NELLE ALLISON

Nelle Turner Allison, 98, of Ball Ground and Canton, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2009. A native of Marble Hill, Ms. Allison was the daughter of the late A.J. and Harriett Melinda Turner and was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Ralph L. Allison. She was a member of Canton 1st Baptist. She is survived by her daughter Harriett A. Allison of Winterville, GA, her grandson Simon C. Vining of Seattle, WA, and her sister, Sybil Waites of Atlanta, along with several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Many residents of the Ball Ground area knew Ms. Allison as their school bus driver, and the first woman in Georgia to do so. Beginning in 1939, she and Mr. Allison owned and operated school buses carrying students between Ball Ground and Canton. She also drove the first bookmobile serving Cherokee, Pickens, and Fannin counties. Nelle initiated and participated whole-heartedly in many local and state garden club activities, beginning as a charter member of Anesta Gada Garden Club (1951) and continuing with co-founding the Laurel Garden Club with Dot Douglas (1956). She was a Life member of both the Georgia and National Garden Club organizations. Nelle enjoyed participating in numerous civic organizations including PTA and the Cherokee Historical Society. She also was a talented quilter and cook. Her quilts, pound cake, and fried chicken are fondly remembered by family and friends. Her daughter and grandson express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Winterville Assisted Living and to those at Compassionate Hospice for the sincerely kind and heartfelt attention given her and her daughter during Nelle’s time with them. Funeral services will be on Friday at 2 pm at Darby Huey Funeral Home, Canton, with internment at Sharp Mountain Baptist Cemetery, with Reverend Nathan Brandon officiating. Visitation times are Thursday 2 until 8, and Friday 12 until 1. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Laurel Garden Club UGA Horticultural Scholarship Fund (Marie Woodall, club contact) or to the Reinhardt Scholarship Fund. Caring Staff of Darby Huey Funeral Home In Charge of Arrangements darbyfuneralhome.com

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NELLE ALLISON

November 9, 2009