A painter creates art through brush strokes on canvas. A writer produces a visual image through words. What begins as a gray blob of clay comes to life in the hands of a potter.
“I love the texture of clay, the way it responds to your hands. It’s a friendly and quiet material which suits my personality perfectly,” explains Matt Henderson.
He retired a few weeks ago after serving as the longest artist in residence at Mark of the Potter.
The road to Georgia
Matt Henderson grew up in the wide-open spaces of El Paso, Texas. Cactus and mesquite thrive in the bone dry climate. Sometimes, so do potters.
He was introduced to the medium as a senior in high school. When he entered college, Matt found the Arts Department “straight away” and pursued a degree in Arts Education.
Matt lived in a small brick house across from Mark of the Potter when he arrived in Clarkesville in 1987.
“It was serendipitous. The University of North Texas has a great pottery program. I fell in love working with clay.”
His abilities led his professor to introduce him to Jay Bucek, owner of Mark of the Potter. Bucek needed a resident potter for what was quickly becoming a successful outlet for handmade pottery. When Matt graduated, Bucek made the trip back to Texas and soon after Matt traveled to the backroads to Northeast Georgia.
“That was 1987 when I traded the sandy soil of Texas for the lush green of Georgia. I lived in a little brick house across from Mark of the Potter. It was a little claustrophobic at first.”
The Georgia adventure only lasted a year before Matt headed to Michigan for a teaching job. After four years of Saginaw winters, he returned to Clarkesville and the serenity of the Soque River.
“This is home now.”
Building a legacy
“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” -Normal Maclean
Grandpa Watts Mill on the Soque River.
The Soque River is the only river in Georgia to begin and end all within one county, Habersham. It’s renowned as one of the finest trout streams in the Southeast. In 1928, Robert Watts and his father Allen “Grandpa” Watts constructed their mill. It was about the only business around during the Depression.
Years later, the mill was bought and repaired from flood damage. A studio was built and Mark of the Potter opened in 1969, a place where artists could produce and sell pottery. More than 50 years later, the river still runs through it and merges the outside beauty to the beauty being created on the inside.
In that time, Matt Henderson has enhanced the legacy of Mark of the Potter for 35 of those 50 years.
Matt Henderson and his pottery
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Matt at the pottery wheel working on a vase.
Mark of the Potter featuring some of Matt's work.
An oil dispenser crafter by Matt.
One on the many platters Matt created during his 35 years at Mark of the Potter.
“The mountains, trees, river, the waterfall at the Mill, it’s just a beautiful place. Being able to make pottery in that setting was a thrill.”
It’s become a destination location for those searching for high quality, functional art and according to Mark of the Potter, “Matt Henderson’s contribution to the success has been immeasurable.”
His work is sought after and collected by those who appreciate his ability to raise functional pottery into fine art.
Pottery at his pace
Matt and his wife, Cindy Angliss who is also a potter, will work out of their own pottery studio in the future in Clarkesville.
“I’m taking a little break but I’ll be piddling around a little with some honey-do projects, but I already have a goal for my pottery.”
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation in Watkinsville hosts a variety of various art medium events during the year. From August 28 through September 12, Perspectives Georgia Pottery Invitational will showcase the works of 50 Georgia potters. Matt and his wife Cindy will be working on pottery which will be displayed and for sale during the show. Click here for more information.
As he always told his students when teaching pottery, “Clay comes to life on the wheel. It moves and morphs into a creation. Just keep doing it and follow the opportunities.”
The suspect in a hit-and-run death in Athens that left a man dead on the sidewalk has turned herself in at the Clarke County Jail.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department identified Amanda Gerrett, 31, of Athens, as the driver of the vehicle involved in a Dec. 22 hit-and-run.
On the afternoon of Dec. 22, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department responded to a report of a pedestrian down on the sidewalk on North Avenue, just south of Strickland Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered the body of the hit-and-run victim.
According to the ACCPD, initial investigation showed that the victim was walking northbound on the sidewalk when the vehicle they say Gerrett was driving exited the roadway and struck the pedestrian. The ACCPD says that the vehicle continued driving, leaving the scene.
Gerrett turned herself in at the Clarke County Jail on Monday and is facing charges of first-degree vehicular homicide, felony hit and run and failure to maintain lane.
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run is asked to contact law enforcement by dialing 9-1-1.
A driver escaped injury when his truck overturned Monday afternoon on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway north of Helen.
The single-unit truck was transporting construction materials, traveling south, when the brakes failed, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
“The driver lost control and the truck traveled off the west shoulder of the road and overturned onto its passenger side,” says Cpl. J. G. Tucker with GSP Post 6 in Gainesville.
State department of transportation personnel closed the highway while towing crews worked to remove the truck.
The truck driver, 26-year-old Jason Dunford of Cumming was not injured. According to Tucker, no charges are expected to be filed.
The City of Baldwin, Habersham County Development Authority and the Habersham County Board of Commissioners will meet in January 2022 to discuss issues surrounding the development of the Habersham County Airport Business Park after a relator shared his frustrations with developing in it.
On Dec. 20, Commercial Relator Wade Rhodes brought his frustrations with development at the airport business park forth to the board of commissioners; after more than 9 months of waiting, Rhodes and his client Don Higgins have been unable to move forward with the completion of a 40,000 square foot building in the business park.
In 2020, the City of Baldwin uncovered that the retention ponds built in the airport business park were built incorrectly. The building errors were fixed by the county’s engineering firm, Foothills Land Design, but the City of Baldwin has been unable to grant a variance from their new minimum development standards to Rhodes and Higgins.
While Baldwin has received adequate documentation from Foothills, the city has further questions surrounding how much runoff water the ponds can handle that the new construction would create.
Commercial Realtor Wade Rhodes expresses his concerns and frustrations with the airport business park. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
Rhodes says that while not all available pads are paved and in use, the retention ponds at the business park haven’t “come close” to failing.
“This community has had two hurricanes since 2016,” Rhodes told the commission. “We’ve lost roads, we’ve lost bridges, we’ve lost culverts, have these retention ponds failed? Absolutely not.”
Rhodes and Higgins have been asking the City of Baldwin for a variance from the city’s minimum development standards for months to move forward with building in the business park, but the city won’t grant that variance until they have proof that the variance from the minimum development standards wouldn’t jeopardize the business park or Baldwin citizens.
“He’s [Higgins] wanting to build a great sized building, a building that is needed and a building that will be important for our community,” Baldwin Mayor Joe Elam says. “We all want to see it constructed and hopefully potentially occupied . . . We are just asking for them to provide necessary documents and necessary surveys that show that those stormwater systems can handle the runoff that will be created by the development.”
But the waiting period of getting that information has been frustrating for Rhodes, and because of the timeline for getting the retention ponds properly surveyed, Rhodes’s sales in the business park aren’t in an ideal position, either.
“We have infrastructure in place, water and sewer, fiber, and retention in place, and our prices are cheaper than most of our competition,” Rhodes said. “But now, we have no marketing advantage because we’re shut down because you cannot get a building permit.”
Rhodes says there is a total of about 65,000 square feet of potential building in limbo, which he estimates to be about $2.6 million in tax revenue.
The City of Baldwin has advised Rhodes to not advertise his properties at the business park as having retention until they have confirmed the retention ponds work as they’re supposed to, but Rhodes says that having retention in place is what makes the pads at the business park so marketable.
“The business park might as well be out of business,” Rhodes said. “We are at a stalemate. I can’t sell a pad in the business park and market it as having retention in place.”
Communication and deannexation
The heart of the problem, like many problems, seems to stem from communication issues and lack of understanding.
For several months, the City of Baldwin’s engineering firm, EMI, and Foothills Land Design have gone back and forth regarding surveying specifics and measurements surrounding how much water the ponds can handle. But that waiting period is standard for this kind of project, according to James Irvin of Foothills Land Design.
