James “Jay” Horace Morgan, Jr., 65, of Dawsonville passed away Tuesday August 15, 2017 at his residence following a long battle with cancer.

Born April 14, 1952 in Atlanta, Georgia, Jay was the son of James Horace “J.H.” Morgan, Sr. and the late Frances M. Morgan. He had been a resident of Dawsonville for 21 years. Jay attended the University of Florida in counseling and graduated from Emory University with a BS in Nursing and a Masters in Nursing. He was a Nurse Practitioner in a family practice serving the Blairsville area until recently. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was also dedicated to his patients that he treated and was much loved by all. He lived out his service to God as a leader in his church, Wesley Chapel United Methodist. Jay did everything with excellence and it showed in all areas of his life and with those he loved. His life centered around his wife, family, friends, home and pets.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 31 years, Mimi (Ridgely) Morgan, Dawsonville; daughters and sons in law, Allison and Mark Hayes, Atlanta, Ashley McCash, Ooltewah, TN, Holly and David Erickson, Dawsonville; grandchildren, Zachary Erickson, Miriam Hayes, Ford Hayes, Ridgely Erickson, Rylie Erickson; sisters, Rena, Laurie, Vicki; brother in law and sister in law, Rusty and Julia Ridgely and a number of other relatives.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday August 20, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. C.R. Hill, Jr. and Rev. Calvin Ward will officiate. Interment will follow in the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception in the church fellowship hall following graveside service.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday August 19 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Mr. Morgan to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 1751 Wesley Chapel Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.

Charles Clayton “Clay” Free, Jr., 32, of Gainesville passed away Thursday June 1, 2017.

Born March 26, 1985 and raised in Dawsonville, Clay had been a resident of Gainesville for the past three years. He was a 2003 graduate of Dawson County High School and member of the Georgia High School Rodeo Association along with the Naval Sea Cadets. After high school Clay had worked in the trucking industry and served as a volunteer firefighter at Station #3 in Dawson County. With his dog by his side at all times possible he enjoyed spending time on the lake and was an avid fan of the Gwinnett Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Clayton and Kathryn Free, Charles Vincent and brother in law, Robert Dean.

Surviving are his beloved K-9 companion, Montana; father and step mother, Charles Clayton, Sr. and Maria Free, Dawsonville; mother, Denyse Vincent, Signal Mountain, TN; sister, Katie Dean, Cumming; step sister and brother in law, Crystal and Jeff Renaud, Box Springs, GA; grandparents, Jerry and Louise Burt, Dahlonega; nephew, Cooper Dean; a number of other relatives.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday June 4, 2017 at 4 PM at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Tyler Goode will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 2PM until the service hour on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Dawson County Humane Society, www.dawsoncountyhumanesociety.org/donate/ or The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.

William J. “Bill” Gardiner, Jr., 55, of Dawsonville passed away Tuesday October 4, 2016 at Northside Forsyth Hospital.

Born June 17, 1961 in Warwick, Rhode Island, Mr. Gardiner had lived in Dawsonville for the past four years. Bill worked as a Project Manager for Motorola. He served eight years in the U. S. Coast Guard. Bill was a huge sports fan and especially enjoyed golf, the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sandra Porter, and a brother, Craig A. Gardiner.

Surviving are his wife, Gretchen Gardiner, Dawsonville; children, Nicholas Brandon Gardiner, Gainesville, Britni Layne Gardiner, Savannah; granddaughter, Harper M. Butts, Savannah; father and stepmother, William J. “Bill” and Kate Gardiner, St. Simons Island, sister and brother in law, Karen and John Briggs, Exeter, RI.

Memorial services will be held Friday October 7, 2016 at 2 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Fr. Brian Higgins will officiate.
The family will receive friends Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Northside Hospital Foundation, for Northside Forsyth 5 Tower, 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive, Cumming, GA 30041.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.

Winfield Scott Wilson, Jr., originally of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and lately of Dawsonville, Georgia, died on September 4, 2016, just three days shy of his 80th birthday.

Glorianna, his wife of 50 years, survives him. He took great pride in his much loved son, Winfield III, his daughter-in-law, Charity, and in his four grandchildren, Shea, Carlie, Leah, and Winfield IV. He is also survived by his aunt, Marcella Bell and his cousin, Debbie Misher. He was a brother-in-law to Carol Pierannunzi, Rebecca and Jon Harkins, and Holly Hutcheson and an uncle to Christine Mashburn-Paul, John Hutcheson III, Anna Rose Hutcheson and Jennifer Harkins. Win’s daughter, Susannah Leigh Wilson and his parents, Winfield Scott Wilson and Helen Herms Wilson preceded him in death.

After attending Lehigh University, Win graduated from Villanova University. He served four years in the US Navy. He was retired from Lockheed Martin, where he worked in several different divisions in the US and in London, England.

Win was known for his dry wit and for being a proponent of comfort. Having traveled a good bit in his life, he was content to retire to a secluded spot in the north Georgia mountains where he had the pleasure of designing and building his own retirement home and where he spent many hours appreciating the beauty of his natural surroundings. He had a talent for using natural materials in a creative way. He enjoyed a good book, a good wine, classical music and a roaring fire.

To celebrate Win’s life, a gathering of family and friends will be held at his home later in the fall.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.