Velma Evelyn Wiley

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November 14, 2021

Velma Evelyn McClure Wiley, age 86 of Alto, passed away on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

Born in Ellijay, Georgia on October 9, 1935, she was a daughter of the late Morgan and Della Lance McClure. Mrs. Wiley and her husband were in the farming industry for 42 years. She loved flowers and spending time with her family especially her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant brother, Harvey McClure and sisters, Odean Masters, Ona Lee Martin and Elvia Armour.

Surviving are her husband, Royce Wiley of Alto; son, Brad Wiley of Alto; daughters and sons-in-law, Judy & Jackie Crumley of Alto and Linda & Graylen Sanders of Lula; grandchildren, Scott, Kayla, Lindsey, Brian, Stephen and Makenzie; 8 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are scheduled for 12 noon, Wednesday, November 17, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin and Stewart with Rev. Steve Brannon officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10 am until the service hour on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Community fundraiser this weekend for Alto family struck by tragedy

By

Joy Purcell

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November 13, 2021

Hudson in the hospital — 9-month-old Hudson Burgess was critically injured in a wreck on GA 365 in Alto on Oct. 29, 2021. He remains hospitalized in Atlanta. His older brother and aunt died in the crash.

Heather and Johnny Johnson know the pain and grief of losing a beloved child. They lost their 4-year-old granddaughter Scarlett LaCount last year to cancer. Now, along with their church which Johnny pastors, they’re reaching out to help another family in crisis.

Clearview Baptist Church in Cornelia has scheduled a benefit fundraiser and motorcycle ride Sunday, November 14, for the family of Cynthia Wade and Lincoln Burgess. The two died on October 29 in a wreck in south Habersham County.

Coping

Jessica Wade Burgess buried her sister and oldest son on November 8. She continues to hold vigil at the hospital bedside of her other child, 9-month-old Hudson, who was critically injured in the wreck.

“Our family is coping by means of fellowship, family, and God,” she says.

Burgess continues to provide updates on Hudson’s condition on social media. On Friday, November 12 she wrote: “He is still running a little bit of a fever and his lungs aren’t great. Still really full of sickness.”

“The silver lining to all of this laying around is that God is getting the chance to heal his fractures and breaks before he’s even able to move!” she adds.

Hudson is expected to remain hospitalized in Atlanta until at least December. This Sunday’s benefit ride will help raise money to pay for his medical bills and the two funerals.

RAWR Ride

Clearview Baptist’s Cross Bearers Motorcycle Ministry will lead the benefit ride. Registration begins at 2 p.m. with kickstands up at 3 p.m. Registration is $20.

In addition to the motorcycle ride, the church is selling hot dogs and barbecue plates and will hold a silent auction and raffle to raise money.

The church is located at 137 Midway Crossing. The event is open to the public. It’s called RAWR which, according to organizers, means “I Love You” in dinosaur.

The Burgess boys were both dressed as dinosaurs on their way to trunk-or-treat when the fatal crash happened. 5-year-old Lincoln was a dinosaur fan, says his mom. “Loved them!”

He loved others too.

“Lincoln taught unconditional love to everyone he ever encountered. Love was his way of life, it wasn’t just an emotion for him.”

It’s that circle of love that now surrounds his family as they seek a path forward in their own pain and grief.

“We have always loved the Wade family and they were good to us when we lost our granddaughter last year to cancer,” Heather Johnson tells Now Habersham. “We just want to be a help to others and share God’s love.”

Man seriously wounded when arrow shoots through front door

By

Joy Purcell

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November 13, 2021

A Toccoa man is in the hospital recovering from injuries he suffered when he was shot with an arrow from a crossbow. 28-year-old Juan Tellez was seriously wounded early Saturday while standing on the front porch of a house at 240 New Liberty Road near Clarkesville, officials say.

After he was wounded, friends drove Tellez to Habersham Medical Center in Demorest. There, sheriff’s deputies interviewed witnesses who told them it was an accident.