Irvin says the problem isn’t with how long the surveying process takes, it’s with officials who don’t understand how the process works. He says that Baldwin wanting to know the specifics and capacities of the business park’s retention ponds, and not allowing development until they do, are the reasons the progress of a variance has been hindered.
He also says with the way emails have been dispersed from the City of Baldwin, not all involved parties at Foothills have received the information they need to continue moving forward as quickly as possible.
“I’m pretty appalled at the back-and-forth thing that could have been fixed with those two groups of people [engineers] sitting down together,” Commissioner Bruce Palmer said after Rhodes’s comments, referencing some of the emails between Foothills and EMI. “I don’t know all there is about annexation, or in this case, deannexation, but if we can’t sit down and get this fixed, then, in my opinion, the development authority could look into the deannexation process.”
Baldwin Councilwoman Alice Venter says that while these issues have been a problem for everyone, deannexation isn’t the solution.
“The problem with that is that if the park is deannexed, each individual lot owner will have to annex back into the city for water and sewer, and also fire and police protection, too,” Venter said. “They don’t think about that. We can’t provide water and sewer, fire and police protection if they’ve deannexed out of the city.”
After hearing from Rhodes, the commission took a clear stance that they needed to get involved with finding a solution for the development issues. Commissioner Ty Akins noted that the problem isn’t limited to the City of Baldwin, it’s a county-wide issue.
(Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
“We don’t want to interfere with Baldwin’s business, or any municipality’s, but this is promoted on the county’s website,” Commissioner Akins said. “It’s the Habersham County Airport Business Park, not solely the Baldwin business park, and the county has significant resources and capital invested in this, so it’s not like we can just back off.”
Finding a solution
Rhodes suggested the Baldwin City Council, the Habersham County Development Authority and the Habersham County Board of Commissioners all sit down in a public meeting to discuss their concerns and find solutions to the problem at hand.
“Your business park, right now, is closed,” Rhodes told the commission. “You have got to take charge and solve this, and I think if you invite the entire city council of Baldwin and the development authority, and you guys put your heads together, you can figure this out.”
The commissioners, as well as members of the Baldwin City Council, are agreeable to the meeting.
“I think we need to meet, and we need to meet immediately,” Commissioner Bruce Harkness said during the Dec. 20 meeting. “I think common sense has to prevail, good Lord, this is taxpayer dollars and taxpayers’ future when thousands of citizens drive south for a job and we could have a job right here.”
Councilwoman Venter tells Now Habersham that the city is excited for a chance to meet with the commissioners and development authority, and says this meeting is something the council has hoped to have for several months.
“We’ve asked to have meetings, but it was said to us that they [the commission] didn’t think that it was going to be very beneficial,” Venter said. “But with the comments that were made at the commission meeting, it really is kicking it into gear, where everyone’s going to be meeting. Because we need to come to a meeting of the minds.”
She’s hopeful that this meeting will help the council, commission and authority come to a conclusion on how to move forward and help businesses develop.
“I think the goal is to come to an understanding of what the ponds out there can handle, and for the elected officials to have an understanding that there’s no bad blood and that we do want to work together,” Venter said. “We just want things to be done correctly. They weren’t done right in the past, and that’s caused this very issue here.”
You can watch a recording of the Dec. 20 commission meeting and the comments made here.
This article has been corrected to include that Foothills has provided the documentation the City of Baldwin needs, as well as commentary from James Irvin.
Georgia public health officials recorded 23,064 new PCR cases of COVID-19 in Georgia on Dec. 27, 2021. The same day, U.S. health officials cut isolation restrictions for Americans who catch the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and also shortened the time that close contacts need to quarantine. (Source: GA DPH)
COVID-19’s omicron wave is rapidly pushing up the number of patients infected with the virus in Georgia hospitals, particularly in the Atlanta area.
The number of patients hospitalized statewide with the virus has climbed by more than 50% in a week, nearing 1,900 on Monday. That’s the highest number since mid-October, when patient numbers were still falling after hitting a state record of more than 6,000 in early September.
The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in Georgia rose to nearly 8,700 a day on Monday, according to the state Public Health Department. That’s nearing the peaks that Georgia saw in infection numbers in early January and early September.
