Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces funeral services for Mr. Dickie H. Dills, age 72, of Lilburn, Georgia, who passed away on Saturday, December 14th, 2019 in Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Mr. Dills was a native of this area, but had lived most of his life in Lilburn. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and served with the 101st Airborne. He was employed as an area manager for the U.S. Postal Service, and attended Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Warne, North Carolina. His wife, Sue Edwards Dills, preceded him in death, as well as his parents, Ruby Bell Dills and Halen Dills; and a brother, Dennis Dills.

Dickie had an infectious personality and influenced the lives of everyone he met in a positive way. Whether you knew him as a friend, neighbor, boss, uncle, or just plain “dad” he inspired you to be the best version of yourself and would not accept anything less than that. His work ethic and attention to detail were legendary whether in his personal life, professional life, or in one of the many classic Ford Mustangs he meticulously restored. This determination was rooted in a small-town upbringing, honed in the U.S. Army where he proudly served in the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War, and became the basis for which he lived his entire life. Over the course of his 40 plus year career with the U.S. Postal Service, he received many accolades and accomplishments, and was respected by his peers that thought of him more as family. Dickie was a jack of all trades and most notably a master mechanic. He was known throughout the southeast and beyond in the classic car community as it pertained to his favorite of them all, the Ford Mustang. Of the many achievements in his life, none brought him more joy than being a husband to his wife of 43 years Sue Edwards Dills, and father to his son Matthew. After a courageous battle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma he has been reunited with his beloved wife, brother, parents, and many loved ones that came before his time. Dickie was truly a one of a kind man, and he will be greatly missed by family, friends, co-workers, and all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Surviving family members include a son, Matthew Dills; a brother, David Dills; and three sisters: Rachael Payne, Karen Phillips, and Carol Shook.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Wednesday, December 18th, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., to be held at McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee. The family will meet with friends at the church on the day of the service, starting at 11:00 a.m. The following gentlemen have been requested to serve as pallbearers: Matthew Dills, Chris Payne, Eric Dills, Jackie Jones, David Dills, and Rick Cantrell. Burial will be in Burch Cemetery.

Flowers are being accepted for the service; however, if you wish, you may make memorial donations to Burch Cemetery, 980 Will Shook Road, Hiawassee, Georgia 30546.

Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Dickie H. Dills. Please share your condolences and sign the online guest registry at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.

Mr. Robert Wade Perkins, age 56, of Leslie Dr. Blairsville, GA., passed away peacefully on December 9, 2019 at his home following an extended illness. Mr. Perkins was born on May 5, 1963 in Marion, MO., the son of the late Robert H. Perkins & late Mary Y. Willings. In his free time, Robert enjoyed working on cars & computers. Mr. Perkins was of the Christian faith. He is preceded in death by his loving companion of fifteen years, Ann Goodenough in 2019, a brother, Charles Perkins, and a sister, Susan Chitwood-Perkins.

Surviving Mr. Perkins is a daughter Alexis Roberts of Corpus Christi, TX., three step-daughters & two sons-in-law, Nichole & Mason Schuknecht of Blairsville, Briana & Larry Sweeney-Goodenough of Blairsville, Misty Goodenough of Blairsville, a step-son, Gregory Chabotte of Blairsville, a brother and sister-in-law, Brad & Lori Lubker-Perkins of Blairsville, and a sister and brother-in-law, Erin & Paul Allen. Fourteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.

A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to help defray expenses in Robert’s memory.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences online at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

Rev. Rodney Fredric Johnson, 83, of Young Harris, GA went home to be with the Lord on December 1st, 2019.

Rod was born on October 8^th, 1936 in Green Bay, Wisconsin and grew up in Oconto Falls. He was the only child to Sydney Emmett and Geraldine Adeline Johnson. He graduated High School in 1954 from Shawano High (Shawano, WI), attended Wisconsin State College at Stevens Point and Candler School of Theology, Emory University – graduating with his Master of Divinity in 1961. He was ordained into the Methodist Church in 1959.

Rod met the love of his life, Katherine Ann Duncanson, while serving as associate pastor at Beymer United Methodist Church in Winter Haven, FL. Rod and Kathy married on Sept 1^st, 1966 and recently celebrated 53 years of marriage. They retired to Young Harris, GA after 40 years in the ministry serving the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rod is survived by his two sons, Kenneth Sydney Johnson (Nashville, TN) and Kevin Rodney Johnson and his wife Shannon (Hoover, AL). He has 5 wonderful grandchildren, Nicholas Paul Johnson and his wife Mandi, Alec Tate Johnson, Scout Michael Johnson, Maxwell Stewart Johnson and Adeline Grace Johnson.

Rod faithfully served as associate pastor at Cross Bayou UMC (Seminole, FL), Beymer UMC, First UMC (Melbourne, FL) and Concord Park UMC (Orlando, FL). He was senior pastor of Concord Park UMC (Orlando, FL), Riverview UMC (Ormond Beach, FL), founding pastor of Faith UMC (Miami, FL), St Luke’s UMC (Lake Worth, FL), Emmanuel UMC (Melbourne, FL) and Asbury UMC (New Port Richey, FL).

