Obituaries
avid Georgia Bulldogs fan. He had a wonderful sense of humor and will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Hobert and Beatrice Letson; maternal grandfather, Tommy Mac Scroggins and nephew, Zachary Bryant.
Survivors include: His wife, Esther Letson; three children, Jacob Letson, Noah Letson and Eli Letson; parents, Wallace Letson Sr., and Tina Acuff; brother, Wallace Letson Jr.; two sisters, Priscilla Letson and Kelly Kellum; maternal grandmother, Rachael Holt; several nieces and nephews and one great-nephew.
Visitation: Thursday, July 21, and Friday, July 22, from 4-8 p.m. at the South Crest Chapel.
Funeral services: Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Minister Roger Wooten officiating.
Burial: Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.
Online guestbook available at lane-southcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Mary L. Waring, 88 Chattanooga
Mary L. Waring, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away Monday, July 18, 2016. She was 88.
She was born Feb. 15, 1928, in Pittsburgh, Penn., to the late Harold R. Waring, and Edith McCallum Waring. Mary earned an associate’s degree at Duke University and a master’s degree from Smith College and PhD from Brambeis University. A lengthy career in clinical work and teaching followed.
Her positions included supervision at the Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston, Mass., director of social services at Cambridge MA Mental Health Center, associate professor at Florida State University, professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at Fordham University, N.Y.C. where she was the principal architect and initial chair of its doctoral program.
Ms. Waring was a consultant for the Family Counseling Services of Bergen County in Hackensack, N.J. and to the Department of Human Services of New Jersey. In 1986, she returned to her hometown of Chattanooga where she founded and directed the Step One Employee Assistance Program for Fortwood Center, a community mental health facility.
As the author of 20 articles, she was listed in Who’s Who in America from 19972015. Mary attributed any accomplishment to a strong family and enduring friendships. She loved good conversation, travel, literature, music and art. She was a friend of the Chattanooga Public Library, subscriber to the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and the Hunter Museum of American Art.
For over a decade, she was a member and officer in the Community Services Club. Her charities included the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Salvation Army, Alzheimer’s Disease research and the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include: Two nephews, Steve Hall and Matthew Hall and three great-nieces.
Visitation: Sunday, July 24, from 1 p.m. until the service hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home
Funeral services: Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Pastor Jim Bennett officiating.
Private burial will be held Monday, July 25, at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37401.
Online guestbook available at lane-southcrestchapel.com.
Arrangements: South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.
Toni Lynn White, 52 Ringgold
Toni Lynn White, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Sunday, July 17, 2016. She was 52.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., she was a resident of the North Georgia area for most of her life.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack Arthur and Betty Lou Wilcox White.
Survivors include: Three sons, two sisters and several nieces and nephews.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home Wallis-Stewart Chapel Ringgold.
Omegia Silvey Sumner, 84 Ringgold
Omegia Silvey Sumner, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at her residence. She was 84.
A lifelong resident of the Ringgold and Dalton area, she was a former employee of Shaw Industries where she worked for over 30 years and was of the Baptist faith.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Gibson “Gib” Watts; second husband, Harold Sumner; parents, Mack Genneth and Henrietta Ellis Silvey and brother, Ronald Silvey.
Survivors include: Her sister, Cornelia “Connie” McPherson of Ringgold; several stepchildren and two nephews.
Visitation: Saturday, July 23, from noon-1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services: Saturday, July 23, at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Burial: Anderson Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home, Wallis-Stewart Chapel, Ringgold
Carlton Wells Wheeler Sr., 90 LaFayette
Carlton Wells Wheeler Sr., of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Monday, July 18, 2016. He was 90.
Carlton was born June 23, 1926 in Washington, Ga., to Collerson Wells Wheeler and Dolores Barksdale Wheeler. He moved with his family to LaFayette in 1935.
He graduated from LaFayette High School as valedictorian and also graduated from Georgia Tech. He served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II and also served during the Korean Conflict. He was an agent for State Farm Insurance Company for 60 years.
Carlton was a deacon at First Baptist Church of LaFayette serving as chairman of the Building Planning Committee when the present sanctuary and Sunday school rooms were built. He served as superintendent of the Adult Sunday School Department for over 20 years.
While serving as commissioner of the Battlefield District of the Boy Scouts of America, he received The Silver Beaver Award. Carlton served as president of the LaFayette Rotary Club, Northwest Georgia Life Underwriters Association and LaFayette Jaycees and served on the board of Northwestern Technical College Foundation.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 32 years, Betty Giles Wheeler.
Survivors include: His beloved wife, Nancy Peppers Wheeler; sons, Wells (Lee) Wheeler of McDonough, Ga., Paul (Deena) Wheeler of Illinois, Jeff (Theresa) Lowrance of LaFayette and A.J. Lowrance of LaFayette; sister, Dolores Birch of Lee, Mass.; brother-inlaw, Tommy (Pat) Peppers; special friends, Alan (Janie) Lowrance, Michael Morgan and Ann Gaskey; grandchildren, Tiffany Lowrance, Andrew Wheeler, Lauren Wheeler, Mercedes Snyder, Nick Snyder and Cody Lonas; greatgrandchildren, Peyton Snyder and Jacob Wheeler and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Wednesday, July 20, from 5-8 p.m.
