Benhill-Irwin-Sumter County GaArchives Obituaries.....Pryor, I., Shepherd Green December 2, 1961 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: M Sgt. Robert K. Nobles, Jr. http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00005.html#0001076 September 30, 2012, 12:59 pm The Fitzgerald Herald, Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia, Thursday, December 7, 1961, Front Page The Fitzgerald Herald Fitzgerald, Ben Bill County, Georgia Thursday, December 7, 1961 Front Page Editor's Last Rites Are held Sunday. Editor Emeritus S. G. Pryor Jr. community servant fot almost half a century, died of a heart attack at his home early Saturday morning, Dec 2. He was 73. Funeral services were held from Central Methodist Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, with Dr. W. A. Alsobrook, pastor, and Rev. W. E. Scott, former pastor, officiating. Masonic rites at Evergreen cemetery followed. Editor Pryor was he son of the late Shepherd Green and Anna Wilson Pryor, born March 11, 1888, in San Marcus, Tex. He was educated in the Fitzgerald schools, and was a graduate of the Southern Shorthand and Business School of Atlanta. Survivors include his wife, Jeffie Persons Pryor of Fitzgerald; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Mathis of Columbus and Mrs. John Spence of Barrington, Ill.; a son, Shepherd Green Pryor III of Atlanta; a sister, Mrs. C. C. Persons of Fitzgerald; five brothers, R. W. Pryor of Douglas, R. M. Pryor of Moultrie, J. J. Pryor of Fitzgerald, F. L. Pryor of Houston, Tex. And W. A. Pryor of Cordele; and seven grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers were Clyde Daniel, Ethridge Paulk, Sam Bowers Jr., Allen Royal, Owen Segraves and Clayton Jay Jr., Paulk Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Past Grand Commander David L. Paulk and Prelate I. R. Hobby officiate at their graveside rites. They were assisted by A. W. Armantrout Jr., junior warden; Rufus C. Johnson of Douglas, acting senior warden; and R. R. Ozias of Tifton, captain general; Mrs James F. Paulk presided at the organ and Mrs. J. A. Rushin was soloist. Pallbearers were W. C. Sanders of Cordele, past grand commander; Warner Wells of Fort Valley, past commander; W. T. Bateman of Fort Valley, eminent grand recorder; C. C. Belflower of Tifton; past commander; Floyd Reynolds of Hawkinsville, very eminent grand deputy commander, J. E. Moseley of Griffin, eminent grand junior warden; R. T. Puckett, past commander; W. H. Haynes, past commander. Serving as honorary pallbearers were members of the Official Board of Stewards of Central Methodist Church and members of the Fitzgerald Rotary Club. The editor launched his 43-year editorial career when he and is brother, J. J. Pryor, co-founded The Herald in 1916. He had joined his brother as a partner in the operation of The Pryor Press in 1914, an enterprise established about a year earlier. The publishing concern continued as a partnership until 19959, when it was sold to its present publisher. During his 43 years of service, the editor has faithfully served through his profession, his church, and various fraternal and civic organizations. He was a former member of the Board of Managers of the Georgia Press Association, in which The Herald has held membership since 1916. Perhaps highlighting the recognition received over the years was the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation Award awarded to the paper in 1957. For 60 years Editor Pryor was a member of The Central Methodist Church, over 40 of which he has spent as a member of the Official Board. He was a trustee and served on the building committee for the new parsonage. He was secretary of the Sunday School for 30 years, superintendent for one year and a former Sunday School teacher. He had held various lay offices locally, in the district and in the South Georgia Conference. Second only to his love of his church came that of Masonry, to which he gave of his service for over 40 years. He was initiated into the fraternal order in 1919 by his father, an event so significant in his life that it was equaled only once; that being when he conferred the order upon his son in 1953. He had conferred the Order of the Temple on more candidates in the Commandery than any other commander in South Georgia, and perhaps in the state. He had held every office in the local branches of the Masonic Order, a distinction which qualified him for the ultimate degree of Knight of the York Cross of Honor. Among other committee assignments, he had been chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Commandry since 1938. He was also active in the Order of Rainbow for girls, in which he was initiated into the Grand Cross of Color, and in the Order of DeMolay for boys. Editor Pryor's civic life was equally active. He was a charter member and past president of the Fitzgerald Kiwanis Club and a charter member of the Fitzgerald Lions Club,\. His membership was terminated when these clubs, surrendered their charters for a time, during which he became a charter member of the Fitzgerald Rotary Club, of which he was also a past president. He was a member of the now defunct Business Men's Club, a charter member of the old Fitzgerald Golf Club and of the Fitzgerald Country Club. He had been a member of the Fitzgerald Chamber of Commerce since its beginning and was a former manager of the Board of Directors of the Fitzgerald Civic Corp. As county chairman of Saving Bonds sales since the outset of World War II, he was to have received a citation for service in Atlanta this week. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the City Democratic Executive Committee and a member of the Third District Democratic Executive Committee. He held a current commission as lieutenant-colonel on the staff of Governor Ernest Vandiver, a distinction he also held under Governors M. E. Thompson and Ellis Arnold. He was formerly a member of the State Democratic Committee and chairman of the County Committee. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the First State Bank of Fitzgerald. Additional Comments: Compiler Notes: You will note in the name section, I have referred to him as Shepherd Green Pryor, I. His Grandfather was Shepherd Green Pryor, Sr, (1828- 1911) and is buried at The DeSoto Methodist Church Cemetery in Sumter County, Georgia. The changes were made at the suggestion of a family member. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb