OBITUARIES

BLALOCK, Martha Nell

Martha Nell Blalock, age 85, of LaFayette passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020.

She was a member of Sunnyside Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Blalock; and parents, Bryant and Inez Cavin.

She is survived by her daughters, Gay (Lloyd) Mitchell and Darlene “Dee” (Lester) Mitchell; grandchildren, Dawn (Keith) Martin, Hope (Chris) Spears, and Anthony (Jesica) Mitchell; 10 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; sisters, Jane (Dewey) Boyd and Jackie (Benny) Castleberry; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was held 2 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2020 in the Wilbanks Memorial Chapel with Pastors Randy - ciating.

Interment at

Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers were Bryan Boyd, Mark Blalock, Jeff Gilreath, Bill Sylar, Jack Dendy, Edward Mitchell, and Bobby Swafford.

Visitation was held Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.

LaFayette

MCPHERSON, Jackie

Jackie Nelson McPherson, age 70 of Chickamauga, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Henry and Bessie Early Nelson in Carbon Hill, AL, lived most of her life in the Chickamauga area and was a member of Rock Spring Baptist Church. Jackie was a graduated of Gordon Lee Memorial High School, Class of 1968, was employed by the Chickamauga Telephone Company for the past 52 yrs. and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, who will be greatly missed.

She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Tommy Nelson, Gert Montgomery, Judy Hood and Hazel Nelson.

She is survived by her loving husband, of 37 yrs., Tommy McPherson, children; Doug (Susan) Dilbeck, Jason (Lisa) Dilbeck, Dustin (Kim) McPherson, Teri (Brian) Shadden and Shelly Ruppe, siblings; Mary Nelson, Mildred Nelson, Nancy Nelson, Helen Derrick, Ellen Newberry, Linda Brown and Alan Nelson, 12 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and several nieces & nephews.

The funeral service was held at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 13, 2020 in the funeral home chapel, with Pas Interment followed in Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family received friends from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday and prior to the service on Friday.

Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home-J. Avery Bryan, Chickamauga.

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.”

— John Lennon

NEWMAN, Djuna Marlene Whaley

Djuna Marlene Whaley Newman of Fountain, a victim in the Fountain, Florida shootings, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at the age of 53.

Djuna was born April 2, 1966 in Tampa, FL, attended Lafayette High School and later enrolled in dental and cosmetology school. DJ lived life to its fullest with an electric personality and powerful presence: When she would walk into a room, she took over that room. She loved her friends so deeply that she laid down her life for them. Her loss will forever leave an open wound in the hearts of us all.

She was preceded in death by her father, Charles William Whaley and stepfather, William Alexander Bill Tucker; grandparents, Carl and Hazel Conner, and Dennis Smith.

Djuna is survived by her sons, Robert Allen Whaley and Tommy Lee Newman; one grandchild yet to be born; mother, Marlene Louise Figga; siblings, William A. Tucker Jr, Michael D. Tucker, Cynthia Darlene Mitchell, Michelle Jennings, Carlton W. Tucker, and Steven D. Tucker; nephews, Carlton W. Tucker Jr., James R. Tucker, Eric S. Doss, James C. Mitchell Jr., Steven R. Tucker, David Tucker, and Steven A. Tucker; nieces, Barbara Bryant, Virginia Sandefer, Ashley Bolton, and Danielle Melton.

A Celebration of DJ’s Life was held 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Heritage Funeral Home with Rev. The family received friends beginning 1:00 P.M. prior to the service.

Those wishing to extend condolences may do so at www.heritagefhllc.com

TOWNLEY, Christopher

Christopher Alan Townley died Friday, March 6, 2020 at his home in Chickamauga, Georgia with his family by his side after a year-long battle with glioblastoma. Chris was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 11, 1952. He graduated from Tucker High School in Tucker, Georgia, attended Stetson University, and graduated from Mercer University and Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He married Sandra Carolyn Davis, his high school sweetheart, in 1972. Their twins, Heather and Shaun, were born in 1977. After law school, he worked in the District Attorney’s of moving to Northwest Georgia in 1978, he worked in the the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit. After leaving at Harriss, Hartman Law Of own practice which he ran 2018, he was elected Solicitor General of Walker County State Court. Chris served on the Georgia Bar’s Board of Panel, and the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures Com unanimous decision before the US Supreme Court in US v Honeycutt. He was awarded the 2018-19 Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award by the State Bar of Georgia, an award given annually to just one of the more than 50,000 lawyers in Georgia. Chris was awarded this honor “for conducting himself with dignity, kindness, preparation and skill”. Chris loved the practice of law and dedicated his talents to help others in the administration of justice. During this to feel the love and appreciation of the many who he had helped along the way. Chris served the Cherokee Presbytery as moderator and was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He was a member of Chickamauga Presbyterian Church for over forty years. He served as a Sunday School teacher, liturgist, youth group leader, choir member, and treasurer. He recently began attending Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church. Chris loved his family, his God, his community, and the practice of law. He enjoyed spending time with family, especially his grandchildren, as well as traveling, coaching, playing golf, and working in his yard. He supported his children and grandchildren in all their activities.

He is survived by his wife, Sandi, his daughter, Heather, and his son, Shaun (Erin), his grandchildren, Matthew and Joseph, and his brothers, Matt Townley (Joan) and Russ Townley (Monica), his nephew, Josh, and his nieces, Anna, Nicole, and Kelli. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul & Shirley Townley.

The family would like to thank Hearth Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

- morial gifts can be made in Chris’s name to the Georgia Bar Foundation at 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 610, Atlanta, GA 30303 or to the Elizabeth Lee UMC Building Fund, P.O. Box 126, Chickamauga, Georgia 30707.

Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory,

Liars got a gut punch from Georgia state senators, who unanimously agreed Monday, March 9, they are fed up with falsehoods in their chamber and in legislative committees.

Under a resolution by Senate Rules Committee Chairman

Jeff Mullis, members of the public who testify at Georgia Senate meetings would be bound to tell only the truth or face a temporary ban.

Lobbyists, activists, experts, government officials and just generally concerned Georgia citizens often weigh in on bills and issues at hearings held by Senate committees.

These hearings are the most public way for people opposed or supportive of legislation to air their thoughts before lawmakers, who must give the green light before a bill can advance further in the Georgia General Assembly.

The resolution by Mullis, R-Chickamauga, would make it so that people testifying before the Senate are