Funeral service: Thursday, July 21, at 2 p.m. at the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Rev. Henry Hampton officiating.
Burial: LaFayette Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers: Tim Mason, Robert Wardlaw, Ron Harrison, Chris Davis, Chad Black, Don Benton, Beacher Garmany and Michael Morgan.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Peggy Espy Wright, 86 Chattanooga
Peggy Espy Wright, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2016, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 86.
She was born Dec. 27, 1929, and was the adopted daughter of Lavada Newell. Peggy attended the Chattanooga public schools and graduated as salutatorian. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Chattanooga, majoring in violin and public school music. After graduating, she organized and taught string instrument classes in Dalton, Ga.
For many years she played the violin in the Chattanooga Symphony. Later Peggy returned to Chattanooga and taught third and fourth grades in the public schools of Chattanooga, the Bright School.
Later she returned to UTC and earned a master’s degree with a major in reading instruction. She took other graduate courses that would qualify her as a reading specialist. For 10 years she organized and taught the summer reading classes at the McCallie School along with teaching reading classes in the public schools. After retirement she served as adjunct professor at Chattanooga State Community College teaching developmental reading.
Peggy was active in the International Reading Association on the local, state and national level. She served two years as the president of the Tennessee Reading Association. As part of the TRA, she participated in international exchange. Her international activities included serving as president of the Local Sister City Association for six years.
As Tennessee coordinator for Sister Cities International, she, along with the N.C. coordinator, organized the first Southeast Regional Sister City International Conference which was held in Chattanooga. Privately and as part of S.C. I., she traveled to many parts of the world. She and her husband traveled to Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy) the Middle East (Israel) Asia (Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong) and China.
Peggy was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church where she served as elder and choir member. She also served on Presbytery level committees.
Survivors include: Her husband, John L. Wright Jr., of Chattanooga; sons, Dr. John L. Wright III and Stephen M. Wright and granddaughters, Emily June Wright and Weera Jane Wright.
Memorial service: Sunday, July 24, at 2 p.m. at New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe.
John Edward Sheppard, 81 LaFayette
Rev. John Edward Sheppard, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016. He was 81.
He was associate pastor of Corinth Baptist Church.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 47 years, Lura Ann Sheppard; daughter, Jennifer (Stan) Puckett; sons, Stephen (Sandy) Sheppard, Paul (Kim) Sheppard, Mark (Cindy) Sheppard and Lyle (Leslie) Sheppard; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Celebration of life: Sunday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m.. at Corinth Baptist Church, with Pastor Wayne Wallin officiating.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Amber Grace Collins, 30 LaFayette
Amber Grace Collins, of Chatsworth, Ga., formerly of LaFayette, passed away Tuesday, July 19, 2016. She was 30.
She was preceded in death by her father, Michael Jackson Stoker.
Survivors include: Her mother, Sarah Stoker of LaFayette; daughter, Destiny Collins of Calhoun; son, Anthony Collins of LaFayette; sister, Vanessa Stoker of LaFayette; brother, Michael (Nikki Crowder) Stoker of LaFayette and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service: Friday, July 22, at 5 p.m. at Wilbanks Memorial Chapel.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Gussie May Pence, 86 LaFayette
Gussie May Pence, of LaFayette, Ga., passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016. She was 86.
She was a member of River of Life of LaFayette.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Pence and greatgrandchild, Gabriel Mann.
Survivors include: Her daughters, Helen (Pat) Smith and Robbin Talley of LaFayette; son, Frank (Frances) Pence of Trion; several sisters and brothers; grandchildren, Dianne (Todd) Richardson, Andy (Niky) Mann, David (Joyce) Pence and Denise (Bob) Wesson; great-grandchildren, Alex and Chaz Richardson, Kylie and Leeland Mann, Skylar, Dylan, Lindsay, Jamie, Kelsie and Bailey Pence and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Friday, July 22, from 11 a.m. until time of service.
Funeral service: Friday, July 22, at 3 p.m. at Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastor Rich Huff officiating.
Burial: LaFayette Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers: Sam Hague, Andy Mann, Ray Day, David Pence, Jamie Pence and Todd Richardson.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Joseph Nathaniel Clements, 60 LaFayette
Joseph Nathaniel Clements, of LaFayette, Ga., formerly of Talking Rock, Ga., passed away July 2, 2016. He was 60.
Joseph was born Oct. 23, 1955, to the late Elbert and Alma Christmas Clements.
Survivors include: His brothers, William (Virginia) Clements of Sale City, Ga., Chesley (Nina) Clements of Sale City and Terry (Joy) Clements of Dacula, Ga.; sisters, Betty (Paul) Minatree of Talking Rock and Peggy (Russell) DeLorme of Doerun, Ga., and 20 nieces and nephews.
