The world lost a good man, loving husband and wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  Jerrold Rusk of Blairsville, Georgia passed away on September 28^th at home surrounded by his family.

Jerry was born March 30, 1935 in Miami, Florida to the late Fred and Harriett Wallis Rusk.  He married his High School sweetheart, Barbara Haybert in November of 1955 and were to celebrate their 64^th wedding anniversary this year. Every man leaves a legacy and Jerry’s was his family.  He is survived by his wife Barbara, four children–Mark (the late Shirley George Rusk) of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Frances Rusk Kelley (Robby Kelley) of Blairsville, Georgia, Michael (Mark Cauthen) of Cornelius, North Carolina and Neal (Tammy Sosebee Rusk) of Blairsville, Georgia; nine grandchildren—Jennifer Rusk of Stone Mountain, Kathy Rusk of Stone Mountain, Kayla Rusk Whitener (Clay Whitener) of Blairsville, Georgia, Katherine Rusk of Washington, D.C., Kourtney Rusk Dockery (Shannon Dockery) of Blairsville, Georgia, Emily Rusk of Raleigh, North Carolina, Morgan Kelley of Blairsville, Georgia, Michael Kelley of Blairsville, Georgia and Caroline Rusk of Davidson, North Carolina; and four great-grandchildren—Addison Whitener,  Aiden Whitener, Khloe Dockery and Korbin Dockery all from Blairsville, Georgia.

After marrying Barbara, Jerry was a member of the Miami-Dade County Police Department and served in the Navy Reserves.  He and Barbara moved to Blairsville, Georgia in 1968 and raised their family on Lake Nottley.  He was involved in real estate and home building in Union County, enjoyed being outdoors, camping and traveling with his wife, hunting with his sons, and sports of any nature.  He was active in Union County sports for decades serving as coach, umpire, announcer and mentor.  His greatest joy came from being on the sidelines, watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren play the sport they loved.  He held a private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying for years.

He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.  A private family ceremony will be held to celebrate his life.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to Regency Southern Care Hospice Services in his honor.

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 funeral services for Mr. Ronnie Paul Kelley, age 73, of Blairsville, Georgia who passed away Monday, September 30th, 2019 in Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Mr. Kelley was born in Blairsville, a son of the late Paul Kelley and Blanche Margaret Walsh Kelley. He was of the Baptist faith. He Served as a Fire Technician with the U.S. Forestry Service for over 34 years. Quiet by nature, to say that He loved fishing would be an understatement! He fished for all types- all the time. Ronnie felt in his element with a line in the water luring in that next massive striper.

His family meant the world to him, especially the grandchildren. He was faithful to attend their sporting events, share his hobbies with them, and teach them life lessons about the value of hard work. Ronnie enjoyed solving problems and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. A bit stubborn, he wouldn’t stop until he found the answer he was looking for. Ronnie was certainly proud, independent, and dedicated. He liked watching the Braves and Falcons play.

Family left to treasure his memory include: his devoted wife of 54 years, Judy Owenby Kelley; son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Peggy Kelley; daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Jeff McCarter; sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Terry Queen; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Barbara Kelley. Also, sharing in his legacy are five grandchildren: Brady McCarter, Bryce McCarter, Kait McCarter, Whitney Warren (Michael), Matthew Kelley; and 2 great grandchildren, Bristol Warren and Cooper Warren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., to be held in the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Helton and Rev. Jerry Young officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will meet with friends on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Ronnie Paul Kelley, of Blairsville. Please share your condolences and sign the guest registry online at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.

The Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory announces Memorial Services for Cullen “Jack” Jackson Waters Sr., age 76 of Blairsville (formally Tampa, FL) who passed away on Monday, September 30, 2019.

Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2019 from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home. The family will gather with friends from 2:00 p.m. until the service begins. Military Honors will be presented by the North Georgia Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s memory to your choice of either: The American Legion, Ira Weaver Post 121 and Auxiliary, P.O. Box 247, Blairsville, GA 30514; or Human Development Center, Inc., 3809 North Tampa Street, Tampa, Florida 33603.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville.

Edward (Ed) Odelle Jordan, 56, of Blairsville, Georgia passed away at his home Thursday, September 26^th.  Ed was born in Kingsport, Tennessee to the late Edward Eugene and Mary Louise (Massengill) Jordan.  He grew up in Morrow, Georgia and graduated from Morrow Senior High School in 1981.   Ed began his career as a machinist at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia.  Soon thereafter he began working at Corrugated Replacements, Inc. in Atlanta and stayed with the company his entire career moving with the company to Blairsville, Georgia.

Ed and his son, Alex, have been members of the New Union Baptist Church, Blairsville, Georgia where they have been faithful members.  The church has been a caring and loving family for them.  Ed and Alex particularly enjoyed participating in the Dreamride Foundation programs that provide special life experiences for people with special needs.  Ed supported Alex in his Special Olympics endeavors and local sporting events.   Ed and Alex also enjoyed cheering on the Atlanta Braves. Ed loved sharing his life with Alex and was a dedicated and loving father.

Ed is survived by his son, Edward Alexander Jordan, his sister, Sherry Jordan Smith (Rick), niece Hayley Smith and nephew William P. Smith (Fawn).  Ed is the nephew of Myers N. Massengill (Jan) and Mrs. R. M. Massengill of Bristol, Tennessee.  He is survived by many loving cousins. Ed’s former wife and Alex’s mother, Lisa Atha, survives.  Ed is the grandson of the late Rev. Odelle and Lala Jordan of Morrow, Georgia and Raymond and Mary Louise Massengill of Blountville, Tennessee.

Visitation will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29^th at the New Union Baptist Church in Blairsville, Georgia.  A funeral service at the church will follow at 4:00 p.m.  Arrangements are being provided by Mountainview Funeral Home.

The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the many organizations that have cared for Ed and Alex in Blairsville.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Avita Community Partners, 76 Hunt Martin Street, Suite A, Blairsville, GA 30512.  Avita provides assistance to individuals and families with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities.  Contributions may also be made to Dreamride/Blairsville in care of the Hometown Foundation, Attn: Terri Post, 143 Valerie Lane, Blairsville, GA 30512.

Mr. George J. Berry passed away on September 7, 2019 at home. Mr. Berry, a native of Union County, spent his working years in Atlanta and retired in 2004 to Monroe County in middle Georgia. He was born on July 5, l937 to William Cautus Berry and Lorena Crawford Berry of Blairsville.

He was a member of the Union County High School Class of l955. He graduated from Young Harris College and Georgia State University. He worked for four mayors of Atlanta and was the Chief Administrative Officer of the city under Mayors Sam Massell and Maynard Jackson. He was perhaps best known as the official responsible for a major expansion of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport which at the time was the largest single public construction project in the history of the State of Georgia. He later served as head of the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism under Governor Joe
Frank Harris. He was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to Chair the board of the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority which provided public oversight to the l996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He concluded his working career as Senior Vice President of Cousins Properties Incorporated, an Atlanta real estate development firm. Always proud of his mountain roots, Mr. Berry served for many years as a Trustee of Young Harris College and on the Advisory Board of the Byron Herbert Reece Society.

Mr. Berry is survived by his loyal and loving wife of 56 years, Jeannine Barrett Berry. Also by a son, Mark Jefferson Berry (Liz) of Alpharetta and a daughter Jennifer Berry Hudgins (Scott) of Forsyth, GA. His pride and joy were five grandchildren, Oliver, Harry and Virginia Hudgins and Crawford and Jackson Berry.

The graveside interment services at Union Memory Gardens will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts to the Young Harris College Local Scholarship Campaign.

