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Chamber of Commerce Update

Peter Madruga
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Chamber of Commerce Update

Cornelia, GA – Habersham Chamber of Commerce chairman Tommy Thurmond issued an update on regarding chamber operations.

“The Habersham County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors would like to share an important update regarding Chamber operations. Our Chamber President resigned effective October 16, 2025. We are grateful for their leadership and service to our Chamber and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

As we move forward, the Board of Directors is working diligently to ensure a smooth transition and continued success for our members and community. We have recently regained full access to the membership database, allowing us to resume communication with all Chamber members.

In the interim, the board is addressing both immediate and long-term operational needs. We are in the process of arranging temporary office assistance to provide coverage for daily operations, including phones, emails, and walk-in inquiries. Additionally, we are reviewing upcoming events to ensure all necessary preparations are in place.

A formal job posting for the Chamber President position will be announced soon. Our goal is to identify, interview, and hire the right candidate as quickly as possible to continue the Chamber’s strong tradition of service and community impact.”

In closing, Chairman Thurmond thanked chamber of commerce members for their continued support. Habersham News will provide updates as more information is provided.

Watch & Decide: Demorest City Council Candidates

Habersham News
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Watch & Decide: Demorest City Council Candidates

As the November 4, 2025 election approaches, voters in Demorest have a valuable chance to hear directly from the four candidates running for city council. There are two seats up for grabs, which is why Habersham News met with the candidates to hear their thoughts on what the most pressing issues are to them. Four video interviews have been made available to give residents a clearer look at each candidate’s priorities, style, and approach to leadership.

Each candidate was interviewed separately. The candidates are Shawn Allen, Patti Davis, Andrew Ferguson and Jim Welborn.These video give side-by-side perspectives, making it easier for voters to compare their platforms.

What you’ll see and hear:

  • Each candidate’s vision for Baldwin’s growth and infrastructure
  • How they plan to address challenges like water, roads, or city services
  • Their approaches to involving citizens and transparency

Why These Videos Matter

  • Direct communication: Instead of reading campaign literature, residents can hear candidates speak in their own voice, with tone, inflection, and emphasis intact.
  • Accountability & comparison: Side-by-side interviews let viewers compare how each candidate answers the same questions, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and consistency.
  • Voter education: For many, watching a candidate explain their priorities helps clarify which proposals fit one’s values or concerns.
  • Engagement encouragement: Sharing these videos helps increase turnout. When people see and hear from the candidates personally, they may feel more motivated to vote.

Tips for Voters Before You Decide

  1. Watch both videos in full — do not skip ahead. Note how they handle tough questions.
  2. Look for specifics — beyond “vision” talk, listen for actionable ideas and timelines.
  3. Check consistency — see if a candidate’s statements in the video match earlier statements or campaign documents.
  4. Write down your own questions — then see how each video addresses (or avoids) them.
  5. Share with neighbors — forwarding these links or embedding in social media spreads awareness and helps others decide.

Watch & Decide: Baldwin Mayoral Candidates

Habersham News
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Watch & Decide: Baldwin Mayoral Candidates

As the November 4, 2025 election approaches, voters in Baldwin have a valuable chance to hear directly from the two candidates running for mayor. Two video interviews now circulating give residents a clearer look at each candidate’s priorities, style, and approach to leadership.

Each candidate was interviewed separately. Both Doug Faust and Alice Venter responded to questions about where they see Baldwin heading and how they would govern. These video give side-by-side perspectives, making it easier for voters to compare their platforms.

What you’ll see and hear:

  • Each candidate’s vision for Baldwin’s growth and infrastructure
  • How they plan to address challenges like water, roads, or city services
  • Their approaches to involving citizens and transparency

Why These Videos Matter

  • Direct communication: Instead of reading campaign literature, residents can hear candidates speak in their own voice, with tone, inflection, and emphasis intact.
  • Accountability & comparison: Side-by-side interviews let viewers compare how each candidate answers the same questions, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and consistency.
  • Voter education: For many, watching a candidate explain their priorities helps clarify which proposals fit one’s values or concerns.
  • Engagement encouragement: Sharing these videos helps increase turnout. When people see and hear from the candidates personally, they may feel more motivated to vote.

Tips for Voters Before You Decide

  1. Watch both videos in full — do not skip ahead. Note how they handle tough questions.
  2. Look for specifics — beyond “vision” talk, listen for actionable ideas and timelines.
  3. Check consistency — see if a candidate’s statements in the video match earlier statements or campaign documents.
  4. Write down your own questions — then see how each video addresses (or avoids) them.
  5. Share with neighbors — forwarding these links or embedding in social media spreads awareness and helps others decide.

Interviews with City Council Candidates

Habersham News
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Interviews with City Council Candidates

Habersham News will continue its local election coverage tonight with a special round of interviews featuring city council candidates from Baldwin and Demorest.

The candidate interviews are part of Habersham News’s ongoing effort to help voters make informed decisions ahead of Election Day. Each candidate will have the opportunity to discuss their background, priorities, and vision for their city’s future.

“These conversations are about giving residents a clear picture of who’s running and what they stand for,” said Peter Madruga, Habersham News editor. “Local elections directly affect everyday life — from roads and zoning to parks and public safety — and voters deserve to hear from their candidates directly.”

The interviews will cover key topics such as city growth, infrastructure, community engagement, and budget transparency. The goal is to provide fair, balanced coverage that highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing Baldwin and Demorest.

Full interviews will be posted tomorrow on Habersham News, giving readers the chance to compare candidates’ responses side by side before casting their ballots.

Stay tuned to Habersham News for complete election coverage, including upcoming interviews with candidates from other cities across the county.

Robinson Tapped to lead Partnership Habersham

Habersham News
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Robinson Tapped to lead Partnership Habersham

Partnership Habersham is pleased to announce the appointment of Alex Robinson as its new Executive Director, effective November 1st, 2025.

Robinson brings more than six years of experience in economic and community development, with a strong record of collaborative leadership, strategic planning, and measurable success in fostering growth and vitality within the communities she has served.

As Executive Director of Partnership Habersham, Robinson will represent the private and public investors who support the economic development organization. Through a mutual agreement, she will also serve as the Executive Director of the Habersham County Development Authority.

Robinson joins Partnership Habersham following her tenure as the Economic Development Manager for Gwinnett County Government, where she spearheaded

initiatives to attract and retain target industries. She also authored the division’s first strategic plan and supported community engagement and redevelopment efforts that expanded the county’s economic development footprint.

“On behalf of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Partnership

Habersham is excited to have Alex as our new Executive Director,” said Rope Roberts,

Chair of Partnership Habersham. “I believe her understanding of the economic

development, including workforce, commercial and industrial development, will

provide a great foundation for her in our community.”

“I think I can speak for the entire Habersham County Development Authority in

expressing our enthusiastic support for welcoming Alex and her family to our

community,” said Jim Butterworth, Chairman of the Habersham County Development

Authority. “At this pivotal moment for Habersham, Alex’s extensive expertise will prove invaluable. We eagerly anticipate her contributions to our collaborative initiatives alongside Partnership Habersham.”

Prior to her work with Gwinnett County, Robinson served as the Executive Assistant for

the Evermore Community Improvement District, managing right-of-way maintenance,

security, and beautification programs, and launching comprehensive marketing

strategies that elevated visibility for the district’s small businesses and redevelopment efforts.

A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Robinson earned her Master of Public

Administration with a concentration in Public Policy and holds the ICMA Local

Government Early Career Service Certificate. She received her Bachelor of Arts in

Psychology from the University of West Georgia. She is also a member of several

professional organizations, including the Georgia Economic Developers Association,

where she serves on the Young Professionals committee, and the Southern Economic

Development Council. Her achievements have been recognized through awards such

as Gwinnett Young Professionals’ 35 Under 35 and the University of West Georgia’s

Thriving Under 30.

“I am honored to serve as Executive Director of Partnership Habersham and to help lead initiatives that support sustainable growth and opportunities for all residents and

businesses across Habersham County,” said Robinson.

Robinson currently resides in the Atlanta area with her husband and two daughters but

is looking forward to establishing roots in Habersham County.

