Newspaper Page Text
The ADVANCE, June 9, 2021 /Page 8A
aHie Ahuance
Obituaries
Mr. Hugh McNatt
Hugh Brown McNatt
died Tuesday, June 1,
2021. He was a trial lawyer
extraordinaire for more
than fifty years, an effec
tive advocate who could
express intricate matters
in a way all could under
stand. As he so aptly put it:
“I’ll get the corn down to
where the cows can eat it.”
He left an indelible mark
on Georgia’s legal commu
nity, Georgia politics, his
many friends, and his dear
family.
Hugh was born on
June 23, 1946, in Uvalda,
Georgia, to the late Lillian
Sanders and Hugh Brown
McNatt, who imparted
many life lessons, includ
ing the importance of
hard work, humility, and a
dedication to helping oth
ers. Hugh grew up in Uval
da and attended Mont
gomery County public
schools, where he excelled
in the classroom and on
the football field as an of
fensive lineman. His fa
ther passed away suddenly
while Hugh was in high
school. Hugh’s rambunc
tious personality eventual
ly exceeded the confines of
Montgomery County. Fol
lowing his father’s death,
he went to Atlanta, where
he attended Druid Hills
High School. He again ex
celled as a student and as
an athlete. Hugh attended
Mercer University and
Mercer University School
of Law. He flourished in
law school, excelling in ac
ademics and was an Editor
of the Mercer Law Review.
Upon graduation from law
school, Hugh began prac
ticing law in Lyons, Geor
gia, with his mentor and
cousin, the late T. Malone
Sharpe.
Hugh immediately be
gan trying cases in South
Georgia, where he honed
his trial skills razor sharp.
After becoming the go-to
lawyer south of the “gnat
line” he was soon trying
cases all over Georgia and
throughout the southeast.
Mrs. Joyce Castillo
Mrs. Joyce Castillo, age
64, of the South Thompson
Community, died on Tues
day, June 1, 2021, in Me
morial Health Meadows
Hospital in Vidalia after a
brief illness.
Mrs. Castillo was
born in Douglas, as a child
moved to Montgomery
County, where she lived
until she moved to Toombs
County in 2014. She was a
homemaker. She was pre
ceded in death by her par
ents, Bernard Johnson and
Hugh developed a na
tional reputation as a trial
lawyer. His proudest mo
ments were representing
the electric utility industry
across Georgia.
In 1979, Hugh mar
ried the love of his life,
Lynn Morris McNatt of
Vidalia. Hugh and Lynn
became an inseparable
team who welcomed cli
ents and friends into their
homes. They created and
developed relationships
which enriched their lives.
Hugh worked with clients
during the day; he and
Lynn entertained them
at night. Hugh cherished
his relationships with his
clients, many of whom be
came his best friends.
Hugh was an old
time trial lawyer with a
throw-back style. How
ever, underneath his rustic
personality was a highly
sophisticated lawyer and a
formidable mind. In court
Hugh used the force of
his strong personality to
subtlety direct the course
of a trial to achieve the
best results for his client.
He was a tireless worker
keenly focused and driven
by a sense of purpose. As
he said: “Anything worth
doing is worth over-do
ing.” He was a consum
mate professional to any
one who worked with or
against him. He was well
known and respected by
the federal and state judi
ciary throughout Georgia.
He was truly an artisan in
the practice of law.
Hugh was a voracious
reader and an avid student
of history. He had an en
cyclopedic recollection of
the events and the people
who made history. He nev
er stopped learning.
He was a member
of the Uvalda Methodist
Church and also a member
of the Clayton First Meth
odist Church in Clayton,
Georgia. He regularly
taught Sunday school
at both churches. Hugh
started Kids’ Chance, Inc.,
a charity which provides
scholarships to children
whose parents were killed
or catastrophically injured
in a worker’s compensa
tion accident. Each year
Hugh hosted the “Bird
Supper” at the Trolley
Barn on Edgewood Av
enue in Atlanta, where he
served fried quail, grits
and gumbo to raise money
for Kids’ Chance. He usu
ally attended in his bird
hunting attire and always
recognized that year’s
Cleo Walkup Johnson; 2
sisters, Fannie Ruth Dur
den and Christen John
son; and 1 brother, Melvin
Johnson.
Survivors include her
husband of 40 years, Le
andro Castillo of South
Thompson; 3 children,
Jesse Castillo of South
Thompson, Haley Phelps
and husband Charles of
Lyons, and Sonni Castillo
ofVidalia; 3 grandchildren,
Jaden Braddy, Jaslin Phelps,
and Mackenzie Phelps; 2
brothers, Raymond John
son and wife Marilyn of
Tarrytown, and Gail John
son and wife Theresa of
Mt. Vernon; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
Memorial contribu
tions may be made to the
charity of your choice.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
scholarship recipients.
