Esther Brown
1954 - 2003
Lexington, GA
Esther Kate Brown, 49, died March 2, 2003. A native of Austin, TX, she was the daughter of Billy McBride of Longview, TX and the late Earlene Loyce Banigan. She worked in the telecommunications industry for a number of years and was a member of Clouds Creek Baptist Church. Esther Kate loved the ocean and marine life. She carried her diving certificate for 20 years. She had a special affinity for sea turtles, dolphins and the Hawaiian fish, especially Humuhumunukunukuapua’a. Memorial services will be Friday, March 7, 2003 at 3:00 PM at Clouds Creek Baptist Church with Revs. John Parker and Nathan Palmer officiating. Survivors include her husband, B. Norman Brown, MD; 2 children, Craig Berndt of Ft. Wayne, IN and Tuesday Watkins of Houston, TX; 2 brothers, Billy McBride and Arliss Riche, both of Houston, TX and 4 grandchildren, Michael Craig Berndt, Jayne Esther Berndt, Chelsea Peerson and Christopher Michael Chamness. The family will receive friends following the memorial service. Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made to Gideons International Memorial Bible Program. Lord and Stephens Oglethorpe Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Annie Cook
1923 - 2003
Athens, GA
Annie Irene Crider Cook, 79, died January 25, 2003. A native of Oglethorpe County, she was a daughter of the late Carl and Christine Strickland Crider. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Lord and Stephens Chapel, EAST. Revs. Buford Lockman and B.G. Miller will officiate. Interment will be in Crawford Cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Tom Cook; 2 daughters, Denise Hooper of Winterville and Kathy Marshall of Athens; 3 sons, Gary Cook and Glenn Cook, both of Crawford and Dennis Cook of Athens; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jason, Daniel and Stephen Hooper, Michael, Troy, Perry, Mitch and Darrin Cook. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM and will be at the residence of David and Denise Hooper, 731 Smithonia Road, Winterville.

Michael Drake
1950 - 2003
Michael David Drake, 52, died January 25, 2003. A native of Athens, he was a son of the late Robert Lee and Julia Chandler Drake. Graveside services will be Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Macedonia Holiness Church Cemetery with Rev. Roy Sorrow officiating. Pallbearers will be Marion Gunter, Alfred Sorrow, David Gunter, Junior Towe, Tommy Towe and George Hubbard. Survivors include a sister, Patricia Gunter of Carlton and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday from 7:00 until 9:00 PM. Lord and Stephens, Danielsville is in charge of arrangements.

Frances Henneberger
1916 - 2003
Frances B. Henneberger, 86, died January 26, 2003. A native of Oakland, CA, she was a daughter of the late Madison Newell and Rose Bernice Bornia Hotchkiss and widow of CDR. Josiah B. Henneberger, USN, Ret. She was a member of Colonial Dames and DAR. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Survivors include 2 sons, Josiah B. Henneberger of Athens and Robert E. Henneberger of Colchester, VT; sister, Marjorie H. Stashuk of Athens; 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Wednesday, February 5, 2003 from 7:00 until 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Athens Emergency Food Bank or Athens Community Council on Aging. Lord and Stephens, EAST is in charge of arrangements.

Ruby Lester
1920 - 2003
Ruby Harris Lester, 82, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, died February 25, 2003. A native of Jackson County and former resident of Toccoa, she was the daughter of the late Edd and Claudia Nunn Harris and widow of Henry William Lester. Mrs. Lester was a member of Georgia Power Ambassadors and Forest Heights Baptist Church. Funeral services will be Thursday, February 27, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Forest Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Purdy officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Steve McElroy, Randy Meadows, Kevin Meadows, Danny Thomas, Jeff Scott and Kenneth Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Georgia Power Ambassadors. Survivors include 3 children, Melba and David Hawkes of Conyers, Paulette and Jackie Anderson of Watkinsville and Paul and Debbie Lester of Winterville; 2 sisters and brother in law, Edna and Felix McElroy of Athens and Ina Belle Benton of Commerce; 4 grandchildren, Kristi and Jamie Johnson, Lisa and Justin Shelton, Scott and Amy Lester and Stacie Lester; 4 great grandchildren, Sydney Johnson, Will Johnson, Gavin Lester and Logan Shelton and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 7:00 until 9:00 PM. Flowers are optional. Memorials may be made to Forest Heights Baptist Church. Lord and Stephens, WEST is in charge of arrangements.

Charles Mathews
1942 - 2003
Charles Edgar Mathews, 60, died February 23, 2003. A native of Oglethorpe County, he was a son of Ernestine Faust Mathews of Lexington and the late Walter Raleigh Mathews and was preceded in death by a brother, Howard Mathews. Mr. Mathews was Chairman of the Oglethorpe County Commission and a member of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce. He was a Gideon, member of the Lexington Masonic Lodge # 158 and a member of Bethany Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as deacon. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 26, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Bethany Baptist Church with Revs. Virgil Suttles, James Yeargin and John Parker officiating. Interment will be in the Mathews Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ray Sanders, Hubie Colquitt, Gary Mathews, Raymond Mathews, Sid Stephens, Allen Stevens and Gary Collins. Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, R. Joyce Bray Mathews; 4 children, Kevin Mathews, Sabrina Loggins, Christa Mathews and Jennifer Mathews, all of Lexington; 2 sisters, Lynanne Mathews of Lake Ann, MI and Dyanne Mize of Winterville; brother, Alvin Mathews of Lexington; 3 grandchildren, Charles Kyle Mathews, Kelsey Gomez and Breanna Mathews and a number of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Lord and Stephens Oglethorpe Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

J.W. Parham
1934 - 2003
J.W. Parham, 68, died January 20, 2003. A native of Jackson County, he was a son of the late Troy T. and Sally Nash Parham and preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Walls. A longtime resident of Atlanta, he was retired from Label Art, Tucker. Following his retirement, he was employed with Acura of Athens. Mr. Parham was a member and deacon of Cleveland Road Baptist Church. Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 2:00 PM at Lord and Stephens Chapel, WEST with Rev. Robert Conner officiating. Interment will be in Attica Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be deacons of Cleveland Road Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Annette Huff Parham; children, Denise Parham Burleson of Fayetteville, Johnny E. Parham of Lebanon, TN and Angela Parham Brown of Carrollton; 4 sisters, Vivian Brooks of Monroe, Betty Hudgins of Loganville, Renelle Woodall of Tucker and Sandra Camp of Conyers; brother, Tommy Parham of Grayson; 5 grandchildren, Calantha Godley, Aidan Burleson, Garrett Brown, Colin Brown and Will Brown; numerous nieces and nephews.