Memorial service: July 23, at 10 a.m. in the Sumner Cemetery, Sumner, Ga.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Bruce Leon White, 61 Chickamauga
Bruce Leon White, of Chickamauga, Ga., passed away Saturday, July 9, 2016. He was 61.
He was born Nov. 11, 1954, to the late R.C. White and Betty Sweet White.
Bruce had a passion for riding his Harley Davidson.
Survivors include: His girlfriend, Julia Keith of LaFayette; daughters, Amy (Duane) Stamper, Mindy (Eric) Forrest and Tracy (Curtis) Johnson all of LaFayette; grandchildren, Amny, Zach, February, Zander, Destiny, Macayla, Raven and Ethan; one great-grandchild, Gage and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Monday, July 11, from 3 p.m. at the funeral home until service time.
Funeral: Monday, July 11, at 5 p.m. at the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel
Burial: LaFayette City Cemetery.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Dewayne Lee Eckhoff, 50 LaFayette
Dewayne Lee Eckhoff, of LaFayette, Ga., formerly of Indiana, passed away Monday, July 11, 2016. He was 50.
He was a truck driver for Xpress Global Systems in Tunnel Hill, Ga.
Visitation: Friday, July 15, from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Online guestbook available at wallis-wilbanksfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.
Jason Edward Miracle, 76 Tunnel Hill
Jason Edward Miracle, of Tunnel Hill, Ga., went home to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday, July 23, 2016. He was 76.
He was born in Madison County, Kentucky to the late Earl William and Louise Hudson Miracle, but lived in the North Georgia area for most of his life.
He was the owner and operator of Big B Cleaners in Dalton for more than 16 years and was the owner and operator of Old Fort Cleaners for the last 29 years.
He was a loving and devoted husband, fa-
ther and grandfather who will always be remembered for putting his family first and his work ethic close behind in second. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his infant daughter, Victoria Lynn Miracle.
Survivors include: His wife of more than 52 years, Sue Lakes Miracle of Tunnel Hill; children, Michael (Lynne) Miracle of Tunnel Hill, Stephen (Karen) Miracle of Dalton, Ga. and Jennifer (Wesley) Hughes of Dalton; four sisters, Kay Fowler of Lexington, Ky., Nancy (Charles) Brown of Opelika, Ala., Margaret Miracle and Wilma Miracle both of Ringgold, Ga.; five grandchildren, Chase Hughes, Cayla Hughes, Wyatt Miracle, Chad Flanders and Virginia Flanders; several nieces, nephews and numerous extended family and friends.
Visitation: Monday, July 25, 5-8 p.m. and prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home.
Funeral services: Tuesday, July 26, at 11 a.m. in the Fort Oglethorpe Chapel.
Burial: Lakewood South Memory Gardens.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: by W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Homes, Fort Oglethorpe.
Raymond Henley Cawood, 89 Ringgold
Raymond Henley Cawood, of Ringgold, Ga., passed away Sunday, July 24, 2016, at his residence. He was 89.
Born June 2, 1927, to the late Wash and Lillie Armstrong Cawood in Spring City, Tenn., he moved to Ringgold in 1943 from Inglewood, Tenn. After moving to Ringgold, he graduated from Ringgold High School, during which time he helped his dad build Cawood’s Grocery, carrying block and stone from Chickamauga, Ga. In 1944 he joined the Navy and after his discharge from the Navy, he came back and worked at the grocery store with his dad.
In 1950 Henley went to work at Dupont where he worked for 30 years, retiring in 1980. He married the love of his life Bettye Baker Cawood, May 5, 1951.
He was a member of Ringgold United Methodist Church and a member of the American Legion. Henley loved his family and friends. You could usually find him playing with his grandkids, sitting on the porch, on the beach in Panama City, or in the pasture with his cows.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Louise Cawood and three brothers, Nixson, Edward and Jimmy Cawood.
Survivors include: His loving wife of 65 years, Bettye Baker Cawood of Ringgold; four children, Jack (Cheryl) Cawood of Chattanooga, Judy (Jim) McBride of Chattanooga, Michael (Rhonda) Cawood of Ringgold and Deborah (Gene) Cawood of Ringgold; one brother, Dean (Maudie) Cawood of Ringgold; seven grandchildren, Wes, Michelle, Chad, Misty (Chad), Ryan (Brittany), Audrey (Chris) and Danielle (Chris); 10 great-grandchildren, Jack, Cody, Macy, Jalie, Jett, Violet, Henry, Dallas, Lillie-Mae and Mindy and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Tuesday, July 26, from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m. until funeral time at the funeral home.
Funeral services: Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Tommy Broom officiating.
Burial: Anderson Memorial Gardens.
“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8.
Online guestbook available at wilsonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements: Wilson Funeral Home Wallis-Stewart Chapel, Ringgold.