The Fallen Heroes of Forsyth County

This Memorial Day, we honor the young men of Forsyth County who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States of America and in defense of freedom.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

This article is by no means a comprehensive list of veterans from Forsyth County who were killed in action while serving their country. There are undoubtedly many more service members from, or connected to, Forsyth County who gave their lives in defense of freedom. We are grateful to the historians, journalists, families, and loved ones who have documented and shared these stories so that we, and future generations, may honor and preserve the memory of these fathers, brothers, husbands, sons, and cherished members of our community.

War on Terror

Matthew Britten Phillips

1981-2008

U.S. Army Cpl. Matthew Britten Phillips, age 27, of Cumming died Sunday, July 13, 2008, while serving at a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province. He was one of nine soldiers killed that day, just days before his unit was scheduled to leave the base.

Phillips served with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. His honors included the Bronze Star Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star.

Born April 13, 1981, in Florence, Alabama, Phillips was survived by his wife, Eve Lamb Phillips; his father and stepmother, Michael Britten and Ellen Phillips; his sister, Mary Phillips Nix; and extended family.

Source: Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory.

World War II

John Edd Bolden

1915-1945

John Edd Bolden was born in the Brandywine community of Forsyth County in 1915, the son of Grady and Minnie Pruitt Bolden. In 1936 he married Willie, and by 1944 they had five children. He worked at the Atlanta Biscuit Company and moved his family to Atlanta before entering the Marine Corps in early 1944.

Bolden was sent to the Pacific Theater and later took part in the invasion of Okinawa. He was killed on May 15, 1945, during the height of that battle. He is interred in a military cemetery in Hawaii.

Source: Forsyth County, Georgia Heritage 1832-2011.

Thad P. Hester Jr.

1924-1943

Forsyth County native Irene Era Evans married Private First Class Thad P. Hester Jr. on August 7, 1943. Just a few days later, Hester shipped off to war. Irene was 20 years old.

Hester was killed on November 29, 1943, on an Italian battlefield. His young widow later remarried, raised a family, and became a grandmother, but she never forgot him. Her family remembered that she kept flowers on his grave until her death 53 years later. She also preserved his Purple Heart, a lasting memento of the loss she carried.

Source: Forsyth County, Georgia Heritage 1832-2011.

Dewitt Jones

1920-1943

Dewitt Jones was born in Forsyth County on April 19, 1920, to Homer and Lou Jones. He grew up in the Brandywine community with his brothers and sisters: William, Minnie, Lebron, Henry, Winnie, James, and Mary.

Jones enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 17, 1941, in Forsyth County and served as an infantryman. He was killed in action in New Guinea in 1943 during World War II. He is buried in Midway United Methodist Church Cemetery near his parents.

Sources: Forsyth County, Georgia Heritage 1832-2011; Forsyth County News, November 16, 1944.

Furman Lee Pendley

1913-1944

Furman Lee Pendley was born January 23, 1913, to Dan and Arletha Pendley. He grew up on a farm in northern Forsyth County, married Martha Harrison, and had five children: Martha Lee, Harold, Dan, Randall, and Nancy.

Pendley entered the Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta and completed basic training at Fort Hood, Texas. He left for Germany on April 28, 1944, Nancy's first birthday. He was killed in action on November 23, 1944. His brother Guy also fought in the same area.

Family history remembered Pendley as a father who loved his children and sent home mementos such as maps, codes, and postcards from the places where he was stationed. He did not live to know his 12 grandchildren or 19 great-grandchildren. Two of his sons later served in the armed forces, as did three of his grandsons.

Sources: Forsyth County, Georgia Heritage 1832-2011; Forsyth County News, December 21, 1944.

James L. Terry

1921-1944

Pvt. James L. Terry, age 23, served with the Ninth Infantry, Second Division. Terry was killed in action in France on June 22, 1944.

Before entering service, Terry lived with his parents near Suwanee. He trained at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, and Camp McCoy in Wisconsin. He entered service on September 28, 1942, and had been overseas since October 1943.

He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Terry; six sisters, Mrs. Jesse E. Nunn, Mrs. C. W. Baugh, Mrs. Cleo Bennett, Catherine Terry, Dorothy Terry, and Beatrice Terry; and three brothers, B. C. Terry, Harry Terry, and M. O. Terry Jr., who was serving with the U.S. Navy overseas.

Source: Forsyth County News, August 3, 1944.

Glen G. Gazaway

1921-1945

Pfc. Glen G. Gazaway was killed in action on February 25, 1945. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Gazaway; three sisters, Mrs. G. T. Adkins, Mrs. Overine Johnson, and Miss Willie Gazaway; two brothers, Radford Gazaway and Pfc. Agbert Gazaway, who was then hospitalized in England; and his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Burgess of Suwanee Route One.

Source: Forsyth County News, April 5, 1945.

James W. Martin

Birth year unknown-1944

Pvt. James W. Martin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Martin and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Smith and Mr. Al Martin, was killed in action in France on July 3, 1944.

Source: Memorial research notes.

Herbert Clay Willard

1913-1944

Herbert Clay Willard, the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Willard, was killed in Italy on May 12, 1944. His brother Buell Willard later wrote a memorial poem for him.

Forsyth County News memorial clipping for Herbert Clay Willard. — Herbert Clay Willard memorial notice | Forsyth County News

Sleep on Clay and rest,
we all loved you but God loved you best.
So suddenly came the call
Your death surprised us all
A sudden change in a moment fell
Without a chance to say farewell
Lonely stars shine over the grave
Of the one we loved but could not save.
No one knows our sorrow,
no one sees us weep,
we shed our tears from aching hearts
while others are asleep.
God alone knows how we miss Clay,
his memories will never fade.
Our thoughts will always wander
to the spot where he is laid,
out of this world of pain and sorrow
into a land of peace and rest.
God took you there dear Brother
where you could find eternal rest.

Sources: Forsyth County News, October 5, 1944; Forsyth County News, May 9, 1946.

Homer Harold White

1919-1945

Homer Harold White was killed in action on Okinawa on April 22, 1945. The next year, his sister Ruby White Hughes shared a poem in his memory.

Forsyth County News memorial clipping for Homer Harold White. — Homer Harold White memorial poem | Forsyth County News

In a grave yard on Okinawa softly sleeping,
Where no flowers gently wave
Lives our own dear brother,
in his silent lonely grave;
More and more each day we miss him
Since he left us and went away;
But our memory will be of him,
Till we meet again some day.
You shall never be forgotten
Never from our memory fade;
Our lonely hearts will always linger
Round the grave where you are laid
We often sit and think of you,
And think of how you died
To think you could not say goodbye
Before you closed your eyes.
No one knows our longing,
And no one sees us weep;
We shed our tears from aching hearts.
While others are fast asleep.

Sources: Forsyth County News, July 5, 1945; Forsyth County News, April 18, 1946.

World War I

Ernest D. Bannister

1893-1918

Pvt. Ernest D. Bannister was born January 23, 1893. He entered service in April 1918 and was stationed at Camp Gordon in Atlanta. He was attached to Company M, 327th Infantry, 82nd Division, and embarked for overseas service. He was killed while on guard duty at Ladney, France, on July 20, 1918.

Forsyth County News clipping about Ernest D. Bannister. — Forsyth County News notice on Ernest D. Bannister, August 9, 1918

E. D. Bannister of Route 8 was the first Forsyth County man to lose his life on the battlefield in World War I. His body was returned to Forsyth County almost three years later and buried at Concord Baptist Church in 1921.

Sources: Forsyth County News, August 9, 1918; Forsyth County History Stories by Annette Bramblett; Forsyth County News, April 13, 1986.

Benjamin Grady Corn

1893-1918

Pvt. Benjamin Grady Corn was born April 29, 1893. A Forsyth County farmer, he entered service in December 1917 and was attached to Headquarters Company, 307th Engineers. His service lasted scarcely a month before he contracted measles, followed by pneumonia. He died at the Camp Gordon hospital on January 28, 1918, and was laid to rest in the Concord Baptist Church cemetery.