We honor here members, friends and supporters of the American Council of the Blind who have impacted our lives in many wonderful ways. If you would like to submit a notice for this column, please include as much of the following information as possible.
Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
City of residence (upon passing)
State/province of residence (upon passing)
Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person)
Occupation
Date of death (day if known, month, year)
Age
ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees)
Deaths that occurred more than six months ago cannot be reported in this column.
Ben Manley Jr.
Ben Manley Jr., 60, of Shambley, Ga., died July 27, 2015. He had been in the hospital with a blood clot in one of his legs and appeared to be doing better. According to his wife, Amy Schwab, he was about to be released when he suffered a massive heart attack. He was a 1973 graduate of the Georgia Academy for the Blind. At press time, plans for a memorial service in Atlanta were still in the works. Contact the Neptune Society, (404) 351- 3526, for information.
Robin Charlene Walker
Feb. 12, 1956 – Aug. 7, 2015
Robin Walker, 59, of Stone Mountain, Ga., passed away Aug. 7, 2015. Robin had recently retired from the IRS office in Atlanta after 30 years of service. She was a pleasant, happy, sweet woman with a pleasant personality. Because of her limited eyesight, she was a braille reader who enjoyed doing her own yard work. She was a graduate of the Georgia Academy for the Blind, and attended her first alumni meeting this year. She really enjoyed catching up with other GAB graduates. Meals at Joy’s Country Cooking were among her favorites. A memorial service was held Aug. 15 at Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory-South Dekalb Chapel in Decatur, Ga.
Johnny Lafayette Wilson
Johnny Lafayette Wilson, 82, passed away July 15, 2015, due to complications from a stroke. He was born in Gainesville, Ga., and attended the Georgia Academy of the Blind, Georgia State University, and Atlanta Law School. He is a longtime piano technician, food service entrepreneur, and advocate for the blind. He loved visiting family and friends, woodworking, and reading tales of the Old West. He is survived by his wife, Winona, of 43 years; son and daughter-in-law, John and Mireille Wilson of Valencia, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Chris Barrios of Stephens City, Va.; and grandchildren, Kayleigh, Connor, and Carys Barrios; sister and brother-in-law, Juanita and Melvin Boyd of Gainesville, Ga.; brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Dixie Wilson of Lawrenceville, Ga.; sister, Dianne Cross of Cleveland, Ga. and numerous nephews and nieces. He was a joyful friend to all. No services are planned.