Balinda Gale Hymen, age 46, of Blue Ridge, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2019, at Piedmont Hospital. Ms. Hymen was born on January 31, 1973, in Pahokee, FL, to Gale Stinnett Hymen. Balinda graduated from Moorehaven High School in Florida. She was active in the FFA program and loved all animals, especially cows. Coming from Moorehaven, Florida, Ms. Hymen made Fannin County her home for the past 31 years. She was a member of Liberty Hill Methodist Church.

Survivors include her father, Carl Eugene Hymen, mother, Gale Hymen, and spare mother, Anne Hymen.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

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.

Ms. Edna Harrison Beavers, age 91, of McCaysville, GA, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 31, 2019. She was born in the Staffordtown community, in Copperhill, TN, on August 27, 1928, to the late Grady & Edith Chancey Harrison.
Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at 3:00 pm from the Chapel of Finch-Cochran Funeral Home in McCaysville, GA. Rev.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 2, 2019, from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the funeral home.
A complete obituary will be posted as soon as it is available.
Finch-Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory Of McCaysville is honored to be serving the family.

Mrs. Betty Harper Swearington, age 83, of Blue Ridge passed away Wednesday evening, October 30, 2019, at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper. She was born January 2, 1936, in Fannin County, Georgia, to the late Cliff and Maude Collins Harper. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ike Swearington, and siblings, Juanita, and James.
Betty retired from Lincoln Financial, and she had been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Blue Ridge. She liked deep-sea fishing, spending time on the Coast of North Carolina, listening to Billy Graham, and Southern Gospel Music. She loved dogs, and they held a special place in her heart.
Survivors include her niece, Shirley Foster of California, special friends, Tracy Radebaugh, Karon (Jerry) Monnett, and Larissa (Jack) Jones.
Funeral services Saturday, November 1, 2019, 11:00 AM from the Henry Cochran Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bob Richardson and Pastor W.L. Collins officiating. Music by Brian Huffman. Interment will follow in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Henry Cochran Funeral Home on Friday evening, November 1, 2019, from 6 PM till 8 PM.
In place of flowers donations, may be made in Betty’s name to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.

Richard Harold Kephart, age 78, of Murphy, went to be with the Lord on October 25, 2019 at Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville after a long battle with cancer. He was the son of Frank Lee Kephart and Josephine Dockery Kephart, who preceded him in death in 2005. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Janice Kephart Payne, Sheila Kephart Phillips, and brother, Merle R. Kephart.

He was a native of Cherokee County and graduated from White Church Elementary School and Murphy High School. He later graduated from Georgia State University, earning a BBA Degree. He married Margie Garrett of Unaka, in 1966 and resided in Decatur, GA, for seven years and then in Covington, Ga, for thirty-three years. Harold became a Christian in 1953, at the age of twelve. He was of the Baptist faith and an active member of several Baptist churches in Georgia and North Carolina. Harold enjoyed serving the Lord and was active as a pianist, deacon, bus driver, and camp counselor at Canaan Baptist Church for twenty-eight years, and Newton Baptist Church for five years, both in Covington, GA. He also served as pianist and deacon in Unaka Baptist Church. He strived to live up to his favorite Bible verses, Romans 12:1-2,
‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’

His business career concentrated on serving banking and credit union communities. He worked at Citizens Bank and Trust from 1959-1961. After serving his military commitment, he worked for the National Bank of Georgia in Atlanta for eleven years as head of information systems. Next, he worked for First Financial Management Corporation of Atlanta/ FiServ for seventeen years providing various computer services to commercial banks. He then worked with FiTECH Systems in Atlanta for five years providing online computer services to credit unions. He then retired from Atlanta and worked five years teaching part-time at Dekalb Technical College as an adjunct professor. Harold was a veteran of the US Air Force serving from1961-1964. He served in Texas, the Philippines, and in England as a Radio Intercept Analyst. He and his wife returned to Cherokee County in 2007, where they happily resided in Murphy, NC. His interests for years have been playing the piano, photography, gardening, and non-fiction history.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margie Garrett Kephart, his son, Thomas R. Kephart and wife, Amy of Oxford, GA, his daughter, Cynthia Fox and husband, Greg of Greenville, SC, five grandchildren who he dearly loved, Garrett and Weston Kephart, Daniel, Anna, and Jonathan Fox, and sisters, Alice McCanless of Oxford, GA, Karen Twiss and Sharon Kephart of Murphy.

Visitation will be from 12:00-2:00 on Monday, October 28, 2019 at the Cochran Funeral home in Murphy, NC. the Funeral will follow at 2:00 in the Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Rondal Brown, Rev. Daniel Hall, and Glenn Crowe officiating. Music will be by his grandchildren. Interment will follow in Unaka Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors by local veteran organizations.
In place of flowers, you may send donations to Unaka Baptist Church Building Fund.

The Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy is in charge of arrangements, and you may send condolences to the family at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com

Russel I. Hart, 75 of Murphy, North Carolina, formerly Alpena, Michigan, passed away Friday, January 10, 2020, at his residence.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was a strong, disciplined man who took great pride in caring for his family and was always very kind and considerate of others.
Russ retired from LaFarge North America – Alpena Plant in 2016 after 43 years of service as a Quality Control Manager.
In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his dear wife, Birdie Hart, throughout the Southeast and, most especially, the mountains of North Carolina, which he loved so much. He delighted in the exploits of his grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments.
Russ was the son of the late Daniel and Marjorie Hart and was also proceeded in death by a sister, Sara Paad, and a brother Patrick Hart.
Surviving are his wife, Birdie Hart of Murphy, North Carolina and daughter, Jennifer Domrase of Ossineke; Russ had three sons, Mark Hart (Angie) Lewiston, Michigan, Jeffrey (Steven Teets) Hart of Imlay City, Michigan and Daniel Madison of Murphy, North Carolina. Additionally, Russ had a brother Fred Hart from Alpena, Michigan, and four grandchildren, Mark Hart, Jr of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jacob Hart of Lewiston, Michigan, Lane Domrase of Ossineke, Michigan, and Breanna Domrase of Ossineke, Michigan. Russ had many friends, both in Alpena and Murphy, where he chose to retire and was loved by all.
A celebration of Russ’s life will be held on March 7, 2020. The place will be announced at a later date. Family and friends are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made in memory of Russel Hart to Shriners Hospital for Children by going to https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc/ways-to-give1.
You may sign the guest register at www.CochranFuneralHomes.com
Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy, NC. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.

Mr. William “Bill” Robert Champ, age 83, of Blairsville, GA passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 10, 2019. Bill was born on September 20, 1936 to parents James and Jennie Champ. He is preceded in death by his only sibling, Joyce Oldham. Bill was born and raised on a farm in Paint Lick, Kentucky where he spent his childhood years.

After his school years, Bill began his career by serving in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1961. The remainder of his career was diverse and expansive, including owning Golden Valley Ranch in St. Petersburg, Florida, a hotel in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, and even a trucking business. Most of his expertise was utilized in the transportation industry and he gained over 30 years of experience in senior management positions at Trailways Lines, MARTA, Williams Detroit Diesel and First Transit. Bill was a founding member of the Board of the Georgia Transit Association and had significant experience in alternative fuels. Bill was a board member and Regional Director of APTA (American Public Transportation Association).

Even after retirement from Williams Detroit Diesel in 2001, he continued to consult in various interim management positions on and off for 12 years. Despite his expansive career, his greatest accomplishment was his family. He was a very proud husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Mr. Champ was two days shy of celebrating his 46th wedding anniversary with his wife and best friend, Kathie. Their son, James “Jim” (Jacqueline) of Woodstock, GA survives him along with children Jennie Lynn Prust (Al) of Tupelo, MS, William R. Champ, Jr. of St. Petersburg, FL, Debbie Finelli of St. Petersburg, FL, April Pemberton of Chattanooga, TN, Jennifer Green (Jeff) of Woodstock, GA, twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Gathering of Remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville where stories will be shared by those in attendance. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home from 10 until 11 am. Interment will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia with Military Honors presented by the United States Navy.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville.

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville announces funeral services for Mr. Billy M. Decker, age 75, of Blairsville, who passed away on Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Billy was born in Murphy, North Carolina, the son of the late Virgil Lee Decker, Sr. and the late Bertha Lee Stiles Decker. Billy had a strong work ethic his entire life, starting with delivering the Atlanta Journal and the Grit all over town as a young boy on his red and white Louisville Blue Grass bicycle. He even earned a writeup in the Journal as part of the “Decker Delivery Franchise” for the Murphy area. After graduating from the newspaper delivery business, he rode in a Kern’s bread truck delivering bread to many of the same customers as his newspapers. Billy moved to Blairsville in 1969, and joined Union County Bank, now United Community Bank, becoming its 13th employee. A loyal employee of the bank, he played an integral part in its growth over the years working in both Blairsville as well as the Murphy operations. He enjoyed helping people the most, and especially looked forward to Customer Appreciation Day, where he would greet everyone with his warm, welcoming smile, giving out tomato plants and (lots of) hotdogs! Wherever Billy was, there was joking and laughter! He enjoyed golfing with the grandkids and going on camping trips. He loved the beach, and especially the fresh seafood that came with it. A traveler, Billy visited many wonderful places, creating cherished memories with his family. Billy was devoted to God, his family, and his church, First Baptist Church of Blairsville, where he served as a deacon.

Billy would light up a room with his contagious enthusiasm and smile. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but especially by his loving family members: wife of 55 years, Eva; daughter and son-in-law, Davia and John Mark Gordon; son and daughter-in-law, Darren and Julie Decker; and Carol Chastain, who is part of the family; two brothers: Virgil Decker, Jr., and Jerry Decker; grandchildren: Chandler Gordon (Emma), Brock Gordon, Haley Gordon, Andrew Decker, Emma Decker, and John Austin Decker.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., to be held in the Main Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Blairsville, with Pastor Fred Lodge and Rev. Roy Bateman officiating. Special music will be presented by Terry Hooper. The following gentlemen will be serving as pallbearers: Chandler Gordon, Brock Gordon, Andrew Decker, John Austin Decker, Mike Decker, Travis Decker, Steve Drake, Brian Allison, Daryl Allison, and Craig Davenport. The following gentlemen have been requested to serve as honorary escort to the family: Jimmy Tallent, W.C. Nelson, Ricky Davenport, Paul Owenby, Andy Williams, Joe Fair, Ronnie Burch, Glenn Hamby, Burl Conley, Bobby Jackson, Jim Allison, Hoyt Raper, Mike Calloway, Wes Hopgood, David Gowder, and Bill Foster; also asked to serve as honorary escort is the C.R. Collins Joy Sunday School Class. Burial will be in Union Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Saturday, November 23rd, at 11:00 a.m., at the Church Sanctuary, and will last until the funeral begins at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 98016, Washington, DC 20090-8016.

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville is honored to be serving the family of Mr. Billy M. Decker, 75, of Blairsville. Please visit our website at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com and leave your condolences and fond memories.

Mrs. Willa Dean Ware age 82 of Friendship Rd. Mineral Bluff passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Monday November 18, 2019 following an extended illness. Mrs. Ware was born on June 13, 1937 in Mineral Bluff the daughter of the late Asbery Nichols and the late Aurora Patterson Nichols. She was a native and lifelong resident of Fannin County.  Willa was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Melinda Ware, five sisters, Florance Quackenbush, Mary Bearden, Marie Scruggs, Irene Ferguson and Ruth Hollifield, two brothers, J.W. and James Nichols. Mrs. Ware was a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.

Surviving Mrs. Ware are her loving husband and best friend of sixty one years, Clyde “Doc” Ware of Mineral Bluff, one daughter and son in law, Charlotte and Robert Flowers of Mineral Bluff, one sister, Carolyn Ware of Murphy, two grandchildren, Zachary and Jennifer Flowers and Brittany Tutterrow, five great grandchildren, Nicholas, Gage. Gracie, Rowan and Zayne, several nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday Nov. 21, 2019 at 11:00 am from the Mountain View Chapel with Rev. Robert Flowers officiating. Special music will be presented by Grace Tutterrow. The following gentleman will serve as pallbearers, Zachary Flowers, Rene Hollifield, Rex Ware, Joe Ware, Robbie Harbour, Dustin Farmer and Bobby Pyles. The following gentleman will serve as honorary pallbearers, Nichols Tutterrow and Gage Bryan. Interment will follow in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery. Flowers are accepted or if you wish, the family requests that donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital In Mrs. Ware’s memory. The family will meet with friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6-9:00 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. Joan Marguerite Tufford, age 74 of Murphy, NC formerly of San Diego, CA., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at her home following an extended illness. Mrs. Tufford was born on June 26, 1945 in Clifton, NJ., the daughter of the late Rudolph Moller & late Marguerite Moller. Joan desired to assist everyone in her life, especially the homeless, in any way possible. She was of the Catholic faith.

Surviving Joan are her loving husband and best friend of 34 years, Leonard Tufford of Murphy, NC., daughter and son in law,, Cathy & Lane Wright of Dallas, TX., two sons, James Marquis & Father Corey Tufford, both of San Diego, CA., sister and brother-in-law, Susan & Walter Stein of Jupiter, FL., sister-in-law, Patricia Frederick of Robbinsville, NC., and five  grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday November 22, 2019 at 11:00am from the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Interment will follow in St. Clare’s Garden. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Good Shepherd Hospice in Joan’s memory. The family will meet with friends following the services.

