Georgia: Decatur County: Obituary of Dr. Gordon Chason 14 March 1974 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Brenda King McNair Bmcnair614@aol.com ==================================================================== Services Sunday for Dr. Gordon Chason Funeral services were held at four last Sunday afternoon, March 9, at the First Baptist Church in this city, for Dr. Gordon Chason, who passed away at Memorial Hospital, the day after his 98th birthday. Dr. Chason was born in Decatur County, west of Spring Creek, on March 8, 1876, (now Seminole County) and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Chason, pioneer citizens of Decatur County. The deceased went to school in Bainbridge for a short time, and then attended Mercer University in Macon, graduating in the class of 1898. He attended the University of Louisville Medical School, and graduated from that institution in 1901. He came to Bainbridge to begin practice with his brother, the late Dr. Jeff D. Chason. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity in College. Dr. Chason was an eminent physician and surgeon in Bainbridge for approximately 60 years. He and his brother, Dr. J. D. Chason, established and constructed the Riverside Hospital in 1918, and he operated it from that date until the institution closed in 1960. The Riverside Hospital and the clinic of Chason, Wheat, & Wilkinson, were among the first in this area to furnish adequate hospital service and care to the people of this area of Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Dr. Chason was active in the religious life of Bainbridge. He was a life Deacon of the First Baptist Church. He served for four terms on the City Council, and several terms as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bainbridge Schools. At the time the Bainbridge High School was constructed in 1912 (now Central Elementary) he served both as a member of the City Council and as member of the Board of Trustees. In 1905 he was married to the former Miss Mary Estella Kornegay of MT. Olive, N. C., and this union was a devoted one for 50 years. Mrs. Chason passed away in 1955. The deceased was active in business, and served for many years on the Board of Directors of the First State National Bank. He was also interested in the growing of timber and the production of cattle. In, 1966, the occasion being his 90th birthday, he was honored by the Decatur-Seminole Counties Medical Association with a reception at Bainbridge Memorial Hospital. Friends and former patients came to see him in large numbers to shake his hand, chat with him and pay him homage. He was a member of the Decatur-Seminole Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, a Charter and Life member of the Southern Medical Association and a member of the American Medical Association. Services were conducted by the Reverend Keith Hill, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and the Reverend Richard Davis, Pastor of the First Baptist Church. Interment was in the Oak City Cemetery with Cox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The deceased is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Cornelia Chason Miller, of this city; two grandchildren, Dr. Gordon Chason Miller of Columbus, Ga., and Mrs. Charles W. Beggerow of Kingsport, Tenn., also survive him. Active pallbearers were: John Grimsley, Jr., James Penny, George Daniels, Bruce Kirbo, J. C. Strickland and Idus Lynn. Honorary pallbearers were: Decatur-Seminole Medical Association, and also Ramsey Simmons, Sr., E. J. Perry, Jr., Clarke Gurley, Owen Fields, J. U. Grimsley, Sr., Maston O'Neal and Herbert Nussbaum. Source: Volume 68, No. 11 Thursday, 14 March 1974. Front Page & page 12-A. The Post - Searchlight, Bainbridge, Decatur County, Georgia. A wonderful heritage Dr. Gordon Chason, pioneer citizen of Decatur County, eminent physician and surgeon, civic and educational leader, prominent businessman, banker and farmer, celebrated his 98th birthday last Friday, March 8. He was called to his reward early Saturday morning, March 9, and our community and county lost one of her most respected, dedicated, public-spirited and distinguished native sons. Dr. Chason was born in Decatur County, now Seminole, in 1876, and for more than 60 years he literally "touched the lives" of more people in this area than any other man in our history. He began the practice of medicine in Bainbridge as an associate of his brother, the late Dr. J. D. Chason, shortly after the turn of the century, and these two doctors were responsible for the building of the Riverside Hospital, along with the late Dr. R. F. Wheat, who married Miss Alice Chason, daughter of Dr. J. D. Chason. Riverside Hospital was opened in 1918, and shortly after the end of World War I, the late Dr. W. L. Wilkinson, who also married Miss Julia Chason, joined the medical team at Riverside to make it Chason, Wheat and Wilkinson. Dr. Chason was kind, gentle and quiet, and his very presence in a sick room was of therapeutic value to his thousands of patients. He spoke with a soft voice, and he brought hope and confidence to those he attended. Eight years ago, 1966, the occasion being his 90th birthday, the doctors of the Decatur - Seminole Medical Association gave him a reception at Memorial Hospital here. Hundreds of friends, both former patients and medical colleagues, came to pay him tribute and homage. Dr. Chason made the decision to retire many years before his patients would let him do so. Most of them knew he had retired, but they came to his home to consult him, and ask his opinion as to what they should do. Dr. Gordon Chason's family were among the earliest pioneers of Decatur and Seminole counties. His father, Reuben Chason, was born near the present site of Telogia, Florida in 1806. Counting back in time, this was before Decatur County was created. It was before the War of 1812. It was while Florida was still Spanish territory. His birth place was in a land inhabited by Indians, some friendly and some hostile. Dr. Chason and the members of his family were true pioneers in this area, and the good doctor, the last member of a large family of brothers and sisters, was a pioneer in medical service to several generations of Decatur Countians. He leaves a wonderful heritage behind him, and he leaves also a grandson, Dr. Gordon Chason Miller, to carry on in his memory. Source: Volume 68, No. 11 Thursday, 14 March 1974. Page 4-A. The Post - Searchlight, Bainbridge, Decatur County, Georgia. ______________________________________________________________________ Our historical scrapbook ........ tales from our heritage edited by Maston O'Neal There are at least two Children of the Confederacy living in Decatur County --- perhaps more, but I know of two. I regret that my evidence is misplaced. About twenty-five years ago, while thumbing through old newspapers of the previous century, I ran across a news item that stated a chapter of the United Daughters of 1812was being formed in the county. It mentioned that the organizational meeting was held at Mrs. So and So's house and that Mrs. What's her name was elected president. It listed the other original officers, told what refreshments were served, and closed with the statement that Decatur County was proud to have one veteran of the War of 1812 still living in our midst. He was Reuben Chason, who served as a drummer boy. I cannot remember the date of the newspaper. Looking for it again will be like looking for the proverbial "Needle in the haystack," but it was sometime close to 1880. Remembering that I had heard that Dr. Gordon Chason, Dr. Jeff Chason and their many other brothers and sisters were the children of Reuben Chason, I wondered if this could possibly refer to their father, or if there had been another Reuben Chason living in the county. When I asked my father he said that he and Dr. Gordon Chason grew up together as school mates and that he had never heard of any other Reuben Chason. In the Spring of 1952 shortly before my father died Dr. Chason made a professional call and thereafter sat around talking as old friends will surely do. After a while I asked Dr. Chason if he knew whether his father was a drummer boy in the War of 1812. He thought for a little while, characteristically taking a few moments to answer, and then said, "I really do not know. My father was born in 1806 about nine miles east of Telogia, Florida. He was seventy years old when I was born." Taking into account the fact that the war did not end until January 1815, and in view of the newspaper item, the chances are good that his father, indeed was a drummer boy or mascot around a military encampment at the age of eight or nine. At any rate, as widely beloved and highly respected doctor died last week the day after his 98th birthday, we mourn his passing and marvel at this present day connection with that long ago period of history. We also take note of the fact that our civilization here in Decatur County is not so old after all, as civilizations go. Source: Our historical scrapbook ....... tales from our heritage edited by Maston O'Neal. Volume 68, No. 11 Thursday, 14 March 1974. Page 5 - A. The Post - Searchlight, Bainbridge, Decatur County, Georgia. *Note* Gordon Chason, M. D. was born 08 March 1876 in Decatur Co., GA and died 09 March 1974. He was a son of Reuben Chason, Sr. and Mary Trawick. He was married 27 June 1905 in Newbern, North Carolina to Mary Estella Kornegay. Submitted by: Brenda King McNair