Bill Cornelison
Bill Cornelison, 82, of Jasper, Georgia passed away on August 30, 2026. He was born on August 20, 1944 in Canton to the late Arvine Cornelison and Imogene Holcomb Cornelison. He will be remembered with love for the steady, full life he built and for the many simple joys that brought warmth to those around him.
His dedication to his work, his service, and his fraternal commitments reflected a life marked by loyalty and constancy. Bill served in the Army and later worked for the local phone company for 28 years. He was also a proud member of Royal Arch #135, Amicalola Commandery #41, and Redwine #174 Masonic lodges, serving as a well-beloved Knight Templar for more than 50 years. He found happiness in the outdoors and in the work of his hands. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, and tending his garden. He had such a gift for growing things that it was often said he could put a stick in the ground and it would grow. He also loved his Westerns, especially anything John Wayne and Louis L’Amour. In his later years, he treasured traveling, spending time with his cats, and sharing adventures with his wife and grandchildren. Bill’s life was grounded in devotion and love for family, tradition, and simple everyday pleasures.
Bill is survived by his wife, Leslie Cornelison. He also leaves behind his brother, John Melvin Cornelison, and John’s wife, Linda. His memory will be cherished by his daughters, Laura Haren and her husband Casey, Jamie Thunhorst and her husband Joshua, and Sarah Braun and her husband Mathew. He was a proud grandfather to William Haren, Lillian Haren, Alexander Haren, Camden Thunhorst, and Kinsley Thunhorst. He is also remembered by many cousins and by all who were blessed to know his kindness, humor, and companionship.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Aubrey Cornelison; and his first wife, Cathy Bryant Cornelison.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask a donation be made in honor of Bill to The Parkinson’s Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org.
Care of Bill has been entrusted to In Their Honor Funeral and Cremation Providers.
Carl Dowland
SFC Carl Andrew Dowland, RET., 77, of Jasper, Georgia, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2026. He was born on March 28, 1949, in Milan, Tennessee, to the late Carl Benson Dowland and Violet Lorene Lawhorn Dowland.
Carl and Cynthia spent 54 years together in a loving marriage, shaping their life around the family they held dear. Their years together were filled with love, devotion, and the joy of being surrounded by those they cherished.
Carl proudly served his country for 24 years in the United States Army, including service in Vietnam and the Gulf Wars, and he received a Purple Heart for his bravery. He came from a proud military family his father served in World War II, and his grandson continues that legacy in the United States Air Force.
Beyond his service, Carl lived a life full of passion and joy. He was an athlete who loved running, and he enjoyed playing billiards in the APA league, winning tournaments in Las Vegas. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning racehorses and found great happiness in caring for all his animals. Carl was a loving husband, father, and “Pop,” and his family was the heart of everything he did.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gary Taylor Dowland; and his sister, Debbie Kay Dowland.
Carl is survived by his wife, Cynthia Dowland; his daughter and son‑in‑law, Christina and Brent Kelly; his son and daughter‑in‑law, Brian and Kerri Dowland; his grandchildren, Kristin and Alex Lundeen, Brandin and Stacey Cobb, Morgan Kelly, and Mya Dowland; and his great‑grandchildren, Kaylei Spinks, Safina Cobb, RaeLynn Harvey, Bodie Cobb, Ryker Yoakum, and Colton Yoakum. He is also survived by his brother, Charles Albert Dowland, and his sisters, Syndia Ann Mask, Linda Sue Burns, Brenda Carlene Bishop, and Monda Fay Woods.
Carl’s funeral service was held at Georgia National Cemetery on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10:30 in the morning, where he will receive full military honors in recognition of his dedicated service to our country.
Cagle Funeral Home is proudly serving the family of SFC Carl Andrew Dowland, RET.
Lanny Chastain
Lanny Chastain, 76, of Ellijay, Georgia, passed away Friday, September 11, 2026 at Piedmont Mountainside Ellijay. Lanny was born August 22, 1950 to William Junior and Ethel Mae Chastain in Murray County.
Lanny is survived by his wife, Elaine Chastain of Ellijay; sons and daughters-in-law, Branson and Jill Chastain of Ellijay, Brent and Trina Chastain of Ball Ground; daughter and son-in-law, Brittany and Matt Hefner of Chatsworth; grandchildren, Aliza Chastain, Andrew Chastain; sisters and brothers-in-law, Hilda Dotson of Ellijay, Angie and Robert Reed of Ellijay, Juanita and Earnest Jones of Chatsworth; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Bobbie Chastain of Ellijay, Harold Stover of Mableton, Catherine Davis of Ellijay, Hollis Stover of Buford, Hoke and Cathie Aaron of Ellijay, Brenda Sue Hardin of Ellijay, Leon and Linda Parks of Ellijay, Larry and Mary Stover of Ellijay, Karen and Carroll Holbrooks of Ellijay, Buster and Vickie Stover of Ellijay.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Junior and Ethel Chastain; and brother, Harold Chastain.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, September 14, 2026 at Ebenezer Baptist Church with Reverend Sam Rickett officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Andrew Chastain, Matt Hefner, Carter Jones, Matt Gibbs, Greg Griggs, Tommy Pankey, Buster Stover, and Marty Pankey. Nephews and close friends will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. (Ebenezer Baptist Church; 10358 Hwy 52 E; Ellijay, GA 30536)
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery Fund. (Branson Chastain; 84 River Ridge; Ellijay, GA 30536)
Arrangements are entrusted to the staff of Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.
