SCHLEY COUNTY, GA - OBITS Dr. W.D. Sears Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Martha Rainey RAINEYM968@aol.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/schley.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm " 'DE PAPA' BELONGS TO LEGEND," The Ellaville Sun by Raymond Duncan, March 23, 1945. When I was a kid in knee breeches and still too young to go to school, I liked to hear the church bells on Sunday morning. When the Baptist bell rang clear and true across town, I knew "De Papa" Sears was pulling the rope and that an hour later I would be in his Sunday school class and hear the Bible stories he had told little boys for many years. These recollections came back late last Thursday when word got around town that Dr. W.D. Sears retired physician and a lifelong leader in activities of the Baptist church, had died in his 89th year. In a very real sense, I think that much of the worth of this man's life and its great significance to his community is shown in a flash by this childhood memory. Through several decades the kids in Ellaville grew up with an understanding that "Dr. Willie" and the church were inseparable. To them the bell on Sunday morning was not an anonymous call to worship, but a personal invitation from Dr. Sears because they never thought of anyone else ringing it. They knew he would be at Sunday school, helping make it go, and that when the church service started he would come down the aisle with "De Mama" and they would sit on the third row of the left aisle. And that almost always he would be asked to say a prayer. For more than three-score years, from young manhood until his last short illness, Dr. Sears set a pace for faithfulness to church activities which few others could equal even for a season and none could surpass. He simply did not miss except for providential reasons, and this regularity included the poorly attended mid-week service. The years brought many changes during this span--the railroad, telephone, automobile, motion picture, electric lights and radio all came to town; three wars were fought; there were booms and depressions, all kinds of weather. But this man kept crossing the street to the church; at night pointing a flashlight trail by which neighbors identified him. The story of how Dr. Sears came to be called "De Papa" is interesting, and its usage by the general public is a key to his personality. First called "De Papa" by a baby grandson (who also referred to his grandmother as "De Mama") other members of the family adopted the term, soon folks all over town were doing it and he had a nickname which stuck. I can understand why the nickname caught the public fancy and why (the) apellation wasn't awkward. For Dr. Sears was a short, slender, good-natured fellow. He was quick of step and abounded with energy and liked to make jokes. He usually found something to smile about, and somehow seemed never to worry. In many, many conversations with me, some of them long ones, he never made slighting remarks about his fellow men. Oftentimes he put in words of praise of various persons, but if he had unpleasant or unkind conclusions or thoughts about anyone he kept them to himself. He never tired of playing checkers, and in the closing months of his life still could thumb a Jew's harp with the enthusiasm that he played for admiring youngsters more than 20 years ago. All these characteristics, perhaps, kept "De Papa" young in spirit, and the years which piled so high rested lightly upon him. He had the zip which goes with youth. Once several years ago he became critically ill and after recovery hobbled down town on a pair of cruthches. Within several days he discarded one of them. A short time later he was using a cane and pretty soon he tossed that aside. He liked to be kidded about his speed in throwing off these walking aids, and he beamed with joy because he was on his own power again. Until his last illness that zest for living sparked his routine. Dr. Sears established such a record of faith and service and had such a stimulating personality and startling gift for getting the most out of life that he belonged not only to his family and closest friends but to the entire community. He will be greatly missed, and in legend he will always ring the church bell and go down with "De Mama" to the third seat on the left aisle and, through it all, keep young and gay in spirit. The Ellaville Sun Ellaville, Ga. March 17, 1945. DR. W.D. SEARS, 88, CHURCH LEADER DIES HERE Funeral services were held at Ellaville Baptist Church Saturday morning at 11 0'clock for Dr. Wm. D. Sears, 88, one of Ellaville's foremost citizens who died late Thursday at his home after an illness of three weeks. Born at Howard, Talbot county, on December 8, 1856, he was the son of Dr. William Joesph Sears and Mrs. Lou Lockhart Sears. He moved to Ellaville with his parents, attended medical college and established medical practice here at the age of 25. He continued his practice for 50 years. Since his youth he had been a leader in activities of the Baptist church, serving as superintendent of the Sunday school for 25 years and as a teacher in that department for many years. His father was credited with founding the local church. Death of Dr. Sears severed the county's most long standing marriage. He married Miss Emma Battle, of Ellaville, in 1882 and they would have marked their 63rd anniversary on April 2. The beloved physician was fond of saying he felt in love with her at first sight when she came in his father's store to make a purchase. A year later they were married. The Rev. E.W. Dupree officiated at the service and was assisted by the Rev. Roy J. Bond and the Rev. J.R. Smith of Buena Vista. Burial was in Ellaville cemetery. Surviving besides his widow are: three daughters, Mrs. Bessie Lou Lightner, Ellaville; Mrs. B.T. Rainey, Buena Vista; and Mrs. Harold Head, St. petersburg, Fla.; one brother, R.J. Sears, Lake Wales, Fla.; six grandchildren, L.S. Lightner, Tampa, Fla.,; Capt. H.E. Lightner, Burma; John Lester Lightner, Ellaville; Pvt. B.T. Rainey, Jr., Camp Gordon, Ga.; Lieut. Harold Head, somewhere in the Pacific, and Miss Betty Jean Head, St. Petersburg, Fla.; seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers were: C.C. Jordan, E.R. Jordan, John R. Wall, T. Earle Carter. Honorary pallbearers included: A.A. Arrington, E.W. Strange, B.C. Cheek, Dr. M.C. Gettys, C.B. Johnson, S.A. manning, Robert Walker, Charles Manning, Robert Walker, Charles D. Carter, Clarence Mccrory, Raymond Duncan.