They died in 2024. How these notable folks connected to the Columbus area made an impact
In ways as varied as their names, these folks connected to Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley lived notable lives and made an impact before they died in 2024:
January
Michael Patrick Cielinski, 76, Jan. 6: Retired Columbus Recorder’s Court judge served city for 42 years, starting in 1975 as an attorney, then appointed judge in 1981. Helped establish Our Fallen Heroes memorial in front of the Columbus Government Center. For more than 20 years, he joined local and state law enforcement agencies to collect teddy bears, food and other gifts for patients in hospitals and Ronald McDonald House.
Robert “Bob” Lynn Wadkins Sr., 78, Jan. 11: Retired Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit chief public defender. Was first leader of that office, which opened in 2005, after it was created by Georgia Legislature in 2003. Served until 2013.
Earl Gordon Bagley Jr., 81, Jan. 13: As golf coach at Columbus College (1983-93), led Cougars to two NCAA Division II national championships (1989 and 1992) and three Peach Belt Conference titles (1985, 1992 and 1993). Honored as 1989 NCAA Division II Golf Coach of the Year and 1992 and 1993 Peach Belt Conference Golf Coach of the Year. Inducted into Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame (1999) and Columbus State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2001). Helped develop First Tee golf program for youths in Columbus. Served as chairman of Bull Creek Golf Authority. Emeritus vice president of student affairs at CSU. Joined college’s faculty to teach social studies education in 1973. Promoted to dean of students in 1983, then VP of student affairs in 1994. Retired in 2004.
Roy Dean Moultrie, 91, Jan. 8: Served as judge in Harris County Probate Court from 1957-85, then District 93 representative in Georgia Legislature from 1985-93.
James K. Lowe Sr., 92, Jan. 29: Former vice commander of American Legion Post 267 and Sunday school teacher at Holsey Chapel CME Church. Served 22 decorated years in U.S. Air Force. Retired from 20 years of civil service in supply division at Fort Benning.
Richard Herbert Smith, 78, Jan. 30: Columbus area representative in Georgia Legislature since 2005. Chairman of House Rules Committee since 2020. Chairman of House Insurance Committee (2011-20). Cooperative extension agent for University of Georgia (1978-99). Interim city manager in Columbus (December 1989 to March 1990). Citywide representative on Columbus Council (1999-2002). Ran for Columbus mayor in 2002. Chattahoochee Valley Community Foundation board member. Chattahoochee Valley Fair and Exposition president.
February
Alexis Jayne “Lexy” McRae, 15, Feb. 8: Used her four years and four months of battling osteosarcoma to advocate for childhood cancer treatment and research. Served as Rally Kid for Rally Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research. Received from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 2023 Heart of Gold Award for friendship to other children battling cancer. Helped put national attention on health insurance problem when family’s Medicaid waiver was denied without explanation, but Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp restored it after she wrote him a letter. Despite health struggles, excelled in dancing, acting, singing and academics. Won multiple regional and national dance awards with Performance Dance Centre and danced at Disney World as a Disney Young Performer. Participated in Family Theatre and Springer Theatre Academy. At Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts, was honor roll student, had lead roles in shows, was member of award-winning cast, won Rising Phenix Award for strength of character and determination to overcome and achieve, served as Thespians Troupe President for middle school theater and was member of Reading Bowl team and National Junior Honor Society.
Willie Thomas Edmondson, 70, Feb. 16: Mayor of LaGrange, first African American in that office in city’s history. City councilman for 24 years. Senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Owner of Lakes-Dunson-Robertson Funeral Home. Started career as nurse at City-County Hospital, now Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center.
Wilson Whitaker Blackmon, 93, Feb. 23: Retired in 1993 as president and owner of Blackmon Oil Company, which formed in 1962 and honored as National Small Business Employer of the Year in 1987 by American Legion. President of Georgia Oilman’s Association in 1978. President of National Chevron Petroleum Marketers Association in 1988-89. Served on Georgia State American Heart Association Board, chaired 1989 Heart Ball and honored as Volunteer of the Year in 1993. Served on boards for Wells Fargo, Open Door, Goodwill Industries, The Medical Center and Spring Harbor. Past member of Jaycees, Lions Club and Kiwanis Club.
March
Murray Lewis Solomon, 85, March 3: Served on boards for Uptown Columbus, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, Columbus Regional Foundation, Spring Harbor, Columbus Public Library Project and Programming Committee and Columbus Technical College Foundation. Past president of Columbus Jewish Federation. Created “Schindler’s List” Project to give local high school students opportunity to see the Holocaust movie for free. Worked more than 40 years as financial planner in Columbus with Raymond James and Associates. Annually mentored a high school student interested in business.
Mary Alice McDonald Williams Humes, 94, March 15: After teaching English at Columbus Junior High School and Arnold Middle School, joined the Ledger-Enquirer and became The Medical Center’s public relations director, then worked as administrative assistant for center’s medical staff. Community involvement included Woman’s Reading Club, Oglethorpe Chapter-DAR, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Junior League of Columbus, Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus Museum, Open Door Community House and St. Paul Church.
April
Ralph Puckett Jr., 97, April 8: Retired U.S. Army colonel earned Medal of Honor for heroism in Korean War. Worked as national programs coordinator for Outward Bound and established Discovery Inc., a leadership and teamwork development program focused on personal growth through safe adventure. In 1992, Puckett was inaugural inductee into U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. From 1996-2006, served as first honorary colonel of 75th Ranger Regiment. Appointed as ambassador of goodwill by Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. In 2004, selected as distinguished graduate of U.S. Military Academy. In 2007, received Infantry’s Doughboy Award.
Clairmont Jerome “Jerry” “Pops” Barnes, 80, April 14: Served on Columbus Council as District 1 representative for 17 years . Helped military veterans, primarily in mental health. Served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as master sergeant. In 2003, started Pan Columbus Wellness Project to provide free health education, screening and case management. Helped reopen Boxwood, Belvedere Park and Primus recreation centers. Spearheaded call for city to hire 100 additional police officers and open precinct in District 1. Restarted city’s Veterans Day Parade in 2010. Started advocacy group to help seniors keep their benefits. Since 2014, periodically hosted Focus on Health series on CCG-TV for wellness education. Launched youth vocational training program Opportunity to Get Ahead. Reformed city’s policy to allow hiring of nonviolent offenders. Addressed right-of-way upkeep, drainage, street resurfacing and pothole issues. Since 2020, co-hosted weekly Health and Community Tips series on Facebook Live.
Patricia “Miss Patsy” Hett Avery, (age unavailable), April 25: Worked at WTVM as a “weather girl” and then as “Miss Patsy” on Miss Patsy’s Playhouse, a live local children’s TV show from 1959-71, reading to thousands of children. Substitute teacher for 20 years in local schools. Directed productions and taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church.
Donald M. Leebern Jr., 85, April 27: Appointed by then-Gov. Zell Miller in 1991 to University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Served five consecutive terms (chairman 1994-95). Retired from board in 2019 as regent emeritus. Columbus High School football star was two-way lineman on UGA football team (1957-59). Starting offensive right tackle for Bulldogs squad that won 1959 SEC championship and 1960 Orange Bowl. Selected by Dallas Texans in first American Football League draft but chose to join family business in Columbus instead after father died. Became president in 1968 and board chairman in 1992 of Georgia Crown Distributing Co., a wholesaler and importer of liquor, wine, beer and bottled water. Founding member of USG Foundation. Endowed three UGA scholarships for football and gymnastics. Received 2002 Circle of Distinction Award from Georgia Athletic Association and 2011 Eldridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award from USG Foundation. UGA Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall locker room named in his honor. Inducted into Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
William Laws Calley Jr., 80, April 28: U.S. Army lieutenant’s controversial court-martial at Fort Benning brought intense international spotlight to Columbus five decades ago. Found guilty of murdering 22 of more than 300 unarmed South Vietnamese children, women and elderly men killed by American soldiers March 16, 1968, and only soldier convicted in notorious My Lai Massacre during Vietnam War. One day after being sentenced to life in prison, then-President Richard Nixon ordered him to be under house arrest instead. Sentence eventually reduced to 10 years. Granted parole in 1974. Made public apology during 2009 speech to Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus.
May
Stacey Jackson, 50, May 5: District attorney for Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit since 2022 appointment by Gov. Brian Kemp. Started legal career clerking for judges, then as an assistant district attorney before becoming one of Columbus area’s most successful criminal defense lawyers.
William J. “Bill” Wright Sr., 84, May 17: Trailblazing criminal defense lawyer and former Columbus Recorder’s Court judge. Established law firm in 1970s, when only a few Black attorneys practiced in the area. Represented marginalized and underserved residents. Founding member of Fountain City Bar Association, fostering camaraderie and support for Black lawyers in Chattahoochee Valley. Chaired Columbus NAACP legal redress committee (1998-2000). Served as mentor in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and 100 Black Men of America. Appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior to Civil War Sites Advisory Commission in 1990.
Jayson “Jay” Ladon Wilson, 59, May 21: Veterans Memorial Middle School’s only athletics director, head football coach and girls basketball coach since school opened in 2007. Gym’s court named in his honor. Educator for 25 years also taught at South Girard School and Blackmon Road Middle School. Coached youth baseball and softball and umpired for Pioneer Little League. Deacon and Sunday school teacher at Britt David Baptist Church.
June
Shay Youngblood, 65, June 11: Award-winning novelist and playwright who explored her upbringing as a Black girl orphaned at age 3 child in Columbus after her mother died. Won 1990 Pushcart Prize for short story “Born With Religion,” multiple NAACP Theater awards and 1993 Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award for drama “Talking Bones.” Also acclaimed for collection of “The Big Mama Stories” and the novels “Soul Kiss” and “Black Girl in Paris.”
July
Phillip “Elliott” Kirven, 75, July 24: Twice won Southeastern Amateur golf tournament, and won Country Club of Columbus golf championship multiple times. Also known for trick shots. Joined family business, Kirven’s Department Store, where he greeted customers and shared funny stories until store closed in 1993.
Louis Ira Levy, 83, July 28: Pediatrician started first neonatal intensive care unit in Columbus. Served on multiple state boards for maternal and infant health. Helped educate other providers in Georgia on how to care for premature babies. Served as mentor and leader in Columbus Jewish community.
Rick McKnight, 71, July 30: Out-front and behind-the-scenes leader and support of local arts and education and former owner of two iconic clothing stores, McKay’s and the Kiddie Shoppe, in Columbus. Honoree at Columbus chapter of American Cancer Society’s 2018 Crystal Ball fundraiser. Received 2019 Governor’s Award for Arts and Humanities and 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Columbus State University Dance Advisory Board. Served as organist and choirmaster for 20 years at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Founded nonprofit FABArts to connect arts organizations and teaching artists with schools as an engaging way to instruct students in core academic subjects. Former education director and community support officer at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, where he served on project development team and founding board of trustees. Held leadership roles on various boards, including the Medical Center Hospital Authority, Voices of the Valley, Historic Columbus Foundation, Home for Good, Bibb Village Neighborhood Association, ArtBeat, Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance, ArtsReach, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, American Guild of Organists Columbus Chapter, Children’s Miracle Network, Columbus Rotary, Youth Orchestra of Columbus, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Columbus, Leadership Columbus, Leadership Georgia and Columbus Consolidated Government Planning Advisory Commission.
August
Terry Bovard Hurley, 82, Aug. 3: Owner pharmacist for 48 years at Dinglewood Pharmacy, where lunch counter serves famous Scrambled Dogs. Began career at Chandler’s Pharmacy. Known for greeting folks with signature line, “Hey, how you doing? Love your hair. How’s your mama ‘n’ ‘em?”
Milton Hirsch, 97, Aug. 6: Columbus Councilor 1973-78. Georgia House of Representative member 1983-84. Practiced law in Columbus for 67 years, specializing in divorce. Led discussions title “Milton’s Chat Room” at Temple Israel, where he was a past board member, as well as at Shearith Israel Synagogue. Former president of Columbus Lawyers Club. Enabled legislation that established Muscogee County Law Library. Convinced city commission to allocate land and build public Bull Creek Golf Course. A founder Pine Manor and Oak Manor nursing homes. Helped spearhead development of Uptown Columbus. Delegate at 1976 Democratic National Convention. Coached in Peach Little League for eight years.
James “Jim” Edwin Gates, 83, Aug. 29: Served as Goodwill Industries of Columbus president and on national Goodwill board for six years, president of Junior Achievement and president of Big Eddy Club. During career, was president of Williams Construction Company and senior vice president of Flournoy Construction Co.
