greta, Lottie, Maida, and Peter. A celebration of life will be held at HM Patterson in Marietta on Saturday, April 6, at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Tom H. Hoover, Jr. passed away on April 1, 2024, with his family by his side. He was born in Charlotte, NC on November 12, 1933. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Villah Hoover, and Jane's parents, Carlisle and Bonnie Gibson. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Jane, his dear sons, Tom (Dee) and John (Brittany) of Atlanta, his sister, Margaret (Buddy) Quickel of Waynesboro, VA, his niece Linda Quickel of Waynesboro, VA, his nephews Barry (Dana) Quickel and Bobby (Angela) Quickel of Fishersville, VA, and his adored grandchildren, Austin, Thomas (Annie), Kylie, Emma and Gibson. In 1951 Tom graduated from Harding High School in Charlotte where he was the lead...

Dr Frank Major Pickens, died April 1, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Born February 9, 1947 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he was the son of the late Robert Olin Pickens, Jr. and Caroline Major Pickens. Frank grew up at 515 Connecticut Avenue in Spartanburg and graduated from Spartanburg High School and Wofford College. While at Wofford, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was President of Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. He graduated from Emory School of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency and Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship at Emory. He practiced medicine in Atlanta until his retirement in 2020. Dr. Pickens was team physician for the Georgia Tech Baseball Team for 34 years...

Charles "Hudson" Hardin, III, passed peacefully and surrounded by love with his father and sister by his side on March 31, 2024 at the age of 20. Hudson was born in Atlanta, GA on May 9, 2003. He spent his early childhood in Albany, GA and attended Deerfield-Windsor School. In 2014, Hudson moved to Marietta, GA. He graduated from Walton High School and attended Kennesaw State University. He is survived by father Charles H. Hardin II, sister Elizabeth Burke Hardin, grandmother Janet Burke Hardin, all of Atlanta; aunt Jan Hardin, uncle Randy Foster of Brevard, NC; mother Patricia W. Long, stepfather Brian Long, uncle Jon Warrington (Stacey), stepsister Julia Long, aunt Leslie Dettore (Joey),...