Walter Guest Jr.

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Watson-Mathews Funeral Home - Montezuma

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Montezuma, Georgia

Walter Guest Obituary

Family-Placed Death Notice

Walter Harold Guest Jr. (Buddy) 68 of West Palm Beach Florida passed away Friday, July 18, 2003. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. in the Felton Cemetery in Montezuma, Georgia. Born in Macon County, he was the son of the late Walter Harold Guest Sr. and Claudia Cheves Guest. He was a graduate of Montezuma High School and attended the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. before serving two years in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division. He served as President of 2 Toastmaster Clubs, Talk of the Town and the Wellington Club of Palm Beach County. He is survived by his wife, Betty DeVaughn Guest of West Palm Beach, FL; sons, Walter Harold Guest III of Madison, Alabama; Elijah DeVaughn Guest of Atlanta, GA; Benton Cheves Guest of Alabaster, Alabama; grandchildren, Kaitlin Elizabeth Guest, Walter Lee Guest, Holly Marie Guest, Abigail Anne Guest, and Sarah Kathleen Guest, all of Madison, Alabama; Sarah Cassidy Guest, William Connor Guest and Benton Coleman Guest, all of Alabaster, Alabama; sister, Martha Ann Peavy of Barnesville, GA; brother, James Mitchell Guest of Jensen Beach, Florida. Family may be contacted at the DeVaughn Residence, 501 South Dooly Street, Montezuma, GA. 31063. Watson Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma, Georgia has charge of arrangements. 478-472-8191.

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Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jul. 21, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Walter Guest

Sponsored by Buddy's Toastmaster Friends.

13 Entries

Ethel Spencer

April 15, 2009

Guest Family,
I am praying for your peace of mind, and asking God to put a hedge of protection around all of you at this time of hurt and sorrow.

We all will surely miss Walt. I always enjoyed being with the Guest family. I also treasure the times spent in your lovely home. Walt was always such a great host, a kind gentleman, and a wonderful cook.

I am so very sorry for your loss, Jesus said, let not your heart be troubled... I do hope that your years of precious memories will help to comfort you.

Sherry Meltzer

August 22, 2003

I joined "Talk of the Town" over 5 years ago, and although I had not met Buddy,immediately heard of his fine reputation as an accomplished speaker and mentor.

As I began to grow within my role as a toastmaster, I looked forward to meeting Buddy and found his reputation to be an inspiration.

Earlier this year, I relocated to Wellington and joined the Wellington Toastmaster Club. During this time, I was affored the good fortune and opportunity to meet Buddy on two separate occasions. Although our meeting was brief, I immediately experienced the "Buddy" I had heard so much about. His poise, grace and kind nature were among only a few of the qualities I encountered. It may have been only a couple of moments, but I am proud to say, I met Buddy Guest!

Buddy was a prime example of the foundation of Toastmaster's, he gave so much and asked for so little.

I for one, will be honored to help keep his legacy going! I am grateful to Buddy for helping to pave the way, so I could experience so many opportunities as a member of both Toastmaster Clubs!

Sherry Meltzer

Jane Ford

August 21, 2003

Over a year ago Buddy came to my advanced healing class and posed a question. "My higher guidance told me in a dream that I was going to die. What do you think about that?"

One of the students responded by saying, "Well, I guess it means that you're going to die. Prepare yourself."

Buddy didn't want to hear that. He had a great love and appreciation for life. He still had things to do. However, within weeks he dropped out of the class and didn't return until it was discovered that he had cancer. By then I believe that his fate was already decided, and while he wanted to remain with us longer, that wasn't part of the master plan.

What an incredible gift Buddy had for healing! His presence is very much missed by the members of my class...his insight, his wisdom, his compassion and his determination. The world is a better place because of Buddy. Buddy we love you!

Vincent Foy

August 17, 2003

Buddy Guest was one of a kind. In a variety of ways, this gentleman from Georgia was a remarkable man. He was a man with considerable ability - an unusual man. He was a no-nonsense man. There weren't two ways about anything with Buddy Guest. He was a "straight answer" man. And yet, he was a thoughtful, considerate man. He was the definition of the word, friend.

