Geraldine Elizabeth Hooper Ruis, age 83, of Lula, Georgia, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Mrs. Ruis was born on December 17, 1936, in Hiawassee, Georgia, to the late Albert and Sarah “Cleo” Brown Hooper. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Patricia Hooper.
Mrs. Ruis found joy in the simple pleasures of life, particularly in the kitchen and garden. Her culinary skills were renowned among family and friends, as she delighted in preparing meals that brought people together. Gardening was another of Mrs. Ruis cherished pastimes. Her appreciation for the beauty of nature left a lasting impact on all who visited her home.
She and her husband founded United Enterprises Inc., In their journey, they built a legacy that continues to thrive, now guided by their son and daughter-in-law.
A woman of faith, Mrs. Ruis sought to instill the values and principles that guided her own life into the hearts of her family. She was more than a businesswoman; she was the heart of her family. As a wife, mom, and granny, she showered her loved ones with unconditional love, wisdom, and kindness.
Survivors include her beloved husband, John Carrol Ruis; son and daughter-in-law, Derek and Bridget Skalon Ruis; grandsons, Logan Johnson and his wife Savanna; Nolan Johnson, Jacob Ruis; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tommy Hooper, Jackie and Linda Hooper, Reggie and Glenda Hooper, Michael and Mary Ann Hooper; great-grandchild, Everett Johnson; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel. Interment will follow in the Yonah Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Saturday, January 6, 2023, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
Calvin Lloyd Frady, age 67, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Born on January 25, 1956, in Demorest, he was the son of the late Lloyd Lawrence Frady and Emma Louise Frady. Mr. Frady was a United States Army Veteran and worked at Synthetic Industries before driving a truck for Candler Concrete. He was a hard worker even after losing his leg and becoming disabled. Calvin had an artistic nature and enjoyed painting and fishing. He was a member of Cornelia Congregational Holiness Church and loved to serve the Lord and read the Bible. Calvin will be remembered as a loving husband and caring brother.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Juanita J. Frady of the home; stepson, Steven Miller of Mt. Airy; grandchildren, Kylie and Ryan Miller, both of Mt. Airy; sisters and brother-in-law, Judy Crow of Mt. Airy and Shirley King (William) of Alto; brother-in-law, Stewart Cash of Mt. Airy; sister-in-law, Lynne Cantrell (Jr.) of Cornelia; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 4, 2024, in the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart, with Rev. Terry Benfield and Rev. Alvin Burns officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Grant-Reeves Veteran’s Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, Texas, 75284-0692 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.
A proposed new bill aims to give teenagers convicted of nonviolent drug offenses better access to higher education.
House Bill 853, sponsored by state Rep. Eric Bell, would allow students with only nonviolent drug offense convictions to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship.
Current law prohibits students with any criminal convictions from accessing the scholarship. HB 853 would prevent students from being denied a HOPE scholarship for a nonviolent drug offense only. Other types of criminal charges would still bar a student from accessing it.
Bell said that the bill was inspired by people he knew who were not able to access the scholarship.
“I just think we can be more compassionate, especially when we understand that drug addiction is not a criminal act; it’s a health care issue,” he said, adding that many Georgians have been touched by addiction.
“It’s a Georgian bill,” Bell said. “Regardless of if you grew up in the projects or trailer park or if you grew up in a mansion or single-family home with a two-car garage, you know someone affected by it.“
HB 853 will be up for debate during the legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
Wesley “Wes” McCormick, age 91, of Baldwin, Georgia, went home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 1, 2024.
Mr. McCormick was a member of Damascus Baptist Church. Mr. McCormick retired from the Fire Department in Miami, Florida, with 51 years of dedicated service. Mr. McCormick exemplified the true meaning of community service as a voluntary Fireman and Paramedic for Banks County. He was a man of God, a wonderful husband, a loving father, and a great friend to so many. He was an amazing man and he is going to be deeply missed.
He wants his family and friends to rejoice because he is now with his Savior in heaven.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Beverly McCormick; his children, Dawn and John Fennel and Barry McCormick and their children, Lisa and David Dorn, Greg and Joanna Travis, Eric Morgan, Walter and Gloria Morgan; many family members and cousins, Rasene and Ken Pickle, Samantha and Chris Pritchard and their children.
A Private Farewell Service will be held at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, for family and close friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel, at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
Sugartopia owners, from left, Jamie Keller and Kelly O'Mary with Cornelia City Manager Donald "Dee" Anderson. Sugartopia was named this year's winner of the city's Christmas Downtown decorating contest. (photo submitted)
The employees of Sugartopia in Cornelia proved they’re as good at decorating windows as they are cakes and cookies.
The business won this year’s Christmas Downtown decorating contest. The Cornelia Hospitality & Tourism Board selected the winner.
In making its announcement, the Board said it was not an easy decision because so many of the businesses got into the Christmas spirit.
“We appreciate all the businesses that participated in helping us reach our goal of having downtown decorated for Christmas!” a news release from the Board states.
The window at Sugartopia in Cornelia depicts a snowy village with gingerbread houses, skiers, skaters, and sledders. (Photo by Savannah Fields)
Sugartopia received free radio and billboard advertising as its prize for winning the contest. The hospitality board said it settled on that as a prize because most small businesses do not have large advertising budgets and “felt that this prize would be most beneficial to the winner!”
Sugartopia to open second location
Sugartopia is winning in other ways, too. Keller recently announced they are preparing to open a second location in Oakwood.
Sugartopia was founded by cake designer Wendy Tedder in 2014. Keller and O’Mary both worked at the shop and took over as the new owners last January.
In late December, Keller livestreamed a tour of the new shop on social media, promising to keep customers “looped in on what’s happening” as they get closer to opening.
2020 FILE PHOTO: On Jan. 7, Gov. Brian Kemp. state lawmakers and lobbyists are set to return to Atlanta for the Wild Hog Supper, which serves as the largest fundraiser for Feeding Georgia and as a kick off for the legislative session. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)
(GA Recorder) — Georgians who may be feeling the post-holiday blues will have a chance to perk up for some great food and an even better cause on the eve of the upcoming state legislative session.
The premier legislative kick-off event, Feeding Georgia’s Wild Hog Supper, is set to return on Sunday with guests able to devour tasty barbecue and all the assorted trimmings while mixing it up with state officials. The historic Georgia Freight Depot will again serve as the backdrop to the 61st annual fundraiser taking place in the evening before lawmakers resume their regular bill-passing business inside the state Capitol over the coming winter months.
The Wild Hog Supper is sponsored by the statewide food bank, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and state Senate and House agriculture committee members in order to raise funds for a program that has resulted in farmers donating millions of pounds of fresh produce annually to feed families in need across the state. Tickets may be purchased online.
The annual gathering also marks the beginning of a series of legislative preview events planned in January that offer a glimpse into how the decision-makers in state government influence everything from the economy to health care to Georgians’ ability to access public records.
Here is a list of the 2024 legislative preview events scheduled this month. For more information about the events, please click the links in the descriptions below.
Sunday, Jan. 7: Feeding Georgia’s largest fundraiser resumes with another celebration of farming with its long-running pig-picking function that benefits the Farm to Food Bank program. The Wild Hog Supper brings together state lawmakers, lobbyists, and agriculture leaders to mingle on the eve of the legislative session.
Monday, Jan. 8: The Georgia Assembly returns for its 2024 legislative session with an expected short first day of housekeeping before the legislating picks up as lawmakers consider hundreds of bills in their race to the end of the session in early spring.
Jan. 10: About 2,500 business leaders, elected officials, lobbyists, and VIPs will pack the tables at the annual Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues breakfast. This popular program will move from its longtime Georgia World Congress Center home to a larger venue this year, with the Mercedes-Benz Stadium scheduled to hold the business networking event that is highlighted by discussions from key state leaders about the economy.
Jan 11: Georgians for a Healthy Future will host its annual Health Care Unscrambled policy conference, with two nationally recognized experts scheduled to lead panel discussions during the event held at the Georgia Freight Depot. The keynote speakers for 2024 are Joan Alker, director of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, and Alex Briscoe, principal of the California Children’s Trust, who will discuss the evolving landscape of health care coverage and how health insurance can be leveraged to benefit the well-being of Georgians.
Jan. 18: The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s Insight 2024 Public Dollars for Public Good forum begins by welcoming guests enjoying breakfast at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta. Attendees will be able to spend the morning digesting a healthy dose of expert commentary on the state budget, investing in early childhood care, public education and workforce training, and other topics.
Jan. 23: The Georgia First Amendment Foundation and the Atlanta Press Club will host a free virtual legislative breakfast that will explore trends in government transparency with elected officials and open government advocates. The program will feature a Statehouse reporters’ roundtable about potential legislation that could be coming down the pike affecting the public’s right to access government documents and proceedings.
Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Sisk Masters, age 95, of Demorest, Georgia, peacefully passed in her sleep on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
Born in Habersham County on August 30, 1928, she was the daughter of the late John Gordon Sisk and Martha Allen Sisk. She was a longtime member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Mrs. Masters owned and operated Betty’s Beauty Shop for many years prior to retirement. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Herman Masters; brothers Bill and Redus Sisk; sisters Vera Copeland, Alice Robinson, Louise Ivie, and Janie Allen.
