Assistant principal's funeral set

DEMOREST -- Funeral arrangements have been announced for one of Habersham County's longest-serving school administrators.

The funeral for Karle Fred Maxwell, 51, assistant principal at Hilliard Wilbanks Middle School in Demorest, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest.

Maxwell died Thursday at his Mt. Airy home.

"Everything appears to have been of natural causes," said Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."

"Karle was one of the longest-serving administrators in Habersham County other than Larry Hill," said Robert Costley, Habersham County school superintendent. "He was known for his heart for his students and staff members, and he was more than just an employee."

"He was a dear and longtime friend to many on the Habersham County team," Costley said. "He will be sorely missed by all, and his family is in our prayers. I think it is important that we honor anyone who gave almost three decades of service to children in our community."

Habersham County Board of Education Chairman Robert Barron, who transported Maxwell's children when he drove a school bus, echoed Costley's sentiments.

"I have known Karle for many, many years," Barron said. "I thought the world of him. I know he will be missed so very, very much in the schools and in the community."

Maxwell began work for the school system as assistant principal at Clarkesville Elementary School on Aug. 26, 1986. On Aug. 1, 1996, he became principal of Hazel Grove Elementary.

On Aug. 1, 1998, Maxwell became principal of Baldwin Elementary and remained in that position until last school year.

During the 2010-11 school year, he was assistant principal at North Habersham Middle School. For the current school year, he was serving as an assistant principal at Hilliard Wilbanks Middle School in Demorest.

On Friday, the Habersham County School System utilized its in-house resources to help students and staff cope with the loss.

"To provide grief support for our students and staff, our social workers mobilized counselors from around the system for key schools, specifically Baldwin Elementary and Wilbanks Middle School," Costley said.

Retired Habersham County School Superintendent Dr. Judy Forbes recalled the pride Maxwell took in his school.

"Karle Maxwell was a compassionate person who cared about his staff and his students," Forbes said. "Always very proud of Baldwin where he worked when I was superintendent, he would go out of his way to involve parents in ways that made them feel important. He also instigated a number of special evening activities at his school to draw parents in and help them learn about helping their children at home."

Rhonda Hayes, who was literacy coordinator for Maxwell at Baldwin Elementary, shared the following memory of Maxwell in the form of an online post:

"Dear Karle, I've told you this in person, but as I reflect on our years working together there' s one very fond memory I'd like to post: One of your greatest strengths was working with parents and students when they were struggling with difficult situations. You were a great listener and were able to give great advice straight from your heart that seemed to help parents and students cope with difficulties that they may not have been able to have accepted without your guidance. Thank you for personalizing interventions and offering guidance. Your patience and willingness to share did not go unnoticed."

Forbes remembered Maxwell as more than an administrator.

"Karle was a talented musician and dedicated to his three children and granddaughter," Forbes said. "He always had a smile on his face. I always felt that he would give a friend the shirt off his back if they asked."

"Karle was a good teacher, a good administrator and his passing is going to leave a big hole in our system," Barron said.

See the Obituary page for more.