The share of positive molecular PCR tests hit an all-time high of almost 31% on Monday. Enough positive tests have been recorded to account for more than 1% of all residents across a 19-county metro Atlanta area in the past two weeks. That’s 2 1/2 times the rate of positive tests in Georgia’s other 140 counties in the same period.
The crush is being seen in Atlanta-area emergency rooms. As of Monday afternoon, 18 emergency rooms were turning away ambulances, while only 10 ERs at hospitals caring for adults were receiving them, according to state data. Among those turning away emergency medical transports were the flagship hospitals of three of the area’s four major hospital systems: Emory, Piedmont and Northside.
Katherine Watson, spokesperson for the five-hospital Northside system, said that COVID-19 patients accounted for 25% of the system’s total adult inpatient population as of Monday.
Watson said the hospitals continue to manage bed capacity.
“We expect the increase to continue, but don’t know yet what the full impact will be to our inpatient census,” Watson said.
In a hospital district that includes Cobb, Cherokee, Douglas and Paulding counties, COVID-19 patients made up almost of a quarter of all patients on Monday, according to state data.
Amid overwhelming demand for COVID tests, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey warned people to make sure they are using a valid testing center and aren’t being overcharged.
“Misinformation from unapproved COVID tests could result in people not following isolation and quarantine protocols and lead to further transmission of the virus and serious or life-threatening illness,” Toomey said in a statement.
They also warned against accepting services from people going to door-to-door or approaching others on the street and said it could be a sign of a scam if someone tries to charge for an in-person test.
Carr said his office is aware of reports of overcharging for tests and urges consumers to report potential price gouging at consumer.ga.gov or by calling 404-651-8600.
This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB
Over the holiday weekend, positive COVID-19 cases nearly doubled in Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the recent spike in cases mirrors the first months of COVID-19 infections.
The new Omicron variant spreads more rapidly than previous variants, so it is more important than ever to stay vigilant in taking COVID-19 safety precautions. District 2 Public Health Director, Zachary Taylor, M.D., shared his concern over the rising case numbers in a press release.
“Vaccination is the most important strategy available to us against COVID-19 variants,” Taylor said. “But we must also continue to use a layered approach of protection to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
The “layered approach” Taylor references includes wearing a mask while indoors despite vaccination status, getting a COVID-19 booster dose if and when eligible, washing hands often, social distancing when possible and getting a COVID-19 test if you feel ill or have been around someone with COVID-19.
District 2 Public Health has six free COVID-19 drive-thru testing locations in Forsyth, Franklin, Hall, Lumpkin and Union counties.
Registration is available online and is recommended before arriving at the testing site to reduce wait times. To register for a spot at a testing location, visit phdistrict2.org, choose the testing location and register on the Mako or LTS website by inputting contact information and a valid email address. COVID-19 test results will be sent to the email address provided within 48 hours.
North Georgia residents are at a greater risk of infection and hospitalization from the Omicron variant, with many of the region’s communities being less than 50% fully vaccinated. District 2 Public Health officials are urging communities to stay vigilant and use all mitigation strategies available to minimize the burden on hospitals, families, and communities.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and to find district-wide COVID-19 data visit the District 2 Public Health website at phdistrict2.org.
Daniel Irvin LaCount, age 38 of Cornelia, Georgia passed away on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
Born in Gainesville, Georgia on May 20, 1983, he was a son of Jenny Lee Ramey LaCount of Cornelia & the late Ralph Wade LaCount. Daniel was a graduate of Habersham Central High School, Class of 2001 and currently employed with Dollar Tree of Cornelia. In his spare time, he enjoyed hiking trips, landscaping his yard with various plants & flowers, as well as photography. Daniel was always willing to help others in any way that he could. His legacy of caring for others will live on through his family and friends who loved him deeply. He was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur LaCount & Emma Page LaCount Brumbaugh, & aunt, Mary LaCount.