Partnership Habersham is a private/public economic development organization that

works to support the existing businesses and industries of Habersham County through

workforce development. It works closely with the Habersham County Development

Authority to recruit new businesses and industries to provide future jobs for our

students and citizens.

James Roberts Carson

Habersham News Obituaries
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James Roberts Carson

James Roberts Carson, age 74, of Seneca, South Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

At his birth, his parents resided in the Habersham Mills community of Habersham County. He attended Habersham Mills elementary school and graduated from North Habersham High School in 1969. After graduation, he continued his education at Young Harris College and completed his degree in education at the University of Georgia.

Music was a major part of his life. From the early days of learning from his father to play a guitar to playing numerous band instruments, he was able to combine his love for music and his love for teaching to become a band director. In addition to being proficient in playing instruments, James was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. Through high school and college, he performed in musical theater productions and was honored to be chosen to sing with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus. From family singalongs to church choirs to professional pursuits, music shaped the direction of his life.

James was raised in a Baptist church, attended a Methodist-affiliated college as a student, and connected with the Lutheran church as an adult. Though his religious denominations changed during the phases of his life, his love for Jesus never wavered.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Jay and Lucille Roberts Carson as well as an infant sister, Sherry Carson. He is survived by his sister, Carol Carson, and his niece, Caitlyn Carson.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, Georgia, with Rev. Tim Morgan and Rev. Matthew Butler officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the service hour, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 3381, Cleveland, Ga 30528 or to a charity of your choice.

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

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

Your Voice Matters: A Reminder to Vote

Habersham News
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Your Voice Matters: A Reminder to Vote

As Election Day draws near, Habersham County residents are encouraged to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Voting is one of the most powerful ways we can shape the future of our community, our state, and our nation.

From city council seats and county offices to state and federal races, every vote helps determine how our schools are funded, how our roads are maintained, and how our tax dollars are spent. Even the smallest local election can have a big impact right here in Habersham County.

🗓️ When and Where to Vote

Early voting is currently open through October 31, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Residents can vote early at:

  • Habersham County Elections & Voter Registration Office – 403 Habersham County Shopping Center, Cornelia
  • Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center – Clarkesville

Early voting hours vary, so it’s best to check the official county elections website at www.habershamga.com or call the Elections Office at (706) 839-0170 before heading out.

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM at your assigned precinct.

🪪 What to Bring

All Georgia voters must show a valid photo ID when casting their ballot. Acceptable forms include:

  • Georgia driver’s license
  • State-issued voter ID card
  • U.S. passport
  • Military ID
  • Government employee ID

If you’re unsure about your registration status or where to vote, visit Georgia’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Why Every Vote Counts

Local elections often come down to just a few votes — sometimes even a single one. Whether you’ve voted in every election or it’s your first time, your participation strengthens our community.

Voting is more than a civic duty; it’s a chance to honor those who fought for the right to vote and to help steer Habersham County toward a stronger, more vibrant future.

When we all show up, our community’s voice becomes impossible to ignore.

The candidates

Alto

In Alto, the race for Council seat 1, incumbent P. J. Huggins is facing a challenge from John Smith.

Baldwin

In the race for mayor, Alice Venter faces off against Douglas Faust. In Council post 4, Joe Elam faces James Wiese.

Clarkesville

Mayor Barry Aycock will not run for another term. The mayoral candidates are Angelia Kiker and Franklin Brown. In the Council 4 post, three candidates are on the ballot: Rick Coulon, Leigh Johnston and Liz Treadwell.

Demorest

Four candidates (Shawn Allen, Patti Davis, Andrew Ferguson and Jim Welborn) are competing for two seats in Demorest.

A Community Effort

Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to vote. Offer a ride to the polls. Share voting reminders on social media. Every small act of encouragement helps build a culture of civic pride.

Let’s make sure Habersham County continues to lead by example — informed, engaged, and ready to shape its future.

Make your plan. Bring your ID. Cast your ballot.
Your voice matters in Habersham County — now more than ever.

New UPS Store Opens in Cornelia

Habersham News
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New UPS Store Opens in Cornelia

Habersham County now has a new destination for shipping, printing, and small business services. The UPS Store has officially opened its doors in Cornelia, bringing a full range of mailing, packaging, and business support options to serve both residents and local businesses.

Located at 249 Habersham Village Circle in the Habersham Village Shopping Center, the new store celebrated its opening yesterday. The event marked not only the arrival of a trusted national brand but also another sign of growth and investment in Cornelia’s business landscape.

A Boost for Local Business and Everyday Life

The new UPS Store offers the same reliable services customers have come to expect — including shipping and receiving, printing, notary services, mailboxes, document shredding, and packing supplies — but with the personal touch of a locally owned franchise.

“We are open 7 days a week and can help with all your shipping needs,” said Ankit Patel, the store’s franchise owner.

For many local entrepreneurs and small businesses, the arrival of a full-service UPS Store means fewer trips out of town for essential office and mailing needs. The store’s printing center can handle everything from business cards and banners to brochures and flyers — all produced locally and quickly.

Convenience with a Community Focus

In addition to its business services, the Cornelia UPS Store is also offering personal mailbox rentals, giving residents a secure, 24-hour location for receiving packages and mail — a growing need in the age of online shopping and home-based businesses.

Store hours can be found on the UPS website.

Supporting Local Growth

The opening of the Cornelia UPS Store comes as the area continues to attract new investment, revitalized downtown spaces, and growing small businesses. For Habersham County residents, it’s another convenient, dependable service right around the corner — saving time while supporting a locally operated franchise.

Visit the New UPS Store

📍 Location: 249 Habersham Village Circle, Cornelia
🕒 Hours: Monday–Friday [8:30am – 6:30pm]; Saturday [9am – 5pm]; Sunday [11am – 4pm]
📞 Phone: (706) 776-1754
🌐 Website: https://locations.theupsstore.com/ga/cornelia/249-habersham-village-circle

Stop by to welcome the team, explore their services, and see how the new UPS Store can make business — and life — a little easier in Cornelia.

Digitize Habersham Adding 40,000 more pages

Habersham News
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Digitize Habersham Adding 40,000 more pages

In the world of local history and archival work, incremental gains often add up to transformative change. For Habersham County, that transformation is unfolding before our eyes via Digitize Habersham, the project of Habersham History that is steadily turning fragile, fading newspaper pages into a permanently accessible, searchable digital archive. And now, the project is poised to make a major leap forward: an additional 40,000 newspaper pages are ready to be digitized — potentially pushing the archive past the 140,000-page mark.

Here’s what that means — and why it matters.

A Snapshot: Digitize Habersham So Far

  • Launch & growth
    Digitize Habersham officially launched in November 2022, with an initial batch of 10,000 pages.
    Over the intervening months, the project has steadily grown, and by early 2025 reported having digitized more than 90,000 pages of Habersham County newspapers dating back to 1857.
  • Scope and purpose
    The archive covers newspapers published in Habersham County from roughly the 1850s through the 1950s.
    It offers users text-searchable access, making it much easier to locate people, places, events, or keywords — a major step up from paging through bound volumes in a library. (Georgia Trend Magazine)
  • Community and funding
    The project relies on donations and community partnerships to finance digitization, scanning, indexing, and hosting.

The Significance of the Next 40,000 Pages

Deepening the Historical Record

Each new page brings fresh stories, announcements, ads, obituaries, and community details into view. For genealogists, historians, local scholars, or curious residents, this means:

  • More complete family histories — Births, deaths, marriages, social notices, and even small personal items (club meetings, school events) often only appeared in local papers.
  • Community context — Businesses, political happenings, infrastructure projects, and social life can be better reconstructed when you have denser coverage over more years.
  • Corrections and discoveries — Earlier scans may have missed pages, or OCR (optical character recognition) might have misread text; adding more pages helps fill gaps and cross-check earlier work.

Increasing Accessibility & Research Capacity

  • Searchable access: Having a larger volume of text means more “findable” mentions. Someone researching “Chenocetah Tower” or “Big Red Apple” has a better chance of getting hits rather than coming up empty.
  • Democratizing history: Rather than restricting access to those who can visit local archives or libraries, Digitize Habersham makes it possible for people around the world to explore this corner of Georgia’s past.

