Joe "Sam" Linson Rabun

Joe Sam Linson Rabun, 93, of Louisville, died on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Sam was born on November 7, 1931 in Jefferson County, Louisville, the late Macy Terry Rabun and the late James Robert Rabun. He was a graduate of Louisville Academy and a graduate of Athens Business School in Athens. He was a proud veteran serving in the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet during the Korean War, serving aboard the USS Pasig, the USS Diphda and at the Guam Naval Base.

 Sam married the late Dorothy “Dot” Stewart Rabun in 1952, and were married for over 70 years. After they married, they lived in California until Sam finished his Navy commitment. Then they moved back to Athens and later Macon, where their children were born. During the time they lived in Athens and Macon, Sam was employed as a manager in a Dairy Supply business. After 15 years, they relocated to Louisville on the Rabun land that had been in Sam’s family for generations. In 1970, Sam started a career at Jefferson Energy Cooperative in Jefferson County as office manager, ultimately becoming the General Manager from 1974-79. Sam then ran a farming operation on the family property near Clark’s Mill Pond in Louisville.

 In 1988, Sam joined the Jefferson Energy Cooperative Board of Directors until 2012, serving as Board Chairman in 2006 and 2007. In 1996, he became a Director of the Oglethorpe Power Board. Sam also represented Jefferson Energy on the Georgia Energy Cooperative Board as a Director and as Vice Chairman from 2001-2012. Sam was dedicated to the electric membership cooperatives in which he was associated, providing leadership at the local, state, and national levels over a period of 33 years.

 Sam also served on the Boards of Directors for Bartow Academy in Bartow, GA and Thomas Jefferson Academy in Louisville, GA. He was an ordained Deacon at Old Bethel Baptist Church in Bartow and a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Wrens Baptist Church in Wrens, where he was a current member. He was a member of the American Legion Post 229 and a member of Stonewall Masonic Lodge 98.

 Sam was a man of deep faith and admirable character, known for his wisdom and his wit. He valued hard work and was active in his church and community. Sam deeply loved his family, and, along with Dot, created a wonderful home that his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren enjoyed returning to for many years. 

 In addition to Sam’s parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Lamar P. Rabun and James Robert Rabun Jr.; sisters-in-law Charlotte Rabun, Allene Rabun, Sue Stewart, Myra Stewart, Betty Grizzard; brothers-in-law Billy Gibson, C.J. Stewart Jr., Martin Grizzard; and two nephews Maron Rabun and Lamar P. Rabun, Jr.

 Survivors include his daughter, Dottie Lewis (Ike), of Greensboro, and his son, Robert Rabun (Connie), of Avera; grandsons Luke Rabun (Katy) of Elmira, Oregon, Chip Lewis (Callie), of Kailua, Hawaii, and Rabun Lewis (Laney), of Atlanta; six great-grandchildren, Walker Lewis, Beau Rabun, Ena Lewis, Guy Lewis, Blaise Lewis, and Sally Lewis; his sister Mary Gibson and his brother William Rabun both of Louisville; brother-in-law Wilburn Stewart of Claxton; sister-in-law Vivian Ledford (JD) of Young Harris; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

 Honorary pallbearers are Sam’s nephews, Mark Stewart, Kenny Stewart, Stacy Grizzard, Dr. Stewart Grizzard, Dan Gibson, Dr. Clint Ledford and Rob Rabun, together with the present and past Board Members of Jefferson Energy Cooperative. 

 Dottie and Robert are greatly appreciative for the dignity, compassion, and care provided by The Harbor at Harmony Crossing in Eatonton, Haven Memory Care of Athens, and Family Hospice of Athens during the last years of their father’s life.

 To celebrate and honor Sam’s life, a visitation will be held from 10:30AM-12:30PM Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Wrens Baptist Church. The funeral service will follow at 1:30PM with Rev. Mason Davis, Rev. Larry Montgomery and Rev. Bill Thigpen officiating.

 The burial service with military honors will be held at 11:00AM Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville.

 The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Wrens Baptist Church, PO Box 217, Wrens GA 30833 or to The Gideons International, https://gideons.org.