Joseph Floyd Childs, Sr.
Feb 05, 1927 - Jan 30, 2013
Gray, GA- Joseph Floyd Childs, Sr., 85, of Stewart Avenue, died Wednesday, January 30, 2013, in a local hospital. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00pm, Friday in the Old Sanctuary at Gray United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, February 02, 2013, in the Family Life Center of Gray United Methodist Church, with burial following at Highview Cemetery in Gray. Rev. Ricky Varnell will officiate.
Mr. Childs was born in Gray on February 05, 1927, and was a life-long resident. The son of the late Dauphin Vesro Childs, Sr. and Florence Greene Childs, he was a graduate of Jones County High School, Georgia Military Academy and the University of Georgia. During World War II, Mr. Childs served his country with honor as a member of the United States Navy. Upon his return to civilian life, he worked as the co-owner of Gray Feed, Seed and Fertilizer and also served as the Chairman of the Board for the Bank of Gray.
Mr. Childs was instrumental in his community, serving as a member of the City of Gray Volunteer Fire Department, he helped form the Jones County Little League Baseball organization and was a member of the American Legion. His faith was evident as he was the oldest current member of Gray United Methodist Church, having joined the church seventy-five years ago, when he was eleven years old, and being very active in the church ever since. Mr. Childs was also a great lover of sports, following the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons and the Georgia Bulldogs. He was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters and by a granddaughter: Mallory Childs.
Mr. Childs is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-five years: Betty Jean Childs; children and spouses: Jody and Kenny Faulkner, Joe and Janne Childs, Flo and Joey Wilson and Alan and Loray Childs; sister: Alice Golson; grandchildren and spouses: Jason and Caryn Faulkner, Cam and Katherine Childs, Ashley and Roger Wood, Lindsay Wilson, Lauren Wilson and Megan Childs; and by a great-grandson: Wade Faulkner.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Gray United Methodist Church Building Fund, 117 South Jefferson Street, Gray, Georgia 31032.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Mr. Childs' caregivers: Beryl Hogan and Felicia Trawick.
The family may be contacted at the residence at 138 Stewart Avenue in Gray.
Bridges Funeral Home and Crematory in Gray has charge of arrangements. Please visit the online memorial at: www.bridgesfh.com.
Published in The Telegraph on February 1, 2013
