Charles B. Perry

Funeral services for Charles B. Perry, 70, of Ashburn, GA will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, August 1, 2013 at The Ashburn First Baptist Church. Mr. Perry passed away Monday, July 29, 2013, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. Entombment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn.

The son of the late Charles V. and Emily Butler Perry, he was born in Crisp County, GA and had lived in Turner County all of his life. He was a member of The Ashburn First Baptist Church. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter- in- law Amanda McMillan Perry.

Charles was presently serving as President and co-owner of Perry Funeral Chapel where he has worked since 1964 and also serving as Deputy Coroner of Turner County. He was also partner of Perry Properties and Investments.

Charles was a 1961 graduate of Turner Co. High School, a 1964 graduate of University of Minnesota Dept. of Mortuary Science where he was an honor graduate and a 1995 graduate of University of Georgia-Leadership Institute. Charles was a member and Past President (1979-80) of Academy Of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia, a member and Past President (1983-84) of the Past Presidents Club of Georgia. He was also a member of The Georgia Coroner’s Association, Georgia Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and Independent Funeral Directors of Georgia.

He was a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Mu Sigma, Mortuary Science Fraternity and Mu Sigma Alpha Academic Honor Society. Charles was a Mason with the Sycamore Lodge #210 F. & A.M.; a Shriner with Hasan Temple, Albany, GA. He was also served as President, Turner Co. Chamber of Commerce, 1976-79 and 1983-89. He was a member of Civil War Preservation Trust from 1999 to present.

Charles served on the City of Ashburn City Council from 1987-1989 and then as Mayor from 1989-1998. Member of Board of Directors of South GA RDC loan board from 1994 to Present. He also served as President of South GA RDC Loan Board from 1998-2001.

Charles was awarded The Mu Sigma Alpha Key for Outstanding Academic Proficiency in 1964, Award of Merit in Education for the University of Minnesota in 1964, Citizen of The Year of Turner County in 1978.

Mr. Perry served on the Board of Directors of Colony Bank, 1986-2012 and served as Chairman of the Board from 2012-2013.

Charles had a passion for reading and collecting Historical Artifacts of the Civil War and World War II. He enjoyed sharing this information in his writings in his weekly articles in The Wiregrass Farmer from 2006 to present and in his book, “Wishbone, Backbone & Funny Bone” which was published in 2011.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years Barbara Ann Hancock Perry of Ashburn; his daughter, Tonja Anne (Kevin) Healey of Valdosta, GA and Charles H. “Bucky” Perry of Quitman, GA; his grandchildren, Cody Wayne Healey, Caleb Perry Healey both of Valdosta, GA and Charles McMillan “Mac” Perry and Anna Caroline Perry both of Quitman, GA. He is also survived by his faithful and beloved dog, Stump and his sister, Elizabeth P. See and his brothers, H. Paul (Brenda) Perry and Edgar F. (Darlene) Perry all of Ashburn.

For those who wish in lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Amanda McMillan Perry Memorial Scholarship Fund, % Diane Wideman, Colony Bank, P. O. Box 807, Ashburn, GA 31714.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Perry Funeral Chapel in Ashburn.