The Catoosa County News

It is with great sadness, we announce that Saturday, July 23, 2022, Charles Roosevelt Thacker of Ringgold, GA passed away at the age of 90 surrounded by his family. Chuck was born to Oscar Columbus and Odie Mary Frances Thacker in 1932 at the family farmhouse in Rock Spring, GA. He joined the US Air Force in 1950 as an airman basic. He became a Staff Sergeant and served as a medic in the 405th Medical Group. After leaving the service, his occupations included: Sales and service tech for Hannah Adams TVs and Appliances and TV repair from his home. He joined Rossville Furniture Company as a partner and later became the President/Owner of the company. (Just as good a place as any...) He was...

Joseph Alan Holmes, age 57 of Ringgold, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 7, 2022. He was born to the late Johnny Lee Holmes and Joyce Lynn Thomas Holmes in Charleston, WV. Joseph moved to the North Georgia area in 1985 and attended Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. Throughout his life, his careers included the mechanical and technical industries. He was a hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed giving new life to broken things. Joseph was passionate about NASCAR and Ham Radio. He was a loving husband, father, brother and friend who will be greatly missed. Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Sandee Holmes, his son, Alon Holmes, siblings, Jeffery Lee Holmes and Jeannette...

Edward Joe McDowell, 88, passed away at home Monday, June 6, 2022. Joe was born March 27, 1934 in Chattanooga to the late Alvy Carl and Grace Mae Means McDowell. He was a lifelong resident of the North Georgia area. Joe was an active member of Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle since 1973 where he served as a trustee and building committee chairman. He was a United States Navy Korean War Veteran and was owner/operator of McDowell & Son Homebuilders for 25 years. Joe enjoyed collecting antique cars, woodworking, golfing and story telling. He is preceded in death by 5 sisters, one brother and one son-in-law (Bill Nelson). Survivors include his devoted wife of 67 years, Joan Hardeman McDowell...

Larry Gerald Woody, 78, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2022. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carolyn Woody. Survivors include his son, Matthew Woody; daughter, Jill Cheek; and grandson, Ben Alexander Childers. There will be no services per his request. Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.

It is with sadness and with gratitude for God's grace, that the family shares the news that George W. Hammon, Sr., 93, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on April 19, 2022, in Maryville, TN. He was born in Guild, TN, the fourth child of E.M. Hammon, Sr and Shelly Mathews Hammon. A man of great and enduring faith, he was at peace with his Lord and the full and vibrant life he led. We believe he has now heard those precious words, "well done, good and faithful servant." George exemplified a life well lived as a person who was always continually learning. He consistently strove to reaffirm others, and build their confidence to succeed as he treated them with dignity and respect. ...

Jimmie Ray Cochran, age 97, of Ringgold, Georgia formerly of Banks County, Georgia passed away at home surronded by family on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Mrs. Cochran was born on June 8, 1924 in Banks County, Georgia to the late Lindsey and Recie Ray. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, W.O. Cochran; daughter, Brenda Cochran Ferguson; brothers, Conrad Ray and Ben Ray; sisters, Austine Ray and Kate McCoy. Mrs. Cochran was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Banks County. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Garry and Myra Cochran, of Ringgold; son-in-law, Cecil Ferguson, of Alto; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and...

Mr. Winston E. Branam, age 91 of Ringgold, GA, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022 at his home. Winston was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He served during the Korean War and the Cold War. He was a member of the Rossville Masonic Lodge #397. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Lou Ella Branam Truelove and John Henry Branam; four brothers; one sister. Survivors include his loving wife, Mildred Branam of Ringgold, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Deborah Branam of Chattanooga, TN; sisters, Dorothy Cronan of Covington, GA, Jo Ann McCullough of Conyers, GA, Birdell Pritchett of Chatsworth, GA, and Ruth Hammontree of Chatsworth, GA; grandchildren, Heather...

Bobby (Bob) O'Brien Lloyd, 89, formerly of Ft. Oglethorpe, GA passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 in Peachtree Corners, GA. The family rejoices in his final release from his suffering here on earth. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Joyce McGee Lloyd; parents, Carma (Carme) and Lillian Josephine Gann Lloyd; brother, Billy O'Neil Lloyd; and sister, Betty Jo Lloyd Culpepper. Bob attended Berea College in Berea, KY and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. He worked in a variety of transportation management and sales positions in the Bristol, VA and Chattanooga, TN areas, with his last position being with Lookout Mountain Community Services in LaFayette, GA. Bob was a...

Alice "Rosella" Tucker Lance age 80, of Atalla, Alabama went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 11, 2022. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to the late Marvin Theodore and Frances Shutters Tucker. She resided most of her life in Ringgold, Georgia and the past twenty-nine years in Atalla, Alabama. She was a homemaker and had also worked as an administrative assistant for Lance Logging Company for many years. She was of the Pentacostal Faith. She enjoyed shopping any chance she got and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers: Teddy and Lamar Tucker. She is survived by her husband: Bobby...

Frances Jane Shortino Spataro, 90, of Ringgold, passed away, Friday, February 11, 2022. She was born in York, Pennsylvania to the late, Frank & Josephine Shortino and had lived in the North Georgia area for the past 15 years. She was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church. She was active with the Catholic Daughter's, the Catoosa County Seniors and the American Legion Auxilary for many years. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Spataro; daughter, Mary Jo Spataro-Smith; sisters, Nona Borsellino and Mary Borsellino; and three brothers, Joseph Shortino, Charles Shortino and Raymond Shortino. Survivors include her son & daughter-in-law, Stephen A. & (Janie...

Obituary for Julia Sisson Hammon Julia Sisson Hammon, 91, passed away on February 8, 2022 in Maryville, TN. She was born August 2, 1930, in Ringgold, Georgia, the daughter of John Lester and Myrtle Childers Sisson. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John M. Sisson Sr (Marian) and brother, Lee; sisters, Thelma Sisson, Annie Mae Powell (Rod), and Helen Thaxton (Bud). Julia will be missed, but never forgotten by her beloved husband of 68 years, George W. Hammon, Sr.; sons G. William Hammon, Jr. (Cathy), R. Timothy Hammon (Kathleen), Michael S. Hammon (Amy); and favorite daughter, Letha A Hammon (Bland Dickey); grandchildren, G. William Hammon III (Brittany), C....

Madeline Callahan Martin, age 91 of Ringgold, GA went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 5, 2022. She was born in Mobile, AL to the late Herbert Callahan and Fannie Bell Fisher Callahan. She lived in the Atlanta, GA area for more than 40 years, and then in Ringgold, GA for the past 21 years. She was of the Christian faith. Madeline was also known as "Sissy" by her siblings and as "MeMe" by her grandchildren and the community. She enjoyed her days at the Catoosa County Senior Center, taking care of the thrift store and spending time with her special friends. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend who will be greatly missed. Madeline was...

Shirley B. Bryan, 84 of Fort Oglethorpe went to be with The Lord on February 3, 2022. She was born in Ringgold, but has lived in the Fort Oglethorpe area for the past 60 years. She is a member First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe where she is a member of the Lydia Sunday School Class. She also taught Kindergarten at the church, and worked for K-Mart filling various positions for almost 29 years. She is preceded in death by her parents Roy & Willie Mae Bryant; and brothers Joe Bryant and Bill Patty. Shirley is survived by one son Bill (Nanette) Bryan; siblings Louise Ensley, Richard (Winona) Bryant, Joyce Coulter, and sister in-law Margaret Ann Bryant; grandchildren Christy (Dan)...

It is with extreme sadness that we announce Freda Gann Folks, age 78, was called home to be with the Lord on January 21, 2022. Freda was born on May 22nd, 1943 in Chattanooga to her parents Fred L. Gann and Nancy Higginbotham Gann. She lived in Chickamauga, GA with her loving husband Wendell for the past 37 years. Freda was office manager at the Walker County Water Company for over 52 years. She was beloved by her colleagues who still refer to it as "Freda's office". She retired in October of 2017. Freda was a loving wife, sister, mother, and grandmother. She was a woman who brought immense joy to everyone she met, and had the most infectious laugh. She loved the color pink, spending time...

