The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Bert
Schwarz was born in
Bert grew
up in
For the
next 29 months, Bert endured the Bataan Death March and internment in various
Japanese prison camps. During transport
to another camp, Bert’s ship was struck by American forces unaware of its cargo
of prisoners. Bert was one of the
fortunate few who escaped.
Finding
his way back to the States, Bert married Laura Graham Gibbons,
and their first son Rocky was born. When
the American government asked Bert to go to
In 1956,
Bert and Laura moved to
When Bert
retired, he helped his long time friend Bob Macauley establish the Americares
Foundation, an international relief organization from which Bert retired as a
director in September of this year. He
traveled to many “hot spots” from
In 1980,
Bert and Laura moved to Blairsville, and immediately became involved in the
local community. Bert continued to
travel for Americares, and also began a long-standing commitment to the young
people of this area. His first
involvement was with the Wilderness Scouts.
He used his connections as a great fundraiser for them, even getting Donald
Trump to donate a bus! He was recently
instrumental in founding the Friends of Children, Georgia Chapter. He also developed a program to bring veterans
to the schools to tell their stories first hand to history class students so
they would have a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made for their comfort
and freedom. In 2001, at the age of 85
realizing the Blairsville did not have a Memorial Day Parade, Bert started
one. Veterans from
Bert is
survived by Laura, his wife of 58 years.
His son Rocky lives in
Bert will
be remembered by countless people for his great sense of humor, his willingness
to help, and his generosity and kindness to people in need. The family asks in lieu of flowers
contributions be sent to the Friends of Children at P.O. Box 1004, Blairsville
or to Americares Foundation, 161 Cherry St., New Canaan, CT 06840. We can remember and honor Bert by upholding
the values he lived for.
Memorial
services were held on
Mountain
View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.
The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Mrs.
Willie C. (“Sunshine”) Payne, age 61, of
Mrs.
Payne was born in
Mrs.
Payne was a songwriter and is best known for writing the song, “One Day at a
Time, Sweet Jesus”. Other
songs written by “Country Sunshine” are “Go Forth Each Day”, “The Beginning of
the Rest of Your Life”, “I Didn’t Know You Already Had a Wife”, “Show Me
Preacher Man”, “Your Ring Turned Green on My Finger” and “The Rough Road”. She won the KFC Billboard Annual Song Contest
five times and was honored with a tribute from the Country Gospel Music
Association for her achievements.
Surviving
are her husband, Jesse Payne of Blairsville; three sisters, Amanda Lou Sosebee,
of Marble, NC., Helen Ashe and Mary Alice McCoy, both of Murphy, NC; sis
brothers, Frank Chastain and Ben Chastain, both of Chatsworth, GA., Billy
Chastain (Mrs. Payne’s twin brother) of Hiawassee, GA., L.C. Chastain, Phillip
Chastain and Lee Chastain, all from Murphy; nieces nephews and other relatives
and friends also survive.
Funeral
services were held
Cochran
Funeral Home of Blairsville was entrusted by the family for the arrangements.
The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Mr.
William Patrick “Pat” Hunt, age 81, native and lifelong resident of
Blairsville, Georgia, passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2003 in Union General
Hospital in Blairsville.
Mr. Hunt
was born in Union county, Georgia on
Surviving
are his sister, Grace Payne of Blairsville; brother, Hayden Hunt of Taft,
California; four nieces, Barbara Reeds of Los Angeles, California, Beverly
Thomas, of Alexander City, Alabama, Blanche Huddleston of Elizabethtown,
Kentucky, Nancy Bryant of Lawrenceville, GA; nephew, Myron Brooks of Cheyenne,
Wyoming; many other friends also survive.
Funeral
services were held
Cochran
Funeral Home of Blairsville was entrusted by the family for the arrangements.
The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Mr. Troy
K. Patterson, age 73, a native and lifelong resident of
Mr. Patterson
was born in
Surviving
are daughter, Linda Jean Overcash, of Buford, GA; son and daughter-in-law,
Kenneth Troy and Denise Patterson, of Conley, GA; son and daughter-in-law,
Danny Gary and Ann Patterson, of Blairsville, GA; daughter, Tina Denise Lucas,
of Blairsville, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Jonathan Hood, of
Blairsville, GA; son, John Anthony Chitwood, of Blairsville, GA; son, William
Dean Chitwood, of Blairsville, GA; son, Bart Arthur Chitwood, of Blairsville,
GA; daughter, Gwendolyn Naomi Nutt, of Blairsville, GA; daughter, Edna Osborn,
of Salisbury, NC; daughter, Frances Patterson, of Blairsville, GA; fourteen
grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends also
survive.
Funeral
services were held
Cochran
Funeral Home of Blairsville was entrusted by the family for the arrangements.
The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Mr.
Lester Calvin Dyer, age 89, of
Mr. Dyer
was born
Survivors
include his wife of 65 years, Ethelene Saxon Dyer of the home; daughter, Audrey
Ledford of Blairsville; sons and daughters-in-law, jack and Sheila Dyer of
Young Harris, Georgia and Robert Melvin and Carole J. Dyer of Kennesaw,
Georgia; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and many other relatives
also survive.
Funeral
services were held
Cochran
Funeral Home of Blairsville entrusted by the family for the arrangements.
The
(no
corrections have been made, this is exactly as it appeared in paper)
Mr.
Willis Cecil Rhinehardt, age 84, of
Mr.
Rhinehardt was born in
Survivors
include son and daughter-in-law, Wendall and Darlene Rhinehardt of Chatsworth,
GA; daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Kenneth Nix of Blairsville, GA; brother,
Troy Rhinehardt of Cass City, Michigan; sister, Christine Burch of Hiawassee,
GA; and sister, Vinnalou Parkerson of Orange Park, FL; grandchildren, Wendy
Rhinehardt, Wesley Rhinehardt, Kristy Nix, Ronda Nix, Jeffrey Rhinehardt Jr.,
great granddaughter, Alisa Soto; and a special nephew, John Burch, Jr. also
survive, also with many friends and other relatives.
Memorial
services were held on
Cochran Funeral Home of
Hiawassee was entrusted by the family for the arrangements.