Survivors include his mother, Jenny Lee Ramey LaCount of Cornelia, GA; identical twin brother, David Page LaCount of Cornelia, GA; sister, Carmen Irvin of Greenwood, SC; brothers, Thomas Chandler Scroggs, III of Cornelia, GA; Samuel Lee Scroggs Guest of Mt. Airy, GA; sister, Madelyn LaCount, Makawao, HI; grandmother & friend, Linda Irvin & Donald Lee Wood of Cornelia, GA; grandparents, Rodney Cannon Ramey & Kay Ramey of Atlanta, GA; nephews, Austin Frady, Kaden & Kyle Dayton, & niece Vada Irvin; aunts, Eve Dowis Adams of Cornelia, GA; Ella Deann Ellison of Belton, SC; Wanda Maxwell & Margaret Murray both of Cornelia, GA; uncles, Edward LaCount & James LaCount both of Mt. Airy, GA; Harold LaCount of Griffin, GA; many cousins, other relatives, & friends.
The Biden administration's decision to revoke approval of Georgia's plan to require Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement was jeered by top Republicans in the state but welcomed by Democrats as an opportunity for a bigger expansion of the health care program. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said Thursday, Dec. 23, that implementing the work requirement during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic would “only work to hinder the overall well-being of low-income Georgians.” (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
The Biden administration’s decision to revoke approval of Georgia’s plan to require Medicaid recipients to meet a work requirement was jeered by top Republicans in the state but welcomed by Democrats as an opportunity for a bigger expansion of the health care program.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said Thursday that implementing the work requirement during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic would “only work to hinder the overall well-being of low-income Georgians.” The work provision was part of the state’s plan — dubbed “Georgia Pathways” — to make more low-income Georgians eligible for Medicaid.
“Considering the physical, mental, social and economic toll the public health emergency has taken on individuals, CMS believes it is especially important that the low-income individuals who are the intended beneficiaries of the Georgia Pathways to Coverage demonstration be able to access coverage and care without the initial and continued eligibility obstacle of a work requirement that may be unreasonably difficult or impossible for individuals to meet under the circumstances of COVID-19 and its likely aftermath,” she wrote in a letter to Georgia Department of Community Health Commissioner Caylee Noggle.
The work requirement had been approved by the Trump administration. CMS revoked it and Georgia’s plan to charge some Medicaid recipients monthly premiums for their health coverage.
Gov. Brian Kemp’s office in a statement Thursday accused the White House of attempting to “hide behind the holiday” by announcing the revocation two days before Christmas. It said it planned to challenge the decision in court.
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a fellow Republican, said it is “shameful that President Biden has denied thousands of Georgians health care coverage.”
“Like the Grinch, he has stolen hope away from so many families who need it — right at Christmas,” Ralston said on Twitter.
It is shameful that President Biden has denied thousands of Georgians healthcare coverage. Like the Grinch, he has stolen hope away from so many families who need it — right at Christmas. #gapolhttps://t.co/GkK5JcQOEt
Republicans had presented Georgia’s plan as a financially responsible alternative to a full expansion of Medicaid services under the Affordable Care Act. The plan sought to add an estimated 50,000 poor and uninsured Georgia residents to the Medicaid rolls in its first two years.
Democrats in Georgia said the state should fully expand Medicaid.
“What’s shameful is blaming Biden and others for @GaRepublicans ongoing failure and refusal to expand Medicaid,” Democratic State Rep. Sam Park said on Twitter.
What’s shameful is blaming Biden and others for @GaRepublicans ongoing failure and refusal to expand Medicaid.
For 7+ yrs, the GA GOP has blocked access to healthcare for more than 500,000 Georgians.
Under the Affordable Care Act, states gained the option of expanding Medicaid to low-income adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty level, with the federal government picking up 90% of the cost. More than 10 million people have gained coverage that way.
But Georgia and some other states rejected that option. Kemp said a full expansion would be too costly in the long run.
The Democratic Party of Georgia called Kemp a “Grinch,” saying a full Medicaid expansion would cover 500,000 people in the state.
