-Composite Proof 0:30 0:00 RMAIN0331OB6FMAIN0331OB6 4 Star 6B 6B RR RR BlueRedYellowBlack Blue RedYellowBlack B6 Wednesday, March 31, 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 4 Bame Mitchell, 89, was Santa to many ATLANTA By KAY POWELL It was on a deep sea fishing trip that Bame Mitchell became Santa Claus. Near retirement, he let his white hair and beard grow and shave when he returned to his insurance job. His daughter talked him into working with a modeling agency, and that led to his second career as Santa Claus at malls and in advertisem*nts for Char-Broil, Coca-Cola, Nike, Burger King, Home Depot and Parisian, said his daughter, Bonnie Malmstrom of Lithonia. The funeral for Mr. Mitchell, 89, of Atlanta, who died of cancer Sunday at Haven House Hospice, is 2 p.m.
today at Sandy Springs Chapel. As Santa from 1979 through 2003, Mr. Mitchell was featured at Northlake Mall and downtown and was a regular in the Atlanta Christmas parade, said his daughter. He maintained his silky hair and beard year-round and took the curling iron to his hair for Santa engagements. He gave up being a store Santa but continued to appear at charity fund-raisers and to visit children in the hospital.
He kept his camera handy for spontaneous pictures with Santa, his daughter said. When he was a young parent, he took child psychology courses at Emory University to help him be a better father, his daughter said. For his 37 years of volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, he was presented the Silver Beaver award. Mr. Mitchell relaxed by cutting the grass at the 12 properties he owned and was a familiar sight around his neighborhood riding his John Deere lawn mower adorned with reindeer antlers.
His Cadillac license plate reads Off the job, he escape being Santa. While out of uniform shopping at Christmas, other department store Santas would ask to pose with him, and one quipped, always wanted my picture taken with As Santa, it was no cookies and milk for one child who perched on his lap and announced: going to leave you a real treat, Santa. Some cookies and Survivors include a son, Ken B. Mitchell of Atlanta; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. File Bame Mitchell was the jolly old elf at Northlake Mall and downtown from 1979 to 2003.
IN FEATURES TODAY Alistair Cooke, 95, the urbane and erudite journalist who was a peerless observer of the American scene for almost 70 years, died at midnight Monday. Judy Argo, 58, who reigned for 30 years as original diva, died Monday. The funeral for three-term Villa Rica Mayor Ray W. Barber is 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church.
He was mayor 1986-1992. Mr. Barber, 70, died of cancer at his Villa Rica residence Monday. He was born in the mill village of Fullerville and was a cryptography specialist in the Army. He owned a building supply house in Winston.
During his administration, two major companies were recruited to Villa industrial park. He estimated 1,500 new jobs were created while he was mayor. Barber had another celebration while in office. He had played for the Villa Rica High School Wildcats in 1950 and and they missed the championship playoffs. That made the 1986 AAA championship even sweeter for the new mayor.
Kay Powell Ray W. Barber, 70, mayor for 3 terms VILLA RICA such as free land and roads, utility extensions and tax abatements the authority had proposed to recruit the tire factory. One authority document uncovered in their suit estimated the incentives would cost the county and state nearly $10 million. Archer said negotiations with Toyo Tire Rubber Co. are continuing and nothing is settled.
Rick Moore, also of the group, said: I came to the realization that we going to have our day in court, it was a hard hit in the stomach. Maybe the law is not the great David Flint, the attorney representing some of the landowners, said Tuesday they would no longer press their case against the residents. are willing to dismiss our he said. William Neel the attorney for another landowner, Aubrey was out of state at a funeral. Countersuits by developers against residents who appeal rezonings or even speak out in zoning hearings are called Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation, or SLAPP, suits.
Justine Thompson, the director of the Georgia Center for Law in the Public Interest, said they can be effective ways for monied interests to intimidate the public into silence. the smallest lawsuit is a burden financially and emotionally to the common citizen not used to being involved in litigation. SLAPP sends a message to the community that they better not speak out either, or the repercussions are going to be she said. Archer, the attorney, denied it was an intimidation tactic. He wanted to stop what he believed was a delaying tactic by the citizens.
Toyo, which wanted to build its first American factory on the site northeast of Cartersville, hoped to close the deal quickly. appears to me attempted to file the suit and delay, and the delay would drive he said. Gov. Sonny Perdue and three Bartow County officials visited the company on a recruitment trip in Japan last October. Authority spokesman George Fricks said in February that developing the property for Toyo could be a long-term money maker for the authority and county.