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. Donald Ray “Robbie” Roberson age 90 of Niceville Lane, Suches passed away peacefully on Sunday November 10, 2019 at his home following a brief illness. Mr. Roberson was born on Nov. 25, 1928 in Little Washington, NC., the son of the late Walter Roberson and the late Letha May Seymour Roberson. He was a veteran of the US Army of WWII. Robbie loved gardening, nature and being outdoors. He was an ordained Deacon who was a strong Christian never wavering in his faith.  He personified Luke 18:17 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” He enjoyed music and playing the piano and harmonica. He never met a stranger always greeting everyone, usually with a hug.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Roberson on March 2019, two sisters, Alma Ruth Askew and Mabel Labancs, and one brother, John Wayne “Flim” Roberson. Robbie was a member of Temple Baptist Church.

Surviving Mr. Roberson are one daughter and son in law, Gail and Mark Funke of Kathleen, GA., two sons, Donny Roberson and Pat Roberson of Niceville, FL., one brother, Carl Roberson of Eure, NC., his caretaker, Megan Welshhans of Hiawassee, four grandchildren, Torri Poli, Thomas and Jennifer Volcko, Benjamin and Sarah Ann Volcko, and Jacob Funke, five great grandchildren, many other relatives and friends also survive.

A memorial service and interment will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers if you wish, the family requests that donations may be made to Temple Baptist Church in Mr. Roberson’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

Diane Estelle Brown (nee Ward) passes Sunday October 27,2019.  She was predeceased by her soulmate husband of 39 years Travis Brown.

Born February 5, l933 in Orange NJ, the second child of Horace and Sara (nee Zeithing) Ward and younger sister to Richard.  She grew up in Chatham NJ and spent many weekends at the jersey shore with her aunts and uncles and cousins George and Marilyn.  She and Marilyn were close like sisters.  She also spent many fun times around her uncle Al’s piano while her father played the sax and everyone sang.

A 1950 graduate of Chatham High School, she was active in sports and was president of the Mariners girl scout troop.  She attended the Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing in Montclair NJ.  She worked as a registered nurse at Hoag Memorial Hospital Newport Beach Ca. after moving to Costa Mesa where her 3 children were born, Linda Boorujy  Kinstler (d 2012) Kathleen Boorujy Griffin, and Steve Boorujy.  Returning to Chatham NJ in l963 Diane worked in the newborn nursery at Morristown Memorial Hospital and was a member of the woman’s guild of Ogden Memorial Presbyterian church.

Diane enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren teaching them to golf and taking them to museums and parks. They loved their week long vacations with her in Florida.

During the 1980’s Diane worked alongside Travis in their landscaping business beautifying properties in Union County NJ.

Retirement took Diane and Travis to Daytona Beach Fl and Waynesville NC where they were avid golfers.  Diane especially enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners for friends and family.  She loved the beach, being outdoors, recording bird sightings, gardening, knitting and the company of cherished friends and family.

She is survived by her son Steve and daughter in law Khris and grandchildren Elizabeth and Katherine who took special care of her in the last few years: daughter Kathleen Griffin and grandchildren Rachel Sambrowski, Joe Griffin, Sean Griffin, Sara Maloy, and Laura Lawson and 4 great grandchildren; son in law Robert Kinstler and beloved nieces and nephews especially Virginia Filo Jackson.

A memorial service will be planned for a future date.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to a charity of your choice.

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

Obituary for Riva Shoshana Callum

Cora Lee Grasty, 92, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2019, at home surrounded by her loving family.

Known to most of her family and friends as “Bike” Mrs. Grasty was born May 28, 1927 in Celo, NC to the late Cish B. and Lessie (McMahan) Weatherman. She was preceded in death by 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Cora Lee was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church in Enka, NC. Cora Lee retired from American Enka after 25 years of service. She moved to Blairsville from Richmond Hill, GA 4 ½ years ago. She loved reading and was an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed many visits with friends and family.

Cora Lee is survived by a daughter, Linda Grooms Stanberry (Ed) of Blairsville, GA, a son, Michael D. Grooms (Gale) of Candler, NC, a brother, C. B. Weatherman of Virginia, 6 grandchildren, Gary Stanberry (Jill), Julie Stanberry, Jeff Rhinehart (Jessica), Dwayne Rhinehart, Charlene Williams (Josh) and Amy Grooms (Lindsey), 8 great grandchildren, 1 great-great granddaughter.

No services are planned. Interment will be in Carroway Cemetery in Yancey County, NC. In lieu of flowers you may honor her memory by contributing to Regency Hospice.

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

The Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville announces the death of Sandra Louise McSpadden, age 81 who passed away on December 11, 2019 at Heritage Hospice in Marietta, Georgia.

An interment is being planned at Georgia National Cemetery and will be announced as soon as information becomes available.

*Full obituary pending*

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory.