The North Georgia News

Blairsville, GA  30512

www.nganews.com

(no corrections have been made; this is exactly as it appeared in paper)

June 25, 2003                Page 5B

mrs. bessie ruth townsend saxon

Mrs. Bessie Ruth Townsend Saxon, age 92, of Conley, GA, formerly of Blairsville, passed away on Friday June 20, 2003 at her home following an extended illness.

Mrs. Saxon was born on April 2, 1911 in Union County, the daughter of the late James A. Townsend and the late Mary Lou Hood Townsend.  She was a Union County native.  She was preceded in the by her husband, Vaughn Saxon in 1987.  Mrs. Saxon was a member of Pinetop Baptist Church.

Surviving Mrs. Saxon are one daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lou and James Ashton, of  Conley, GA; on son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Nora Saxon of Gainesville, GA; four sisters, Sarah Roberts of Suwannee, Betty Orr of Gainesville, Jeanette VEST of Blairsville, Grapelle Thompson of Winder; two brothers, Tom Townsend of Cumming, Robert Townsend of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, Farrell Saxon of Cumming, Lewis Saxon of Marietta, James Ashton of Conley, Alisa McCullough of Conley, many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 22, 2003 at 2 p.m. from the Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Benny Nix officiating.  Special music was presented by John and Clayton Nix, Kenneth Young, Edward Mashburn and Sarah Kelley.  The following gentlemen served as pallbearers, Farrell Saxon, Lewis Saxon, Zachary Saxon, James Ashton, Nick McCullough and Marc Reinshagen.  Interment followed in the Union Baptist Church cemetery.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.