September
Alice Turner Barkwell, 78, Sept. 11: Wrote music column “Go Ask Alice” for Playgrounds Magazine, Served on board of governors for Georgia Democratic Party. Taught during 1980s and 1990s at Tri-County High School, Woodland Christian School, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School and St. Patrick’s School.
Charles Christopher “Chris” Spraggins, 70, Sept. 13: Muscogee County School District 2006 Teacher of the Year and state finalist in 2008 as science teacher at Columbus High School. Also taught at Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Troy University, Smiths Station High School and St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. Started Pacelli’s baseball program in 1983. Developed it into perennial GHSA Class A contender, reaching state championship round in 1991. Named 2016 Ledger-Enquirer All-Bi-City Girls Golf Coach of the Year in final season as program’s head coach at Columbus High after leading Blue Devils to second-place finish in GHSA Class 5A state tournament. In 2014, led team to Class 4A state championship after finishing as runner-up in 2013. Ladonia Volunteer Fire Department board member.
October
Cleophus Hope Sr., 83, Oct. 8: Retired principal of Carver High School. Served as deacon at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Harold Sylvester “Sonny” Coulter Jr., 81, Oct. 17: Phenix City mayor for four terms, spanning parts of four decades, from 1989-95, 2001-05 and 2008-12. Among leaders of Phenix City downtown and riverfront development. Advocated for cross-jurisdictional cooperation with Columbus. Served in Alabama Air National Guard.
November
John Joseph Drew Jr., 90, Nov. 5: Multisport athlete played on Baker High School’s 1954 state championship basketball team. After serving in U.S. Army, Columbus Police Department and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, worked in Muscogee County School District from 1980-2017. Coached football and worked as athletics director at Hardaway High School, winning one region title. Then coached Columbus High School girls golf team to seven state championships and Northside High School boys golf team to two region titles. Also coached in Pop Warner Football.
Chauncy Cortez Glover, 39, Nov. 5: Winner of three Emmy Awards for TV journalism. Began career in Columbus as WTVM reporter in 2007 after graduating from Troy University. Worked at stations in Jacksonville and Detroit, then Houston, where he helped deliver baby of woman he rescued from hurricane, then Los Angeles, where he was a KCAL news anchor. Founded the Chauncy Glover Project, which mentors inner-city teenaged boys, helping hundreds go to college. Stage actor and singer, sang at Rosa Parks’ funeral.
John Patrick Partin, 80, Nov. 22: As a captain in U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, served as assistant on two-man prosecution team that won conviction of Lt. William Calley in court-martial trial at Fort Benning for leading platoon accused of murdering 22 unarmed civilians during Vietnam War, part of the estimated more than 300 children, women and elderly men killed during “My Lai Massacre” in 1968.
Russell James Scott Sr., 91, Nov. 22: Served as vice chairman of steward board, usher board and mass choir at St. James AME Church. Active in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sons of Allen, SPLC, NAACP, American Red Cross and Urban League. After 23 years of military service, retired captain worked 17 years for Georgia Department of Corrections.
Richard Leigh “Dick” Olson, 92, Nov. 26: President of Chattahoochee Council of Boy Scouts for two years. Board member for The Medical Center and Columbus Regional Healthcare System for 18 years. Elder at First Presbyterian Church and moderator at Flint River Presbyterian Church. Awards include Silver Beaver (1976) for local Boy Scouting, Distinguished Healthcare Volunteer in Georgia (1989), Judge Aaron Cohn Award for Service to Youth (2001) and Mission Service from First Presbyterian (2007). Retired as finance division head of several General Mills companies in Southeast. Also worked as executive vice president for Kinnett Dairies. Established consulting firm called The Surrogate CFO.
Marvin Hunter Foster, 78, Nov. 29: Served on board for Hardaway Band Boosters and local chapters of American Red Cross and Goodwill. Usher and volunteer with First Saturday Ministry at St. Luke Church. Chartered Life Underwriter retired from State Farm Insurance after 30 years.
December
Thomas Leon Theus, 88, Dec. 10: Former chief of medicine at The Medical Center and Doctor’s Hospital, where he also was medical director. Past chairman for Columbus chapter of American Cancer Society. In private medical practice for nearly four decades, including at Columbus Clinic, emphasized preventive medicine and conducted free smoking-cessation classes. Served tour of duty with U.S. Army in Vietnam and earned rank of captain.
This story was originally published December 26, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
