Mitchell County Georgia Obituaries George William Mercer 1974 ****************************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ****************************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sam Luckey Oct 2002 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mitchell.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Obituary of George William Mercer as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 9 Jan 1974. Camilla, Georgia. A sudden and unexpected heart attack last Friday, 4 Jan 1974, night claimed the life of George William (Bill) Mercer, sixty-two year old Camilla businessman. He was leading an informal "sing-along" at the cabin at Lake Seminole of his brother-in-law and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Keadle, who had assembled a few Camilla friends for informal supper and sing. Mr. Mercer complained of being ill and went into a bedroom, then was rushed immediately to the Bainbridge Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge where he died a very short time later. News of his death brought genuine sorrow and grief to his host of friends who filled the First Baptist Church of Camilla to overflowing Sunday, 6 Jan 1974, afternoon at three o'clock when funeral services were held. Coming to Camilla to officiate was his long-time friend and former pastor, Rev. Charles Duncan, now serving as Secretary of the Georgia Baptist Foundation. Assisting was Rev. Melvin T. York, pastor of the Hopeful Baptist church where Mercer grew up and held membership as a young man and re-visited often. Evidencing the love and esteem in which he was held was the multitude of floral offerings covering the front of the church. One floral offering stood out among the others and this was the huge cross of flowers erected in the church choir loft in the seat which he occupied for many years, serving sometimes as soloist, sometimes as a member of a male quartet, and sometimes as a member of the choir, but always there to raise his tenor voice with others in praise to his Lord. At the conclusion of the funeral services at the church the family and congregation joined in singing "Til We Meet Again." Interment followed in Oakview Cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers were E. C. Lundy, Charles Mathews, Vernon Twitty, Carroll Adams, Homer Keadle, Alec Curles, Charles Taylor, and Arnold Henslee. A large group of honorary pallbearers was formed of the men in the Men's Fellowship Sunday School Class which he taught. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lynda Smith Mercer; one son, Larry Mercer of Huntsville, Ala.; three daughters, Mrs. Morris Wynn of Pelham, Mrs. Bill Bostick and Mrs. James Sullivan of Camilla; two stepsons, Louie Shirah Jr. of Albany, and Donald Shirah of Camilla; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Paul Bozeman of Albany and Mrs. Tommy Thompson of Cordele; one brother, James Mercer of Cairo; fouur sisters, Mrs. George Shirah of Camilla, Mrs. Lem Sawyer of Donaldsonville, Mrs. Barney Davidson of Sale City and Mrs. J. J. Parrott of Newton. Sixteen grandchildren also survive. Mr. Mercer was born 29 Apr 1911 in Houston County, Alabama, son of the late William W. Mercer and the late Roberta Richardson Mercer. Mr. Mercer's father died exactly one week prior to his death and lacked only a few days of reaching one hundred years old at the time of his death at the Nursing Home in Camilla. Bill Mercer was about six or seven years old at the time his parents moved form Alabama to Georgia. As a young man he was engaged in farming in the Hopeful area and for the past twenty-five years or more wa associated with Keadle Brothers Lumber Company in Camilla. As a young man he was happily married ot the former Mis Reba Keadle who preceded him in death in February of 1956. To his union one son and three daughters who survive were born. Eight years ago, on 29 Sep 1965, he was happily married to Mrs. Lynda Smith Shirah who survives him. As a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Camilla, he served in various places of leadership, mainly in the choir and church music program. He enjoyed service as a Co-Pilot of the Camilla Pilot Club where his wife now serves this year as Vice President. He gave generous support as a Co-Pilot in their community endeavors. He was interested in a better Camilla and offered as a candidate for City Council in the primary election last fall. It was a three man race with none getting the necessary majority so Mercer ran again in a runoff election and beat his opponent. He was to have been sworn into office on the City Council this week. Because of his brother-in-law, George T. Smith, former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia he became interested in state politics.