Enhancing Long-Term Preservation

The original newspaper pages are often fragile, subject to deterioration, tears, fading or loss. Digitization:

  • Preserves a snapshot of the content before further decay.
  • Reduces handling of the physical originals.
  • Creates redundant digital safekeeping (multiple backups, mirrors, etc.).

Challenges & Considerations

Digitizing 40,000 pages is no small task. Some of the challenges include:

  • Funding: The primary bottleneck is financial — paying for high-quality scanning, storage, personnel, indexing, and quality control.
  • OCR accuracy: Optical character recognition is never perfect, especially with aged, stained, or odd-typeface papers. Post-scan correction and metadata work can be laborious.
  • Technical infrastructure: Hosting large image files, enabling fast search queries, backups, and ensuring uptime for users is a serious planning and cost concern.
  • Metadata & organization: Each page needs proper metadata (date, page number, newspaper title, section) so users can navigate the archive intelligibly.

What’s Next — And How You Can Help

If all goes well, adding 40,000 pages could bring the archive total to 130,000–140,000 pages, making Digitize Habersham one of the richer county-level newspaper digitization projects in Georgia.

For this to happen smoothly, the project will need:

  1. Donations & Sponsorships — Individuals, local businesses, or institutions can contribute toward the cost of scanning, indexing, and technological support. If you’d like to make a donation, please visit https://habershamhistory.org.
  2. Community Awareness — The more people who know about the project, the more likely that funding and support will flow.
  3. Sustainable Planning — Ensuring that the digital archive is maintained, updated, and backed up in perpetuity.

A Closing Thought

In small towns and counties across America, much of daily life has been captured only in local newspapers — reports of births, school events, disasters, politics, and community life that rarely made it into state or national archives. Projects like Digitize Habersham do more than preserve pages: they preserve memory, identity, and connection.

As the next 40,000 pages are brought into the digital fold, Habersham County’s story will grow richer, deeper, and more accessible to all who wish to explore it.

Try it for yourself

It’s never been easier to find historic information about Habersham County. The information is available at the click of a button. What’s more, there’s no cost to use Digitize Habersham. Try it today by visiting https://archives.habershamhistory.org/. Users with questions about Digitize Habersham can send emails to info@habershamhistory.org.

Running Back Warren Breaks Most Carries Record

Peter Madruga
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Running Back Warren Breaks Most Carries Record

Mt. Airy, Georgia — Habersham Central’s Friday night lights burned a little brighter this week — thanks to senior running back Donnie Warren, who delivered a stellar performance.

In a dominant showing against Winder-Barrow, Warren rushed for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns setting a new single-game rushing record for most carries for the Raiders, cementing his place in Habersham football history.

Stats That Stun

Warren’s final stat line was nothing short of staggering:

  • 40 carries
  • 253 rushing yards
  • 2 touchdowns
  • Zero fumbles

He broke the previous school rushing record for most carries (38) set on October 25, 2013 by Sydnee Mulligan against Duluth.

The Raiders went on to defeat Winder-Barrow with a commanding final score of 35-21 improving their season record to 4-2 with a perfect 2-0 in the region.

The Moment Everyone’s Talking About

Warren’s most electric play came with 3:48 left in the first quarter. With the Raiders leading 3-0, Warren took a handoff on 2nd-and-10, sprinted 34 yards to make the score 9-0.

What’s Next?

With two games left in the regular season, the Raiders are in prime playoff position — and with Warren hitting his stride, the momentum couldn’t be stronger.

New Airport Documentary Set to Take Flight

Habersham News
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New Airport Documentary Set to Take Flight

Cornelia, GA — A slice of Habersham County history is ready to soar into the spotlight.

A new locally produced documentary, “Flying High: The Habersham County Airport Story” is set to premiere by mid-November, offering a rare and in-depth look at the history, economic impact as well as personal stories related to the Habersham County Airport — one of North Georgia’s most quietly influential transportation hubs.

Produced by Habersham History, the film captures decades of aviation milestones, community connections, and the pivotal role the airport has played in regional development. From crop dusters and student pilots to emergency services and economic impact, “Flying High: The Habersham County Airport Story” paints a vivid picture of an airport that’s more than just a runway.

📽️ A Story Grounded in Local Pride

“Most people drive by the airport without realizing how much history and heart is behind it,” says Peter Madruga, the documentary’s director. “This film is about preserving stories from the past while inspiring new generations to understand how aviation touches our lives — even if we never leave the ground.”

The documentary includes:

  • A timeline of airports in Georgia
  • An interview with the two men who were the force behind creating the airport
  • Interviews with veteran pilots, airport staff, and local leaders
  • Historical footage and photographs spanning several decades

🎬 Premiere Details

Filming is complete and the documentary is in the editing stage. There’s no set date yet for the film, but Habersham News will post a follow-up article once all the details have been ironed out.

The documentary is also expected to be screened at the Common Ground. local schools and made available for community groups, with plans for a digital release later this year. It’s not just a tribute — it’s a teaching tool and a call to remember how important local infrastructure is to rural communities.

Stay Tuned

For updates on the release, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive previews, follow Habersham News and Habersham History on social media, or subscribe to our newsletter.

Don’t miss your chance to see Habersham County take flight — literally and figuratively.

Habersham News Ready to Serve the Community

Habersham News
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Habersham News Ready to Serve the Community

It’s official. A brand-new news site will be bringing local news to Habersham County.

Habersham News is: Your Trusted Source for Local News, Stories & Community Updates.

At Habersham News, we’re committed to keeping you informed, engaged, and connected with what’s happening in Habersham County. Whether it’s breaking news, community events, local government, sports, or human interest stories — we bring you the latest with accuracy, integrity, and heart.

We’ll be rolling out stories as time allows, but here’s a preview of what we plan on covering:

📰 Local News: Timely reporting on the issues that matter most to Habersham County residents.

🏛️ Government & Politics: Transparent coverage of county leadership, policies, and civic initiatives.

🎉 Community Events: Stay in the know with upcoming festivals, fundraisers, school events, and more.

🏈 Sports: From high school rivalries to local sports highlights, we celebrate the athletic spirit of our community.

👥 Voices of Habersham: Features, interviews, and stories that spotlight the people who make our county great.

📷 Photo Galleries: Capturing moments from around the county — one frame at a time.

Habersham News has partnered with Habersham History to share some of Habersham County’s rich history.

Why It Matters:

We believe local journalism plays a vital role in building strong, informed communities. By shining a light on local issues, successes, and stories, we hope to foster a deeper sense of connection, accountability, and pride in Habersham County.

Join the Conversation:

Got a story idea? Want to share your perspective? We welcome your tips, letters to the editor, and community contributions. Habersham News is more than a news site — it’s a space for you.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get headlines delivered straight to your inbox.

Thank you for making Habersham News part of your day.

Stay informed. Stay connected.

—

Habersham News — Local Stories. Local Voices. Local Impact.

Geraldine Grier

Habersham News Obituaries
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Geraldine Grier

Geraldine Grier, age 92, of Alto, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Born on March 10, 1933, in Lula, she was a daughter of the late Alvin and Belle Armour Grier. Geraldine was retired from Fieldale Farms Corp. with over 35 years of service. She is remembered as a loving caregiver, who enjoyed helping those in need and making sure that everyone was cared for and had food to eat. She especially enjoyed having her family over for a visit and preparing a meal for them. Family was most important to Geraldine, and she was a caregiver to several of them in their time of need. While she had no children of her own, her nieces and nephews were treated as if they were hers. In her spare time, Geraldine was an avid gardener who canned much of her produce. She enjoyed her coffee, gospel music, and going to singings. She attended Crossroads Baptist Church when she was able.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Ward; and brothers, A.M., Alvin, Jr., Otis “Preach”, Bud, Van, Garnett, Wiley, Lemuel, and Roy Grier.

Survivors include sister, Ruth Swann; brother and sister-in-law, E.D. Grier (Cathy); niece and caregiver, Pat Sullens; and numerous other nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

The family would like to especially thank Geraldine’s special niece, Karen Tomlin; caregiver, Lauren Burgess; and special friends, Pete Burgess and Shirley King.

