Former first lady of Georgia dies at 91
Mrs. Patsy Jo “Pat” Brazier, age 81, of Cedartown, passed away on Thursday morning, Jan. 18, 2018.
Mrs. Brazier was born on Feb. 7, 1936 in Polk County, a daughter of the late Iowan and Leila Little Swafford.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her sisters, Fay Crawford, Mary Crocker, Edna Camp, Carolyn Swafford, Sara Barnett and Lucille Osborn and brothers, Robert Swafford, Wayne Swafford and James Swafford.
She was retired following a long career at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company which transitioned into the Meggit Corporation of Rockmart.
A deeply spiritual woman, Mrs. Brazier had been a member of the Union Grove Baptist Church of Cedartown before she and her loving husband Spencer moved to Victory Baptist Church many years ago.
She loved her family, her friends and her church. Those who knew her knew a “true Southern Belle,” who never met a stranger and who would help anyone, anytime and anywhere. Truly the loss of Mrs. Brazier is Heaven’s gain.
She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband, Mr. Spencer Brazier; her sons, Randall Brazier and Darrell Brazier; her brother and sister in law, Seals W. Swafford and wife Myrtice; her sisters, Nancy Swafford and Martha Mobley; three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services for Mrs. Patsy Jo “Pat” Brazier were conducted on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 20, 2018 at 2 p.m. from the sanctuary of the Victory Baptist Church with the Rev. Barry Snapp and the Rev. Anthony Osborn officiating.
Interment followed in the family lot of the Friendship Cemetery. The family received friends on Friday evening, Jan. 19, 2018 at the Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home. At other times they’ll be at the residence.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Roy Mauldin, Tony Swafford, Rev. Steve Swafford, Dwayne Brazier, Michael Harp, Taylor Ledford and Lyle Harp.
The family has respectfully requested to please omit flowers and make memorial contributions in Mrs. Brazier’s memory to the Victory Baptist Church Legacy Fund.
Visit the memorial web site at www.liteseyfh.com to extend personal condolences to the family and to sign the online guestbook.
The Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home of Cedartown was in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Patsy Jo “Pat” Brazier.
Mr. William Michael “Mike” Robinson age 61 of Rockmart passed away Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.
Mr. Robinson was born April 3, 1956 in Rockmart, son of William Monroe “Billy” Robinson and Louise White Robinson. He was a member of the Bellview Baptist Church.
He was a 1974 graduate of Rockmart High School where he was the senior-class president and class valedictorian.
Mr. Robinson attended Georgia College of Milledgeville and was employed for many years with the Marquette Cement Company having worked in Ohio and Louisville, Ky. He enjoyed reading, listening to the scanner and watching NASCAR..
Survivors include his parents, Billy and Louise Robinson of Rockmart; two sisters, Lynn Shirley of Cedartown and Susan Robinson of Dublin; three brothers, Tony Robinson and his wife Jill of Aragon, Roy Robinson and Bryon Robinson both of Rockmart; nieces and nephews also survived.
Funeral services for Mr. Robinson were held on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Freeman Harris Funeral Home with Rev. Owen “Bud” Davis Jr. officiating.
A eulogy was given by Mrs. Judy Cagle Wiggins.
Interment services followed in the family lot of the Bellview Baptist Church Cemetery.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Roy Robinson, Bryon Robinson, Tony Robinson, Rodney Robinson, Dewayne Robinson and Jimmy Davis.
The Rockmart High School Class of 1974 served as honorary escorts.
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. William Michael “Mike” Robinson.
Mrs. Patricia Wheeler, age 71, of Cedartown, passed away on Monday morning, Jan. 15, 2018 at her residence.
Mrs. Wheeler was born May 13, 1946 to the late Clabe and Lillie Williams Chapman in Borden Springs, Ala..
She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church in Buchanan and worked for many years as an Interior decorator.
Surviving are her husband Kenneth Wheeler, her sons Kevin Wood and Dale Wood, daughters Toni Barry and Stacey Correia, brothers Clabe Chapman Jr. and Jamie Chapman.