The Bird Supper became
and remains a major event
in the legal and political
community.
Hugh prided himself
on knowing someone in
every corner of Georgia.
Whether in the back-
woods of Toombs County
or in downtown Atlanta,
Hugh was equally at home.
However, he never strayed
far from his Uvalda roots.
He always maintained an
office and a home in Vida
lia, though he also spent
time in Atlanta and at his
mountain home in Clay
ton, Georgia.
Hugh was a connec
tor and nurturer of people.
He willingly shared his
largesse with everyone,
especially junior lawyers.
He loved to pass down
lessons in life and law to
junior lawyers. Under his
tutelage, these lawyers de
veloped their practices as
a reflection of Hugh and
his legacy. Hugh was in
strumental in building the
Georgia offices of Balch &
Bingham LLP, where he
was a partner at the time
of his death.
Hugh was an avid
wing shooter and loved
the outdoors. He espe
cially enjoyed quail hunt
ing and spent a great deal
of time studying the quail
- its life cycle and habitat.
Hugh connected with the
land and took a special in
terest in molding the earth
to protect this great bird.
Hugh was in his element
driving the buggy, watch
ing pointer bird dogs and
flushing cockers work the
elusive quail. At night after
the hunt, Hugh and Lynn
entertained hunter friends
and guests on a grand
scale.
As a lawyer, he won
many awards. He was
proudest of The Tradition
of Excellence Award and
the Thomas O. Marshall
Professionalism Award he
received from the State
Bar of Georgia. He was a
member of many organiza
tions including: the Amer
ican College of Trial Law
yers of which he served as
President, the American
Board of Trial Advocates,
and the International So
ciety of Barristers.
Hugh was a fine hus
band and father, a supreme
lawyer, a great friend, and
the best mentor. He leaves
a large wake, a multitude of
friends, law partners and a
wonderful family. Hugh is
survived by his wife, Lynn
Mr. James Poole
Mr. James Robert
“Bobby” Poole, age 64, of
Cedar Crossing, died on
Thursday, June 3, 2021, at
Bacon County Hospital
after an extended illness.
Mr. Poole was a life
long resident of Cedar
Crossing and a 1974
graduate of Toombs Cen
tral School. He was a
truck driver and worked
for NeeSmith Timber
Company for many years.
He was a member of the
Cedar Crossing Baptist
Morris McNatt ofVidalia;
his daughter Heather Mc
Natt Hennessey, her hus
band Michael and their
son Brian of Winchester,
Virginia; his daughter
Holly McNatt Kirklighter,
her husband Taff and chil
dren Hayden McNatt, Vic
toria “Lauren” Kirklighter,
and Taff Kirklighter, Jr. of
Albany, Georgia; son Joe
Glen Gay and wife Bev
erly of Waynesboro, Geor
gia; granddaughter Jessica
Harrison and husband Mi
chael of Omega, Georgia;
daughter Terri M. Gay of
Vidalia; grandson Burt A.
“Tony” Swancey, Jr. and
wife Libby who reside in
Metter, Georgia; as well
as several great-grandchil
dren.
The funeral service
was held at 11:00 a.m.
on Friday, June 4, at the
Uvalda City Cemetery,
with Pastor Warren Hud
dleston, David Ratcliff,
Larry Walker, Ray Per
sons, and Hugh Peterson
III officiating.
Pallbearers were Hugh
Peterson III, Craig Barrs,
Ray Davis, Josh Archer,
Jim Miller III and Matt
Mobley.
Honorary pallbearers
were Mike Garrett, Tom
Moore, Allen Franklin,
Dwight Evans, Ed Hol
land, Dudley Bowen,
Hugh Lawson, Bill Wilson,
John Colvin, Sandy Moret,
John Stanford, Mike Clan
ton, Randy Young, Len-
don Gibbs, Gene Hodges,
Carlton Chambers, John
Hardy, Marion Pope,
John Thomas and Lindsay
Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, the
family requests contribu
tions be made to: Hugh
& Lynn McNatt Kids’
Chance Scholarship Fund
Kids’ Chance of Georgia,
Inc., Attn: Lynda Smith,
P.O. Box 922381, Nor-
cross, Georgia 30010 or
Hugh B. McNatt Endowed
Scholarship at Mercer
University Law School.
Please make checks pay
able to Mercer University
and indicate Hugh B. Mc
Natt Scholarship in the
memo line. Mail to: Mer
cer University Office of
Advancement, 1501 Mer
cer University Drive, Ma
con, Georgia 31207.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Full Paid Obituary
Church. He is preceded in
death by his father, James
William “Willie” Poole.
Survivors include his
mother, Mary Ann Poole
of Cedar Crossing; and 1
brother, Dale Poole and
wife Teresa, and 1 spe
cial great-niece, Courtney
Sanders, all of Uvalda.
The funeral was held
on Sunday, June 6, 2021,
at 3:00 p.m., in the cha
pel of Ronald V. Hall Fu
neral Home, with Bishop
Gilbert Wommack and
Pastor Billy Bratton offi
ciating. Burial followed in
the Cedar Crossing Cem
etery.
Pallbearers were Gary
Caraway, Ken Garrett,
Danny Graham, Joe Hart,
Kevin Hart, and Gary
NeeSmith.
Ronald V. Hall
FUNERAL HOME
"Memories, of a Lifetime of Love"
Mrs. Libby Parrish
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth
“Libby” Powell Parrish, age
78, ofVidalia, passed away
on Thursday, June 3, 2021,
at her residence.
Mrs. Parrish was born
on May 24,1943, in Dublin,
GA, to the late Clyde De
witt and Annie Myrtle Mer
cer Powell. She had worked
as a seamstress at Oxford of
Lyons for most of her work
ing life and loved her family
very much! In addition to
her parents, she was preced
ed in death by her husband,
Elmer Ray Parrish; and a
granddaughter, Kristina
Gonzalez.
She is survived by her
son, Danny Wayne Par
rish; two daughters, Ol
ivia Suzie Gonzalez (Jose)
and Cynthia Louise Par
rish Lyle (James); one
brother, Darvin Dewitt
Powell (Delories); twelve
grandchildren, Jennifer
Meacham, Angie Quinn,
James Lyle, Dusty Lyle
(Hannah), Andy Gonzalez,
Juba Gonzalez, David Gon
zalez (Becky), Lisa Gon
zalez, Rebecca Gonzalez,
Matthew Gonzalez, Aar
on Conrad, and Heather
Rozer; seven great-grand
children, Justin Meacham,
Hannah Meacham, Cassie
Meacham, Luke Samuel
Lyle, and three others; and
several nieces and nephews.
The family received
friends on Monday, June 7,
2021, from 1:30 p.m. until
2:00 p.m. at Snowhill Com
munity Church. Funeral
services followed at 2:00
p.m. at the church, with Pas
tor W.R. Connell, David
Gonzalez, and Pastor Da
vid Alpnic, Sr., officiating.
Graveside service and in
terment followed at Mount
Vernon Memorial Park.
Pallbearers were: Dusty
Lyle, David Gonzalez, Andy
Gonzalez, Chris Powell,
Jose Gonzalez, James Lyle,
and Justin Meacham.
Online condolences
may be sent through our
website: www.roberts-stew-
artfuneralhome.com.
ROBERTS - STEWART
FUNERAL HOME
Full Paid Obituary
Joondeph
continued from page 5A
who seemingly should
know better, MSNBC
crank Joy
Reid, boasting about
jogging outside wearing
two masks despite being
fully vaccinated. From the
network constantly
shrieking “follow the
science,” what science is
she following?
Is she suffering from
Stockholm Syndrome
after her network spent
the past five years keeping
their handful of viewers
hostage over Trump-
Russian collusion,
Mueller, the “walls closing
in” on Trump, and COVID
propaganda? Is she simply
virtue signaling? Or is she
just an ignoramus?
To each his own.
Those who want to mask
and goggle up forever
despite having COVID
and natural immunity or
vaccine-induced
immunity, are free to do
so.
Actor, now public
health expert, Matthew
McConaughey
wants masks forever.
Considering running for
Texas governor, he “is
going to bat for universal
mask wearing, expressing
his belief that it does not
take away an individual’s
identity or freedom and
asserting that no data
exists showing the
practice as harmful.”
There is also no data
that wearing a helmet
constantly or using a
seatbelt when sitting in a
chair is harmful either,
and might actually prevent
a few falls or head injuries,
but is he advocating for
those? Does he suffer
from Stockholm
Syndrome or simply
idiocy?
Disgraced journalist
Dan Rather has it partially
right when he tweeted,
“I’m confused. Why
should people care if
someone wants to wear a
mask outside?” Again, to
each his own. Would he
be similarly apathetic if
someone wanted to carry
a firearm outside, as per
the 2nd Amendment? Or
wear a MAG A hat? Or a
Please see Joondeph
page13A
© CeMtiafc t/te Lfa off &
William "Bill" Vinson Jones
1955-2020
Saturday, June 79
Providence Baptist Church, Lyons
Slideshow and Visitation - 1 P.M.
Service - 2 P.M.
Everyone is welcome
(v£.V» A t ^ ^ r cwi)
wlqas