Ralph McGahee

Ralph L. McGahee

Wrens, GA  – Ralph Lewis McGahee, 76, loving husband of 55 years to Evelyn Hayes McGahee,  entered into rest Sunday night, February 24, 2013 at Gibson Health & Rehab Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, March 1, 2013 in the James Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Stan Littleton and Rev. John A. Jenkins officiating. Interment will follow in Wrens Memorial Cemetery.

Ralph was the 12th of 16 children born to the late Louis Alene Humphry McGahee and the late Linsey Clifford McGahee and was a lifelong resident of Jefferson County.  After 27 years of service as a Quality Control Supervisor, he retired from J. M. Huber and then drove a school bus for 15 years for Jefferson County School System until the day he had a stroke. He loved his Lord and Savior, his country, his church and his community—13 years in the Army National Guard, a member of Wrens United Methodist Church, on the Wrens City Council, a Volunteer Fireman and EMT, member of the Jefferson County School Bus Association, member of Purvis School House Community Center, member of the Wrens Jaycees, leader for Boy Scouts, member of Raysville Boat Club and coached football. Ralph also loved gospel music and was a member of two quartets—Southern Song Masters and Singing Witnesses—as well as hosted the WTHO Sunday Morning Southern Gospel Hour. He was most known for his generosity, especially his time. He cherished each moment with his family and friends, and loved “making memories”.

Ralph is also preceded in death by his great granddaughter, Markayla Wright; and ten siblings, James McGahee, C. Y. McGahee, Marion Davis, John McGahee, Gladys Willis, Mary Lee McGahee, Glenn McGahee, Elton Ray McGahee, Martha Rogers, and Ed McGahee. Other survivors include his daughters, Sharon M. Schmidt (Freddie), Lynn M. Gay (Billy), Tammy M. Graham (Jimmy) and Kaye M. Lacy; five siblings, Melvin McGahee (Mary), Frances Bradley, Harold McGahee (Marie), D. W. McGahee, and Fay McGahee (Ann); seven grandchildren, William Schmidt (Leigh Ann), Brandie G. Kurtz (Daniel), Jasmine Wright, Candice Graham, Willie Lacy and Jada Lacy; seven great grandchildren, Landon Schmidt, Lucas Schmidt, Addison Schmidt, Artavin "Ta" Hannah, Arthur "Trey" Hannah, Kaleb Price and William “Liam” Kurtz; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.  Pallbearers will be Clinton Braswell, Bruce Dye, Clifford Farmer, Henry Johnson, Wylie Prescott and Phillip Roberson. Honorary pallbearers will be his fellow J. M. Humber co-workers, member of the football teams he coached and members of Jefferson County School Bus Association.

Memorials may be made to Wrens United Methodist Church, 202 Russell St, Wrens GA 30833.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff—“family”—of Gibson Health & Rehab Center for their compassionate, professional care.
************************************
Everything Has Its Time
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (NKJ)

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.

---