Page 6A March 21, 2018
R/epOrter
Velva Dungan Darden
August 4, 1921 March 18, 2018
Forsyth - Velva Dungan Darden
passed away Sunda ; March 18,
2018. Funeral services will be held at
2 p.m Thursday; March 22 at First
Baptist Church of Forsyth with burial
in Monroe Hills Memorial Gardens.
Dr. Dan Whitaker and Dr. Hambric
Brooks will officiate. The family will
greet friends from 6-8 p.m Wednes- DARDEN
day; March 21 at Monroe County
Memorial Chapel.
Mrs. Darden, the daughter of the late George Fredrick
Dungan and Lula Padgett Dungan, was born Aug. 4,
1921, in Forsyth. Her husband, Ret. Col. George William
Darden, preceded her in death. She was a homemaker, a
member of First Baptist Church of Forsyth and a volun-
teer for Meal on Wheels. Gonga, as her family and friends
knew her, served all who crossed her path. She enjoyed
many hobbies including cooking, baking, sewing, arts
and crafts; painting, socializing, playing scrabble and
fishing. She never met a stranger and all were welcomed
at her table. In her years at Mary Persons High School
and Bessie Tift College she played basketball and tennis
and continued to enjoy watching both on television. She
enjoyed serving her community through all of her gifts
and talents. One of her most treasured accomplishments
was the Chrismon Tree for First Baptist Church. We will
remember her love, care and compassion in all the ways
she loved and served.
Mrs. Darden is survived by her children, Iris (Lloyd)
Zehner of Monticello, George "Buddy" (Frances) Darden
of Thomson, Dean (Kathy) Darden of Culloden, Madison
Darden of Forsyth and Denise (Joel) Vinson of Forsyth;
sister, Alice James of Duluth; 14 grandchildren; 27 great
grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
The family may be contacted at the residence, 101 Baze-
more Street, Forsyth, Ga 31029.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Meal
on Wheels at First Baptist Church or to First Baptist
Church of Forsyth, 95 West Morse Street, Forsyth, Ga
31029.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to
express tributes.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of ar-
rangements.
Freemans say thanks
The family of the late James Freeman St. greatly ap-
preciates your kind expressions of sympathy during our
loss. We thank you for the outpouring of love through
prayers, food, phone calls, physical presence, donations
and floral tributes. We are blessed to have friends like
you and are thankful for all you've done. May the Lord
bless and keep you.
AROUND GEORGIA
A look at top news from Jones County News.
other weekly newspapers from
around the state: 'Nobody wants to work?'
Employers in Pierce
Tax break for seniors? County and across the state
Pickens County senior report they're having a hard
citizens in north Georgia time finding good employ-
convene for the first of three ees due to an epidemic of
meetings to discuss seeking drug use and poor work
a property tax exemption for ethic, reports the Blackshear
those over 62 years old. They Times. The Times notes there
plan to try to put the issue are a lot of help wanted ads
on the ballot in a referen- in the newspaper but talks
dum. Meanwhile, Relnhardt to business owners who note
University is planning a .5K the problem. "If the very first
(not a 5K) to raise money in thing they ask is 'how much
the Shamrock Stroll, reports does the job pay', that gives
the Pickens County Progress me doubts" sighs the owner
of Jasper, Ga. of a local data company.
Trial begins for man
accused of killing wife
The.trial begins ofTex Mc-
Iver, the part-time Putnam
County resident and member
of the Development Author-
ityaccused of killing his wife.
The Eatonton Messenger re-
ports that McIvey has never
denied shooting his wife but
claims it was an accident.
No T rac r Supplyin Gray
Tractor Supply has decided
not to put a store in Gray
after getting little coopera-
tion from the city, reports the
Devdopment outrages
Madison residents
Some Madison residents
are furious after the city
council makes a "shocking"
vote to approve the Foster
Park housing development
in the city's historic district.
Members of the audience
booed, hissed and hurled
insults as council approved
a rezoning for 19 homes to
go in the historic district,
reports the Morgan County
Citizen. Opponents said they
will consider a lawsuit to
stop it.