Courage comes in many forms. There is he courage of the battlefield; the courage of the prize ring. Buddy Guest had a special courage. He fought without complaining, a battle against cancer - a battle he knew he was going to lose.

While he could take them, he welcomed telephone calls from friends. When I could no longer reach him by telephone, I wrote Buddy a note. I told him I was thinking about him; told him he was in my simple prayers. And, indirectly, I was trying to learn his condition - how he was doing. Buddy wrote back - he wrote me a note. He thanked me for thinking of him; thanked me for taking time to write to him. Then he added these words: "I am Spiritually Prepared."

Buddy Guest - one of a kind! And, Betty is a rare jewel.

Vincent Foy, member Toastmasters International Talk of the Town Club

Maria L. Corona

July 25, 2003

I have gotten to know Buddy by the many speeches from our veteran members. PK Sharma, and Margie Hernandez speak of Buddy's dedication and pledge to help our club become one of the best clubs around. We are still benefitting from his leadership and support.

Buddy you will always be our guest in our minds and hearts!

Maria

Susan Rascati

July 24, 2003

Buddy was a born leader and teacher. He was such a wise gentleman. He was inspirational

and encouraging to all. He loved people and he loved life. He was

such a great president of Wellington

Toastmasters; helping us get organized and off to a great start

as our first president. We will be inspired by his many words of wisdom. I know he is in a better place now but he will be missed by

all of us here in our Wellington TM

club. Our condolences are extended to his wife, Betty, and to all of his beloved family.

Tim Morell

July 23, 2003

It's not often that a friend's wisdom and kindness can be remembered exactly or can be relevant an life changing every time his words come to mind, but Buddy was kind enough to write down

what he said to me and later to our Wellington Toastmaster's club, so that even as memory fades, his words and meaning will stay with me and all who heard him.

Here is what he said:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,

always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative(and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and

splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamt would have come their way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

Thank you, BUDDY, and all my love and respect to you and your family,

Tim Morell

Tom Conboy

July 23, 2003

Buddy was a mentor to Freddy's Forum Toastmasters Club and was a key to starting a successful club. Much of what he taught us was how to help others, and by doing so help ourselves. I always loved to hear Buddy speak. His humor, enthusiasm and spirit for life came through brightly whenever he spoke.

Jeff Gronborg

July 22, 2003

Buddy was instrumental in the formation of our Freddy's Forum Toastmasters Club. We really enjoyed hearing his humorous stories and learning to improve our speaking. It was always a joy to see Buddy at a Toastmasters event and I will miss him. May God provide comfort for his family.

Watson Mathews Funeral Home

July 22, 2003

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

Gina Rascati

July 21, 2003

Buddy Guest was a dear, dear friend who will be greatly missed by me.

I first met Buddy as a member of the Sunset Speakers Toastmasters Club. He was the club "mentor" and personally helped me tremendously. I will miss his wisdom, not only about speaking but of life in general.

I will miss his story telling and his speeches. The last formal speech he gave was about his life long battle with good versus evil.

The story took us from his childhood mischief making days(like, his lighting the drapes on fire) to more adult concerns and how he handled and learned from each. He made us laugh and he made us cry. He always had something to teach us.

He expressed a deep love of and trust of his wife Betty and love of and pride in his children. He told me once that his own father was very hard on him and that he vowed to never be that way with his own sons, who he loved very much.

Buddy was a born leader and is impossible to replace. I miss him much and I am only comforted to remind myself that I have been lucky to have known him for the brief time that I have and to have served under his leadership as he was the first President of the Wellington Toastmasters club.

with much sympathy to his family and friends,

Gina Rascati

Diana Loy

July 20, 2003

Buddy regaled the Toastmasters in Palm Beach County, FL with stories gleaned from his interest in history and of his boyhood adventures. He told us about raising rabbits and tomatoes and various other schemes he tried there in Georgia.

He will be sorely missed here. He helped to start 3 different clubs and could always be counted on to remind us of the right way to do things. I feel keenly the loss of a fellow Southerner, being from Arkansas and speaking the same language. He called it "talking Southern."

Even more, I'll miss someone I could absolutely count on. My condolences to Betty and the family. Know that he is remembered kindly by those of us who knew him.

With love and admiration,

Diana Loy