Georgia

Mark Suttles, 46

Died February 10, 2021.

Riverdale Middle School, Riverdale, GA

Special Education, Track Coach

Local news:

The number of reported deaths from COVID-19 is falling in Georgia, but that’s no comfort to the wife of a teacher and coach who died from the coronavirus this week.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones talked with LaShane Suttles in Clayton County. Her husband, Mark Suttles, died of the virus at just 46 years old. He was a well-known special education teacher at Riverdale Middle School and coached track at Riverdale High School.

LaShane Suttles said she is angry and searching for answers about how he got sick. Suttles was teaching middle school from home, but went to the high school to coach.

She said she doesn’t know if that’s where he contracted the virus, but strongly believes sports shouldn’t be a priority during a pandemic.

“You’re putting educators in danger,” Suttles said. “You’re putting the people that are teaching the future in danger. This virus will take your life. It will change your whole family just like this in an instant.”

Suttles said her husband loved teaching and coaching and just loved life.

“And now he’s just gone,” Suttles said. “You just sit there and you’re just pulling out pictures and things looking at your life. Just gone.”

Suttles said the couple grew up in a small town, dated briefly and then she moved away. They reconnected 20 years later and got married at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Now, their plans of growing old together are no longer.

“A wonderful man of 46 years just disappears, just like that,” Suttles said.

The school district would not comment on Suttles’ cause of death and wouldn’t respond when Jones asked about coaches having to teach in-person during a pandemic.

The Clayton County school superintendent released a statement late Thursday, saying:

“Clayton County Public Schools is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our valued employees. We continue to extend our prayers and thoughts to the family during this difficult time. We’re all dealing with the challenges of this pandemic in the many ways the virus can be contracted.

“The school district wishes not to speculate as to who and how the employee may have contracted the virus given the possibility of contraction from many sources.

“Again, the family is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time of loss. We encourage everyone to do their part to social distance, wear masks and participate in groups and gatherings responsibly. We must work together to combat this pandemic.”

Melissa Sheats, 49

Died February 5, 2021.

South Atlanta High School, Atlanta, GA

Office Clerk

Local news:

An Atlanta Public Schools high school office clerk passed away three weeks into her battle with COVID-19.

Melissa Sheats was a wife and mother of two sons, her husband cried as FOX 5’s Aungelique Proctor began talking to him.

“She fought and I helped her fight but as the days went on, it got unbearable for her,” Ricardo Sheats said.

Mr. Sheats says his wife was dedicated to her job and had even been working in the building this school year, while the students were learning virtually.

“She loved it. She is a people person. I’m going to work. I am going to work and I would say , are you sure?, her husband recalled.

Mr. Sheats said his wife had a heart condition and was very conscious about wearing her mask. But on January 15, her last day working at the school, the 49-year-old called him and said she didn’t feel well.

“She called me and said she needed to go to urgent care. The results came back that Saturday, she was positive for COVID.”

Mr. Sheats says Melissa fought as long as she could.

“She was hurting real bad and she kept saying she was scared and her breathing almost stopped,” he recalled.

On January 24, she went to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms and never came out. Her death leaves her family devastated and her husband afraid to leave the house.

“Honestly speaking we need to shut this city down, we might not be able to shut the state down, but we should start with the city because this is real, ” Mr. Sheats said emphatically.

“Thirty-two years and now I got to watch TV and my wife is part of the COVID death numbers. I didn’t want a memory like this here,” he concluded.

Atlanta Public Schools released the flowing statement:

“In alignment with our protocols and out of an abundance of caution, all faculty and staff at South Atlanta High School will return to teleworking and continue to engage students through remote virtual learning beginning Friday, February 4th and ending Wednesday, February 10th. During this time, the building will undergo a deep cleaning and the District will continue to refine and enforce its health and mitigation strategies. In working to keep our students and staff safe, the District had previously slowed the pace of return to in-person learning to provide more time to intensify and add to our current mitigation strategies, and we have implemented a comprehensive COVID-19 testing strategy.”

Chris Smith, 77

Died January 26, 2021.