LAR
Call your local Monroe County representative
Scott Harrell
478-256-3586
or toll free: 800-551-1102
3250 Vineville Ave.l Maconr GA 31208 C
BARNESVILLE MARBLE & GRANITE COMPANY
Serving Middle Georgia for Over 100 Years
Designers & Manuthctu.res of
Marble, Granite & Bronze
Memorials since 1908 George &
Janice ,Moore Auth~rized Ge,)rgia
Marble Dealer
TOLL FREE
1-800-377-9341
1-770-358-1.470
Railroad & Main St. Barnesville, GA
IN LOVING
Donald Joseph Rose
March 13, 1929 Month 14, 2018
Donald Joseph Rose, 89, of For-
syth died while at home on Tuesday,
March 14, 2018. Funeral services were
held Saturday, March 17 at Sharps-
burg Baptist Church, 6413 Hwy. 54,
Sharpsburg, Ga. with their pastor and
friend Dr. Watson E. Mills officiating. ROSE
Mr. Rose was born in Columbus on
March 13, 1929, son of the late For-
rest B. Rose and Rotchie Head Rose. He first retired from
First National Bank of Columbus before accepting his
position with the FDIC, where he retired after eight years
of service. Don served on the executive advisory board
of the American Bankers Association, and retired as VP
at First National Bank in Columbus; served as Chair-
man of the Board of the Columbus Civic Club and was
a member of the Board of Directors, Columbus Georgia
Heart Association. He served with the US Army in Korea.
Longtime member, Don served for many years as dea-
con and treasurer of Sharpsburg Baptist Church and was
instrumental with securing the financing for the current
church facilities.
Mr. Rose was preceded in death by his parents, three
sisters; Eloise Kelly, Julia Goodman, Annie Merle Rose
and a brother, William Byron Rose. He is survived by his
devoted wife of 68 years, Mary Lizabeth Johnson Rose of
Forsyth; a brother Harold Edwin Rose and his wife Bettie
of Shiloh; three children and their families: Donald David
Rose of Columbus, Donna Llzabeth Reich(Beth) and
her husband Ron Reich of Jemison, Alabama; and their
children Sandy West (Don) of Newnan, Michelle Popwell
(Brent), Janie and Hannah Popwell of Jemison, Ala.; and
Alex Jewett of Denver, Colorado; Willa Ann Rose and her
husband Dr. Jack Bowcock of Forsyth; Clark Bowcock
(Jennifer), Alexis and Lyndsey of Los Gatos, Calif.; Blair
Hickman (Stan), Jason and Logan Hickman; Liz Corbett
(Shawn), McKenney, Michael and Grace Ann Corbett of
Statesboro.
Annie Nell Laster
July 23, 1942 - March 9, 2018
Forsyth - Funeral services for Mrs. Annie Nell Laster
were held Wednesday, March 14 at St. Luke A.M.E.
Church, Forsyth. Burial Rest Haven Memorial Cemetery.
Survivors include her son, Maurice Laster; brother, Cal-
vin (Fredda) Banks and a host of relatives and friends.
The family may be contacted at 290 Milledge Circle,
Forsyth.
Freeman Funeral Home in Forsyth was in charge of ar-
rangements.
Syble Adams McCoy
September 25, 1928- March 13, 2018
/'
Forsyth - Syble Adams McCoy passed away Tuesday,
March 13, 2018. A Graveside Service was held Friday,
March 16 at Forsyth City Cemetery. David Herndon of-
ficiated.
Syble, the daughter of the late George Henry Adams and
Eddie Steele Adams, was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Forsyth.
Her husbands, James Marion Brasher and Lenis Oren
McCoy, preceded her in death. She was retired owner and
operator of Syble's Beauty Shop.
Survivors include her nephew, Larry (Ruth) Herndon of
Milledgeville; great-nephew, David (Cheryl) Herndon of
Forsyth; several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Meals
on Wheels, 95 West Morse Street, Forsyth, Ga 31029.
Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to
express tributes.
Monroe County Memorial Chapel had charge of ar-
rangements.
Otis Ponder
F~=kr,-~rv ")A ln,lO AA~r,-h 13, 2018
Forsyth - Homegoing Services for Deacon Otis Ponder
were held Saturday, March 17 at Greater Friendship Bap-
tist Church. Reverend Cleveland Jarrell officiated. Burial
was in the church cemetery.
Survivors include wife, Elizabeth Ponder; children: Kim-
berly Ponder, Otis Victor (Christopher) Ponder, Edward
(Lesa) Cheves, Leonardo (Tiffany) Evans, Bianca Evans
(Celwyn) Morgan, Joshua Hicks along with other family
and friends.
