Jack Threadgill Sr.

Family-Placed Death Notice

THREADGILL, Jack, Sr. Mr. Jack E. Threadgill, Sr. of Lake Point Drive, Carrollton passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 after an extended illness. Mr. Threadgill lived most of his 79 years in Carrollton, a community he loved and served in many capabilities throughout his life. He was a respected businessman, active volunteer and dedicated civil servant as well as a committed family man and leader in his church community. Mr. Threadgill was born on July 29, 1930 to James Earl and Ruby (Hendrix) Threadgill. He attended Carrollton City Schools and graduated from Carrollton High with the Class of 1947. He attended West Georgia College prior to enlisting in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Mr. Threadgill worked at the Atlanta Post Office, and attended Georgia State University at night pursuing an Accounting Degree which he earned in 1956. While attending Georgia State, he was a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, an officer in the Blue Key National Honor Society, and recognized by Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges. Mr. Threadgill earned his Certified Public Accountant designation in 1958. After graduation, Mr. Threadgill worked for the public accounting firm of Aronin, Van Houten and Company in Atlanta. He later opened a branch of this firm in Carrollton becoming the first practicing public accountant available to serve the business and individual needs in the community. Mr. Threadgill eventually bought out the interest of the Atlanta firm and became the managing partner in the accounting practice that grew with one employee to a practice with over 20 employees. Throughout his years as a public accountant in this region, Mr. Threadgill served his many clients in the public, private and government sectors with great integrity and commitment. He also helped many individuals navigate tax planning and personal wealth management with trustworthiness and consideration. Mr. Threadgill was one of the original investors back in 1971 in what has become one of Carrollton's most successful business, Systems and Methods, Inc. He was the first Chairman of the Board for SMI and continued as a Director until his retirement in 2008. During his long career in public accounting, Mr. Threadgill was active in many professional organizations and played an important role in promoting the profession within the Carroll County community and beyond. He was one of the organizers and the first President of the West Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Accountants, a successful chapter that earned a national award as the top chapter in its first year, 1980. He was also very active in the Georgia Society of CPA's by organizing the first chapter in the West Georgia area serving as its President that year. In the statewide organization, Mr. Threadgill held the position of Vice President, Committee Chairperson, Director at Large, and as an officer and director of the Society's Educational Foundation. For his many years of dedicated service to the GSCPAs, Mr. Threadgill was recognized with the Public Service Award in 1987 and the Distinguished Member Award in 1991. He was also a lifetime member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. After Mr. Threadgill retired from his public accounting practice, he ran for and was elected as the Tax Commissioner of Carroll County and assumed that office in January of 1993. During his tenure as Tax Commissioner, he oversaw the conversion of the Countys' records from a dated and inefficient manual system to computer based recordkeeping and implemented an effective system for better collection of delinquent taxes. Pursuing the elected office of Tax Commissioner was not Mr. Threadgill's only venture into politics. As a young man , he served as a State Representative in the Georgia General Assembly from 1967-1968. While he was a very effective and active Assemblyman, Mr. Threadgill, chose not to run for re-election at that time due to conflicts with his accounting practice back in Carrollton. Serving in an elected office was a lifetime goal of Mr. Threadgill and he was very honored to have been entrusted with the community's support I both of these roles. Mr. Threadgill's commitment to serving his community is also evident in his long history of involvement in various civic and charitable organizations. He was a member, director and President of the Carrollton Jaycees from 1957-1965. He became a member of the Kiwanis Club in 1958 and went on to become an active member, director and one time President of this organization. He was awarded the Legion of Honor Award, Human Spiritual Values Award and was chosen a George F. Hixon Fellow by the Carrollton Kiwanis Club. He was a proud member of the Golden K Club up until his passing. He also held leadership positions in the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Carroll County Board of Elections, Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Carrollton, and the Carrollton Payroll Development Authority. Mr. Threadgill was an active and long serving member of the Carroll County Democratic Committee beginning in 1962. He was given an Award of Excellence for Longtime Service by that organization in 2004. He also served his community with his involvement in the Boy Scouts of American, the American Cancer Society, the Carrollton High Booster Club and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Mr. Threadgill's incredible devotion to public service was noted early in his career when he was named Carrollton's Outstanding Man of the Year in 1961. Mr. Threadgill also dedicated his time and efforts to West Georgia College as he felt that it was an integral part of the community and provided invaluable resources to the business and private sectors in this area. He was a member and chairman of the West Georgia College Business Advisory Council and an honoree of the Bata Gamma Sigma Business Fraternity of WGC in 1989. He also served as a Trustee for the West Georgia Foundation and received an Award for Outstanding Service to that organization in 1996. Mr. Threadgill was a man of deep and abiding faith who held true to the charge in James 1:22"...be ye doers of the word and not hearers only..." (KJV). His life was spent in service and commitment to his church home, First United Methodist Church in Carrollton. He first came to Christ after a chance meeting with a member of Billy Graham Crusade who encouraged him to join their group. Mr. Threadgill was working at the Atlanta Post Office at the time and attending Georgia State University at night. While he chose not to join in their crusade, the encounter with those believers began Mr. Threadgill's journey in his Christian Faith. Throughout his association with First Methodist Church, Mr. Threadgill held leadership positions on the Administrative Board, Finance, Stewardship, Executive Building, Evangelism and Pastor-Parish Relations Committees. He was also a Stephen Ministries Leader as well as president of two Sunday School Classes - the Men's Bible and Believers Classes. He also served briefly as a charter member and Elder in the former Body of Christ Church in Carrollton and was an active member of the N. W. Georgia Walk to Emmaus. He will be missed dearly by his many surviving family members including his wife, Mary Gibson Threadgill, whom he married in April of 1978. Mr. Threadgill was predeceased by his first wife, Helen Chambers Threadgill, in January of 1977. He also leaves behind his children: Kathy (Lamont) Bell of Jacksonville, FL; John (Angela) Threadgill of San Francisco, CA; Jack Threadgill, Jr. (Carolyn Quarterman) of Cary, NC; Diane (Kyle) Seymour of Cincinnati, OH; and step-son Chris (Maribeth) Cunningham of Marietta, GA. His grandchildren are Adam and Ben (Penny) Daley of Jacksonville, FL; Daniel, Kimberly and A. J. Seymour of Cincinnati, OH; and Susan and Anne Cunningham of Marietta, GA; and one great-grandchild, Jason Daley of Jacksonville, FL. He is survived by one brother, Edwin Threadgill of Carrollton, and predeceased by his parents and one brother, Bruce Threadgill. Mr. Threadgill was blessed to have many dear and faithful friends particularly among his classmates of CHS class of 1947, his Believer's Sunday School Class at First Methodist and his close associates from his professional careers. He was a devoted and gracious friend to all who knew him and will be remembered for his quick wit, quite demeanor and strength of character. For those who would like to join in a celebration of Mr. Threadgill's life, a memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm on February 27, 2010. Interment will be in the Carrollton Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation with the family will be held the evening before from 5:00 to 8:00 at Almon Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Jack E. Threadgill, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o West Georgia Foundation, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, Carrollton First United Methodist Church, 206 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117, Tanner Hospice Care, P. O. Box 1136, Carrollton, GA 30112, or International Leadership Institute, P. O. Box 1005, Carrollton, GA 30112. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com. Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton in charge of arrangements.