William Bates "Bill" Hambright Sr.

William Bates "Bill" Hambright, Sr. -MACON - William Bates "Bill" Hambright, Sr., much loved husband, father, and "Papa", of 5300 Zebulon Road, Macon, died on Saturday, July 3, 2004. He was 90. -Mr. Hambright was born in Charleston, Tennessee the oldest of three children to Caroline Perry Bates and William Lafayette Hambright on July 15, 1913. He attended Georgia Tech and was employed by Atlanta Gas Light Co. in Atlanta until 1962 when he transferred to Macon as regional vice-president. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1978. -He was active in numerous organizations in the community including Mulberry Street United Methodist Church (chairman of the board), Macon Rotary Club from 1962 (president, 1985), Macon Shield Club (president), Board of Trustees for twenty years for Wesleyan College, Middle Georgia Rose Society, and the Georgia Tech alumni association. He was an avid rose gardener and talented wood-worker. He shared his roses and handcrafted furniture with many family and friends. -Mr. Hambright is survived by his wife of 21 years, Elsie Lowden Maxwell Hambright, his children William Bates Hambright, Jr. of Kingsport, TN and Jan Hambright Brown (Larry) of Macon; his step-children Susan Maxwell Brainerd (Alan Quinby) of Longboat Key, FL, Ann Maxell of Highlands, NC, and Bert Maxwell, III, (Mardi) of Macon; his grandchildren Wendy Brown Sherlock (Joel) of Forsyth, Bonnie Brown Leicht (Bruce), and Julie Brown both of Macon; his step-grandchildren Margery Maxwell of Arlington, VA, Bert Maxwell, IV and Dorothy Maxwell both of Macon, Judy Brainerd Roth of Madison, CT, and Elizabeth Brainerd of Amherst, MA; and his great-grandchildren Sophia Irene Leicht, Rabun Bates Leicht, and Eliza Rose Leicht. He was preceded in death by his former wife of 43 years, Irene Chesnutt Hambright. -The family will greet friends in the Grand Ballroom of Carlyle Place from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Monday, July 5, 2004. Services will be held Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 11AM at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church with the Reverend Creede Hinshaw, Bishop C. W. Hancock, and Dr. William Hurdle officiating. Burial will be private in Riverside Cemetery. -In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 149, Macon, GA 31208, the Macon Rotary Club c/o Bill Epps, 389 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201, or the Middle Georgia Rose Society. -Harts Mortuary has charge of the arrangements. William Hambright