Mrs. Nina Geraldine Queen age 77 of Meeks Rd. Blairsville passed away on Friday September 6, 2019 in the Kennestone Hospital following a brief illness. Mrs. Queen was born on September 12, 1941 in Commerce, GA., the daughter of the late Hoyt McCarty and the late Gertrude Wilson McCarty. She was a lifelong resident of Union County. Before her retirement she worked with the Union County School System for many years and also worked at Union General Hospital for over twenty eight years. Nine loved flowers, her family and her dog Charlie. She was a loving and caring mother, sister and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Franklin Queen in 1998 and a brother, Mike McCarty. Mrs. Queen was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving Mrs. Queen are two daughters and sons in law, Sharon and John Murphy of Sautee, GA., Suzanne and Thomas O. Carpenter of Blairsville, one son and daughter in law, Craig and Devika Queen of Atlanta, six grandchildren, Tosha Sexton, Haley Wiley, Megan Davis, Jarrard Davis, Joe Murphy and Robbie Murphy, four great grandchildren, many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Monday September 9, 2019 at 2:00 pm from the Mountain View Chapel with Rev. Bryan Mason officiating. Special music will be presented by Sustained By Grace. The following gentleman will serve as pallbearers, Craig Queen, John Murphy, Jarrard Davis, Doug Queen , Shane McCarty and Terry Queen. Interment will follow in the Queen cemetery where she will rest next to her beloved husband Robert. The family will  meet with friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 4-7:00 pm.

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

Mr. Roger Wilford Exley Jr. age 59 of Rizzitello Lane Blairsville formerly of Alaska and Wisconsin passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home on Saturday September 7, 2019 following an extended illness. Mr. Exley was born on Dec. 4, 1959 in Savannah, GA., the son of Martha Louise McDowell Exley and the late Roger Exley Sr. Roger loved hunting, fishing, kayaking, bicycling and being outdoors. He was a true outdoorsman.  He was a very talented carpenter , musician and computer specialist. He was a loving son, father, brother and uncle. Roger was of the Lutheran faith.

Surviving Mr. Exley are his mother, Martha Exley of Mt. Dora, FL., one daughter, Clare Marie Exley of MN.,  one son, Nicholas Edward Exley of Madison, WI., his former wife, Judy Exley, four sisters, Paula Peebles of Early Branch, WI., Susan Exley of WI., Lois Evans of Mt. Dora, FL., Jennifer Exley of Port Wentworth, GA., one brother, Edmund Exley of Colorado Springs, CO., several nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends also survive.

A memorial service and interment will follow at a later date from the Laurel Hill Lutheran Church in Clyo, GA. In lieu of flowers if you wish, the family requests that donations may be made to Pruitt Health Care and Hospice in Roger’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

James Oliver Allen, age 70 of Mineral Bluff, passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019, in Blue Ridge. Mr. Allen was born December 24, 1948, in Blairsville, GA to the late John Allen and the late Irene Payne Allen. A member of the Baptist faith, Mr. Allen attended Hot House Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his brother, Randall Allen. Mr. Allen was loved by his family and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include: wife, Anita Ray Allen; son, James Grady (Kristin) Allen; daughter, Chrissy (Darwin) Booth; brother, Richard (Suzie) Allen; sisters, Minnie (David) Chapman, Wanda (Bob) Grant, and Donna Panter; and grandchildren, Izabella Booth and Nicholas Booth.

Graveside services: Monday, September 2, 2019, at 2:00 pm at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Blairsville, GA. with the Rev Danny Queen officiating. Mr. Allen will lie in state at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Monday, September 2, 2019, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm. Pallbearers: Charles Ray, Michael Turner, Mark Johnson, Grady Ray, and Alex Herdt. Honorary pallbearers: David Chapman, Bob Grant, Roy Truelove, and Steve Mize.

Family and friends are encouraged to meet at the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge Monday, September 2, 2019, at 12:00 pm to follow in procession to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers and food, Henry-Cochran Funeral Home will be accepting donations on behalf of the Allen family to offset the cost of final expenses.

Arrangements entrusted to the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.