Rockmart Thriftique store feels like a cozy old home
Mr. Franklin Ray Merritt passed away on Thursday, Nov. 16, after an extended illness.
He was born on Dec. 16, 1933, in Cedartown, where he lived his entire life.
Mr. Merritt’s life was one of service to his community. He became a firefighter with the Cedartown Fire Department where he served until joining the Cedartown Police Department. He will be remembered as the police department’s first Motorcycle officer. He next became an agent of the State Fire Marshall’s office where he served until his retirement in 1987.
Mr. Merritt also served as a City Commissioner for several terms and served as Commission President. He was also a member of the Georgia State Peace Officers Association and the Lions Club.
He was a member of Kresge United Methodist Church and also attended First Baptist.
Mr. Merritt was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Ann Orebaugh Merritt; his parents, Chester A. and Mae Logan Merritt; his sister Madelyn Owens; and his brothers Omer, Don, Roy, and Joe Merritt.
He is survived by his son and daughter in law Mark and Marie Merritt, and one special granddaughter Ann Marie.
Funeral services for Mr. Merritt were conducted in the chapel of Smith Miller Funeral Home on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until the funeral hour.
The Smith and Miller Funeral Home of Cedartown is honored to serve the family of Mr. Ray Merritt.
Mrs. Mary L. Knott, age 87, of Hanceville, Ala., passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Monroe and Eva Berlina Cody Ledbetter; her daughter, Shirley Louise Wiglen and grandson, Joseph Gregory.
She is survived by her children: Brenda ( J. C.) Thomas, Jerry Wigley, Rick ( Kerrie) Wigley and Berlina (Richy) Davis; 18 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; brother, Virbon Monroe Ledbetter and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at 6 p. m. at Hanceville Funeral Home.
Visitation was held on Friday, Nov. 17 prior to the service hour.
Local graveside funeral and interment services were held Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at noon in the Oak Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery, Aragon.
The Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements for Mrs. Mary L. Knott.
Mr. Bobby Gene Blankenship Jr., age 57 of Cedartown, transitioned from his earthly body to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
Mr. Blankenship was born on Oct. 30, 1960 in Polk County to Bobby “Bud” Blankenship Sr. and Donis Bedford Blankenship.
Mr. Blankenship was a United States Navy Veteran and was currently employed as an inventory control specialist at Hon Industries of Cedartown.
He was a very talented taxidermist placing second place at the World Taxidermy Championships in 1995 for his white tail deer mount.
He was a perfectionist at any task he undertook. Mr. Blankenship loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting. Mr. Blankenship cherished his family, friends, and co-workers.
Mr. Blankenship is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Yingwen Zhang Blankenship who he married on April 4, 2005. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Kyle and Amy Blankenship of Armuchee and sister, Marie Blankenship Beck of Dalton, and Chisheng Zhang Family, Guangzhou, China.
And a large number of nieces and nephews also survive.
Mr. Blankenship i s preceded in death by his parents; son, Joshua Blankenship and sister, Kathy Zhou.
The funeral arrangements for Mr. Bobby Gene Blankenship Jr. were conducted on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Gammage Funeral Home with Dr. David Taylor and Rev. Matthew Rabe officiating.
Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Wayne Benefield officiating with full Navy Military Rite.
The family of Mr. Blankenship received family and friends on Saturday evening, Nov. 18, 2017 at the Gammage Funeral Home.
The family has requested that flowers be omitted and contributions be made to the Cedartown First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, American Cancer Society or Cancer Center of American at Newnan.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Eric Davis, Ken Bedford, Scott Farrister, Bobby Brooks, Ralph Smith, Kyle Blankenship, Lonnie Allbritten Jr. and Rodney Johnson.
Messages of condolence can be made to the family by signing the online guestbook at gammagefh. com.
The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mr. Bobby Gene Blankenship, Jr.
Mr. James Wiley Trammell, age 76 of Rockmart passed away Wednesday morning, Nov. 15, 2017.
Mr. Trammell was born April 28, 1941 in Cedartown, son of the late Sonnie Trammell and the late Lola Inez Landrum Trammell.
He was a 1959 graduate of Rockmart High School and attended Coosa Valley Tech. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Vietnam Era.
Mr. Trammell was a member of the Fairview Baptist Church and retired from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. with 30 years of service.
He was a member of the Rockmart Lions Club, American Legion BrownWright Post 12 and Rockmart Masonic Lodge #97 F& AM. Mr. Trammell served on the Polk County Board of Tax Assessors for many years.
Mr. Trammell loved church, his family and enjoyed playing golf. He believed in a simple way of life, doing his job and taking care of his family. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Duncan.
Survivors includef his wife, Jo Miller Trammell to whom he was married October 9, 1960; son, James Wiley Trammell, Jr. and his wife Lyudmyla; two daughters, Jeanine Waddell and her husband Jonas and Lisa Terry and her husband Rodney; brother, Sonnie Trammell Jr.; two sisters, Janie Wiggins and Sandra Floyd; seven grandchildren, Sveta Kravets, Xalyn Peek, Maisey Karrh, Haleigh Peek, Matthew Waddell, Lane Waddell and Braxton Waddell.
Funeral services for Mr. Trammell were held on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at 2 p. m. in the Fairview Baptist Church Ernest LeGrande Memorial Building with Dr. Aaron Johnson and Rev. Gary Parris officiating.
Interment services followed in the family lot of Greenwood Cemetery in Cedartown with American Legion Brown-Wright Post 12 Honor Guard in charge of military graveside rites and Northwest Georgia Masonic Memorial Club in charge of Masonic graveside rites.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Lamar Shepard, Junior Carter, Greg Caldwell, Bobby Hitchcock, Larry Reynolds and Bill Lumpkin.
Honorary pallbearers were: Janell Cook, Larry Gore, Ron Campbell, Rick Smith and Ken Fuller.
Those wishing to do so, may make memorial contributions to the Fairview Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Rockmart, Ga., 30153 in memory of Mr. Trammell.
Please visit www.freemanharrisfunerals.com to extend personal condolences to the family by signing the online guestbook.
Freeman Harris Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral services for Mr. James Wiley Trammell.
OBITUARIES
Rockmart’s antique market is booming, and the city’s downtown scene recently got a new kid on the block. With a home at 104 S. Marble St., Treasured Thriftique, LLCAntique Mall is offering a vast selection of vintage, handcrafted, and homemade items from collectors and creators all over Rockmart and neighboring areas. Thriftique has been in business for several years, but owners Kristie and Mike Haynes recently moved into what was formerly J& L Discount in order to expand business.
Those looking to give one of the town’s newest businesses a visit can stop by from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and the store is open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Alongside the building switch, the Haynes brought a host of antique vendors to the new building. Thriftique is an antique mall that offers collectors booths to sell various vintage, primitive, refinished, or otherwise antique goods. With approximately 40 different vendors inside, the store is designed around variety and community involvement.
“Vendors sign contracts for about three months, and then they’re free to set up shop inside our mall,” Mike said. “About 60 percent or so of the goods have to be antique, primitive, handcrafted goods, and the remaining goods can be newly created items.”
The mall is always accepting new sellers, but Thriftique is currently at capacity. Individuals interested in having their products sold in partner- ship with the Haynes can contact the duo at 404583-0272 to be placed on a booth waiting list.
“Vendors can always re-sign the contract after the three months and stay for as long as they keep signing- there’s only open spots when we add space or a vendor decides to leave,” Mike mentioned. “There are two standard booth sizes. The 10 by 10 booth is $125 a month and the 4 by 8 is $75 a month. Vendors decide their own prices.”
Business began with the Haynes selling antiques out of their garage before the husband/wife team increased sales and started the mall.
“The idea to do an antique mall and give booths to vendors was my wife’s idea — she’s the brain of the operation.” Mike said. “We had about 11 vendors at our old location, and our slots were about 90 percent filled before we even opened at this location.”
Open since October, Thriftique has had a successful re-opening that shows no signs of slowing down.
“We still have the same cozy feeling. It’s a lot bigger, but the place still feels like a home,” Mike said.