Graveside services are 2 pm on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, with David Tomlin officiating.

The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 1:30 pm on Friday, at the funeral home prior to the service.

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

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

Virlon Nero Simmons

Habersham News Obituaries
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Virlon Nero Simmons

Born on May 16, 1946, in Demorest, he was a son of the late William Willis and Beatrice Norton Simmons. Mr. Simmons was a U.S. Army veteran who worked in construction for a number of years. He also worked in the textile industry for a time before retiring from Kubota Mfg. In his spare time, he was an avid sports enthusiast who especially enjoyed wrestling and the Georgia Bulldogs. Nero was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sister-in-law, Harold, Glenn, and Dwayne (Margaret) Simmons.

Survivors include his wife, Denise Simmons; daughter and son-in-law, LaWanda Giles (Boss); sons and daughters-in-law, Boot Simmons (Heather), and William Simmons (Hannah); grandchildren, Joey Roberts (MaKaela), Emma Simmons, Rylee Simmons, Ethan Simmons, Oakleigh Simmons, Colton Simmons, Kellan Reece, and Wyatt Tanner; great grandchildren, McKinnley Roberts and Lily Roberts; brothers and sister-in-law, Terrell Simmons (Shirley), and Steve Simmons; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Graveside services are 11 am on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, with Rev. Austin Kelley officiating and military honors provided by the Grant Reeves Veteran’s Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the funeral home.

Flowers are accepted or memorial donations may be made to the Parkinsons Foundation, at https://www.parkinson.org

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

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

Rowena Cruce Lovell

Habersham News Obituaries
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Rowena Cruce Lovell

Mama went to be with her Lord on Thursday, August 28th. Rowena lived a full life of service to others for nearly 94 years. She loved her family dearly and cared for every member in so many ways. Rowena’s passion for children carried her through 31 years of education, primarily teaching 5th grade at Clarkesville Elementary School. She holds her bachelor’s degree in education from Mercer University and her Master’s and Six-Year Specialist from the University of Georgia. Her classroom was active, filled with creative ways of learning.

Mrs. Lovell was beloved by her students and fellow teachers. As an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority, Rowena received the honored Golden Sister award from the organization. Reaching beyond the classroom, Rowena helped beautify Habersham County alongside fellow members of the local Garden Club and coached her daughter, Susan, and her granddaughters in planting beautiful pots boasting spring and summer flowers. She was an avid fan of books and reading, teaching many people how to read with the local literacy society. Rowena guided several people as they gained their U.S. citizenship.

Rowena’s parents were Odis and Hettie Cruce. Rowena was born in Hoschton, GA, on October 4th, 1931. Her older brother, Tyson, and younger sister, Betty, were precious to her. When Rowena was ten years old, she contracted polio and suffered from the effects for her entire life. She never complained about the pain she had to endure, and she never let this stop her from doing anything that she desired to do.

The family moved to Clarkesville when Rowena was 16 years old for Odis to become the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. She soon met the love of her life, Hubert Lovell, who lived just across the road from the pastorium. They married on August 21st, 1951. Their life together was filled with nurturing three children, Randy, Susan, and John, nine grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren, and she became known as Mama to this growing clan.

Rowena and Hubert showed up for everything family for as long as they were able. Favorite times for them were traveling with friends and family, and serving in Bethlehem Baptist Church ministries. Summer days welcomed them to their cabin on Lake Burton. Rowena was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining many people around her dining room table. She was called “the best cook in Habersham County” by Hubert. Her children and grandchildren learned many skills in the kitchen.

Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert, and her mother and father, Hettie and Odis. She will be remembered by her family and friends as someone who was always there for them with love, a hug, and a covered dish when they needed it. She will be missed.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, Georgia, with Pastor Rick Hermann & Rev. David Blackmon officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2025.

Flowers are accepted, or the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting stjude.org or to Bethlehem Baptist Church, P.O. Box 488, Clarkesville, GA. 30523

An online guest registry is available for the Lovell family at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com.

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

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