Obituaries: Funeral Arrangements Have Been Made for Clara Belle Reed, Ralph Gifford and Blanche Threet

(Editor's note: the following information was provided by Tom Wages Funeral Service, LLC.)

Clara Belle Reed, age 85 and of Lawrenceville, passed away Sunday night, July 30, 2012, from a long illness with her lungs. 

She was born May 10, 1927 in Carnesville, Ga.  She is survived by her son, Edward Wallace Reed of Lawrenceville; granddaughter, Ana Ashton Reed of Loganville; grandsons, Josh Cook of Hollywood, CA and Clay Cook of Nashville, TN; sister, Betty LaPrade of Cornelia, GA; brothers, Thomas Norton of Demorest, GA and Joe Norton of Eastanollee, GA. 

A Funeral Service Celebrating the life of Clara Belle Reed will be held Wednesday, August 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel with Pastor Dan Reiland and Pastor Danny Reed officiating.  Interment will be held at Franklin Memorial Park, Lavonia, Ga. 

The family will receive friends Wednesday from noon until service time, at the funeral home.  

Ralph P. Gifford, age 92 and of Snellville, passed away Friday, July 27, 2012. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mildred Gifford; brother, William Gifford, Jr.; and sister, Helen Stanley. He is survived by his sons, Ralph P. Gifford, Jr. and his wife Betty F., and William “Al” Gifford and his wife Mary Lou; 6 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service to Celebrate the life of Ralph P. Gifford will be held at a later date. 

Blanche Evelyn Threet formerly of Egg Harbor Twp and Linwood, New Jersey and Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Blanche was born in Philadelphia on August 15, 1918, a daughter of the late Helena and Rosco St. Elmo Turner. She was preceded in death by her first husband Harry Charles Schweinhart of 36 years and her second husband Robert Threet of 12 years.  She was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold and George and her sisters, Ruth and Mildred. 

Blanche could have inspired the Antique Road Show. She loved buying, selling and restoring antiques. It was a life-long passion. She was a kind and generous person who enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood to all who would gather and cheer her on.

She was known to say, "Children keep you young.” This is why she loved her family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Blanche lived her life to the fullest. 

Blanche is survived by her loving daughters Gail and her husband Fred Rick Howell, South Carolina and Janet and her husband Charles Heim, Pennsylvania; her grandchildren Richard Jeffries, New Jersey; Gary Jeffries and wife Tammy, Florida; Rev. Jill and husband Rev. Matt Henning, with whom Blanche resided, Georgia; Karen and husband Michael Bains, California; Michele and husband Tom Webb, New Jersey; Deborah and husband Russell Bouffard, Pennsylvania; Charles and wife Yesenia Heim, New Jersey; Scott and wife Wendy Heim, Utah; Erin and husband Lance Summerson, New Jersey; Elisabeth and husband Philip Cason, New Jersey; Richard, Christina, Samuel, Madeline, Hannah and Sarah Heim, Pennsylvania; Kimberly Todd, New Jersey; Melissa Swartz, New Jersey; Mark and wife Christine Threet and 24 great grandchildren. 

Blanche will be missed by her family and friends who knew her and loved her.  Her service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 11 E. Dawes Ave., Somers Point, New Jersey on July 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM.  She will be laid to rest on August 1, 2012 in the Memory Gardens, Ephrata, Pennsylvania at 11:30 AM. Memorials may be made in her honor to: Susan G. Komen For The Cure Low Country 2914 Marshall Blvd Sullivans Island, SC 29482. 

Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, A Family Company, Snellville Chapel 770-979-3200, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.