Frances Wooden Chastain, age 102, of Fort Oglethorpe went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. She was born to the late W.L. and Daisy Hays Wooden in Walker Co., was a graduate of LaFayette High School, class of 1937, before working for Cabin Craft, Inc. in Dalton. Frances has lived in the Fort Oglethorpe area since 1956 and was a member of First Baptist Church of Lakeview & was part of the T.E.L. Sunday School Class. She was preceded in death by her husband, Drennon Arthur Chastain, sisters, Carrie Wooden, Bonnie Wooden, Hazel W. Graham and Kathleen W. Smith; brothers, Lester, Charles, Harold, and Fred Wooden and an infant brother. Frances is survived by her...

Dr. Bill Hawthorne, 88, of Ringgold, GA passed away at his home on January 5, 2022. He was surrounded by his four children and his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Hawthorne. Bill practiced optometry for more than 40 years in East Ridge. Also, during those years on his farm in Ringgold, he and his family raised cattle, grew pick your own berries and were the largest grower of blueberry bushes in the southeast?Hawthorne Nursery. He was a lifelong, faithful, member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, involved as a church leader and an advocate for Christian education. Highlights of his retirement years included traveling to Alaska, bird watching, woodworking, and homebuilding, including his...

Mr. Jerry W. Brite, 89, of Rossville, GA passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. Jerry was born in Knoxville, TN on October 5, 1932 to the late Mr. Clyde Robert Brite and Mrs. Tee Woods Brite. Jerry was a salesman for most of his life and was a veteran of the United States Navy Seabees detachment serving in Chattanooga. He was a member of Boynton Baptist church for over 30 years. Jerry was also a member of the Rossville Masonic Lodge #397 for over 50 years. Jerry lived most of his life in the north GA area and will be remembered mostly for repairing washers and dryers after his retirement. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Mary Elizabeth Brite, second wife, Gwendolyn...

RINGGOLD, GA ? Evelyn Carter Helms, 86, (passed away on 11/22/2021) was born in Alabama and lived there before relocating to Tupelo, Mississippi. In Tupelo, Evelyn was in the 6th grade class with Elvis Presley at Milam Junior High School. She freely handed out a copy of their class photo to everyone she met. Evelyn was a popular speaker to the Elvis International Fan Club Presidents in Memphis (https://www.graceland.com/elvis-birthday-celebration-2018-photos) and shared stories about her school days with "the King" (www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/articles/mama-knowed-elvis.html). She and Tommy, her beloved husband, and daughter Marilyn moved to Memphis, TN in 1969 and remained there until she...

Col. Willard Sisson USAR (ret) Col. Willard Lorin Sisson, age 96, died on December 31, 2021. Born June 8, 1925, in Ringgold, Georgia, he was the 7th son of William Arterberry Sisson and Polly Josephine Palmer Sisson. He was preceded in death by brothers Rembert, Robert Lester, Marvin, Carl, Paul, and Earl. His father remarried as a widower, and that union produced a brother John Sisson. He was graduated from Ringgold High School and completed one year at the University of Georgia. He was drafted in 1944 into the US Army. Following basic training he was assigned to units in Italy. He was completing the last week of training for the 10th Mountain Division preparing for the front when...

Margaret Anne Tucker August 31, 1934 - October 12, 2021 Pooler - Margaret Anne (Granny) Tucker, 87, passed away October 12, 2021, of natural causes. She died in her home surrounded by her loving family. Originally from Atlanta, she moved to Ringgold, GA. where she brought up her four children and then moved to Pooler, GA with her daughter, Beth and family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Mae Goolsby; sister, Betty Whicker; son, Clayton Blair Tucker; son in law, Robert Thomas, Jr., and great grandson Kaden Tucker. Survivors include her daughters; Gail Tucker Summers (Todd Christel), Julie Lynn Thomas (Brent Peters), Beth Tucker Perdue (m. Jim Perdue); and Christy...