Mrs. Essie Mae Hood age 90, of Bald View Rd., Young Harris, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2008 in the Chatuge Regional Nursing Home following an extended illness. Mrs. Hood was born on July 9, 1917 in Towns County, the daughter of the late Alfred Allen Kuykendall and the late Maggie Henson Kuykendall. She was a native and lifelong resident of Towns County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Lester Hood in 1945 and also by a son, Johnny Alfred Hood; a grandson, Ricky Shook; a great grandson, Jerrod Shook; brothers, George, Willie *Bunt), Fannin, Author and Harry Kuykendall; sisters, Gustie Silvey, Bertha Nichols, Annie Hughes and Alma Gibson. Mrs. Hood was a member of Old Union Baptist church.

Surviving Mrs. Hood are two sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry D. and Ruth Hood of Young Harris, Buddy and Winona Hood of Cottonwood, ID; Two daughters and sons-in-law, Dorothy and Louie Lusk of Canton, GA, Linda and Hoyt King of Young Harris; one sister, Inez Townsend of Young Harris; nine grandchildren, Tony Hood, Myra Tallent, Rebecca Lusk, Michele Byers, Renee Schamberger, Craig Hood, Stacie Dinning, Derek and Gavin King; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2 p.m. from Cornerstone Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry Williams, Rev. Gavin King officiating. Jerry Hood delivered the eulogy. Special music was presented by Benny and Susan Shook Family. The following gentlemen served as pallbearers, Eugene, Buck, Bill, Tommy, Alfred, Lewis, Bill G. and Ronnie Kuykendall, Odell and Haynes Silvey, Lewis and Frank Hughes, Reggie Townsend, Bill, Wayne and Alvin Gibson. Interment followed in the Old Union Baptist Church Cemetery. Flowers are accepted or in lieu of flowers, if you wish, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation or to Old Union "Old" Cemetery Fund in Mrs. Hood's memory. The family met with friends at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 6-9 p.m.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.