Jerry L. Brown, 89, of Winder passed away on March 9, 2024. He was born February 11, 1935, in Gwinnett County, in the area now known as the Gwinnett Civic Center grounds.
Pat Besson Swan (1936 – 2024) of Lilburn, passed away March 26, 2024, surrounded by her daughters. She died at Northside Gwinnett Hospital after complications from a fall following a fight with leukemia. She was energetic and independent until her last day.
Edna Gannell (Ewing) Cofer, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, six days short of age 103. She was born in a small farmhouse on Highpoint Road west of Snellville on March 18, 1921, the first daughter and second child of Thomas Kelly (T. K.) Ewing and Sytha Amanda Brownlee.
Philip Hoke Gresham, 92, of Demorest, formerly of Duluth, died March 1, 2024. Born August 20, 1931, he was a stoic man—a U.S. Navy veteran, business owner, and an independent thinker.
Daniel Gilbert Holmes, 48, departed peacefully of natural causes on January 28, 2024. He was preceded in death by his father, Offie, and survived by his mother, Martha, and his brother, Travis Reynolds Holmes.
Nicki Leritis DeVillier, 79, passed away gracefully and peacefully on January 15, 2024, in Hoschton. Nicki was born on June 22, 1944, in Houston, Tex., to the late Harry Leritis and Lena Mae Leritis.
Donald L. Thompson, 79, a husband, father, grandfather and a member of the Norcross community for over 60 years, passed away peacefully on Jan. 5, 2024. He was born on July 28, 1944, in Hialeah, Fla., to the late parents, Melinda and Floyd Thompson.
Billie Jean Sammons Ellis, 89, of Duluth, , peacefully entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Marcia Lynn Oden, 59, of Lawrencville, passed away in her home on December 16, 2023. Born on September 14, 1964, in Raceland, La., her life was a beacon of warmth and love.
“Each of us is given only so many mornings to do it – to look around and love.”
– Pulitzer Prize-winning American Poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019), via John Titus, Peachtree Corners.
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Continuing objectives
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His 2025 list:
Move statewide non-partisan judicial and school board elections to the date of the General Election.
More creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett.
Advancement and expansion of city historical societies.
Require establishments that serve alcoholic beverages to halt sales of such products at 1 a.m., and close by 2 a.m.
Require the Georgia Legislature to meet only once every two years.
Eliminate single-use plastic packaging and straws in Gwinnett and require instead the use of paper products.
Gwinnett planners to encourage condos and townhouses instead of apartments.
County-wide microtransit services.
Interested in Gwinnett history?
Now re-printed in its third edition, Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, the award-winning history of Gwinnett County, is once again available for purchase. It sold out of its first two printings. The book won the 2010 Award of Excellence in Documenting Georgia History from the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. The book is available at Old Town Antiques at 93 Main Street in Lilburn.
The history of Gwinnett is also available as an e-book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $9.95.
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