Claude M. Stubbs Jr. passed away peacefully Saturday night (Aug. 16, 2014) after an extended illness.
He was born in Douglas Nov. 11, 1928 to Claude M. Stubbs Sr. and Alma Veal Stubbs. They moved to Waycross in 1935. He was educated in Waycross public schools and graduated from Waycross High School in 1945. He attended Davidson College from 1946 to 1947 and attended Emory University in Atlanta from 1948 to 1950. He received his B.A. degree from Emory University in 1950. He returned to Waycross to operate the family railroad and crosstie business and joined the Georgia Air National Guard.
He served his country for three years in the United States Air Force, during the Korean War, until 1951. After returning home from service, he resumed working for the family cross-tie business. He became an agent for New York Life Insurance in 1958 and worked until his semi-retirement on July 1, 1988 and full retirement in 2012.
He was a past president of the Waycross Association of Life Underwriters.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served faithfully as a member of the choir and Adult Bible class. He also served as the grounds chairman and was in charge of landscaping for the church for a number of years.
He was an active member of the community. He was a member and served as past president of the Waycross Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Satilla River Club and a former member of the Elks Club. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, golf, and gardening. The most important things in life to him were his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, his friends, and his work (providing financial security through insurance for others).
He was predeceased by his parents, his beloved wife, Lillian M. Stubbs, his sister, Mary Jane Patterson, his niece, Mary Petrocelli, and his brother-in-law, Robert P. Patterson.
He is survived by his daughters, Claudia A. Stubbs, of Jacksonville, Fla., Sylvia S.Murphy; son-in-law, Commander Ryan Murphy; grandchildren, Reagan and Davis Murphy, of Virginia Beach, Va.’ and many nephews, cousins and beloved friends.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at First UnitedMethodist Church. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends at Miles-Odum Funeral Home Friday from 5 until 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 410Williams Street, Waycross, Ga. 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.