Atkinson County GaArchives Obituaries.....McCranie III, George Flowere May 7, 2014 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley McMillan Durden http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006039 April 30, 2022, 9:15 am Atkinson County Citizen - May 21, 2014 George Flowers McCranie, III, 93, of Willacoochee died May 7, 2014, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, GA from complications of a stroke. He was born in Willacoochee on November 13, 1920, to the late George Flowers McCranie, Jr. and Margaret Ellen (Madge) Baker McCranie. He was a life long resident of Willacoochee. He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter and his brother, Baker McCranie. He graduated from Willacoochee High School in 1938. His graduating class consisted of three boys, including him, and three girls. He attended Gordon Military College in Barnesville and South Georgia College in Douglas. He was a World War II United States Army veteran. He was a prominent naval stores operator, tree farmer, and businessman. He was the middle McCranie brother, who as teenagers built McCranie Turpentine Still in 1936. The turpentine still is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The brothers took turns working in order to send one another to college. He and his brothers, Baker and Shasta, were in a business partnership for 78 years. Together they owned and operated McCranie Turpentine Still, McCranie Brothers Wood Preserving, and McCranie Brother Farms. He served his community as a member of the Willacoochee City Council, was an Atkinson County School Board member for 26 years, and was a founding member of the Atkinson County Housing Authority where he served for 58 years. He was an honorary member of the Georgia Young Farmers Association. He and his wife enjoyed showing of their dancing skills at annual conventions. He was a lifelong traveler. When he was 13, he and his family traveled to Chicago, IL, to the 1933 World’s Fair. He and his brothers were given 75 cents a day to take in the attractions. He went to Europe numerous times. His favorite trip was to Venice and Florence, Italy, where he visited the burial site of his best friend, Thurston Ivey, at the World War II Italian-American Cemetery outside Florence. He visited every state in the union and sailed through the Panama Canal. He, his son, Greg, and friend, James Carter, traveled to the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969. He was a licensed pilot, boater, and last but not least, an animal lover. He always fed the birds and squirrels and taught his horse to chew tobacco. He enjoyed raising donkeys, too. He entertained his children by telling them stories about growing up in Willacoochee and his childhood friend named Umphredus McRafus Paul Barnes, Jr. He was quite the storyteller. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Imogene Purvis McCranie; daughter, Katherine Elneita McCranie of Willacoochee; sons, George Flowers McCranie, IV, and wife, Danielle, of Willacoochee, Steve Chapman, Sr., and wife, Marie, and Greg Chapman, all of Ashburn; six grandchildren, Steven Chapman, Jr., Jennifer Chalon, Duane Chapman, Ben Chapman, Margaret Ellen (Madge) McCranie, and Alexandria Bowen, nine great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held May 10 at 11 a.m. at the McCranie Turpentine Still with John Lindsey officiating. Bagpiper, Phillip McDevitt, of Warner Robins played various selections, including “Amazing Grace” and “Taps”. Fred Paulk on harmonica, accompanied by D.Q. Pittman on the guitar, played “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Beyond the Sunset,” and “Where the Soul Never Died,” Interment was in McCranie Cemetery in Willacoochee. Pallbearers were Ryan McCranie, Dr. Henry Sheffield, Ben Chapman, Dr. Clint Sheffield, Trebor Gaskins, Tate Hodges, Trevor Carter. Honorary pallbearers were Quinton Dillingham, Lt. Col. Charles Boatwright, Ret. Jim McCranie, Bill McCranie, Slade Cranie, Judson McCranie, Gen. John R. Paulk Ret., Lucious Jacobs, Danny Hodges, Michael Purvis, Fred Paulk, James Carter, Edwin Davis, Sr., Marvin Giddens, Jimmy McCrea, J.Q. McMillan, Jimmy Gaskins, James Moore, Sid Strickland, J.B. Olliff, John Boatwright, Garland Thompson, Lace Futch, Warren Paulk, Charlie Bray, Jim Mills, Ray Shealey, Mike Tucker, Jackie Merritt, Monk Reliford, Donnie Smith, Jimmy Metts, Harry Brown. Relihan Funeral Home of Pearson was in charge of arrangements. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/atkinson/obits/m/mccranie6251nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb