Mr. William Spencer Collier Jr., age 75, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018 at Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee, Georgia. He was born on February 4, 1943 in Austin, Texas to the late William Spencer Collier Sr. and Nellie Borror Collier. Mr. Collier was a loving husband and devoted father to his two sons. In his early life, he served four years in the United States Air Force, where he worked on the U2 Recon Aircraft as a technician. After his service in the Air Force he worked in the banking equipment manufacturing industry as a CEO for 36 years. In his free time, he loved woodworking.

Mr. Collier is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years, Jane Reeves Collier; his two sons and daughters-in-law, Rhett and Shannon Collier of Bridgeport Connecticut, and Jeff and Christina Collier of Tampa Florida; four grandchildren, Elizabeth, Victoria, Ronan, and Faelan Collier; and one sister, Barbara Middleton.

Services for Mr. Collier will be held on Thursday, July 18th at 2:00 PM at Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’Lakes, Florida. Banister Funeral Home and Loyless Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.

Wayne Weible, born in Long Beach California in 1937, died on Saturday April 21st 2018 after a three month illness.

For the past 33 years, Wayne has made it his life’s mission to spread the messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje bringing hundreds of thousands of people to conversion to God. Wayne has traveled the world speaking about Medjugorje and he has written twelve books which have sold worldwide. In addition, Wayne has lead dozens of pilgrimages to Medjugorje throughout the past 30 plus years.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife, Judith Weible, his six children: Lisa Militello, Steve Weible, Angie Weible Graham, Michael Weible, Kennedy Weible, Rebecca Weible, his five grandchildren and many more nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11:00am from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Blairsville, GA. Interment will be in the Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Weible Columns Inc. to enable the continuation of Wayne’s mission. Donations may be made online athttps://www.weiblecolumns.org/donate/weible-columns-inc or by mail at P.O. Box 10 Hiawassee, GA 30546. Make checks payable to Weible Columns Inc. (All donations are tax deductible).

Cochran funeral Home of Hiawassee is honored to be serving in charge of the arrangements.

Alice Lucille Jones, age 96, of Blairsville, Georgia passed away on April 2, 2018. She was born on December 6, 1921 in Koshkonong Township, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of John Lysser and Anna Altmann. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1940. Alice Lucille Lysser married Cecil Edward Jones on September 26, 1941 at St. Johns United Church of Christ, Monroe. She worked at Production Credit Association until December 1983 in Monroe.

She was a member of the Moose Lodge and a die hard Chicago Cubs fan.

Survivors include a son, Michael Jones, his wife Theresa and two grandchildren, Brian and Cory. She was preceded in death by her husband Cecil in 2007; daughter, Carolynn Jones Triggs in 1984; brothers, Ervin and William and sister, Gertrude.

A private graveside service will be held on Monday, April 9th at Greenwood Cemetery in Monroe. Shriner Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home of Monroe is assisting the family.

Retired Master Sergeant Alonzo Jackson Berrong, age 81, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on March 15, 2018 at his home. Mr. Berrong was born in Hiawassee, Georgia on July 29, 1936 to the late Hilyer and Lucy (Hooper) Berrong. He was a lifelong resident of Towns county. Alonzo served in the Air Force for 26 years and served three tours in Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star for Valor, the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, AF Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Service Medal among other awards. Once he returned, he opened a grading and construction business. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Hiawassee for over 50 years and also a member of Upper Hightower Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Reba Plott Berrong; daughter and son-in-law, Linda Jean and Terry Frank of Shreveport, Louisiana; son, Chad Ingram of Demorest, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law, Cory and Rheanna Ingram of Young Harris, Georgia; sister, Glenda Sue and Eric England of Blairsville, Georgia; brother, Leon Berrong of Hiawassee, Georgia; grandchildren, Jason Roshto, Cody Frank, Dillon Ingram, Grant Ingram, Roxie Ingram, Reese Ingram, Gracie Ingram and Lexie Nelms; great grandchildren, Hannah, Hayden, Molly, Jackson, Kendall, Karter, Kyleigh and a number of nieces, nephews and friends also survive.

Visitation: Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Upper Hightower Baptist Church from 6:00 to 9:00 PM

Services: Sunday, March 18, 2018 at Upper Hightower Baptist Church at 2:00 PM with Rev. Dwane Beck officiating. Music provided by Glen and Sheila Eller.

Interment: Upper Hightower Baptist Church cemetery following the service.

Pallbearers: Chad Ingram, Cory Ingram, Cody Frank, Jason Roshto, Edward Berrong, Josh Berrong.

Honorary Pallbearers: Dillon Ingram and Grant Ingram

Banister Funeral Home of Hiawassee, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Debra Darlene Sofield, age 56, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Sofield was born on June 10, 1961 in New Jersey to Andrew Jackson Parks and the late Edna Lorraine (Cranner) Parks. She was a member of Hiawassee United Methodist Church. Her hobbies included going to car shows, boating, and music. She had a passion for gardening and flowers. She adored her grandsons Logan and Jaden. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Andy Parks and Larry Parks. Mrs. Sofield is survived by her husband, Leonard Sofield; son, Leonard Sofield Jr.; daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Scott Kerlin; brother, Brian Parks; sisters, Norma Dolqueist and Jami Brown; step-sister, Sherry Lenski; grandsons, Logan Kerlin and Jaden Sofield; a number of nieces, nephews and friends also survive. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 27th at 2pm at Hiawassee United Methodist Church with Rev. Sam Hamby officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help defray final expenses. Banister Funeral Home of Hiawassee, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Maggie Esta Dover, age 89, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on April 25, 2018 following a brief illness. Maggie was born in Tate City, Georgia on March 18, 1929 to the late Grover and Arka (Nichols) Rogers. Mrs. Dover was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. Maggie was a loving mother, sister and aunt. She was a seamstress and owned the only  Drapery and Bedspread shop in Hiawassee for many years. She also worked at the Georgia Mountain Fair. She collected dolls and at one time had over two hundred dolls in her collection. She enjoyed cooking for families and helping serve them when they lost loved ones. According to some, she was a very feisty woman and even survived colon cancer in 1996. Maggie was preceded in death by her son, Keith Lineberger. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Dover of Hiawassee, Georgia; brothers, Ellis Rogers and Wayne Rogers; sisters, Ruth Ledford, Reba Denton, Jean Tucker, Mae Owenby, and Wanda Rogers; a number of nieces, nephews and friends also survive.

Visitation: Friday, April 27, 2018 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at Macedonia Baptist Church.

Service: Friday, April 27, 2018 at 1:00PM at Macedonia Baptist Church with Rev. Bradley Thomas officiating. Music provided by Ryan Wilson, Glen Eller and Sheila Eller.

Interment: Following the service at Lower Hightower Baptist Church.

Banister Funeral Home of Hiawassee, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Geneva Mae Perry Forrester, age 92 of Hiawassee, Ga. formerly of Marietta, Ga. passed away April 6, 2018 Mrs. Forrester was born in Hall County, Ga. on March 9, 1926 and was the daughter of the late Fillmore and Lillian Perry. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga.; Mrs. Forrester really enjoyed working in her garden and her beloved flowers. She just loved nature in all its beauty!

Mrs. Forrester was preceded in death by husband J.C. (Jake) Forrester Sr.; son J.C. (Sonny) Forrester; sisters Dorothy Westmoreland and Shirley Taffar; and grandson Gary Kelley.

To cherish in her loving memories are sons, Steve Forrester and James (Jerrilynn) Forrester of Hiawassee, Ga.; two daughters Debbie (Ed) Kelley of Hiawassee, Ga.; Pat (Steve) Williams of Newman, Ga.; seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral Service will be held Sunday April 8, 2018 at 11:00 am from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee with the Rev. Jason Cantrell officiating. Visitation at the funeral home will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018, between the hours of 11 am until 7 pm.

A graveside service will be held Sunday April 8, 2018 at 2:30 pm at Georgia Memorial Park in Marietta, Ga.

Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee is honored to be serving the family of Mrs. Geneva Forrester.

The Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces the death of Mrs. Betty Jo Scott Shook, age 78, of Hiawassee who passed away on March 14, 2018.

Mrs. Shook was born July 5, 1939 in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She was the daughter of H.H. and Faye Jones. She was a member of Rock Chapel UMC, and then of Union Hill UMC in Hiawassee.

Mrs. Shook was preceded in death by her brother, Herbert Jones; her first husband, Herbert Noel Scott; and her second husband, Jack Shook.

Survivors include 2 sons, Wayne Scott and Noel Scott of Hiawassee; 2 daughters, Cindy McAllister and Nancy Scott; 4 grandchildren, Justin Jones, Amanda Young (William), Dylan and SueEllen Scott; and 2 great grandchildren, Will and Lily Young. Also, surviving is one niece, Theresa Grimes of Cumming, GA and 3 step-children, Stanley Shook, Leslie Walker, and LeAnn Shook.

Betty Jones married Herbert Scott in 1957 and they were married until his death in 1990. She moved to Hiawassee that year and married Jack Shook in 1991. They were married until he passed in 2014.

The family will gather with friends at Cochran Funeral Home from 6 until 9p.m. on Friday evening, March 16, 2018. A graveside service will occur at a later date in Lithonia, GA at Rock Chapel UMC.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee.