Lawrence Stanley Childress: Obituary

Lawrence Stanley Childress, age 72 of Ellijay, GA passed Wednesday, September 12^th, 2018.

Stan was born January 28, 1946, in Pickens, SC to his late parents Sara Lois (Gilstrap) Childress, and  Lawrence Ethos Childress.  He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.  Mr. Childress graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Dacusville High School in 1964. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from Furman University and earned a professional masters degree from West Georgia College.  He served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Stan taught in several Gilmer County schools and served as assistant principal and principal at Gilmer Middle School and Ellijay Primary School.  He touched the lives of many students and staff members.  Stan loved old cars and antique radios.  He enjoyed grafting fruit trees especially heirloom apple trees.  He loved his dog Molly and she was almost always seen riding in the truck beside him.

Stan is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joy Cantrell Childress of Ellijay, GA; son and fiance, Adam Stanley Childress and Elizabeth Galarza of Bluffton, SC; granddaughter, Esther Isabella Galarza; sister and brother-in-law, Ramona and Eric Balderson of Mendham, NJ; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday September 16th. 2018 from the Logan Funeral Home Chapel with Min. Butch Jones and Mr. Ben Arp officiating and speaking.  Family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Homeward Bound Pet Rescue at P.O. Box 792, Ellijay, GA 30540 or to the Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1644, Ellijay, GA 30540, in memory of Mr. Childress.