Crystal Tellez, 33, of Toccoa, and Damon Crowe, 35, of Gainesville, told deputies there was no argument or altercation. They said there were other adults and children present at the time of the incident, including 37-year-old Andrew Harrelson, who lives in the home.

“The evidence at the scene and statements collected during interviews have revealed that Andrew Harrelson was preparing to go hunting with his son. This included setting out a crossbow to be used later that morning to hunt with. As Harrelson was prepping the crossbow, it accidentally went off, went through the front door and struck Tellez,” says Habersham County Sheriff’s Col. Murray Kogod. He says all evidence indicates it was an accident and no criminal act occurred.

Habersham EMS transported Tellez from HMC to the trauma unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. As of Saturday afternoon, November 13, he remained in stable condition.

Fire forces Mount Airy family from their home

By

Joy Purcell

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November 13, 2021

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a house fire Friday in Mount Airy. The fire broke out at 154 Evergreen Trail, forcing the residents from their home.

Habersham E-911 dispatched Habersham County and Demorest firefighters to the scene. They arrived to find smoke showing from the single-family brick structure.

Firefighters launched an “aggressive interior fire attack” and were able to knock down the flames and keep the fire from spreading, says Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.

The fire caused heavy damage to two bedrooms, the living room, and part of the kitchen. The rest of the house sustained smoke damage.

The residents safely got out of the house before firefighters arrived. Officials notified the Red Cross to assist them with clothing and temporary housing.

Firefighters remained on the scene until just before midnight, Saturday.

Warriors, Jefferson fall in round 1 as Rabun and Stephens advance in the playoffs

By

Staff Report

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November 13, 2021

The first round of the GHSA State Football Championships got underway this week, with several Northeast Georgia area teams advancing to the next round. Those still in the playoffs include Rabun, Stephens, Cherokee Bluff, Clarke Central, Dawson County, Flowery Branch, North Oconee, Oconee County, and Prince Avenue Christian (by forfeit).

Area teams whose seasons ended in round 1 include Banks County, Cedar Shoals, Elbert, Hart, Jackson County, Jefferson, North Hall, and Union County.

Some of the games were close, such as Hapeville’s 12-10 win over Jefferson, but not so for White County. The Cedar Grove Saints showed no mercy, shutting out the Warriors 79-0 on the road at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Decatur. Cedar Grove put up 58 points in the first half and returned after halftime to score 21 more, putting an end to White County’s season.

First-round action continues tonight with Commerce at Bowdon and Lanier at Kennesaw. Kings Ridge Christian Forfeited their game to Prince Avenue Christian, so, the Wolverines will advance to round 2.

Here’s a look at your Northeast Georgia area playoff scoreboard:

Round 1 (Nov. 12)

Maynard Jackson 6 – Clarke Central 46
Sandy Creek 27 – Dawson County 36
Columbia 26 – Elbert County 14
Breman 14 – Fannin County 45
Flowery Branch 33 – Mays 28
Hart County 21 – Ringgold 30
North Hall 17 – Carver Early College 56
Pace 14 – Rabun County 63
Stephens County 27 – Rockmart 13
Union County 7 – Lovett 28
White County 0 – Cedar Grove 79
Hapeville Charter 12 – Jefferson 10
Greater Atlanta Christian 17 – Cherokee Bluff 38
Jackson County 14 – Villa Rica 42
Mountain View 20 – Denmark 23
Miller Grove 21 – North Oconee 56
Cedar Shoals 7 – Marist 49
Adairsville 22 – Oconee County 29
West Forsyth 20 – Mill Creek 49
Banks County 12 – South Atlanta 46

Trent Crawford of WRWH Sports contributed to this report

Ballards donate for second caboose restoration

By

Now Habersham

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November 13, 2021

SR Caboose restoration donation at Cornelia Train Museum — Philip Ballard, right, and his wife, Jane, present a $5,000 check to Cornelia's Depot Association President Buck Snyder as Mayor John Borrow looks on. The money will be used to help restore the SR caboose that sits behind the train museum at 102 Grant Place.

More improvements are coming to the Train Museum in Cornelia.

The Depot Association recently received a donation from Philip and Jane Ballard to help restore the Southern Railway Caboose located behind the Historic Train Museum downtown. The $5,000 donation comes on the heels of the completed restoration of the Tallulah Falls X5 Caboose located in the Train Museum parking lot.

The SR Caboose is more durable than the TF X5 because it is metal, but it has been in disrepair for quite some time, says Cornelia’s Community Development Director Jessie Owensby.

“The restoration of the second caboose can be a big tourism draw to downtown because it is already so popular. The kids love to walk through it. The city is so appreciative of the Ballard family, as well as the Depot Association for seeing the importance of keeping it maintained,” she says.

The caboose was used on the Tallulah Falls Railroad to haul freight from the Cornelia Veneer Plant from 1942 until 1961.

The Historic Train Museum in Cornelia is located at 102 Grant Place. (nowhabersham.com)

“We have many good memories of the railroad and that caboose, and we (Jane and I) think that it deserves to be restored to help preserve our past,” Philip Ballard says. Ballard has served on the Depot Association Board of Directors for many years and has some of his father’s artifacts on display inside the museum.

“The cost to restore the Tallulah Falls X5 Caboose was approximately $30,000, and this caboose is projected to cost around $25,000,” says Depot Association President Buck Snyder. “The contribution from Philip and Jane will go a long way in helping us get the project underway and see its completion.”

Bivins and Jones Art Gallery opens at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

By

Megan Morris

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November 13, 2021

Bivens Jones Art Gallery Dedication-1386 — The Bivins and Jones Art Gallery at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was dedicated on October 17 and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. Friends and family of Bivins and Jones, pictured, gathered at the dedication on October 17.

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School recently dedicated the new Bivins and Jones Art Gallery on campus with the opening of a show featuring Appalachian textile artists.

Dozens of artists and community members gathered to commemorate the opening of the updated gallery space on Sunday, October 17. The new gallery, located on the second floor of Rabun Gap’s Arts & Technology Building, was made possible by a generous gift from the Maude Bivins Estate and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. They valued loyal friendships, family, nature, and the preservation of history, calling Franklin and Snow Camp, North Carolina, and Deerfield, Rhode Island home.

“We pause to remember the full and generous lives of Maude Bivins and Jinny Jones, and we celebrate the arts of our region with this special exhibit,” said Head of School Jeff Miles. “We are grateful to have such a wonderful gallery space on campus to showcase the artwork of our region and beyond.”

The Bivins and Jones Art Gallery at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School was dedicated on October 17 and is named for the late Maude Bivins and Virginia “Jinny” Jones. Pictured, from left, are Rabun Gap Head of School Jeff Miles, Associate Head of School for Advancement Paige Spivey, Jennifer Jones, and Fred Jones.

Artists Sharon Grist, Tommye Scanlin, Peggy McBride, Helen Meadors, and Carol Dearborn, at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s opening of the Bivins and Jones Art Gallery. These artists were members of the Yonah Mountain Fiber Arts Guild. They collaborated on the overshot coverlet hanging behind in 1985, which was featured in the gallery’s opening exhibit, “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles.”

The opening show, titled “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles,” features historical and contemporary weavings, quilts, sewing, felting, and handmade dolls and baskets. Among featured living artists are Peggy McBride of The Globe Gallery, Tommye Scanlin of North Georgia University, Sharon Grist & Kelly Coldren of Foxfire, Melanie Wilder of Warren Wilson College, Allie Dudley of the John C Campbell Folk School, Marty Greeble, Carol Dearborn, Susan Leveille, and Peggie Wilcox. Historical items are on loan from a number of organizations including The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences, The John C. Campbell Folk School, the Appalachian Women’s Museum, and the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Archives.

Included in this special collection is a quilt created by one of Rabun Gap’s earliest graduates in 1917, Miriam (Mimi) Dickerson. The exhibit is curated by Rabun Gap faculty member, Beth Loveland. In reflecting on the exhibit, Loveland said “I want to show you with this exhibit the threads connecting the artists in this show to one another and to this place. Each piece is a meticulous record of hours, joining them across the warp and weft of time, to tell a story of this region.”