Rod loved and faithfully served the Walk to Emmaus community as spiritual director in Florida for many years.

Rod was a diehard Green Bay Packer fan and raised his sons to be faithful cheeseheads during the lean years of the 70s and 80s. He was rewarded with countless games around the TV with his sons and grandchildren and 4 trips to Lambeau field during the past 25 years of much better outings for the green and gold.

Rod loved to fish and was blessed to have many friends and parishioners take him on many deep-sea outings and excursions in Canada and Alaska where he hauled in some beautiful trophies.

Since retirement in 1999, Rod and Kathy have enjoyed spending time with their family and have taken many trips abroad together. Rod and Kathy have been active members of First UMC of Union County.

His life was lived to the fullest and his calling as a pastor was the greatest of all his passions. No matter the assignment or the situation, he was faithful and, above all else, honored God with his talents. Well done…

A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 7, 2019 at 3:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church of Union County with Pastor Don Landen and Pastor Mike Cloyd officiating. Special music will be presented by Ken Johnson and Eric Miller. In lieu of flowers if you wish, the family requests that donations may be made to Pruitt Hospice/Pruitt Cares Foundation for Camp Cocoon Children’s Bereavement Camp in Rod’s memory. The family will meet with friends at the church on Saturday from 2-3:00 pm.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Shirley Ann Singleton, formerly of Blairsville, passed away peacefully at Community Hospice of Vidalia on Sunday, November 17, 2019, following a 7-month battle with lung cancer. Mrs. Singleton was born on September 16, 1938 in Walton County, FL, the daughter of the late James A. Childers & late Annie L. Kennedy Childers. Shirley lived in Lyons, GA for more than 30 years before moving to Blairsville in 1999.  As a Certified Dietary Manager, she worked for Union County Nursing Home and was a consultant throughout the southeast at many nursing home locations.  She was past president of the Georgia Dietary Managers Association and member of the Association of Nutrition & Food Service Professionals. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Blairsville and a previous member of Vidalia Baptist Temple in Vidalia, GA. She deeply appreciated the support of her loving church family in the last months. She is preceded in death by husband, Edwin D. Singleton in 2007, and husband, David E. Evans in 1974; three brothers, James Felton Childers, Edward Earl Childers, and Melvin Childers.

Her survivors include four children, James E. “Jimmy” Singleton of Blackshear, GA; Lorene S. (Ralph D.) King Jr. of New Smyrna Beach, FL; David Ralph Evans, Sr. of Vidalia, GA; Robert E. “Bobby” (Lisa) Evans of Lyons, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Frances C. & Joe C. Shelley of Jacksonville, FL, two sisters-in-law, Betty Childers of Orangeburg, SC, and Robbie Childers of Freeport, FL; and four grandchildren, Lori K. (Brandon) Stibb; David Ralph Evans, Jr.; MacKenzie Evans; and Jacob Evans.  Many nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday November 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mark Handy officiating. The following gentleman will serve as pallbearers, Avery Mason, Doug Davenport, Ron Murphy, and Jeff Stevenson. Interment will follow in Meadow View Cemetery. Flowers are accepted or if preferred, the family requests that donations in Shirley’s memory be made to Community Hospice Charity Foundation of Vidalia PO Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475-2277 (912) 537-0063. The family will meet with friends on Saturday morning from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm prior to the services.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Elizabeth “Betty” Belanger age 84 of Kennedy Creek Rd. Suches passed away peacefully on Saturday November 16, 2019 at her home. Mrs. Belanger was born on August 27, 1935 in Gainesville, GA., the daughter of the late Ernst V. Brender and the late Grovia Lunsford Brender. Betty was a lifelong Librarian and worked at colleges, local school systems, and public libraries. Her hobbies were reading, bird watching, and quilting. She was a loving and caring wife, mother and aunt. Betty was a member of the Dahlonega Presbyterian Church and active in Suches community functions.

Surviving Mrs. Belanger are her loving husband and best friend of fifty three years, Roger Belanger of Suches, and one daughter, G. Ann Belanger of Glen Allen, VA. Several nieces, nephews, a host of her church family, many other relatives and friends also survive.

The family will meet with friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening, November 21^st from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Private interment will follow at a later date in the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Lumpkin County Library or to the Dahlonega Presbyterian Church in Betty’s memory.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville announces the death of Austin Lee Gilleland, age 24, of Blairsville, who passed away on Friday, November 15th, 2019.

Austin was born in Athens, Georgia, a son of Dwayne Gilleland and Amee Fowler Gilleland. He had lived in Blairsville for the past year and a half, and attended First Baptist Church of Blairsville, moving here from Athens, Georgia.

Besides his parents, Austin is survived by his wife, Samantha, of Blairsville; daughter, Emma Grace; brother, Avery Keith Gilleland; and grandparents Ben and NiEata Telenko and Dennis and Linda Fowler. Many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services are incomplete at this time and will be announced when available.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville. Please share your condolences and sign the online guest registry at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.