Person Page - 400

     William Reece Bagwell Jr. was born on 18 April 1930 in Beaumont, California.¹ He was the son of William Reece Bagwell and Elizabeth Brewster Manning. In the US Army as a SP4. William Reece Bagwell Jr. married Hazel Weaver circa 1963. William Reece Bagwell Jr. died on 24 June 2007 at age 77.¹ He was buried at Fain Cemetery, Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia.¹

     Verdelle Barton was born on 15 May 1898 in Georgia.¹ As of 23 August 1923,her married name was Bagwell. She married John Willis Bagwell, son of Larkin Obediah Bagwell and Victoria Quarles Dunaway, on 23 August 1923. Verdelle Barton died on 4 April 1997 at age 98.¹ She was buried at Oakland Cemetery, Rome, Floyd County, Georgia.¹

     Reverend Maurice Leland Bagwell was born on 15 November 1924 in Frederick, Tillman County, Oklahoma. He was the son of John Willis Bagwell and Verdelle Barton. Reverend Maurice Leland Bagwell married Alice D. (?) in 1948. Reverend Maurice Leland Bagwell died on 2 September 2017 in Georgia at age 92
September 2, Leland Bagwell completed his lifelong task of guiding people to Christ by his ministry and, more importantly, by his personal example. Surviving difficult heart surgery in his sixties, he was given a lease on life that spanned 31 additional years by the time of his death at 92. His unstoppable commitment to humbly serving and loving those he came into daily contact with only grew with his advancing years as he retired and returned to the farm life he so loved as a young man.

Leland was born in Frederick, Oklahoma to parents who had migrated there from North Georgia in the early twenties. The family moved back to Georgia shortly before the Great Depression to a small farm just north of Rome. One of his fondest childhood memories was getting his first drink of Coca-Cola at age 5 compliments of a favorite uncle, whose father soon chastised him profusely for having introduced Leland to such a sin.

Gifted with an intense curiosity and desire to excel, Leland graduated at the head of his high school class in 1941. His college career ended abruptly when his father contracted tuberculosis. Without complaint, Leland returned immediately to the farm and assumed management of the family dairy. His future again was transformed when a beautiful young girl on his city milk route caught his eye, and Alice became his bride in 1948. She would ultimately become his spiritual partner as well, when, ten years later, Leland heard the voice of God calling him to the ministry early one morning, as he sat in the barn stall milking a cow.

Without hesitation, but with the enthusiastic blessing of Alice who would have to support the family through his preparation for the pulpit, Leland returned to college at age 33. He completed seminary at Atlanta’s Candler School of Theology. Quiet and shy, it took the gift of a Dale Carnegie course from a friend to give Leland the courage to stand before a group and speak without fear. His self-assurance grew as he gained a deeper understanding of God’s grace--and gave him the wisdom he needed to gently bring others into a meaningful relationship with Christ through his counsel and his example.

Leland’s first church wasn’t a church at all--just an old house with the interior walls removed at one end to form a rudimentary sanctuary with folding chairs and a podium he built himself. More than 50 years later, Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church in Tucker, GA is a thriving, vital fellowship of some 500 believers. Successive appointments included Hephzibah/Blythe UMC in Hephzibah and Blythe, GA; Augusta’s Pierce Memorial UMC; Jefferson UMC; Cleveland UMC (a favorite locale to which he and Alice later retired); and North Rome UMC (the church in which he and Alice were married.) Ever the farmer, Leland had a tradition of planting grape vines in the back yard of every parsonage the family occupied. These became a biblical metaphor for the souls he would grow into the rich spiritual harvest he leaves behind.

Leland is survived by his brother John (Margaret); nephews Charles (Margaret) and Irwin (Susan) Bagwell; his children David (Yvonne), Don (Mary Margaret) and Julia Tyson (Marshall); grandchildren Ann Marie Lingerfelt (Brent), Leigh Scroggs (Jacob), Natalie Johnson (Ashley) and Abby Tyson; and three great-grandchildren. As a memorial to Leland’s spiritual mission, the family asks that gifts be made to Cleveland United Methodist Church Legacy Fund, 112 E. Kytle St., Cleveland GA 30528.

     John Willis Bagwell Jr. was born on 18 March 1930 in Floyd County, Georgia. He was the son of John Willis Bagwell and Verdelle Barton. John Willis Bagwell Jr. married Margaret Wallace Schilling on 1 June 1958 at South Broad Methodist Church, Rome, Georgia. John Willis Bagwell Jr. died on 17 February 2020 in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia, at age 89. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery, Rome, Floyd County, Georgia.

     William Frederick Scoggins married Cornietha Addeline Bagwell, daughter of Larkin Obediah Bagwell and Victoria Quarles Dunaway, before 1912.

     Robert "Bob" Findlay married Jessie Beatrice Bagwell, daughter of John Marion Bagwell and Jettie Beatrice Switzer, circa 1938.¹ Robert "Bob" Findlay died in August 2000.¹

     Thomas Benton Smith Sr. was born on 20 May 1884 in North Carolina. He married Sadie Elizabeth Bagwell, daughter of Hardy (Hardie) Bryant Bagwell and Ella Smith, before 1913. Thomas Benton Smith Sr. died on 9 April 1971 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, at age 86.

     Craighead Lentz Barnhardt married Daisy Elizabeth Bagwell, daughter of Hardy (Hardie) Bryant Bagwell and Ella Smith, after 1920.

     Butrow Bryant Bagwell was born on 26 October 1905 in Wake County, North Carolina. He was the son of Hardy (Hardie) Bryant Bagwell and Ella Smith. Butrow Bryant Bagwell married Mary Lee Critcher on 28 April 1927 at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raliegh, Wake County, North Carolina. He was in the US Army Corp of Engineers. Butrow Bryant Bagwell died in July 1967 at age 61. He was buried at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Bretnwood, Price George's County, Maryland.

     Nora Bond was born on 11 May 1885 in Georgia.¹ She married Leonard Rice Bagwell, son of James Emory Bagwell and Mary M. Duncan, before 1908. Nora Bond died on 31 October 1962 in Hart County, Georgia, at age 77.¹ She was buried at Holly Springs Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Flora Neil Bagwell was born on 16 November 1908 in Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of Leonard Rice Bagwell and Nora Bond. Flora Neil Bagwell died on 21 March 2000 in Elbert County, Georgia, at age 91.¹ She was buried at Holly Springs Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Nina Lee Bagwell was born on 4 January 1914.¹ She was the daughter of Leonard Rice Bagwell and Nora Bond. Nina Lee Bagwell died on 1 January 2000 at age 85.¹ She was buried at Holly Springs Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Infant Male Bagwell died on 4 December 1920 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ He was buried on 4 December 1920 at Holly Springs Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹ He was born on 4 December 1920 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of Leonard Rice Bagwell and Nora Bond.

     Bessie Richey was born on 5 October 1886.¹ As of 6 December 1909,her married name was Bagwell.² She married Earlie Franklin Bagwell, son of James Emory Bagwell and Mary M. Duncan, on 6 December 1909 at Hart, Georgia.² Bessie Richey died on 24 July 1919 at age 32.¹ She was buried at Holly Springs Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Hart County, Georgia.¹

     Charles Mac Bagwell was also known as Mack Charles Bagwell.¹ He was born on 31 October 1921 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of James Callie Bagwell and Bertie Eva Pruitt.¹ He enlisted in the US Army during World War II at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia. Charles Mac Bagwell married Betty Rice on 13 November 1943 at Hart County, Georgia.¹ Charles Mac Bagwell died on 5 June 1982 in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, at age 60.¹ He was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, Franklin County, Georgia.

     Ina Emma Bagwell was born on 17 March 1923 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ She was the daughter of James Callie Bagwell and Bertie Eva Pruitt. Ina Emma Bagwell was unmarried.¹ She died on 26 April 2009 in Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia, at age 86.¹ She was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, Franklin County, Georgia.¹

     Ralph Pruitt Bagwell was born on 14 July 1925 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of James Callie Bagwell and Bertie Eva Pruitt. Ralph Pruitt Bagwell died on 24 May 1960 in Royston, Franklin County, Georgia, at age 34.¹ He was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, Franklin County, Georgia.¹

     Joe Hoyt Bagwell was born on 21 June 1927 in Hart County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of James Callie Bagwell and Bertie Eva Pruitt. Joe Hoyt Bagwell married Mary Frances Suit on 30 December 1950. Joe Hoyt Bagwell died on 9 June 1987 in Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia, at age 59.¹ He was buried at Nancy Hart Memorial Park, Hartwell, Hart County, Georgia.¹

     Jonathan Lester Bagwell was also known as John Lester Bagwell. He was born on 17 December 1876 in Elbert County, Georgia.¹ He was the son of Martin VanBuren Bagwell and Sara Emily Nelms. Jonathan Lester Bagwell married Turner Idelia Colvard on 16 August 1896 at Elbert County, Georgia. Jonathan Lester Bagwell died on 25 January 1936 in Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia, at age 59.¹ He was buried on 27 January 1936 at Hillcrest Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Turner Idelia Colvard was born on 26 January 1878 in Elbert County, Georgia.¹ As of 16 August 1896,her married name was Bagwell. She married Jonathan Lester Bagwell, son of Martin VanBuren Bagwell and Sara Emily Nelms, on 16 August 1896 at Elbert County, Georgia. Turner Idelia Colvard died on 1 November 1943 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, at age 65.¹ She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     John Royce Bagwell was also known as Royce Bagwell. He was born on 16 August 1897.¹ He was the son of Jonathan Lester Bagwell and Turner Idelia Colvard. John Royce Bagwell married Rozelle Margaret Gaines after 1915. John Royce Bagwell died on 24 September 1963 in Elbert County, Georgia, at age 66.¹ He was buried at Hillcrest Baptist Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Rozelle Margaret Gaines was born on 4 July 1900 in Elbert County, Georgia.¹ She married John Royce Bagwell, son of Jonathan Lester Bagwell and Turner Idelia Colvard, after 1915. Rozelle Margaret Gaines died on 2 January 1988 in Franklin County, Georgia, at age 87.¹ She was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bowman, Elbert County, Georgia.¹

     Loraine Ossie Bagwell is the daughter of John Royce Bagwell and Rozelle Margaret Gaines. Loraine Ossie Bagwell married Claude Wendall Reed on 4 April 1942 at Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

     Virginia Bagwell is the daughter of John Royce Bagwell and Rozelle Margaret Gaines.

     Jane Bagwell is the daughter of John Royce Bagwell and Rozelle Margaret Gaines. Jane Bagwell married (?) Seymour after 1945.

     Madeline Rozelle Bagwell was born on 5 January 1925 in Elbert County, Georgia. She was the daughter of John Royce Bagwell and Rozelle Margaret Gaines. As of after 1940,her married name was Seymour. Madeline Rozelle Bagwell married Howard Travis Seymour after 1940. Madeline Rozelle Bagwell died on 14 February 2005 in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia, at age 80.

     John Frank Bagwell was born circa 1928 in Georgia. He was the son of John Royce Bagwell and Rozelle Margaret Gaines. John Frank Bagwell married Jean Marie Young circa 1948. He was a Korean War veteran. John Frank Bagwell died on 8 December 2005 in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia.¹

     Mary Hazel Stephens was born on 2 December 1922 in Cornelia, Habersham County, Georgia. She married (?) Howell after 1939. As of after 1940,her married name was Bagwell. Mary Hazel Stephens married John Earle Bagwell Jr., son of John Earl Bagwell and Vincie Lee Keller, after 1940. Mary Hazel Stephens died on 20 October 2021 in Cornelia, Georgia, at age 98


Mary Hazel Stephens Bagwell, 98, widow of John Earl Bagwell, Jr., passed away October 20, 2021.

A native of Cornelia, GA, daughter of the late Floyd Bush and Emma Farmer Stephens, she was retired from Steel Heddle, a caregiver and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are three sons, Don Howell of Laurens; Steve Bagwell (Kim) of Taylors; Rick Bagwell (Teresa) of Greer; one daughter,' Jane Bagwell Schneider (Frank) of Taylors; on daughter-in-law, Janice of Greer; ten grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Mrs. Bagwell was predeceased by one son, Tim Howell, three brothers and six sisters.

Funeral services will be held 4:00 PM Monday, October 25, 2021, at The Wood Mortuary Chapel. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memory Gardens.

The Wood Mortuary, Greer, SC.


She was buried on 25 October 2021 at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Greer, Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

     Jane Bagwell is the daughter of John Earle Bagwell Jr. and Mary Hazel Stephens. Jane Bagwell married (?) Jones after 1966. Jane Bagwell married Frank Schneider after 1966.

     Steve Bagwell is the son of John Earle Bagwell Jr. and Mary Hazel Stephens. Steve Bagwell married Kim (?) after 1965.