Survivors include her daughter, Joyce Clark, and her husband, Larry of Clarkesville, Ga., and her son, Gerald Masters, and his wife Libby of Buford, Ga.; grandchildren: Libby Doggett and her husband, Michael, Jill Trauschke and her husband, Sean, Dr. Matt Collins and his wife, Sarah; Casey Masters and his wife, Erin; Blake Masters and his wife Amanda. Mrs. Masters is also survived by fifteen great-grandchildren: Mary Grace, Sean and Christina Doggett; Claire, Will and Hannah Trauschke; Max, Davis and Wade Collins; Caitlyn and Sophie Langley; JD and Brooke Masters; and Grant and Barrett Masters; sister-in-law, Dorlyn Masters and a number of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 AM to 12 noon on Saturday, January 6, 2024, followed by a graveside service at Yonah Memorial Gardens at 12:30 PM.
Fuasinapi Mary Filiki Hedden, age 73, of Clarkesville, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Born in the Utulei Village of Tutuila, American Samoa, on July 16, 1950, she was a daughter of the late Filiki Noma-Foster & Fa’ataitaia Sopoese Mulipola. Mary lived in Hammond, Indiana, for a number of years before moving to Clarkesville, Georgia, 7 ½ years ago. She loved to read, work crossword puzzles, bowling, and playing cards. Most of all, she loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Cleveland.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Tuki Duke Foster; brother, Paul Foster; and sister, Pitolagi Foster.
Survivors include her children, Roy & Lisa Hedden; Filiki Edwin Hedden, Vicky Duke & Chad Bautista; Leah Shriver; brothers, Noma Foster, Filiki N. Foster, Jr., Branson Foster, George Foster, David Foster, & Frank Foster; sisters, Asenati Foster, Rosa Cheek, Tina Foster, & June Foster; grandchildren, Margaret, Gunner, Shawn, Shane, Ceyrah, Ieon, Ziriah, & Xavier; great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Maya, Kennedi, & Harper; other relatives & friends.
A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 05, 2024, at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville, Georgia.
Police says Ariel Michelle Grant ran away from her home in Cornelia following an argument. She was safely located the following day at a friend's house in Toccoa. (Cornelia PD)
Cornelia police say a 15-year-old girl who ran away from home late Monday night has been found safe.
Toccoa police found Ariel Michelle Grant at a friend’s house in Toccoa.
Police began searching for Grant after she left home following an argument with a family member. She was last seen in the area of the Cliff C. Kimsey Apartments around 9 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2024.
Law enforcement and firefighters from multiple agencies searched for her, using K9s and a drone, but were unable to locate her.
Investigators turned their attention to Toccoa after obtaining information that Grant may have been picked up by a friend.
Gainesville High School Assistant Athletic Director Adam Miller speaks during the remembrance ceremony held at Gainesville High School on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (livestream image)
A remembrance service held at Gainesville High School Friday night honored the life of Jeremy Medina. Medina passed away on December 11.
Medina, a pitcher and catcher on the school’s baseball team, was accidentally struck in the head by a bat while at practice on November 20 at Gainesville High School. He was in a coma for several weeks before he died.
The remembrance service, spoken in English and Spanish, presented a young man devoted to his Christian faith. Gainesville High School Athletic Director Adam Miller described Jeremy as a person who loved baseball, his teammates, his family, and his Jesus.
“The question to ask is ‘What would Jeremy want moving forward’?” Miller added. “The answer would be to stay strong, enjoy each day, and for his teammates to play hard and have fun.”
The Rev. Rose Johnson led those in attendance in a prayer. She said Jeremy’s greatest desire was to do whatever he could to help young people find their way to Christ.
The Rev. Rose Johnson offers a prayer during the remembrance ceremony for Jeremy Medina. (livestream image)Around 200 people gathered in the Gainesville High School gymnasium stands to pay their respects to Jeremy and the Medina family. (livestream image)
He had ‘an incredible ability to connect with people’
Many people spoke of Jeremy. His strong character, his leadership skills, his work ethic, and his contagious smile and personality. They talked of his attitude on and off the field, his integrity, and his devotion as a student, son, brother, and friend.
Jeremy also displayed those traits during his time as a student-athlete at Tallulah Falls School in Habersham County. He and his brother, David Medina, attended the private school in 2021 and 2022.
Justin Pollock was a first-year head coach at TFS when the Medina brothers enrolled there. He recently shared with Now Habersham his memories of the young Medina and the lasting impact he’s had on the TFS baseball team and community.
“Jeremy was just a freshman at the time but was able to earn a spot on our varsity roster as a pitcher. Most kids in his situation would have been shy or reserved, but Jeremy jumped right in like he had been with us the whole time,” Pollock recalls. “He always had an incredible ability to connect with people, especially on the baseball field.”