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School dedicated the Bivins and Jones Art Gallery on October 17. The opening show, “Pulling the thread: a brief survey of Appalachian textiles,” runs until January 10.

William Bowyer “Bill” Handley

By

Now Habersham

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November 13, 2021

William Bowyer “Bill” Handley, age 99 of Rabun Gap, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 12, 2021.

Born in Huntington, West Virginia on May 16, 1922, he was a son of the late Garland Love Handley & the late Heloise Bowyer Handley Tolbert. Bill served his country proudly in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII and was retired from Georgia Power Company with 37 years of dedicated service. In earlier years, “Wild Bill” as he was known, was deeply involved with the Tallulah Falls Volunteer Fire Department and the Tallulah Falls Lions Club. Following retirement, he enjoyed many years of traveling around the country, bird & squirrel watching, and was a natural engineer of various homemade devices. Bill also spent hours of researching and compiling his family’s genealogy into a family book and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Most of all, he enjoyed spending precious time with his family and was affectionately known to his grandchildren as “Poppy.”

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Alice Williamson Handley; brother & sister-in-law, Robert Handley Tolbert & Margaret E. Tolbert; and a nephew, Robert Arthur “Rip” Tolbert.

Survivors include his daughters & sons-in-law, Heloise & Chuck Wilson of Jonesboro, GA; Lynn Handley & Bruce Taylor of Decatur, GA; Julia & Bill McEntire of Lula, GA; grandchildren, Caroline & Jared Steinberg of Cumming, GA; Lily & Joshua Killingsworth of Manhattan, NY; Tyler & Hannah McEntire of Lula, GA; Seth & Madeline McEntire of Smyrna, GA; great-grandchildren, Piper Steinberg & Luke McEntire; sister-in-law, Lillie Williamson of Mountain City, GA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, & a host of friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at Hillside Memorial Chapel with Rev. James Turpin & Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating.

Bill’s wishes were to be cremated following the funeral service.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour on Tuesday.

The Handley family requests that those present for the visitation & funeral observe all guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control for social distancing regarding Covid-19.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.stjude.org/donate in memory of Bill Handley.

An online guest registry is available for the Handley family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

Last Night in Soho

By

Justin Hall

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November 13, 2021

Last Night in Soho marks writer/director Edgar Wright’s return to the horror genre that he put a cool, subversive spin on in Shaun of the Dead. Fans of Wright’s will appreciate this film as he crafts a screenplay that mostly lives up to its clever premise.

Thomasin McKenzie stars as Ellie, a fashion student in London who has ambitions of being a designer. She lives with her grandmother until she gets accepted to the London College of Fashion. Once there, she quickly moves out of her dorm room that has become a party zone, and looks for new boarding.

She finds an apartment room run by an elderly lady (Diana Rigg) who takes her in, but it isn’t long before Ellie is haunted by disturbing dreams of London in the Swinging ’60s and vivacious doppelganger Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Sandie’s presence in Ellie’s dreams might be providing clues to a murder that occurred years ago and Ellie is perplexed as to what it could all mean. So are we, and that’s one of the strengths and weaknesses of Edgar’s script.

Not only does Sandie affect Ellie in her dreams, but also in reality. She makes it difficult for Ellie to concentrate on her fashion and she’s considered mentally unstable by her friends, the cops, and even her new boyfriend (Michael Ajao).

The dream sequences Wright concocts are a pure delight for any ’60s purist as he recreates the fashions, trends, and dance moves of that era and then punctuates it with equal doses of blood that would look right at home in Hammer horror or Dario Argento. No doubt those films provide influence.

Last Night in Soho stumbles during the finale and gives us the proverbial twist ending that proves to be simultaneously infuriating and revelatory.

The movie is about 116 minutes long. Out of those 116, I’d say the first 55 or so are ingenious, the next 25 to 30 are decent and the climax made me lose a bit of admiration.

Nevertheless, thanks to its style, atmosphere, cinematography, and performances, Last Night in Soho does achieve what Wright sets out to do, just not in spades.

Grade: B

(Rated R for bloody violence, sexual content, language, brief drug material and brief graphic nudity.)

William Lamar O’Kelley

By

Now Habersham

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November 12, 2021

William Lamar O’Kelley, age 54, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Mr. O’Kelley was born March 20, 1967, in Commerce, Georgia, to Carolyn Bonds O’Kelley and the late William Paul O’Kelley.

Mr. O’Kelley was owner-operator of O’Kelley Electric. He was of the Christian faith. Mr. O’Kelley loved to fish, play golf, and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. His heart was larger than life: always willing to help those in need, his ever-present smile, broad sense of humor, and never met a stranger.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his loving wife, Kandace O’Kelley, Tullahoma, Tennessee; sons and daughters-in-law: Lee and Gracie O’Kelley, Lula, Georgia, Will and Katy O’Kelley, Ft. Worth, Texas; sons: Quinton Ringel and Wyatt O’Kelley, Tullahoma, Tennessee; sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Darrell White, Baldwin, Georgia; brother, Hunter O’Kelley, Baldwin, Georgia; grandchildren: Aiden O’Kelley, Abigail O’Kelley, and Payton Ross.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, November 14, 2021, at the Lamar Christian Church Cemetery with eulogies by the family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory – South Chapel, 1370 Industrial Blvd Baldwin, GA 30510, 706-778-7123.

Peyton Reed Griffin

By

Now Habersham

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November 12, 2021

Peyton Reed Griffin, age 47, of Cornelia, passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Born on November 28, 1973, in Athens, he was the son of the late James Ralph and Sharolyn Reed Griffin. Mr. Griffin was a painter with Girlsters, LLC and a Celebrate Recovery Leader. He served in many different roles at the church as a member of River Point Community Church. Mr. Griffin loved fishing, hiking, and his family, and was a great, talented musician.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Marlin and Elizabeth Griffin, and maternal grandparents, Doyle and Frances Reed.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Ashlee and Austin Holcomb of Demorest; sons, Caden Griffin and Sawyer Griffin, of Demorest; grandchild, Kyler; sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Rev. Tim Beasley of Homer; nephew, Todd Beasley and wife, Jessie of Homer; niece, Kayla Martin and husband, Chris of Colorado; fiancé, Danielle Turner, and her daughters, Spencer and Conner, all of Cornelia.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Pastor Kevin Mangum and Mr. Tim Reed officiating. Interment will follow in Bethany Christian Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Monday, November 15, 2021, at the funeral home.

Those in attendance are asked to please adhere to the public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

House redistricting map heads to governor

By

Donna Lowry

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November 12, 2021

ATLANTA – The first map of the 2021 redistricting Special Session is headed for the governor’s desk for a signature. The Senate passed the House legislative map 32-21 with one Republican voting with Democrats against it.

“We’ve got some folks in north Coweta who are not excited about what their map looks like,” Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) said on the Senate floor.

State Rep. Philip Singleton’s district shifts to a Democratic-leaning north Coweta area in the state House’s redistricting map, which passed the Senate on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021.

The house map splits Coweta County into five districts — combining the northern area with south Fulton. That district is currently represented by Republican state Rep. Philip Singleton. His supporters blast the move as revenge for his criticism of House Speaker David Ralston over the years. Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) had a message for residents of that area.

“They think they’re going to lose conservative leadership in that part of the area,” Brass said. “But they’re not. They’re going to gain more and we’re going to fight and we’re going to win it.”

Democrats charged Republicans with speeding through the process and drawing maps that don’t reflect the growth of the state’s minority population in the last 10 years.

“The Republicans have a waning political power here in Georgia,” Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) told reporters after the vote. “I certainly expected that they would draw gerrymandered maps and try to rush them through as soon as possible.”

Democrats are also fighting two bills they say saps their strength in Gwinnett County. The bills’ sponsor says the county’s population calls for redistricting the school board and doubling the size of the county commission.

The Republican-controlled House is expected to approve the Senate legislative map next week. Also, the debates over redistricting congressional maps begin.

This article appears on Now Habersham through a news partnership with GPB