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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 15. 2009 — PAGE 5A ‘Southern gentleman’ Floyd remembered for quick wit, love of people Howard Floyd Photo courtesy of Melissa Tufts By Margie Richards margie@mainstreetnews.com H oward Floyd was a masterful and humorous sto ryteller, quick-witted, but always the gentleman, who could remember “everything,” according to those who knew and loved him - and that appears to be most of the county. Floyd, 84, died at his home Sunday. A long-time Madison County resident, historian, poet, musician and lifelong member of Mt. Flermon Presbyterian Church, his fel low parishioners knew some thing must be wrong when he didn’t show up for ser vices that morning and went to check on him, finding that he had passed away. Floyd was bom in Elbert County, the son of Mark and Myrtle Thompson Floyd. Fie was married for 46 years to the late Ernestine Floyd. He was the father of two daugh ters, Melanie Casatelli, of Alpharetta and Betsy Booth, of Allen, Texas, and the grand father of four. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a retiree of the postal service - he served as postmaster in Danielsville from 1969 to 1980. Floyd received his 50-year certificate from the American Legion and was a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1952. He also was a member of the local library board - working as part of the building committee in the mid-1980’s. After his retirement, he worked at Brown’s Funeral Home and later at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home in Danielsville for many years, bringing comfort to those who lost their loved ones. “Howard was a true Southern gentleman,” long-time friend Charlotte Bond said. “He was careful with his words - he was quick to make you laugh and careful not to offend any one if at all possible.” “Being the historian he was, he was in the process of writing his memories about Madison County, and though the ‘pen ran dry’ before he finished his goal, I hope we will be allowed at some time in the future to read about the things he held so dear, his view of Madison County his tory,” Bond added. Bond also knew Howard as a “boss,” having worked for him for as a mail carrier when he was postmaster. “I can honestly say that he was the best person to work for in my entire work life,” she said of those days. But her best memories of him come from his joy in, and love of, his family. “He loved talking about his beautiful wife and his precious daughters,” she said. “The (mail) carriers were privy to a lot of home life tales - some were true, some were conjec ture and most invoked a roar of laughter, but all were said with a gleam in his eye that revealed what his family meant to him - everything.” Fhs good friend and fellow parishioner Pat Carithers also remembers his humor, grace and his love of people and the church. He was also “progressive” in his views toward women for a man of his day and age - some thing Carithers came to know when he asked her to serve as an Elder at Mt. Hermon. “This was the early eighties or late seventies, back in the day when women were just beginning to fill those types of positions,” Carithers remembers. “I was surprised and I also felt unwor thy to be asked.” But Carithers said Floyd assured her that their church, as any other, was full of “less- than-perfect” people and that what mattered was that she tried. “I accepted and Fm sure that the request (for my service) came from the board at his instigation,” she said. Carithers also noted that Floyd had strong views on a church’s duty to the outside world. “He had a strong belief that not only should individuals tithe, but that a church should also tithe,” Carithers said. “He believed a church should not spend all the money it had on itself alone.” “(He was) a good soul and one of the funniest people on the planet,” friend MelissaTufts said, noting that he was still serving on the session of Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. In fact, as Carithers noted, he was called back from retire ment as an Elder because his counsel was so highly valued by all who knew him. He lived on Floyd Road (named after him) in the Rogers Mill community and. according to Tufts, enjoyed and appreciated his neighbors, no matter if they were old- timers or newcomers to the county. “He was always very gener ous and well-spoken,” Tufts said. “We loved hearing his stories, and his jokes always cracked us up because he was so good at delivering them.” “He will be truly missed,” Carithers said. Floyd was interred Wednesday in the cemetery at Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church in Ha. Heating assistance available for those 65 and older Heating assistance will be available beginning Nov. 2 for households in which every member is 65 and older, or in which every member of the house is unable to leave the home due to health reasons. The Georgia Department of Human Resources will help pay heating costs for gas, electricity, wood, coal or kero sene. One-time payments will be made by checks issued to the home energy suppliers on behalf of eligible households. Eligibility for the program is based on the income of every one living in the home. All eligible households must be responsible for their home heating bills. When applying for assistance, persons will be required to present verification of age for everyone in the home, verifi cation of all household income received within the past 30 days (check stubs, public assistance checks, unemployment checks, etc. ) They will need to provide verification of Social Security numbers for everyone in the home and the most recent home heating bill. Depending on the availability of the funds, the regular program will open to the general public Dec. 1. All interested applicants are asked to contact the Ninth District Opportunity Inc. after 8:30 a.m. by telephone (1-800-822-0179) on the date of the program they qualify for. “No walkins, please,” organizers said. Additional infor mation will be made available online at www.ndo.org. NOW HEAR THIS! 143 McAlpin, Winterville 3/2 brick home. Needs work. “As Is” Will sell, trade, rent or finance. Call 706-795-5025 City of Colbert ACCEPTING BIDS The City of Colbert is accepting bids for drive way grading and applying four inches of crusher run gravel plus packing with a roller on approximately 450 x 12 ft. of driveway in the Colbert Cemetery. Details can be obtained at the Colbert City Hall. Deadline for bids is Friday, October 23 at 1:00 p.m. $1,000,000 of liability insurance is required. Mayor and Council City of Colbert Industrial authority to meet Monday The Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, in the historic old counhouse in the center of Danielsville. Agenda items include: •Adopt 2010 budget and set 2009 millage rate. •Financial report. •Water request: Neese Diamond Hill Road - Brewer Phillips Road. •Utility director report: a. billing report; 2008 water system expansion update; and Harrison water system update. •Other IDA-related issues: Hull-Sanford sewer project update; water supply agreement with Franklin County; Engineering - Armentrout, Roebuck & Matheny. Madison County Relay meeting set for Oct. 26 A planning meeting for the 2010 Madison County Relay for Life will be held Monday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at Union Baptist Church on Hwy. 106. “Calling all Madison County community members — are you a leader, a go-getter?” organizers asked. “Are you look ing to promote your business, make a name for yourself, get ahead or just make a difference? If so, the Relay For Life of Madison County is currently recruiting volunteer leaders with all types of skill sets.” Relay planners said “that anyone and everyone” is wel come to come and learn more at an information and planning meeting Oct. 26. Those with questions can contact Katie Cullinan, American Cancer Society staff partner at katie.cullinan@caner.org or (706) 549-4893. “We look forward to seeing you there,” Relay leaders said. $ 5 °°0FF Ticket Of s 2Cf° Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Braselton 173 Steven B. 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