Freeman Funeral Home in Forsyth was in charge of ar-
rangements.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I
Mighty Mike recovering at home after
terrifying driveway accident in Forsyth
To the Editor:
eb. 27 ended rather
dramatically and,
tragically for our
little family. Our
son, Mike, was involved
in a serious freak accident
just a few days after his
third birthday. After being
rushed to the ER, Mike
was admitted to the PICU
at The Children's Hospital
for injuries, some requiring
surgical repairs.
After days in the hospital,
he was discharged and is
expected to make a full re-
covery! But the healing and
recovery are ongoing!
The point of this letter is
to praise the people of our
awesome community! We
received an outpouring of
prayers, love, and dona-
tions that touched us to the
depths of our souls. It is an
amazing blessing to belong
to a community that steps
up and shows out when
one of their own is in need.
We were shown unimagi-
nable acts of selflessness
from family, friends, and
businesses, many of whom
were total strangers. A
huge shout out to Monroe
County Emergency Servic-
es for their quick response,
care and compassion.
As long as we live, we
will never be able to thank
you all enough but we
will forever strive to pay it
forward!
.Once again, thank you,
Monroe County! God bless
you all!
Lo#e,
Trae, Samantha,
and Mike Maddox
Forsyth
For anyone wanting
to contribute, there is a
"Mighty Mike" account in
place at United Bank.
Three-year-old Mike Maddox of Monroe County is recovering
after his grandmother accidentally struck him with her vehicle
in his driveway on Feb. 27. Little Mike Maddox, son of Trae and
Samantha Maddox, was involved in the accident the evening
of Feb. 27. He suffered some head trauma and was rushed by
Monroe County EMS to Navicent Health where he was treated
for a skull fracture, shoulder fracture, severe lung bruising, road
rash on his face/body and other injuries (see photo right after
the accident at left). Doctors performed plastic surgery to repair
his ear and do a skin graft on his head. "We are extremely
blessed," his mother, Samantha Maddox, posted on Facebook.
"This may seem absolutely horrible for us, but Lord it could be
much worse." At right, Mike is now home and well on his way
to recovery, and his mother is thanking Monroe County for its
support. (Photos courtesy Samantha Maddox)
HICKMAN
Continued from Front
That this discharge shall completely
exonerate the defendant of any criminal
purpose;
That this discharge shall not affect
any of said defendant's civil rights or
liberties;
The defendant shall not be considered
to have a criminal conviction; and
This discharge may not be used to
disqualify a person in any application for
employment or appointment to office in
either the public or private sector.
According to Mr. Adams, who has
looked into this matter along with Mon-
roe County Sheriff John Cary Bittick, this
court order did not contain the required
language from Official Code of Georgia
42-8-63.1 (the First Offender Act) and
therefore was not a proper order. How-
ever, when it was signed by a judge and
filed in court, it did become a binding
order. Mr. Adams and SheriffBittick are
currently working with state officials to
determine how and why this improper
order was made and to ensure that
protocols are made to prevent this from
happening again.
Please know that during this entire
process, I and my administrative team
have dosely followed the advice of our le-
gal counsel, and we have cooperated with
local law enforcement off~cials and with
our District Attorney. Never was there
intent by anyone in the school system "
administration to knowingly put some-
one in a classroom who could potentially
endanger any of our children. Hindsight
is valuable, and knowing then what we
know now about the improper court
order, this person would not have been
placed in Monroe County's substitute
pool. Our focus now is to move ahead;
to work with officials in correcting what
was a ser!ous legal mistake so neither our
nor any other school system falls victim
to a similar situation; and to review and
change as necessary our own protocols
and policies.
Over the past few weeks, your central
office administrative team has been
subjected to criticisms, allegations, and
even harassment from members of the
community who believed they knew the
whole story. While personally hurt-
ftil to us as individuals, sadly this is an
expected aspect ofourjobs. We are
fine. But this has also proven harmful to
the school system's culture of coopera-
tion and unity. This has been felt by the
members of the Board of Education and
likely by you as our dedicated and valued
staff. For this we apologize.
The majority of oilr Board of Educa-
tion remains confident and supportive of
its administration. I as Superintendent
have confidence in the leadership of our
Central Office administrative team. Our
focus is and always will be the safety and
well-being of our children and of our
dedicated employees.
I welcome your questions, your com-
ments, and your concerns. Please see
attachment (pictured below) from the
District Attorney regarding the substitute
teacher matter. Thanks for all you do,
and have a great weekend! You deserve it!
