Rockmart’s snowflake lights remain up for sale
Several of the snowflake lights that went on sale last Friday remain in stock for lovers of Rockmart history to take home and have as a holiday keepsake.
Those large, metal decorative lights replaced a few years back with more variety of holiday displays still need a new home, and officials with the Downtown Rockmart Advisory Committee hope to have the rest gone before the end of the year.
The snowflakes were donated by the city to the committee to help cover the cost of the new string lights over downtown
Ms. Sheena Barnett Oliver, age 59, of Cedartown, passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, after an extended illness. She was born on July 21, 1959, in Rome. Sheena was the prime example of what it meant to be courageous. Her persistent dedication to her faith and her uncompromising love for her family gave her strength and endurance to boldly persevere through the tribulations and adversities she faced daily.
The disease she suffered from did not debilitate her spirit, rather it gave her a relentless desire to live.
Ms. Oliver is survived by her mother, Barbara Burgess; daughters, Kortnee Beck Hazlewood (Jason) and Kaila Oliver Chivers (Cam); sisters, Starr Barnett Merritt (Michael) and Shayne Barnett Green (Lance); brother, Clint Barnett; grandchildren, Jonathan Hazlewood, Will Hazlewood, Jarrett Hazlewood, Miranda Ford, Maddison Ford, Makinze Ford and Payton Chivers; nieces, Caitlin Merritt and Maris Green; nephews, Zach Merritt and Levi Green; and great-niece, Anna Kate Merritt also survive.
Ms. Oliver is preceded in death by her father, Johnny Barnett and grandson, Justin Payton.
The funeral arrangements for Ms. Sheena Barnett Oliver were held on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the Gammage Funeral Home with Brother John Carroll officiating. Interment will follow in the Northview Cemetery.
The family of Ms. Oliver will receive family and friends on Friday evening, Dec. 7, 2018 at the Gammage Funeral Home; at other times the family received family and friends at 305 Lakecreek Road.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Eric Barnett, Dustin Chastain, Brandon Barnett, Tobias Ford, Eugene Forsyth and Dustin Stinson.
Flowers are being accepted; however, donations can be made to Justin Payton Scholarship care of CHS Band, 167 Frank Lott Drive, Cedartown, Ga., 30125, Attn: Band Director.
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 Ms. Sheena Barnett Oliver.
Mr. Edward B. Sarnecki, age 66, of Cedartown passed away in his home on Dec. 3, 2018.
The son of Edward J. Sarnecki and Mary V Gallagher, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 16, 1952.
Mr. Sarnecki could do anything, remembered by friends and family as a jack of all trades.
He loved family, fishing and football. Mr. Sarnecki never gave up hope that one day the Miami Dolphins would win big.
He had a heart of gold and was always there for anyone who needed him. He will be sorely missed but all who loved him know they will see him again.
Mr. Sarnecki was a husband to Jill Burke, a loving father of Christy Cooper, Eddie Vennard, Heather Burns and step-father to Morgan Burke and Mari Burke Vaniman. after they decided they wanted to do something with the lights other than scrap them for the metal.
Rockmart City Manager Jeff Ellis said previously the lights were still in good condition and many still worked when plugged in. However there are others in the collection of now less than 41 available for sale that will require some restoration work, and that LED lights that stick on from various local stores can replace the old, less efficient lights.
Prices are one each for $100 and 2 for $175 in as-is condition. They’ll be sold out of the Rockmart City Complex on Piedmont Avenue until all are gone.
He was also a beloved brother of Sandy Charboneau, Deena Silverthorn, Shelley Webb, Mary Rollins, Jeanne Mace, Paul Sarnecki, Leslie Kelaris, John Sarnecki, and Lauren Coppedge.
Funeral services for Mr. Edward B. Sarnecki were held at St. Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church in Cedartown on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at 12 p.m.
Smith and Miller Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mr. Edward B. Sarnecki.
Visit smithmillerfh.com to leave condolences for the family of Mr. Sarnecki.
Mr. Howard Roper, 84, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.
Services for Mr. Roper were held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, West Aragon Church Of Christ, at 1 p.m. in Aragon. He lay in-state prior to the hour of service.
Interment followed in the Polk Memory Gardens in Cedartown.
A wake was held on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2018, at Wright Memorial Chapel in Rome.
Wright Memorial Mortuary, Inc. had charge of arrangements for Mr. Howard Roper.
Mrs. Martha Ann Roper Sumner, 81, went into the arms of our Lord and rejoined her best friend and husband Patrick, the evening of Nov. 27, 2018. She passed quietly at home with her hospice nurse and family at her bedside.
Public Visitation was held on Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2018 at Bean-MasseyBurge Funeral Home.
Funeral services followed at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, with interment at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Sumner was born Nov. 14, 1937, to J.O. and Florine Roper in a two room house in Eatonton. She grew up in a loving Christian home that would mold her into the extraordinary woman she would become.
She was a strong, independent woman with a kind heart and servant’s spirit. She loved people and serving others.
Mrs. Sumner chose to become a registered nurse to serve those most in need for many years in her home state of Georgia. She served as a nursing administrator, worked in geriatrics and critical care.
She trained new nurses and volunteers, delivered many babies; but, her passion was always pediatrics.
Mrs. Sumner loved children. As the years passed, Mrs. Sumner became restless to see the world. She joined the Air Force as a lieutenant and was promoted to Major. She traveled extensively in the Middle East and Southeast Asia while passing through various points in Europe before returning home. Her favorite deployment with the most lasting impact was the two years she served as a private duty nurse in Tehran, Iran.
There she met Patrick Sumner in a small home church during Bible study. They stayed in contact after they had both returned to the United States and the relationship blossomed. After two decades, Mrs. Sumner retired her nursing cap to take on a new role as a loving and devoted wife and mother to their soon to come two children, Christina
The lights themselves aren’t small, and those interested should bring a truck to pick one up. They measure 76 inches by 75 inches.
Those interested in seeing examples of the lights can stop by the old Hometown Realty office on South Marble Street, the Silver Comet Trailhead office, or Now and Then on East Church Street.
Anyone interested in reserving a snowflake now that their Dec. 7 sale is over can still have them on a first come, first serve basis. Buyers can contact Elrod at the Polk County Chamber of Commerce at info@polkgeorgia.com, or by calling 678-883-9255.
and Catherine.
Their 40 year marriage began Aug. 17, 1975. They made Grand Prairie, Texas, their forever home in 1976.
Mrs. Sumner was especially active in her final church, First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie. She found great joy teaching children’s Sunday School alongside her husband for many years.
She went back to work part time when her children were old enough to enter school. She began what would become a 30 year career and personal ministry at First Baptist Church, managing and cooking in the kitchen that would serve meals to hundreds of thousands of people. She touched many people from all walks of life.
Mrs. Sumner loved to travel, cookbooks, crafts, sewing and playing the piano. In her final years, she found great happiness in her last role as a grandmother to Ella and Noemie.
She is survived by her eldest daughter Christina Sumner Farah, her spouse Ramzi Farah, Catherine Sumner, her youngest daughter, two grandchildren, Ella Smith and Noemie Farah, brother, Melvin Roper, along with his spouse, Pasty Roper of Cedartown, nephews, Scott and Andrew Roper of Cedartown also survive.
The following gentlemen served as pallbearers: Ramzi Farah, Melvin Roper, Scott Roper, Andrew Roper, Jack Roper, Greg Froman, William Brentlinger and Al Reeves.
The Smith and Miller Funeral Home of Cedartown was honored to make this local announcement for the family of Mrs. Martha Ann Sumner.
Mr. Casey Ryan Johnson, age 36, of Cartersville, passed away Monday, Nov. 26, 2018.
He was born in Rome on Aug. 25, 1982, a son of the late Tony Lee Johnson and the late Cynthia Sutton Johnson Richardson.
Mr. Johnson had lived all of his life in Bartow County where he was a graduate of Woodland High School. He was a Veteran of the United States National Guard and was a member of the Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
He loved music, art and was an avid sports fan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents: W.C. and Doris Johnson and Ila Sutton; and by his cousin, Cody Sutton.
Survivors include his grandfather, Elder, Charles Sutton, Taylorsville; fiancé, Jennifer Bell, Cartersville; God sister, Victoria Brogdon, Taylorsville; and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
Funeral services were Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at 3 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Archie Streetman, Rev. Colt Deems and Rev. Tim Deems officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers included: Adam Catlin, Greg Dobbins, Ray Garrett, Kevin Barnett, Chris Hindmon and Olin Streetman.
The family received friends Sunday afternoon prior to the funeral hour at the Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made the funeral home to assist with funeral expenses.
The Alvis Miller and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements for the funeral of Mr. Casey Ryan Johnson.
The holidays are often the time of year we not only reflect on the blessings we receive, but work to help those who may be less fortunate. From donating toys, coats or canned goods, to delivering or serving holiday meals, we want to make sure less fortunate individuals and families enjoy blessings and dignity during the holiday season.
But among those to whom we might be generous this time of year, individuals who are homeless face a unique set of barriers and challenges that can sometimes preclude them from benefitting from acts of charity – or from programs designed to help low-income and indigent families throughout the year.
Last month, I spoke at the Georgia Supportive Housing Association (GSHA) annual conference in Atlanta about the importance of permanent supportive housing in facilitating recovery for individuals with mental illness, addictive disease or disabilities. GSHA is a network of nonprofit housing developers, service providers, statewide agencies and corporations that work to strengthen housing resources in Georgia for at-risk populations.
A s a p r o v i d e r o f supportive housing services, Highland Rivers Health – like GSHA – supports a housing first philosophy. The National Alliance to End Homelessness defines housing first as an approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, to provide a foundation from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.
This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to other needs such as getting a job, budgeting, or receiving treatment for mental health or substance use issues. This is also true – and critical – for children, who miss fewer days of school and are more likely to be successful academically when they have a home.
Housing first also does not require recipients to begin mental health or substance use treatment or other services as a condition of receiving housing – though many do, and are more successful because they are better able to focus on recovery. For those reasons, housing first has proven to be effective on many levels.
According to a 2015 study by the National Institutes of Health, people receiving housing first services achieved superior housing outcomes and showed more rapid improvements in community functioning and quality of life – the goals of mental health and substance use treatment services.
Likewise, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reports that housing first is an effective intervention for ending and preventing homeless for individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
In addition, by making it easier for individuals to receive consistent mental health treatment, supportive housing reduces the likelihood of individuals seeking mental health services in the emergency room or requiring psychiatric hospitalization – resulting in significant cost savings.
Because mental illness and substance use disorders are much more prevalent among homeless populations than the general population, permanent supportive housing can be the catalyst for a chain reaction of positive events.
Providing a home for someone with mental illness or a substance disorder not only removes him or her from the streets (reducing their risk of assault, ongoing substance use, TB, HIV and death) but helps them take steps needed to live in recovery. As I’ve written many times before, individuals in recovery are often able to seek additional education or skills training, find employment, become better parents and contribute to the community.
Most important, these benefits – stable housing, recovery and dignity – go well beyond the holidays, lasting for years or even a lifetime. And there is perhaps no gift, no act of charity or kindness, more meaningful to people and their communities than productive, thriving individuals and families.
To learn more about Highland Rivers’ supportive housing services, visit http:// highlandrivershealth.com/ residential-recovery-services.
Melanie Dallas is a licensed professional counselor and CEO of Highland Rivers Health, which provides treatment and recovery services for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities in a 12-county region of northwest Georgia that includes Bartow, Cherokee, Floyd, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk and Whitfield counties.