Morris Innovative High School, Dalton, GA

Paraprofessional

Obituary:

Jon Chris Smith, age 77, passed away at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Georgia on January 26, 2021 after losing a month long battle with Covid-19. He was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia to Thelma B. and John Harold Smith. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam, while he was in the United States Navy and later graduated from the University of Georgia. He also worked in the Athletic Department while he was a student.

After moving to Dalton in 1971 Chris and his wife, Mary L. Smith, taught at North Whitfield High School and subsequently Northwest High School, where he also coached girls basketball, track and football. Chris then left teaching to work in industry at World Carpets, Queen Carpet, Synthetic Industries in Dalton area and later Church Chair in Rome. He finally returned to the career he loved best and had worked for the past several years at Morris Innovative High School in Dalton Public Schools. There he encouraged students to get to the “finish line” in their education and actually graduate from high school and follow their dreams. He was very much appreciated at Morris by students and staff alike. Pam Massengale, assistant principal said, “he was a master at helping students over the “finish line” and she would tell him to work his magic and get a student caught up.”

Chris was preceded in death by his parents Thelma and Harold Smith, son Christopher Blake Smith, and nephew Jason Smith. He is survived by his daughter Holly Smith Lovelace, grandchildren Rella and India, former spouse and good friend, Mary L. Smith all of Cohutta, GA. He is also survived by his brother and wife, Laura and Wade Smith, and niece Stephanie Florea and family all of Cumming, GA. He leaves behind sister and brother in laws Bob and Elaine Campbell, Bill and Beverly Bean, Phillip Little, Dr. James Little and their families.

Due to Covid precautions and the safety of others, there will be no visitation. A private graveside service will be held at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain at a later date. He will buried next to his son, Blake. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Morris Innovative “Finish Line” Fund, 104, Ft. Hill Terrace, Dalton, GA 30721; The Family Support Council, P.O. Box 1707, Dalton, GA 30721 (child abuse prevention.)

Washington Varnum Jr., 54

Died February 1, 2021.

Henderson Middle School, Atlanta, GA

Campus Supervisor

Local news:

A DeKalb County School District employee’s death was due to complications from the coronavirus, his family said this week.

Washington Varnum Jr., 54, was a campus supervisor at Henderson Middle School for the last three years, according to a statement from a district spokeswoman earlier this week. The statement did not include a cause of death.

“The DeKalb County School District sends its condolences to the family of Mr. Washington Varnum, Jr., as well as to the Henderson Middle School family,” the statement said. “Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Varnum’s family said he worked in the school building until winter break, which began on Dec. 21. He washospitalized with COVID-19 on New Year’s Day, where he remained in the intensive care unit until his death, they said.

“The kids at the school were his life. He gave them jerseys, shoes, coats and lunch money,” said Connie Varnum, his sister. “He became a blessing to those kids.”

She said her brother had a wife, Carmen, and four stepchildren. He also had nine siblings, she said.

Brenda Varnum broke into tears over the phone on Wednesday as she spoke about her son’s death. She called him a “loving person so full of life,” that he touched many people him — be it through football, school or his career in law enforcement.

“A lot of people loved my baby,” she said. “I’m grateful and I thank God that other people saw the goodness in him.”

A native of Commerce, Washington VarnumJr.grew up in Decatur and was a 1985 graduate of Gordon High School, where he played football.

Joe Parks, 53, has known Washington VarnumJr. since he was eight. He described him a “high-spirited” man who “enjoyed family,” and would “give the shirt off his back” for people.

James Harris, who formerly played with football with Varnum, called him “a true friend and a brother.”

“It’s a major loss for many people,” he said.

Services for Varnum will take place at the Murray Brothers Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Monday. The gathering will be limited to 50 people.

Dana Johnson, 49

Died January 21, 2021.

Kemp Elementary School, Powder Springs, GA

First Grade

Obituary:

Dana B. Johnson, age 49 of Douglasville, GA. passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Wellstar Paulding Hospital. She was born on February 12, 1971 to her parents, Nathan Jerome Simpson Sr. and Althea Baker. Mrs. Johnson was a schoolteacher for more than 26 years and was currently employed at Kemp Elementary in Powder Springs, GA. She was a faithful member of Oasis Family Life Church in Dallas, GA. She is preceded in death by her brother, Nathan Jerome Simpson Jr.