TFS Varsity Baseball Head Coach Justin Pollock coached the Medina brothers at Tallulah Falls School. (photo courtesy TFS)
During the year and a half that Jeremy attended TFS, he played varsity baseball as a pitcher and catcher. His former coach remembers him as a “great player and a great competitor,” but more than anything, Pollock says, Jeremy Medina “was a great teammate.”
“The thing I will remember most about Jeremy is the joy and passion he brought to life every day,” he says. “He loved his teammates and loved seeing them succeed. We have so many memories and pictures of him smiling, laughing, and celebrating with his teammates.”
It is those memories that Jeremy’s family, coaches, teammates, and friends now cling to as they cope with the aftermath of his untimely and unexpected death.
“We were absolutely heartbroken when we heard of the accident and then of Jeremy’s passing a few weeks after,” says Pollock. “He was and always will be like a brother to his TFS teammates.”
Even after transferring to Gainesville High School, Jeremy kept up with his former coaches and teammates. He would occasionally visit them at Tallulah Falls, and last season, many of them took the opportunity to watch him play at his new school.
‘Leave it better than you found it’
Photos of a young Jeremy Medina, his parents David and Yasmira Medina, and his older brother David. In his obituary, his family says, “Baseball was more than just a sport to Jeremy; it was a way of life.” (livestream image)
The mark one leaves on a baseball team is often drawn by statisticians, but Jeremy’s mark runs deeper. Pollock, like so many others who have spoken publicly about the teen in the weeks since his fatal accident, talks of Jeremy’s strength of character and faith.
“One saying we use a lot in our program is ‘leave it better than you found it.’ Jeremy was truly a person who lived this out daily. Our school and our baseball program are better because of Jeremy. Our belief and our prayer is that Jeremy’s life will have an eternal impact,” Pollock says.
Just 17 years old when he died, Medina had already made a life-changing decision. He signed up to be an organ donor when he got his driver’s license. His family intended to honor his wish. Northeast Georgia Medical Center kept him on life support after doctors declared him brain-dead to give his grandmother time to travel to the States from outside the country.
An hour before she arrived, Jeremy’s heart stopped beating.
The shocking circumstances surrounding his death – a freak accident on a high school campus during practice for a game most consider safe – made international news. In the days leading up to his death, people from all over the world reached out to the Medina family. Many only learned of Jeremy’s life through his death. But for those fortunate enough to have trained and walked alongside him, his memory and impact will far outlast the fading headlines.
“We knew Jeremy as a young man of strong faith, and we saw him live it out daily. We believe that others will come to know Jesus because of the life Jeremy lived,” says Coach Pollock.
He adds, “Our team will honor Jeremy’s legacy every time we take the field. He will be in our hearts, and we will play with the joy and passion that he brought every day.”
At least nine people died in wrecks in Georgia over this long New Year’s holiday weekend.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, state and local law enforcement agencies worked fatal wrecks in Brunswick, Dekalb (2), Statesboro, South Fulton, and Grovetown. Fatal wrecks were also reported in Newton, Cobb, and Columbia counties.
The 102-hour-long New Year’s Day holiday travel period ended at 11:59 Monday night, Jan. 1. There were no fatal wrecks reported in Northeast Georgia.
Last year, 17 people died on Georgia’s roads during the New Year’s holiday.
Over the Christmas holiday travel period this year, wrecks in Georgia claimed at least 14 lives.
Barbie. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The Boy and the Heron. All were terrific times at the movies in 2023, and yet they missed the list by that much.
On the other hand, DiCaprio, De Niro, and Scorsese hit another cinematic home run. Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves prove they’re still head and shoulders above the rest with their action-packed franchises. Plus, quite a few Oscar hopefuls dominated my list.
Then, there were a few massive stinkers in the form of superhero movies, horror movies without horror, and one action series that is the very definition of expendable.
Yes, it’s that time again when we close the curtain on another year and the films that defined it.
I saw 68 movies in 2023, and as usual, 10 of those made me grateful for my job; the other 10, not so much. Plus, like every year, I have included my picks for runner-up.
1. Consecration
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s
3. The Expend4bles
4. Insidious: The Red Door
5. The Nun II
6. The Exorcist: Believer
7. 65
8. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
9. Haunted Mansion
10. The Marvels
Runner-up: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
And that’s a wrap on 2023. Most of my 10 best list is available on streaming and physical media, with the exception of The Iron Claw, which is still in theaters.
As for my 10 worst lists, just go back to the best list.
Throughout this new year, you can count on Now Habersham for more of my reviews to help guide you on what to see and what to skip. Who knows? Maybe I can save you a few bucks.
Here’s wishing you a safe and happy New Year. I’ll see you AT THE MOVIES!