The proposed $125 million plant would increase the tax base and salaries from its initial 250 jobs would ripple through the economy. The Bartow residents promised to continue their fight in a new venue at the ballot box this fall. They plan to campaign against sole County Commissioner Clarence Brown, who appointed three of the six members of the development authority. Brown approved the rezoning in February after it was recommended by the county Planning Commission. Brown is the only announced candidate for the post.
Continued from B1 Bartow: Residents back off lawsuit MABLETON Tom Jones, 63, supervised building of Clinton library By J.E. GESHWILER Nothing in Tom long experience as an Atlanta builder prepared him for the public scrutiny he encountered supervising construction of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. Skip Rutherford of Little Rock, president of the Clinton Foundation, said Mr. Jones recently observed that never before had his work been under the constant watch of tourists and never had he been peppered so with media requests for comments.
told him, to the World of replied, may be the World of Clinton, but one of these days got to get some work great credit, this library is on schedule and is on budget. He inspired people to get this project Mr. Rutherford said. It is set to open Nov. 18.
In a statement issued from his New York office, former President Bill Clinton said, am deeply grateful for all of the hard work and care Tom put into his Mr. Jones had been on the project for two years. The funeral for William Thomas Jones IV, 63, of Mableton is 2 p.m. today at Davis-Strumpf Funeral Home. He died of heart failure Sunday at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock.
can see handiwork all around said his son, Keith Jones of Flowery Branch. supervised or had a hand in building MARTA stations, the Ga. 400 tunnel beneath the Atlanta Financial Center, reservations center and hangars at the airport, and on and Occasionally, Mr. Jones supervised projects that took him out of town for long stretches. joined him when he spent two years helping to build a hangar at the Houston airport and another two years working on a hangar in said his wife, Betty Jones.
he went to work on the Alaska pipeline, I stayed here at was a builder who kept his promises and could spot problems before they got in the way of the said Steve Bright of Winston. was a mentor to me and made it possible for me to start my own construction it took to get a job done, Tom could do said a contractor associate, Buck Thompson of Fayetteville. the most part, he was happy-go-lucky, but if circ*mstances demanded it, he could act like a drill sergeant, In the early 1960s, Mr. Jones was a cook aboard a U.S. Navy submarine, USS Sunbird, and was even offered a job with the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel afterward, his son said.
Cooking remained a favorite pastime. the back yard or on camping trips into the North Georgia mountains, find Dad at a grill fixing a batch of fish or at his smoker preparing a ham or pork his son said. Survivors include his father, William T. Jones III of Lithia Springs; a sister, Jeanette Sessoms of Cleveland, and a grandchild. Tom Jones people to get this project says Skip Rutherford of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock.
It opens Nov. 18. Obits continued on B7 BARBER, Ray Ray W. Barber, age 70, of Villa Rica, died March 29, 2004. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Scroggins Barber of Villa Rica; daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly B.
and Scott Swafford, Phyllis B. and Steve Sheppard, Jane B. and Stephen Jackson, Elizabeth B. and James Rainwater all of Villa Rica, and Amie B. and Jim Williams of Montombery, AL; his grandchildren, Anna E.
Swafford of Villa Rica, Sidney (Beau) Swafford of Hartwell, Meg S. and Jason Whitlock, Lauren Sheppard, Joel Jackson, Sara Jackson, Andrew Rainwater, Hannah Rainwater, Daniel Rainwater all of Villa Rica, and Riley Williams of Montgomery, AL; and one great-grandson. Jason Whitlock, Jr. of Villa Rica. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at 2:00 p.m.
from the First United Methodist Church of Villa Rica, with Rev. Gary Whatley, Dr. Sam Newman, Rev. Joe Bowen, Larry Boggs, Bob Bradley, J. Collins and Beau Swafford officiating.
Interment will follow in Hill crest Cemetery, Villa Rica, with Flag Ceremony and Presentation conducted by the American Legion Post, 143 Honor Guard Team. J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home, Villa Rica 770-459-3676. Express condolences at ajc.com/obits ARMSTRONG, Theodore Mr. Theodore R.
Armstrong, of Decatur, passed away on March 30, 2004. Funeral services will be announced by Donald Trimble Mortuary, 1876 Second Avenue, (404) 371-0772-3. Express condolences at ajc.com/obits ACKERMAN, Eva Eva Easterlin Ackerman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother, passed away at Beverly Health Care, in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, March 29, 2004. She was born in Summerville, South Carolina on February 10, 1914 and was formerly from McDonough, Georgia. She was predeeased by her husband, J.
Melvin Ackerman and her son Randal Ackerman. Eva is survived by John M. Ackerman (Jan), her son, and daughter-in-law, Helen from South Pasadena, FL; Connie Willis, her daughter, and son-in-law John from Atlanta, GA; and Molly Ackerman, her daughter-in-law from Suwanee, GA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Paul Ackerman from Lexington, KY, Marie-Beth Cheezem and husband Michael, from St. Petersburg, FL; Rebecca Barthelmess and husband Michael, from Elsah, IL; John Willis, Jr.
from Bishop, GA, Donald Willis and wife Pamela from Suwanee, GA, Anne Par- tamian and husband James from Marietta, GA, and Andrew Ackerman from Suwanee, GA. She is survived by her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Peter Ackerman, Christopher and Tiffany Cheezem, Isaac and Luke Barthelmess, Austin and Cory Willis and Katie and Kelsey Willis. Eva was a member of First Church of Christ Scientist, Atlanta, GA and was a devoted mother and homemaker and a faithful church member. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. There will be a private memorial service held for her immediate family to celebrate the life of this beloved woman of God, Eva Easterlin Ackerman.
National Cremation Society, 770-923-2940. Express condolences at ajc.com/obits FAMILY-PLACED DEATH NOTICES ON THE WEB: To view family-placed death notices, news obituaries and find past obituaries or death notices visit www.ajc.com/obits 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 404-526-5342 or fax us at 404-526-7517 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 DEATHS FUNERALS WILLIAM BROMBERG, 86, died Monday. Graveside service, 10 a.m.
today, Greenwood Cemetery; Jewish Funeral Care. BEULAH MILLSAP JACKSON, 95, formerly of Buford, died Sunday. Funeral, 1 p.m. Thursday, Flanigan Funeral Home. CASIMIRO YBARRA, 20, died Friday.
Funeral, 1 p.m. Thursday, Sellers-Smith funeral home. HOYLE GENE ATKINS, 66, of Adairsville died Tuesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday, Huey Funeral Home.
RAY W. BARBER, 70, of Villa Rica died Monday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, First United Methodist Church; J. Hoyt Thomas Funeral Home.
RICKY E. CREWS, 45, of Whitesburg died Sunday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday, Martin Hightower Heritage Chapel. THELMA D.
ROOKS, 84, of Carrollton died Monday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Thursday, Martin Hightower Heritage Chapel. GEORGE ALLAN VOLLMERS 73, of Villa Rica died Sunday. Funeral, 4 p.m.
Friday, Carrollton Presbyterian Church; Jones-Wynn Funeral Home, Villa Rica. JIMMY LEE WILLIAMSON, 56, of Carrollton died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m. Thursday, Walker Funeral Home. HELEN ELLIS LEWIS, 79, of Jonesboro died Saturday.
The body was cremated. Graveside service, 2 p.m. today, Sherwood Memorial Gardens; Carl J. Mowell and Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville. NELL WHITE JORDAN, 97, of Mableton, a Commerce native, died Tuesday.
Funeral, 3 p.m. Thursday, White Columns Chapel, Mableton. TERESE M. KOPANSKI, 76, of Marietta died Monday. The body was cremated.
Memorial service, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Transfiguration Catholic Church; Cremation Society of the South. HELEN E. SCRIBER, 76, of Marietta died Tuesday. Funeral plans will be announced by Hanley-Shelton, Marietta.
JOANN WATSON, 47, of Kennesaw died Friday. Funeral, 4 p.m. today, Woodstock Funeral Home. DOYAL CLAUD HOPKINS, 72, of Newnan died Monday. Funeral, 11 a.m.
today, McKoon Funeral Home. JUDY ARGO-BROWN, 58, of Atlanta died Monday. Memorial service, 1 p.m. Sunday, Cabaret; A.S. Turner Sons.
JOHN DANIEL TAYLOR 62, of Avondale Estates died Sunday. The body was cremated. Memorial service plans will be announced by Cremation Society of the South. CALVIN DAVIS 41, of Douglasville, a Fulton County native, died Monday. Funeral, 11 a.m.
Friday, Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven. URSULA GREEN GOLDEN, 81, of Douglasville died Tuesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday, White Columns Chapel, Lithia Springs. MARY ANN JACKSON, 80, of Douglasville died Sunday.
The body was cremated. Memorial service, 11 a.m. today, Davis- Struempf Funeral Home. HAZEL De VORE JACKSON, 75, of Fairburn died Sunday. Funeral, 2 p.m.
today, Ford-Stewart Funeral Home. MILDRED INEZ POSTON, 84, of Alpharetta died Monday. Graveside service, 1 p.m. Thursday, Knoxville; Louie E. Jones Funeral Home.
WILLIAM H. SOUTH, 81, of Roswell died Monday. Funeral, 3 p.m. Thursday, Roswell Funeral Home. JOYCE DARLENE BRYANT, 71, of Lawrenceville died Friday.
Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Tabernacle of Christ Church International; Warbington Mortuary. FRANCES HELMS KELLEY, 86, of Loganville died Tuesday. Funeral, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Loganville Baptist Church; Tom M.
Wages, Snellville Chapel. MATTHEW JAMES McCUNE, 19, of Suwanee died Saturday. Funeral, 11 a.m. today, Wages Sons Funeral Home, Gwinnett Chapel. LAWRENCE B.
MOORE 58, of Lawrenceville died Monday. Funeral plans will be announced by Warbington Mortuary. WEON TAG OH, 38, of Lawrenceville died Monday. The body will be cremated. Funeral, 11 a.m.
today, Funeral Home. DANIEL H. SMITH, 55, of Loganville died Monday. Visitation, noon Saturday, H.M. Patterson Son, Oglethorpe Hill.
CLYDE ANDERSON, 64, of Covington died Monday. Funeral, 11 a.m. Thursday, Caldwell Cowan. MARY BELL MURDOCK ELROD, 77, of Hiram died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m.
today, Powder Springs Funeral Home. JOHNIE C. BROWN, 81, of Blairsville died Monday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Old Liberty Baptist Church; Mountain View Funeral Home.
JESSIE CHAPMAN BYERS, 86, of Demorest died Monday. Funeral, 11 a.m. today, McGahee-Griffin Stewart Funeral Home. EDYTH WALL FREEMAN, 81, of Auburn died Monday. Funeral, 2 p.m.
today, Union Grove Baptist Church; Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Lawrenceville. ROBERT A. GAITHER, 70, of Rockmart died Tuesday. Funeral plans will be announced by Memorial Chapel. WILLIE FRED GLOVER 53, of Crawfordville died Monday.
Funeral plans will be announced by Hughes Turner Funeral Home. JULIA EDWARDS GREENWAY, 89, of Rome died Sunday. Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Fred Parkview Chapel Funeral Home. KENNETH ARLIN HERRIN 52, of Monticello died Jan.
12. The body was cremated. Memorial service, 11 a.m. Saturday, Jordan Funeral Home. FAYE HICKS, 62, of Winder died Monday.
Graveside service, 11 a.m. today, Barrow Memorial Gardens; Carter Funeral Home. VELVA L. HOLLINGSWORTH, 95, of Calhoun, a Pickens County native, died Monday. Funeral, 2 p.m.
today, Thomas Funeral Home. BERLIN HOYT, 84, of Monroe died Tuesday. Funeral, 3 p.m. Thursday, Meadows Funeral Home. GEORGE V.
HULME, 50, of Dahlonega died Monday. The graveside service was Tuesday; Bridges Funeral Home. VIRGIL MANUS, 85, of Rex died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m. today, The Rock Baptist Church; Horis A.
Ward, Fairview Chapel. BETTY LOIS MIDDLETON, 65, of Hartwell died Tuesday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday, Joseph A. Strickland Funeral Home.
WILLIAM F. PITTARD III, 62, of Manassas, formerly of Hartwell, died Monday. Funeral, 1 p.m. Thursday, Grace United Methodist Church, Manassas. Graveside service, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Lavonia City Cemetery; Joseph A. Strickland Funeral Home. ORA LEE SLOAN, 78, of Bethlehem, a Walton County native, died Monday. Funeral, 2 p.m. Thursday, Bethel Baptist Church; Smith Funeral Home.
LOIS MARIE WALSTON, 71, of Waleska died Monday. The body was cremated. Memorial service, 4 p.m. Thursday, Huey Funeral Home. ESTEE MOORE WILLIAMS, 92, of Ellijay, formerly of Norcross, died Sunday.
Funeral, 2 p.m. today, Mount Carmel United Methodist Church; Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home. ON AJC.COM/OBITS 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. OBITUARIES Plains An exhibit on former first lady Rosalynn Carter was unveiled this week at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, the small Georgia town that she said always hold a special place in my have been a lot of places and done a lot of things, but no matter where we go always happy to come Carter told the Americus Times-Recorder as friends, family and supporters turned out for the occasion.
The portable exhibit is titled: Carter: Lady From Plains, Associated Press Rosalynn Carter exhibit debuts.