She is also survived by a number of Grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Patricia Ann Wheeler were conducted Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of the Lester Litesey Funeral home with Dr. Allen Wilburn officiating.
Interment followed at 1:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.
The family received friends Thursday morning, Jan. 18, 2017 prior to the funeral hour at the funeral home.
For personal condolences and to sign the online guestbook, please visit liteseyfh.com.
The Lester C. Litesey Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Patricia Ann Wheeler.
Mrs. Vivian Diane Chafin Wilson, age 61 of Rockmart passed away Monday, January 15, 2018.
Mrs. Wilson was born Nov. 15, 1956 in Perry, daughter of the late Wy- atte Brown Chafin and the late Ina Sue Pierce Chafin. She was of the Baptist faith and a homemaker who loved being with her family.
Mrs. Wilson enjoyed watching sports and avidly adored her precious dog, Sarah.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Wilson; two brothers, Jerry Joshua Chafin and Billy Wayne Chafin.
Survivors include her goddaughter, Bree Gentry of Taylorsville; four sisters, Sarah Hale of London, Ky., Doris Coker and her husband Bobby of Molena, Jeanette Martin and her husband Boyd of Adairsville, and Brenda Ashley of Silver Creek; a brother, Harold Chafin and his wife Shelma of Huntsville, Ala; and her life long companion, Terry “Walk” Hadfield of Rockmart.
A funeral service for Mrs. Wilson was held on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the chapel of Freeman Harris Funeral Home with Rev. Owen “Bud” Davis Jr. officiating.
A eulogy was given by Mr. Terry “Walk” Hadfield.
The family received friends at the funeral home on Friday prior to the funeral service.
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 service for Mrs. Vivian Diane Chafin Wilson.
Mrs. Dellia Ione “Nona” Streetman Proctor, age 73 of Rome passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018.
Mrs. Proctor was born June 27, 1944 in Aragon, daughter of the late James Thomas Streetman and the late Lois Pearl Cash Streetman.
She was a member of the Oak Ridge Baptist Church and a former employee of Integrated Products of Aragon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hentry Alton Proctor on Aug. 3, 1998; a son, Alton Lamar Proctor; two grandchildren, Christopher Proctor and Kendall Dyer; and eleven siblings.
Survivors include two daughters, Angela Bennett and Melinda Cabe both of Rome; son, Aaron Proctor of Rome; brother, Archie Streetman of Dallas; 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services for Mrs. Proctor were held on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at 2 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Baptist Church of Aragon with Rev. Tim Deems officiating.
Interment services followed in the family lot of Aragon Cemetery with Rev. Archie Streetman officiating.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Matthew Proctor, Timothy Proctor, Timmy Reeves, Donnie Spradlen, Jr., Jamie Peach, Chucky Jacobs and Aaron Cordle.
The family received friends at the funeral home on Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, 2018.
Please visit www.freemanharrisfunerals.com to extend personal condolences to the family by signing the online guestbook.
Freeman Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral services for Mrs. Dellia Ione “Nona” Streetman Proctor.
OBITUARIES
Betty Russell Vandiver, a former first lady of Georgia, died As the wife of Gov. Ernest Vandiver, she championed the founding of Milledgeville’s Central State Hospital, the first state institution for the mentally ill.
She had during recent years helped First Lady Sandra Deal in creating “Memories of the Mansion: the Story of Georgia’s Governor’s Mansion.”
Gov. Nathan Deal said of Vandiver: “Historians and pundits often talk about the sacrifices of a governor, but the truly unsung heroes are the members of the first family, who give of themselves for the betterment of others, often quietly, with dignity, and without the applause they deserve. Betty was a prime example of such a woman of grace and Southern charm. We join her family in honoring her contributions to Georgia and in celebrating the fact that she is finally reunited with her beloved husband.”
Vandiver was born in 1927, grew up in Winder and attended the University of Georgia, graduating in 1947 and marrying Ernest Vandiver.
Ernest Vandiver was a Lavonia attorney who got involved in local politics before rising to lieutenant governor, then serving as governor from 1959 to 1963. The couple had three children, who spent some of their early years growing up in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion.