Category: 1972

John Lewis Douglas, 75, finished a deliriously happy life on September 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in 1950 to the late Charles Lewis Douglas, Jr. and Bettye Lee Phelps Douglas. John grew up in New Orleans, La., and Jackson, Miss., before moving to Atlanta in 1963. A gifted student and athlete, John took every opportunity to play baseball and golf with his friends and with his dad. After graduating from Lakeside High School John attended Davidson College, and ran into a force of nature by the name of Rebecca Ann Peterson.

John was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 20. After graduating from Davidson in 1972, he served a two-year mission for the church in Ecuador. John and Becky married in Salt Lake City in 1974, and were devoted to each other for the next 52 years, as seven children and three more adopted children joined them. He was always dazzled by her, always happier around her, and said, like the poem, that she was the Sunday in every week.

He was widely regarded as one of the world’s leading financial services lawyers. He began with a J.D. from the University of Georgia and at the Atlanta-based law firm Alston & Bird. Ronald Reagan appointed him General Counsel of the FDIC in 1987, where he helped steer the FDIC through the savings and loan crisis and shape the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989. Later, through his work with the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, he led efforts to reform banking across the developing world with the goal of creating more open, trust-based economies. John was senior partner at the law firms of Alston & Bird, Paul Hastings, and Davis, Polk & Wardwell, and finished his career as Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer at TIAA, a financial services firm in New York.

He took a break from his career to serve his church for three years as a mission president in the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission. He was awed by the faith and goodness of the hundreds of missionaries in his care. He was devoted to strengthening them, their families and communities, and the church. He loved using Spanish to express tender feelings or speak beautiful truths.

Both at home and abroad, John cared deeply for the less fortunate. His commitment to the Dominican Republic continued after his mission, when he and Becky created the Dominican American Education Fund, an after-school training program in English and computer skills. They also generously funded and worked tirelessly for Rising Star Outreach, an organization Becky created to provide education, medical care, and community development to leprosy-affected people in India. John loved teaching young people at the University of Georgia Law School and continued to hold his classes during his battles with leukemia and lymphoma, sometimes via Zoom while receiving chemotherapy.

More than anything, John was happy everywhere. His biking and hiking trips with family and friends were his favorite way to travel the world. He was always up for another adventure that would let him marvel at the beauty of God’s creation. Everywhere he went, he was followed by an uncanny streak of good luck, finding fresh powder, sunny skies, and rooms full of welcoming, interesting people. It was impossible not to love this kind-hearted and sharp-witted gentleman, whether in a dark suit or his favorite hiking pants and Tevas. Sundays were always reserved for boisterous meals with family and friends. He was profoundly grateful, whether he got a glorious Georgia morning when he could ride his bike, play racquetball, and walk through the woods, or he got a quiet twilight on the back porch with Becky.

John is preceded in death by his daughter Amber and granddaughter Madison, and celebrated here by his wife Becky, his siblings Lee Douglas, Leslie Hurst, Lynne Miller, and Margaret Hamilton; his children Dianna, Jay, Scott, Chip, Alex, Michael, Jolanta, Esther Racioppo, and Thomas; their spouses David Burk, Angie, Caroline, Renita, Celeste, Hannah Dalia, and Arrius Racioppo; and 24 grandchildren.

Open House from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 10 at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Blvd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Funeral services Friday, September 11 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5995 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092.

In lieu of flowers, please direct any giving in John’s memory to Rising Star Outreach, in honor of his commitment to humankind and his abiding love for his wife. 

Frank Adams Clark, Jr., 75, of Myrtle Beach, SC peacefully passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Frank was born in Whiteville, NC on May 29, 1950, to Frank Adams Clark, Sr. and Mary Mashburn Clark. He grew up in Chadbourn, NC until he moved to Myrtle Beach in 1960. He was a proud graduate of Myrtle Beach High School’s Class of 1968. While at MBHS, he was an honor student who served as Student Body President. Frank was an all-conference basketball player and played on the baseball, JV football, and tennis teams. In 1972, he graduated from Davidson College with a degree in Psychology. While at Davidson, he played basketball under coach Terry Holland and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.  After graduation, Frank backpacked for three months across Europe. He then returned to Myrtle Beach and served as the second director of Helping Hand (a crisis intervention ministry) eventually moving to Raleigh, N.C. to work in the restaurant business.

While living there, Frank met Harriet and the rest is history. They married in 1981 and soon after moved back to Myrtle Beach. Later, Frank earned a Graduate Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to support his teaching career. Frank dedicated his career to being a coach and teacher for Horry County Schools at Socastee High School, the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, and Adult Ed.

In the summers, he enjoyed working at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion returning to the place he worked as a teenager. He also enjoyed being a chaperone for the Western Tour for Boys & Girls for many years. Frank was a member of the Gideons, a member and former President of Myrtle Beach Sertoma Club, on the board of A Father’s Place, and a member of the Chicora Rotary Club.

He was a long-time member of First Methodist Church Myrtle Beach, where he taught Sunday School and served as an usher. Frank was proud to be a Clark and always looked forward to reunions and gatherings with his Clark cousins. He was also an avid golf player, belonging for many years to Pine Lakes Country Club. During his life, Frank received many awards and honors including the Mary C. Canty Community Service Award, Teacher of the Year at the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology, and a scholarship supporting Mental Illness Recovery, Inc (MIRCI) was established in his honor by his sister, Mary Winter Clark Teaster.

He was soon to be inducted into the Myrtle Beach High School 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame. Frank will be remembered for his devoted service to others and his love of the beach, Tarheel basketball, and golf, but even more so for his commitment to Faith, Family and Friends in a humble way we can only hope to emulate.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of 44 years, Harriet Dishman Clark, two daughters: Elizabeth Smith (Adam) and Caroline Zito (PJ), five adoring grandchildren (Evelyn, Maddie, Emery, Grant, and Clark) along with his sister, Mary Winter Clark Teaster, and brother, Paul Mashburn Clark.

Visitation for family and friends will be at McMillian-Small Funeral home on Wednesday, October 1st from 4:00-6:00 PM. A funeral service will be held at First Methodist Church Myrtle Beach on Thursday, October 2nd at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach (1411 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577), First Methodist Church’s Parking Lot Fund (PO Box 1367, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578) or a charity of your choosing in Frank’s memory.

William Halsell Ryan, III was welcomed into God’s arms on August 27th, 2024.

He dedicated himself to loving his wife, children, and grandchildren, and he cherished his relationships with family and friends above all else. As a physician, healing and mending hearts through thought and deed was always his privilege. He sought to embody Christ in his work and believed deeply in the spirit of medicine, which he taught to others with clarity and humility. He was an avid reader, fly-fisherman, and adventurer – all to deeply appreciate the extraordinary in our own lives.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on October 5th, 2024 at 10:00am at the Highland Park United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, he requests the consideration for donations to Helps International and The Shelton School of Dallas.

Dr. James Gregory (Greg) Johnson, of North Litchfield, passed away quietly at his home surrounded by family on January 30, 2024, after a long battle from pulmonary fibrosis.

Dr. Johnson was born on August 1, 1950 to James Truman and Inza Farmer Johnson and grew up in Easley, SC, where he was captain on the Easley High Green Wave 1967 State Championship team.

Greg attended Davidson College where he played football, was a member of the Honor Court, Beta Theta Pi, and Gamma Sigma Epsilon, national chemistry society. Greg remained devoted to Davidson, serving as president of the Davidson Athletic Fund and member of the Davidson Board of Visitors. Greg was always a Davidson Wildcat.

Greg practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 38 years after graduating from MUSC and finished a ob-gyn residency at MCG. He then spent two and half years practicing at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base before returning to Greenville where he served as managing partner for both Greenville Ob-Gyn and then Greenville Gynecology Group. He also served as chairman of the department of Ob- Gynecology at Greenville Memorial Hospital. He served on the faculty of the Ob-Gynecology residency program at GMH where he was awarded a national excellence in teaching award.

Greg also was an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenville where he chaired the Stewardship Committee. He was board member of the Greenville YMCA and was very involved in his children’s school, Christ Church Episcopal, where he chaired the Booster Club and served on the School Board.

He is survived by Elise Wall Johnson, wife of 54 years; daughters, Susan Wall Johnson and Anna Elise Johnson, and was predeceased by his son, James Rutledge Johnson. He is also survived by a sister, Camille Eades.

A private memorial service will be planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Davidson Athletic Fund or A2S Foundation, a faith- based school and outreach in Nigeria, founded by Andrew Lovedale, Davidson Class of ’09.

Ronald W. Crockett Jr., age 72, of Bristol, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Ron was a native of Bristol, Tennessee.

He was a graduate and valedictorian of Tennessee High School. After graduation Ron attended Davidson College and continued his education at Vanderbilt University where he received his Bachelor of Engineering degree. He then went on to earn a Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of Illinois.

Ron was an employee at Bristol Steel and Iron Works, Inc. from 1973 until 1988. He was then employed with American Bridge Company where he worked as a civil engineer and Vice President for many years. Ron proudly served as project manager for many notable works including the Tagus Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal, Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, Canada, and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California. He retired from American Bridge Company in 2016.

Ron was an Eagle Scout, as well as a Scout Leader which allowed him to embrace his love for the outdoors. He was an active member of his community and was involved in many organizations: United Way of Bristol (Board of Directors), The Salvation Army, Family Promise, The Community Development Advisory Committee, and Help for Haiti Children’s Shelter. He was also an active member of State Street United Methodist Church.

Ron is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lois Tudor Crockett; mother, Joan Z. Crockett; daughter, Jennifer L. Lawson; son, Philip J. Lawson; sister, Jennifer Deal (Preston); niece, Andrea Powell (Jason) and children; nephews, Brian Deal (Jessica) and children, Brad Deal (Bethany) and their daughter.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 2,2022, at State Street United Methodist Church, 650 Valley Drive Bristol, VA 24201 at 2:00 P.M with Rev. Laura Rasor officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to United Way of Bristol, P.O. Box 696, Bristol, TN 37620 or Help for Haiti Children’s Shelter payable to State Street United Methodist Church, stating “Haiti” in the memo, 650 Valley Drive Bristol, VA 24201. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at akardfuneralhome.com. Akard Funeral Home, (423-989-4800) is honored to be serving the Crockett family.