“Brian Kemp and Georgia Republicans — who have the power to fully expand Medicaid right now — are entirely responsible for denying health care coverage to thousands of Georgians,” Democratic Party of Georgia spokeswoman Rebecca Galanti said in a statement.
The Biden administration is separately reviewing Georgia’s plan to overhaul how state residents buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. That plan — under which Georgia residents would bypass healthcare.gov and shop for federally subsidized health insurance through private agents — was also approved by the Trump administration.
This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB.
Shirley O. Wehunt, age 82 of Lula, entered heaven Sunday, December 26, 2021, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville.
Shirley was born June 5, 1939, in Young Harris to the late Vester Bryson & Willie McGaha Bryson. She was retired from Longstreet Café and formerly had worked at the L & K Cafeteria. She was a member of Old Union Baptist Church in Young Harris and was preceded in death by her brothers, Wayne Bryson, Larry Bryson & Tim Bryson; sisters, Shelby Ruth Bryson, Linda Bryson & Betsy Sue Bryson.
Survivors include daughter, Teresa Gail Campbell (Eddie); sons, Phillip Ray Adams & Cecil Eugene Adams; grandchildren, Joshawa Adams & Mariah Lanphear; great-grandchild, Lexi Lanphear; brother, Ray Bryson; Sarah Adams, Jan (Royce) Wilson & Carolyn (Gary) Kansky; a number of nieces, nephews & other relatives also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the Ward’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ed Chambers officiating. Burial will follow in Whitehall Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at the funeral home.
Please share online condolences with the family at www.wardsfh.com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Shirley O. Wehunt.
Frances Elizabeth Wilson, age 88, of Jefferson, Georgia formerly of The Batesville Community, Clarkesville, Georgia passed away on Monday, December 27, 2021.
Mrs. Wilson was born on February 3, 1933, in Hiawassee, Georgia to the late Claude and Lola Shook Cowart. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Quinton Dwight Wilson; daughter, Pamela; son, Joey; brother, JC Cowart.
Mrs. Wilson married Quinton in 1954 and spent the early years of their marriage as an Air Force Wife in Biloxi, Mississippi, and then moved back to the Batesville Community where they spent over 50 years together.
Mrs. Wilson was retired from Scovill Manufacturing Company with 33 years of faithful employment. She enjoyed her years of retirement, fulfilling her dream of visiting of all 50 states. She enjoyed traveling, crafting, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends, but most of all her seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren who knew her lovingly as “Maw-Maw”.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Robin and Martha Wilson, of Jefferson; grandchildren, Brock Wilson, Drew Wilson, Parker Wilson, Carley Wilson, Meridee Rilen, Jarad Wilson, and Nathan Wilson; great-grandchildren, Makenzie, Wyatt, Dulaney, Ridley, Collins, Burch, Boone, Asher, Avric, Adley, Colin and Emma; brother and sister-in-law, Grady and Carolyn Cowart and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel. Interment will follow in the Old Nacoochee Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Bernice Margaret Smith Caudell, age 94 of Mt. Airy, called Granny or Mom by most, passed away on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
She was born in Batesville, Georgia on October 13, 1927, a daughter of the late Thad Smith and Dora Barron Smith. Mrs. Caudell was the 3rd of 11 children born to her parents. Bernice married Ponda Caudell in December of 1948 and had 5 daughters. Bernice babysat children throughout some years, worked at Fieldale and then retired from The Northeast Georgian at the age of 81 where she made lifelong friends and her co-workers were her extended family. For the last 10 years, she has resided with her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Ralph in Powder Springs where she has spread her wisdom and so much love with all she’s met.
The last few years there have been many doctor appointments and lab visits where all those she saw loved her and always looked forward to seeing her. They would have pictures made with her and were considered her extended family as well. Her favorite place to go was to go to Classic Hair Salon where Pat, Tracy and everyone spoiled “Mama Bernice” immensely. She even celebrated her 91st birthday with them.
Some days, she would go to work with Martha at Woodland Ridge Assisted Living where Richard, one of the chefs would always make sure “Mama” ate well. Many of the staff would take time to talk and visit with her. She loved seeing the therapy dogs, Bailey (who passed in 2019), Gunnar, Cooper and Bella. Kathryn, the activity director, would try to get her to go do activities but she preferred staying up front and “working”.
Working was a huge part of her life and she loved being with people. In fact, even days before her passing, she was talking about getting up and going to do the dishes or whatever “they” needed. She had a big heart that was welcoming and loving to anyone and everyone. She was a member of Hillside Baptist Church and to her children, those were the best days from their childhood.
In her spare time, Mrs. Bernice enjoyed cooking, gardening and going on vacation.
Her family was blessed to fulfill her 94th birthday wish of coming to North Georgia and seeing family and friends. They are so grateful to the wonderful staff of Hampton Inn of Cornelia, especially Kendra McCoy, for assisting in making this happen. To Sugartopia for all the goodies. To the family and friends that were able to come celebrate with us, a special thanks to her great-great-granddaughter, Reagan for sharing the birthday day and crown; her great-great-grandson, Branson who shares the same birthday as Granny; and to her granddaughter, Donna, her grandson, Kevin, and great-great-grandson, Nolan, thank you for decorating the “Party Room”.
In addition to her husband, Ponda Caudell who passed away in 1985, she was preceded in death by brothers, Ray Smith, E.L. Smith, J.C. Smith and Bruce Smith; sisters, Joyce Smith, Manerva Smith, Patricia Mott and Sara Campbell.
Surviving are her daughter, Margaret Fowler (Tony); daughter, Ann Pate; daughter, Gaynell Gunn; daughter, Eva Mae Paulson (Wayne); daughter, Martha Mesa (Ralph); numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Russell Smith (Joann) and James Smith; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, all of who loved her dearly.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1 pm, Friday, December 31, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin and Stewart with Rev. Billy Burrell officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the service hour on Friday at the funeral home.
Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Flowers are accepted or donations may be made in Mrs. Bernice Smith Caudell’s memory to the Woodland Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care, 4005 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, GA 30080.
In true Bernice Smith Caudell fashion, she leaves this message for everyone; be kind, love each other, share positivity and do good.
While so many homeless animals had the chance to find their forever homes this month, for several animals at the Habersham County Animal Shelter, their Christmas wishes of getting adopted didn’t come true.
Meet Beba and Grado, two sweet, adoptable animals who hope next Christmas is one to remember in their fur-ever homes.
Meet Beba
(Habersham County Animal Care and Control/Facebook)
Meet Beba, a sweet female tabby at the Habersham County Animal Shelter.
After spending December at the shelter, Beba says her 2022 goal is to get adopted and live the life she’s always wanted.
“My new year’s resolution is to finally start living my dream life, and that starts with a place to call home,” she says. “Once I find the stability I need, I know I can thrive and be my best self.”
Beba says December has been tough, watching the other shelter animals get adopted or transported to new homes in time for the holidays. Spending Christmas at the shelter without a person to love was hard.
“The holidays were lonely, and I felt empty and unwanted,” Beba says. “But I’m putting that sadness towards hope for a better year ahead. This is going to be the year I find happiness.”
Meet Grado
Meet Grado, a sweet and gentle adult male terrier mix. He’s spent December much like Beba, watching other animals go home.
Grado spent this Christmas wondering when his adoption day would come.
“Spending the most wonderful time of the year alone was hard,” he says. “I wish I had a place, or a person, to call home.”
Grado is a quiet, gentle adult male terrier mix with the sweetest face a dog could have. (Hadley Cottingham/Now Habersham)
While Grado doesn’t have a lot to say in terms of barking, his laid-back demeanor and kind eyes say more than words might.
“I really want to spend next Christmas with someone who loves me,” he says. “I want to be home for the holidays.”
If you’re interested in adopting Beba, Grado or any of the other animals at the Habersham County Animal Shelter, please call the shelter at (706) 839-0195 to set up an appointment. You may also visit them in person Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to Noon & 1-5 p.m. or on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
