Obituaries

OBITUARY: Laura ‘Mama Dot’ Porter

Laura Porter, 95, of Athens, died May 10, 2026. The funeral service was held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 at Fork Bethel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Perez Watson, eulogist, and Pastor Chris Watson, presiding. Interment was in the church cemetery.

OBITUARY: Stewart Edward Norris

Stewart Edward Norris, 66, of Union Point, passed away at his home on Monday, May 11, 2026.  Born in Marietta, Georgia, on June 24, 1959, he was the son of the late Bennett Lee Norris Sr. and Barbara Ann Stewart Norris.

OBITUARY: Felisha King

Felisha N. King, 36, of Athens, died April 29, 2026.  A memorial service was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 at Jones Funeral Chapel with Pastor Mary Grier, presiding eulogist.

OBITUARY: Jenna Suzanne Kaye

Jenna Suzanne Kaye, 71, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026. Having changed her legal name later in life, she was known to most friends and family as Debra “Debbie” Shirley Kovarik.

OBITUARY: Judy Newton Doherty

Judy Newton Doherty, truly an angel among us and one of the purest souls imaginable, entered into eternal rest peacefully in her sleep at her beloved home on Monday, May 12, 2026, where she was reunited with the love of her life, her husband, John “Jack” Doherty.

OBITUARY: Georgianna Fleming

Georgianna Fleming, 56, of Lexington, died May 6, 2026.  A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 11 at Jones Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Christopher Watson, eulogist.

OBITUARY: Keith Garry Hart

Keith Garry Hart, 66, of Winterville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Franklin County, Keith was the beloved son of the late Brantley Hart and Betty Murray Hart.

Obituary: David B. Goolsby

David Goolsby, 65, of Carlton, died April 20, 2026.  The funeral service was 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at Fork Creek Baptist Church in Carlton, with Pastor Antony Williams, eulogist.  Interment was in the Shiloh/Fork Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Obituary: Kathy Alexander Kitchens

Kathy Alexander Kitchens of Commerce passed away on Wednesday, April 22 after suffering a brain injury in an accidental fall. Kathy was born in Nicholson, Georgia, on May 26, 1951. She was the eldest daughter of the late Hooper and Viola Anderson Alexander.

Obituary: Telkia "TK" Steward

Telkia Tristan "TK" Steward, 56, of Athens died April 1, 2026. The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026 at New Hope Baptist Church. Pastor Justin McCalla was the eulogist.