Page 6A
l porter
February 21, 2018
So, in] Hemor
Gary McNaughton Powell
August 7, 1953 - February 16, 2018
Gary McNaughton Powell, of Forsyth, passed away
Friday, February 16, 2018. A Memorial Service will be held
at 11:00 a.m Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Monroe
County Memorial Chapel. Burial will be private. The fam-
ily will greet friends following the service at the funeral
home.
Mr. Powell, the son of the late McNaughton Powell and
Inell Cravey Powell was born August 7, 1953, in Macon,
Georgia. He was retired from Trane Company.
Survivors include his children, Justin Jenna Hoback of
Virginia Beach, Virginia, Glena Marble of Augusta and
Brandon Brandy Marble of Augusta; brother, Wayne
Brenda Powell of Terlingua, Texas; and five grandchildren.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to
express tributes.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of arrange-
ments.
Deacon James Freeman Sr.
Homegoing Services for Deacon James Freeman Sr 84,
of Eorsyth, were held Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Maynard Baptist
Church. Rev. Robert Walker officiated, and Reverend Rufus
J. Whatley presided. Burial was in Monroe Hills Memorial
Gardens.
Survivors include his wife, Beatrice R. Freeman; daugh-
ter, Karen B. Freeman; son, James Freeman Jr.; grand-
daughter Janee Freeman Robert Dranberg; grandson
James Marisa Freeman III; great grandson, Jaxson Freeman
and a host of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations
be made to the American Heart Association.
Freeman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
pounds at the time of doing so. Asked what gible, that's all I can tell
his conviction, Stewarthe might say to parentsyou."
Continued from the front page was hired as a substitute who have eoncer~s, Asked if the school
teacher on Nov. 14, 2017 Daniel said, '"they maysystem has a shortage
sex offender her.e until and has been working not know everything I of substitute teachers,
he rolled off in 2015, at Mary Persons. Danielknow." Daniel said there's not,
after the required 10 said he would be willing "We have a process for and that they have the
years, per state law. to say more but said heall subs," said Daniel.fullest roster of subs
Listed at 5-foot-8, 473 is forbidden legally from "this individual is eli- they've had in a while.
FREEMAN ing Mount Pleasant Baptist and presented a plaque one year at
Continued from the front page Union Hill Baptist, was a mem- the program to thank him for his
ber of the Monroe County Prayernever-ending community service.
Band and especially helped withIt was one of numerous awards
civic and educational organiza- transportation, and was a found- and recognitions he has received
tions in countless ways over the ing member of the New Monroe over the years, but he was known
years. County Ushers Association. for not seeking recognition for his
"He helped all around, the Freeman enjoyed raising a generosity.
young, the old," said Annette garden and sharing its produce "He was a very giving and loving
Lucear, director of the Community with friends and family. He gave person," said Forsyth city council
Improvement Coalition of Monroe hundreds of bicycles to children member Melvin Lawrence. "He
County (CICMC). "He gave and in Monroe County at Christmas, did a lot for the community, a lot
didn't want anything back. He enjoying the opportunity to give behind the scenes. He was always
was one of God's faithful dis- them one of the things that he right there."
ciples." wanted but did not have when heFreeman may be best remem-
Freeman was the youngest was growing up. Lucear said that bered, however, for all of the fam-
of six children born to Frank for over a decade he gave eightily members he has comforted
Freeman Sr. and Isabell Murray to 10 bicycles to families through as he served them at his funeral
Freeman,'a farming family that CICMC each year. Not only did home, sharing his faith with oth-
lived in the Dames Ferry Road he bring joy to the children who ers at times when they needed
area of Juliette. He attended received the bicycles but also to strength.
Monroe County schools, served the parents and to siblings whoThe celebration of life service for
in the Korean War and retired got to share them. James Freeman was on Tuesday
from Robins Air Force Base James Freeman Jr. recalled thatmorning, Feb. 20 at Maynard
after 37 years. He and Beatrice his father supported the MonroeBaptist Church with Rev. Robert
Reeves Freeman were married County Head Start Program and Walker officiating and Rev. Rufus
for 63 years and have two chil- the Senior Program. He gave fruit Whatley presiding. Pastors Hosie
dren, Karen Freeman and James baskets or clothing to the elderly Waters, T.O. Sams and Neisha
Freeman Jr two grandchildren at Christmas and was a supporter Davis also took part in the ser-
and one great grandson, of the Save the Children summervice. Interment was in Monroe
Giving his life to Christ at an
camps that provide activities and Hills Memorial Gardens. The
early age, he was a faithflfl mem- meals for Monroe County chil- family asked that those wishing
ber of Piney Grove Baptist Church dren for at least four weeks out to contribute as a memorial give
throughout his life, serving as of each summer. He helped make donations to the American Heart
chairman of the Deacon Board for Forsyth's Martin Luther King Association.
30 years. He provided assistance Jr. Day celebration possible by
to many other churches, includ- supporting it each year and was
UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED by Marilyn Langford
By Richard Dumas
forsyth@mymcr.net
Monroe County
Commissioners agreed
on Tuesday, Feb. 6 to
advertise a job descrip-
tion for a newly-created
assistant county man-
ager/finance director
position with a salary up
to $75,000.
According to the job
~ummary, the candidate
selected will be respon-
sible for managing the
county's finances by
heading the finance and
urchasing division, act
fis county manager in the
absence of current coun-
ty manager Anita Buice
and work under Buice's
general supervision.
District 1 commissioner
Larry Evans suggested
hiring a recruiting com-
pany to assist with filling
the vacancy, but the job
description was approved
without hiring a head-
hunting firm at least
initially. Evans said he
also wants commission-
ers personally involved
in the hiring process.
County commission
chairman Greg Tapley
recommended a salary
of between $65,000 and
$70,000 for the new
hire while new District
4 commissioner George
Emami said commission-
ers might need to be will-
ing to go up to $75,000
to get the right person.
Commissioners then
unanimously approved
the description with a
salary range of between
$60,000 and $75.000.
Ashley Wooley has
served as the county's
interim finance director
since December 2012.
" --" . C c~ --
~e~xaW, 24, 1948 - ,:S~ey:ten~e,v 12. 2011
When we remember your smile, it
brightens our day And thoughts of
your warmth and love seem to smooth
the way.There's a corner in our hearts,
you visit every day It gives us this
warm feeling that you're never far away.
q, ViN, 5we, d, a s;
Ricky, Indya, your sisters, brothers,
nieces, and nephews
Public Hearing Notice
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners would like
to start the process to close two railroad crossings in Smart,
Georgia and open one railroad crossing for public access
that will better serve your commtmi . Please join us on the
date below for a Public Hearing to start this process.
Written comments and questions can be marled to:
Monroe County Board of Commissioners
PO BOX 189
Forsyth, GA 31029
Or emailed to:
Anita Buice, County Manager
abuice@monroecoga.org
Copy to:
Kelsey Fortner, Deputy Zoning Officer
kfortner@monroecoga.org
Location: New Providence Baptist Church
2560 HWY 41 South
Smarr, GA 31086
Date: Tursday, March 1, 2018
Time: 6:00 pm
!,
Crossings in discussion:
Railroad Crossing # 718 343U "
Railroad Crossing # 904 840H
e
wenty-seven years ago,
when my son was 16 years
old, he was in our front
yard, loading up his lawn
mower for his summer job,
He was approached by two boys, one
he recognized, and one was a com-
plete stranger. My son and the boy he
recognized had previously had a spat
over something that had happened
with their two little brothers. As the
stranger walked into our yard and
got closer and closer, my son pre-
pared himself for a fist fight. That's
when the stranger pulled a 38-police
special and shot my son at point-
blank range in the chest. It was a
"hit" of sorts, over a kid's squabble.
culture in our.country. I know you're
Fathers had in
your guns away. Not the case. I want
sensible gun control m sures and you
all know what that entails~ When this
happened to my son, I could have easily
turned against guns and black people
because the kid that shot my son was
black. I never thought of doing either. I
think guns are a n~essity for a person
to protect their homes and property
and to hunt. Other than that, I see
no.reason for a person to amass an
arsenalof military style guns like an
AR-15. That's not what our Founding
mind.
HIGHLY UNUSUAL for me, I took a two-hour the National Rifle Association (NRA)! The obsession
lunch. When I arrived back at the office, everyone with gun ownership in this country is due to the
was standing outside the office waiting for me. This culture the NRA created. It's "cool" to have these
was before cell phones. As they descended on my . ,
car, I heard the words, '%tour son has been shot and While the bey that shot my son had a
we have to get you to the hospital." My whole world weapon, m3
seemed to fall apart in that moment. They had no him with an AR-15, my story would be quite dif-
answers to any of my questions. It took us 30 min-
utes to get to the hospital and that was the single
most agonizing 30 minutes of my life. I prayed, I
cried, my life flashed before my eyes, and one thing
I knew for sure, if my son was dead, I could not go
on. I knew his father could not go on, or his grand-
mother. I saw no life without him.
ferent. The blood of all these dead children are on
the hands of the NRA and all the Republicans who
have been bought and:paid for by the to block
any type of sensible gun control.
WHEN I finally arrived at the emergency room, it
was the most surreal moment of my life. The lobby
was packed with all his friends and classmates. You
see, the teenagers had beepers and they had their
own 911 messaging system. I was met by a doctor
who said beautiful words, "He's going to be okay.
He's a very lucky young man: the bullet missed his
heart by a fraction of an inch." With relief I went
in to see my son. I will never forget the words he
said, "Mama, am I going to die?" I assured him he
was not. Days later, I asked him, 'q rhen did you
know you weren't going to die. He said, '%Vhen you
told me, Mama." My heart broke at that moment
because I realized my son had thought he was
going to die for over two hours!
executive order tiiat made it harder for people adju-
dicated as mentally ill to buy a gun. Coineidentally,
this is the man that received $30 million from the
NRA during his presidential campaign. "I think We
need to pray, now is not the time to have a knee-
jerk reaction," said Speaker Paul Ryan who has
blocked sensible gun control for years and a benefi-
ciary of NRA contribt/tions "Sending prayers" is all
we got out of all the elected lackeys of the NRA. We
didn't hear a peep out of our junior Senator from
Georgia, David Perdue, not even a prayer. He's lay-
ing low. I have one question for him. What did the
NRA get in return for the $2.5 million they gave to
his Senate campaign? His phone number is 202-
224-3521.
MY STORY has a happy ending I have seen my
sen grow up, marry a wonderful woman, and give
me wonderful grandkids. But it stays with me. I
only got a small taste of what it would be like to
lose a child. But I know enough to know parents
whose children have been gunned down will never
feel joy again.
THE NRA spent $55 million last year to buy
the Republican legislators. The NRA has 5 million
would be safer. At least you won't have their blood
on your hands, too. Also, give your elected officials a
choice---the NRA, or your vote.
I HAVE seldom told this story because it's too
painful to relive. I'm telling it now in hopes you will
feel so much empathy for the families that it will
Marilyn Langford
events from the liberal perspective.
lyrdangford85@gnzail.oom. "
Call your local Monroe County representative
Scott Harrell
478-256-3586
or toll free: 800-551-1102
3250 Vineville Ave.l MaconF GA 31208 C
Serving Middle Georgia for Over 100 Years
Designers & ManuFactures of
Marble, Granite & Bronze
Memorials since 1908 George &
Janiee Moore Authorized Georgia
Marble Dealer
TOLLFREE
1-800-377-9341
1-770-358-1470
Railroad & Main St. * Barnesville, GA
