The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • D5

Filename: D5-METRO-AJCD0519-AJCD created: May 18 2006 Username: SPEED10 AJCD0519 Friday, May 19, 2006 METRO 5 AJCD 5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ajc.com 4 Friday, May 19, 2006 D5 5 Cyan Magenta Yellow Black AJCD Filename: D5-METRO-AJCD0519-AJCD created: May 18 2006 Username: SPEED10 DEATHS FUNERALS Our policy: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution strives to make this list a complete record of deaths in the metro area and of selected deaths elsewhere. Please ask your funeral home or cremation society to call us at 404-5265342, or fax us at 404-5267517. These listings are free. For a Family-Placed Death Notice, for which there is a charge, have your funeral home contact our paid notice department at 404-526-5271. Compelling life stories every day.

Find news obituaries and family-placed death notices from the past 30 days, send or read condolences online and search obituary archives. ON AJC.COM ATLANTA JAN GARLAND BLACKBURN, 70, of Chugiak, Alaska, formerly of Atlanta, died Saturday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Sunday Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, Adairsville; R. Dudley Barton Son Funeral Home.

LITA C. CONRAD, 92, died Tuesday. Funeral, 1 p.m. today, St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church; H.M.

Patterson Son, Oglethorpe Hill. LINDA M. RUTHERFORD, 60, died Monday. The body was cremated. Memorial service, 1 p.m.

Saturday, New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church; Wages Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain. RUFUS THOMPSON, 69, died Sunday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Saturday, Calvary Baptist Church, Madison; Mapp-Gilmore Pyramid Funeral Service, Madison. BARTOW COUNTY HUBERT LEON LEWIS, 63, of Cartersville died Wednesday.

Funeral, 2 p.m. Saturday, Parnick Jennings Funeral Home. JOSEPH LARRY ROLAND, 40, of Cartersville died Wednesday. Memorial service, 3 p.m. Saturday, Owen Funeral Home.

CARROLL COUNTY JOSEPH A. McSPADDEN, 45, of Carrollton died Wednesday. The body was cremated. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Saturday, Martin Hightower Heritage Chapel.

COBB COUNTY MATTHEW COCKRELL 59, of Marietta died Wednesday. Funeral plans will be announced; Hanley-Shelton, Marietta. MAMIE JONES, 76, of Marietta died Tuesday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Saturday, Hanley-Shelton, Marietta.

JOE E. THOMPSON, 42, of Marietta died Sunday. A private service is planned; Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home. TOYE LELIA JORDAN WARE, 57, of Marietta died May 12. Funeral, 2 p.m.

Saturday, New Friendship Baptist Church; Hanley-Shelton, Marietta. ROBERT GENE WHITMAN, 66, of Austell died Wednesday. Funeral plans will be announced; Hanley-Shelton, Marietta. COWETA COUNTY EDWARD BENNIE HALL, 71, of Newnan died Sunday. Funeral, 2 p.m.

Saturday, St. Paul AME Church, Hogansville; Sellers- Smith funeral home. LORA WILMA HARRIS, 85, of Newnan died Wednesday. Funeral, 4 p.m. Saturday, Forest Lawn Memorial Park; McKoon Funeral Home.

THELMA LOUISE KEY, 75, of Newnan died Wednesday. Funeral, 10 a.m. Saturday, Crest Lawn Memorial Park; McKoon Funeral Home. LORETTA ALICE TURNER, 71, of Newnan died Thursday. Funeral, 11 a.m.

Saturday, Ebenezer Baptist Church; Sellers-Smith funeral home. DeKALB COUNTY GORDON B. VAUGHAN 82, of Stone Mountain died Wednesday. Graveside service, 11 a.m. today, A.S.

Turner Sons. GLORIA E. SWINTON, 78, of Stone Mountain died Monday. The body was cremated. Memorial service plans will be announced; Wages Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain.

DOUGLAS COUNTY MELBA LENE BOWEN, 75, of Douglasville died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m. Saturday, Golden Memorial United Methodist Church; Simpson Daughters Mortuary. CLAYTON DAVIS, 72, of Douglasville died Wednesday. Funeral, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven. TYRONIDO D. WILSON, 33, of Lithia Springs died May 11. Funeral, noon Saturday, New Hope Baptist Church; Hanley- Shelton, Marietta. FAYETTE COUNTY BILLIE GRACE ENNIS, 75, of Fayetteville died Tuesday.

Funeral, 11 a.m. today, Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville. FORSYTH COUNTY CHARLES WILLIAM HUTTU, 63, of Cumming died Tuesday. Memorial service, 3 p.m.

Thursday, McDonald and Son Funeral Home. GWINNETT COUNTY JUSTIN M. CATES, 23, of Buford died Wednesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Saturday, Flanigan Funeral Home.

PATRICIA NANCE GREENE, 84, of Sugar Hill died Tuesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Winters Chapel United Methodist Church; Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home. GRACE ROBINSON, 72, of Lawrenceville died Tuesday. Funeral, 10 a.m.

Saturday, Sunrise Baptist Church; Wages Sons Funeral Home, Gwinnett Chapel. IRENE T. RUDA, 88, of Lilburn died Monday. The body will be cremated. Memorial service plans will be announced; Tom M.

Wages, Snellville Chapel. HENRY COUNTY MICHAEL KEITH BANISTER, 44, of McDonough died Wednesday. The body was cremated. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Haisten Funeral Home, McDonough.

DEMARIOUS WILSON BYRD, 86, of McDonough died Wednesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Saturday, Haisten Funeral Home, McDonough. FRED C. GLOVER, 81, of McDonough died Wednesday.

The body was cremated. Memorial service, 8 p.m. today, Haisten Funeral Home, McDonough. STEPHEN JONES, 46, of Hampton died Wednesday. The body was cremated.

Memorial service, 2 p.m. Sunday, Pope Dickson Son, Jonesboro Chapel. NEWTON COUNTY MARION RIGDON TRENTHAM, 89, of Covington died Wednesday. Funeral, 11 a.m. today, J.C.

Harwell Son. PAULDING COUNTY VIRGINIA CLYDE CARTER AIKEN, 85, of Hiram died Wednesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Flint Hill United Methodist Church; Benson Funeral Home. WALTON COUNTY EDWIN C.

HOBBS, 73, of Monroe died Thursday. The body will be cremated. Funeral, 2 p.m. Sunday, Ray Memorial Presbyterian Church; Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Loganville. WHORTON TAPLEY JOHNSON III, 52, of Monroe died Wednesday.

The body was cremated. Memorial service plans will be announced by Premier Crematory. GEORGIA CYRUS KING CARTER 56, of Rome, formerly of Cedartown, died Wednesday. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Sunday, 447 Lee Road, Cedartown; Lester C.

Litesey Funeral Home. EVELYN CRONIC, 79, of Buckhead died Wednesday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Saturday, Simmons Funeral Home. TONY DOWNEY, 40, of Commerce died Wednesday.

Funeral, 3 p.m. today, Ivie Funeral Home. JOHN HARRISON FLOOD 81, of Chatsworth died Thursday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Sunday, Ponders Funeral Home, Dalton.

HARVEY HULIN, 58, of Tignall died Wednesday. Funeral, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Reeves Chapel Baptist Church; McClendon Memorial Funeral Home. L.G. JACKSON, 75, of Winder died Thursday.

Funeral, 2 p.m. Saturday, First Baptist Church; Smith Funeral Home. MARY ELLEN RICE JACKSON, 81, of Lavonia died Thursday. Funeral, 3 p.m. Sunday, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church; Strickland Funeral Home, Lavonia.

MARY L. KITCHENS, 84, of Madison died May 14. Funeral, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Baptist Church; Mapp-Gilmore Pyramid Funeral Services. GRADY E.

LITTLE, 73, of Jefferson died Thursday. Funeral, 1 p.m. Saturday, Evans Funeral Home. DAISY MAE PRIEST, 62, of Bogart died Wednesday. Funeral, noon Saturday, Carter Funeral Home.

JOHN ANDREW SHOOK, 101, of Young Harris died Wednesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Cornerstone Baptist Church; Mountain View Funeral Home. OSCAR LAMAR VASSER, 90, of Cornelia died Wednesday. Funeral, 11 a.m.

Saturday, Whit Funeral Home, Baldwin. HATTIE WILKINSON, 96, of Tignall died Tuesday. Funeral, noon Saturday, Twin Oaks Baptist Church; McClendon Memorial Funeral Home. BESSIE IRENE WILLIAMS, 86, of Madison died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Godfrey; Mapp-Gilmore Pyramid Funeral Services. CORA LEE WRIGHT, 81, of Milledgeville died Wednesday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Saturday, Williams Funeral Home. OBITUARIES NEW YORK John J.

Hicks 64, jazz pianist from Atlanta By KAY POWELL Jazz pianist John J. Hicks Jr. lived in Manhattan, but visited his native Atlanta regularly to renew body and soul. The son of a Methodist preacher, Mr. Hicks moved from Atlanta as an infant but returned to perform at the Atlanta Jazz Festival and at Spivey Hall, to eat at the Auburn Avenue Rib Shack, to play tennis and to drop in at Virginia- Highland clubs for impromptu performances that delighted fans, said his sister Paula Neely of Stockbridge.

intermission, they would always run out and bring more people in to hear she said. Visitation for Mr. Hicks, 64, who died of internal bleeding May 10 at St. Hospital Manhattan, is at 1 p.m. Sunday at Goolsby Mortuary.

The graveside service is at 1 p.m. Monday at South-View Cemetery. He considered Atlanta home because of his family ties, his sister said, and made it a point to visit three or four times a year. He played with jazz greats and has two songs that endure Love and the Few people know Mr. Hicks wrote poetry, his sister said.

Love was written after the birth of his daughter and recorded by Betty Carter. the was written when his parents died. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of his album Side said, latest releases are worthy of his vast and describes his and Survivors include his wife, Elise Wood; a daughter, Naima Yemanjah of Atlanta; a son, Jamil Malik Hicks of Manhattan; a stepson, Malik Wood of Manhattan; a stepdaughter, Khadeshah Maxim of Teaneck, N.J.; another sister, Emma Kirk of Stockbridge; a brother, Raiford Emerson Hicks of Manhattan; and a granddaughter. Family photo John J. Hicks Jr.

called Atlanta home and returned often to play at the jazz festival and give impromptu performances. By DERRICK HENRY Mary Jim Smith practically versatility. She styled hair, drummed in a dance band and X-rayed hospital patients. Her chicken salad became a Lawrenceville legend. Her satin pillowcases became family heirlooms.

always went by Mary said her daughter, Kay Payne of Grayson. like just Mary because she said there were 8 million people named Mary Music was a big part of her life. She entertained friends on piano, readily harmonizing a tune someone hummed to her. She played drums in a Lawrenceville band that performed for American Legion square dances. Her musical talent manifested early.

As a child, she amazed her parents by picking out tunes on the piano by ear. They quickly found her a teacher. did not enjoy her piano lessons because she had trouble learning to read the her daughter said. was easier for her to just listen to her teacher and imitate her by ear. When it came time for her recital, her teacher gave her a slow piece.

She decided to play it the way she wanted to and jazzed it up and played it fast in the recital. After that, the piano teacher said to her parents, not teaching your daughter any Mother never took another piano She cultivated a love of music in her children and the pre-kindergarten Sunday school students she taught for 20 years at First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville. Her son, James Smith of Lawrenceville, became a rock guitarist and songwriter, playing with the likes of Three Dog Night and Billy Joel, her daughter said. Mary Jim Ford Smith, 85, of Lawrenceville died at Parkwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday of complications from a fall in January. The body was donated to Emory University School of Medicine.

The memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at Tom M. Wages, Oak Lawn Chapel. At Grayson High School, Mrs. Smith starred on the basketball team where she served as captain for three years.

She was still in high school when she went to work as a shampoo girl at a beauty shop. Before long, she was a beautician. She gave it up after starting a family with her husband Quill Smith in 1943. The couple settled in Lawrenceville in 1947 and moved into the house where Mrs. Smith would live until November 2005.

When her daughter entered middle school, Mrs. Smith took a job on the assembly line at Kraft Foods in Decatur. In the mid-1960s, she began working at the old Button Gwinnett Hospital and was trained as an X-ray technician. was her favorite her daughter said. Mrs.

Smith retired in 1984 to care for her bedridden husband, who died in 1991. An accomplished seamstress, Mrs. Smith made costumes for her dance recitals and cheerleading for the Central Gwinnett High School squad. Until she was 80, she enjoyed water aerobics three mornings a week and cut her own grass. Her hospitality drew praise, her cooking raves.

was known throughout Lawrenceville for her chicken her daughter said. she was a poll worker for elections, the other workers would beg her to bring chicken salad for their lunch. I think her secret was the chopped pecans she put in Survivors other than her son and daughter include a brother, Bill Ford of Shalimar, grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Family photo Mary Jim Smith danced with her husband Quill Smith at every opportunity. Her life epitomized versatility.

Mary Jim Smith, 85, music expert, Sunday school teacher SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 404-522-4141 or ajcdelivers.com Saturdays got more in store for you. SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 404-522-4141 or ajcdelivers.com.