John Spitznagel
John Keith Spitznagel, M.D. passed away peacefully January 14, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
surrounded by his family. He was 102 years old.
John was born April 11, 1923, in Peoria, Illinois, and raised in Indianapolis where he graduated from
Shortridge High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in1943 and MD
degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1946. He completed his
internship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and his residency at the Barnes Hospital of Washington
University. He spent a year as a Visiting Investigator at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in
New York.
He served in several positions in the Army, including as an instructor in basic sciences at Walter Reed
Hospital, as the Assistant Chief of Medicine in the 114 Field Hospital in Kyushu, Japan, and as the Chief of
Medicine at the U.S. Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel.
In 1957, John joined the University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill, NC in the departments
of Internal Medicine and Bacteriology, rising to the rank of Professor. During that time, he treated
patients, instructed medical students and resident physicians, and conducted laboratory research funded
by the National Institute of Health. John became internationally known for his research on the
mechanisms used by white blood cells to combat bacterial infections.
In 1979, John joined Emory University as the Chair of Microbiology and Immunology. John retired from
Emory in 1999 as Professor Emeritus. He is honored with the Spitznagel Annual Seminar on Host
defense, given by an internationally known investigator. Throughout his career, John was the recipient of
multiple honors, served on medical research review committees, published over 275 research reports,
and been an editor of multiple medical journals.
John married Anne Moulton Sirch in 1947. John was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a
generous mentor to his extended family, welcoming spouses and grandchildren fully into the family
circle. He and Anne hosted frequent, joyful gatherings at their retirement home in Jasper, Georgia,
creating a warm and enduring center for their family. John was an avid reader, traveler, fly-fisherman,
hiker, and flutist. He and Anne were founding members of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family in
Jasper.
After retiring and moving to Jasper, John joined with other medical professionals in the community and
members of their church to found the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center. This volunteer-run
clinic has been instrumental in improving the quality of life for the area’s uninsured, treating thousands
of people for ailments that would otherwise go untreated and lead to advanced disease. Today, 24 years
after its founding in 2002, The Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center is a Federally Qualified
Health Center (FQHC) continuing its mission “to provide quality, compassionate, and complete
healthcare for all in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.”
John was pre-deceased by his wife, Anne in 2012, and is survived by his five children John Spitznagel Jr.
(Susie), Jean Hetherington (Seth), Margaret Harkness (Donald), Elizabeth Kopin (Alan), and Paul
Spitznagel (Kim), 14 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
In memory of John Keith Spitznagel, donations can be made to the Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center, 175 Samaritan Drive, Jasper, Ga. 30143.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on October 3, 2026 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family located at 202 Griffiths Rd., Jasper, Ga. 30143.
Elzada Ganaway
Elzada Sue Lawson Ganaway, 77, of Big Canoe, GA passed away peacefully in the company of her family at her home on Sunday, September 13, 2026 after a lengthy natural illness. Elzada was born in Chattanooga, TN on September 15, 1948.
How to describe this remarkable woman? As the song goes, how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand? Faithful Baptist; stand-out high lyric soprano in her high school choir; Miss Congeniality in the 1969 Miss Palm Beach County Beauty Pageant; B.S. honor graduate of Georgia State U.; early elementary school educator; devoted wife, mother and grandmother; life-long horse lover, Tennessee Walker breeder and competitive trail rider; dog lover; avid horticulturist and African Violet judge at Garden Club of Georgia (GCG) state flower shows; President of GCG’s Evergreen Garden Club; Nationally Accredited Environmental Consultant for the GCG, giving educational talks across the southeast on Butterflies, Wildflowers, Waterfalls of Georgia, Insects, Wildlife, and African Violets; avid Monarch butterfly conservationist; and Co-Chair of the GCG’s Roadside Beautification Program. Elzada was a member of the GCG since 1972, and was a life member of the GCG, the National Garden Club and the African Violet Society of America. She especially loved the family beachfront cottage in Chatham, Cape Cod, MA, her husband’s ancestral home.
Hers was a life of model citizenship, faith, love for her family, love for animals and the environment, and an inherent belief in the goodness of others. Elzada was preceded in death by her father, George Henry Lawson Sr., her mother, the former Beula Bell Porter, her brother, George Henry Lawson Jr. and her sister, Beula Beatrice Smith. She is survived by her husband George Kenneth Ganaway; two daughters, Heather Lea Farthing (Robert) of Ellijay, GA and Erin Elizabeth Ganaway (Gavin Spencer) of Atlanta, GA; and two grandchildren, Collins Kendrick Dunn (Tori) and Elizabeth August Dunn.
There are no plans for a local service. A graveside service for Elzada’s cremains will be held at the family burial site in Chatham, Cape Cod, MA at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Big Canoe Animal Rescue, a no-kill animal rescue and shelter facility located in Big Canoe, GA.