Mrs. Johnson is survived by her loving husband of almost 24 years, Timothy Johnson Sr., her sons; Timothy Allen Johnson Jr. of Douglasville, GA., Cameron Ulysses Johnson, of Douglasville, GA., and Darius Marquis Johnson of Douglasville, GA., sisters; Denita Simpson, Shamel Kemp and Sharel Young, brother; Pierre Simpson.

Funeral Services will be announced later and will be held at Campbell and Sons Funeral Home 124 W Park Avenue Savannah, Ga. 31401. Please send flower arrangements to this address.

Visitation will be Monday, January 25, 2021 from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at Clark Funeral Home.

If attending the visitation or service, the staff of Clark Funeral Home highly recommends that a face mask be worn, and that social distancing is practiced to help prevent the spreading of any possible illnesses and to help keep visitors, friends and family members of Mrs. Johnson safe. The family would like to extend their love and appreciation to everyone who may be unable to attend the service in person due to Georgia’s Covid-19 restrictions (no more than 50 people inside the funeral home at one time).

Clark Funeral Home in Hiram, GA, is honored to care for the family during this difficult time.

Condolences may be left for the family on our website, www.samclarkfuneralhome.com under the Tribute Wall tab.

Maude Jones, 64

Died January 4, 2021.

Rock Springs Elementary School, Lawrenceville, GA

Special Education

Local news:

The family of a longtime Gwinnett County Public Schools employee, as well as her former co-workers, is mourning after she passed away earlier this month from COVID-19.

Maude Jones, who had been a paraprofessional at Rock Springs Elementary School who began working with Gwinnett County Public Schools in 2006, died on Jan. 4. She had been an employee of the district, and working at school, until she was hospitalized with COVID-19 last month.

“It just happened like one thing after another, after another,” Jones’ daughter, Nyenneh Jones, told Daily Post news partner FOX 5 Atlanta. “It was like a ball rolling downhill.”

Gwinnett County Public Schools officials said they could not confirm the cause of Jones’ death due to health privacy laws. A letter that Rock Springs Elementary School Principal Allan Gee sent to parents on Jan. 5 to inform them of Jones’ death did not mention COVID-19.

The letter noted that Jones had been at Rock Springs Elementary School since 2018 and that she officially entered retirement in December. Jones worked with students in a self-contained special education class at the school “in a caring and respectful manner,” the principal told the school’s parents.

“Although Ms. Jones would not have been returning to our school this semester as she had retired in December, I knew our Rock Springs family would want to know of our loss,” Gee said in the letter. “Losing a teacher, co-worker, and member of our school family is hard.”

In addition to being a teacher, Jones was also the primary caretaker for her son, who is disabled.

Jones’ family told FOX 5 that they believe she contracted the disease after someone at the school was diagnosed with it, although her daughter said the paraprofessional had taken great lengths to protect herself from getting the disease.

Maude Jones had already planned to retire at the end of the fall semester before she got COVID. The plan was for her last day at school before her retirement began to be Dec. 18, but she was hospitalized two days before that with complications from COVID-19.

“We beat ourselves up every day,” Nyenneh Jones said. “We should have encouraged her more to just not go back after the Thanksgiving break.”

To date, Rock Springs Elementary School has reported eight confirmed cases of COVID-19, as well as two suspected cases and 13 close contacts with someone who has the disease.

Those numbers include one new confirmed case, one new suspected case and six close contacts that were reported by the school on Monday.

The school system has reported a total of 568 confirmed cases, 330 suspected cases and 2,703 close contacts so far during the current school year.

Three school board members — Everton Blair, Karen Watkins and Tarece Johnson — pushed for starting the spring semester in an all digital format and delaying a return to in-person instruction until Jan. 19 because of a sharp new spike of COVID-19 cases in Gwinnett County that began over the holidays. Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks, who had the final say on how students began the semester, disagreed with them during a called meeting on Jan. 4, however, and expressed opposition to making a change to the start of the semester.

Benny Lee Doe, 70

Mark Suttles, 46

John Huffman, 53

Melissa Sheats, 49

Jennifer Watkins, 45

Cynthia Lindsey, 61

Chris Smith, 77

Washington Varnum Jr., 54

Dana Johnson, 49

Maude Jones, 64