Ethel H. Vaughn

She left this earth on the same day she entered 88 years ago. Born in Stephens County, GA on November 30, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Lee and Ila Sosebee Hallford. Ethel was a graduate of Eastanollee High School. She met and married her husband, Benjamin Copeland Vaughn in June of 1948. In 1965 she and Ben moved their family to Athens to join her sister and brother-in-law in the restaurant business. Ethel and Ben worked side by side for forty plus years, first as co-owners then as sole owners of the Mayflower Restaurant located in downtown Athens. She loved meeting all the different people who graced her luncheon counter throughout the years. Even in her later years, you could still find her sitting at the counter wrapping silver. Every evening Ethel would sit and read her Bible, having read it through in its entirety three times. Ethel poured herself into her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her most favorite thing was to spend time sharing life with them.

Ethel was preceded in death by her siblings, Clarence Hallford, Paul Hallford, Rubalee Hallford, Lucille Payne, Bill Hallford, Ollie Richardson, Ross Hallford and Rhuel Hallford.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years; two sons, Ricky (Lisa) Vaughn and Randy (Debbie) Vaughn; four grandchildren, Nicole (Christopher) Broome, Richard (Jackie) Vaughn, Katherine (Spencer) Crane and Victoria (Matthew) Farmer; twelve great-grandchildren, Harrison, Addie Kate, McKenna, Juda and MeiLyn Broome; Hannah and Evan Vaughn; Ellie, Copeland and Spencer Jr. Crane; Cohen and Emerson Farmer; one sister, Betty Cobb; several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 4 from 5-7 p.m. at Bernstein Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held Monday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Park in Athens, GA.

Flowers are welcome or a donation in Ethel’s memory can be made to Free to Breathe at www.freetobreathe.org for lung cancer research.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.