Obituaries

Obituary: Asa Allen Gabriel

Asa Allen Gabriel, 74, passed away at his home in Winterville on Jan. 30, 2025. Born in Athens, he was a son of the late Frank Ernest Gabriel Jr. and Gladell Boswell Gabriel. Gabriel graduated from Oglethorpe County High School in 1969 and retired from Loaf Company and Athens Steel Company.

Obituary: John Wesley Payne Jr.

John Wesley Payne Jr., 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Stephens on Feb. 9, 2025. Family members were present at his side.  John was born Sept. 7, 1936 in DeKalb County, Georgia. He graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School in 1954.

Obituary: Robert C. Johnson Jr.

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Robert C. Johnson Jr., 87, died Feb. 8, 2025. Johnson was born June 10, 1937, to Robert Cecil and L. E. Colquitt Johnson. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert C. Johnson III, and a brother, Barry Johnson.

Obituary: Lee E. Byrd

Lee E. Byrd, 87, of Lexington, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Born in Cherokee County, she was a daughter of the late Lee and Nellie Thomason Hendrix. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Marvin Byrd; son, Michael M.

Obituary: Kendra Deanna Gresham Mahone-Sims

Kendra Sims, 32, of Comer, died Jan. 22, 2025. The funeral was 1 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2, 2025 at New Zion Church of Jesus Christ. Pastor Larry Clark was the eulogist. Survivors include her husband, Chris Sims; children, Christopher Jr., Bridget Mahone, Kasper Mahone, Odis Mitchell Jr.

Obituary: Jacqueline (“Jacky”) Platania

Jacqueline (“Jacky”) Platania, 63, daughter of the late Raymond Sanders of Stephens, passed away on Jan. 11, 2025 in Steinen, Germany. She had been battling cancer for much of her last year.

Obituary: James (Jimmy) Morgan

James (Jimmy) Morgan, born March 3, 1947, passed away at age 77 on Jan. 31, 2025 in Winterville. He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Ruth Morgan, and his loving wife of 38 years, Pat Morgan.

Obituary: Barbara (Wilson) Laubert

Barbara (Wilson) Laubert, 91, passed peacefully at home on Jan. 31, 2025. She was the wife of Andy Laubert Sr. (1930-2024) for 72 years. Barbara married Andy in 1950. They lived in Andy's hometown of Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where they raised their nine children: Andy (Bernadette) Laubert Jr.

Obituary: Swayne Coley

Swayne Coley, age 82, of Lexington, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, surrounded by his family at his residence. He was born Aug. 22, 1942, one of six children of the late Otha Lee Coley and Bert Gunter Coley.

Obituary: Sherry Jo Tiller

Evans Funeral Home of Jefferson announces the death of Mrs. Sherry Jo Tiller (Goss), age 81, of Gillsville, Georgia, entered her rest on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.  Sherry was born in Elberton, the daughter of the late Wilbur Goss and Josie Belle Goss of Elberton.