Dacula Obituaries: April 24

Mae Cherry Hampton

Mrs. Mae Cherry Hampton, age 82 of Dacula passed away on Sunday, April 17, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Hampton and son Jerry Lamb. She is survived by her daughters; Rebecca VanDonslea of Knoxville, Iowa, and Deborah Biro of Danville, Va.; son and daughter in law, Grady and Deborah Lamb of Dacula; daughter-in-law, Barbara Lamb of Stockbridge; grandchildren: Crystal Lamb, Allan Jones, Denise Jones, Alicia Biro, Ernie Biro and Kelly Lamb; sisters: Mary Purkey of Ootewah, Tenn., Mildred Callahan, Fla., Virginia “Dickie’ Smith, Ind.; brother James Cherry, Fla.;. stepchildren, Flora Mae Jackson of Desoto Tex., James Hampton of Arkansas, Linda Naso of Watchung N.J., Rev. Henry Hampton of Lafayette, Joann Hampton of Arkansas, Joyce Hampton of Arkansas, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Hampton was born October 28, 1929 in Rossville. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 21, 2011, in the chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Reverend Henry Hampton officiating. Interment was at Sherwood Memorial Park in Jonesboro.

Winfred O. Pass Sr.

Mr. Winfred O. Pass Sr., age 74, of Gainesville passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Voytell Pass. He is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Janice Nix Pass of Gainesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Melinda Pass Chatham and husband, Gene of Dacula, Sherry Denise Pass Baker and husband David of Monroe, and step daughter, Tracy Sweatman of Waleska; sons, Winfred Dave Pass of Dawsonville, Ricky Dwayne Pass of Buford and Winfred Pass Jr. of Dawsonville; step-children, James Stacy and Christy Sweatman of Buford and Stephen Morris and Amanda Sweatman of Dawsonville; twenty-two grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Eugene Masters of Buford; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and he was loved very much by his in-laws and family.

Mr. Pass was born October 14, 1936 in Buford. He was a 1953 graduate of Sugar Hill High School in Sugar Hill. He retired from General Motors as a general foreman after thirty-two years of service. He was a former police chief of Suwanee. He was owner of Jans Hauling Co. and Paint and Body Shop at his home. He attended Roanoke Baptist Church in Cumming.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at the Roanoke Baptist Church in Cumming with Rev. Ronnie Brown and Rev. Ruel Martin officiating. Interment followed at the Roanoke Baptist Church Cemetery.

Obituaries reprinted with the permission of Flanigan Funeral Home, 4400 South Lee Street in Buford.

Kendra Renee Easley

Kendra Renee Easley, age 23 of Buford died Saturday, April 16, 2011 after an extended illness. Kendra is survived by her son, Peyton Jennings of Suwanee; mother, Gini Banks of Lavonia; father and mother, Tony and Celia Easley of Buford; brothers, Jason Hower of Buford, Erik Easley of Duluth and Donnie Banks of Lavonia; sister, Brittney Easley of Buford; grandmothers, Dottie Uselton of Lavonia and Helen Easley of Westminster, S.C.  and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Kendra was born in Centralia, Ill. and had lived in the Atlanta area for 16 years. She graduated from Mill Creek High School, was a student at Gwinnett Tech and attended 12Stone Church.

The funeral service was held Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel with Pastor Chris Hoffman and Pastor Stephen Saxton officiatiating. Flowers accepted or contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.

Philip William Metz

Philip William Metz, age 87 of Dacula died Wednesday, April 20. Mr. Metz has been cremated and a memorial service will be held later. Phil was preceded in death by his wife, Betty J. Wadsworth Metz. Surviving are: son and daughter In-law, Philip J. and Anne Metz of Dacula and son, Carlos Metz of Pittsburg, Pa. Phil was born August 22, 1923 in Pittsburg, Pa. He graduated from Grove City College in Grove City, Pa. where he earned his B.S. degree in chemical engineering. His career included working as a safety and loss control engineer with Factory Mutual, Johnson & Higgins Insurance Brokers and Bigler-Ketchum, all in Pittsburg. He relocated to Dacula in 1996 and was an active member of Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church.

Obituaries reprinted with the permission of Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel and Gardens, 3481 Hamilton Mill Road in Buford.

Joyce Gray

Joyce D. Gray, beloved wife of David Gray, passed away on Tuesday, April 12. Born on June 25, 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pa., the youngest daughter of Dr. Elmer J. Weinheimer and Dr. Frances W. Weinheimer of Ocala, Fla. Survivors include her husband, David A. Gray; daughter, Leslie Gray and son-in-law, Mike; son, Jasen Gray and daughter-in-law, Kelly Gray; step-daughter, Deirdre Gray; step-son, Travis Gray and daughter-in-law, Christy Gray; sisters, Hope Hasselkus and Linda Peet; brothers, Bill Weinheimer and Don Nielsen; grandchildren, Alexis, Cameron, Taylor Gray, and Hope Gray.

A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, April 23 at the First Assembly of God Church in Ocala, Fla.. Joyce and Dave Gray are charter members of Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church and asked that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church, 5125 Braselton Highway, Hoschton, Ga.

Obituary reprinted with the permission of Wages Funeral Home, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway in Lawrenceville.