David Anthony "Tony" Prather

VISITATION
Friday, January 17, 2025 From 05:00pm to 08:00pm
Meadows Funeral Home
760 Hwy 11 S
Monroe, Georgia
FUNERAL INFORMATION
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 01:00pm
Chapel of Meadows Funeral Home
Monroe, Georgia
INTERMENT
Resthaven Cemetery
Monroe, Georgia
OBITUARY
David
Anthony Prather, known as Tony by his closest family & friends, passed away
after battling cancer & a massive stroke on December 24th, 2024. Tony was born in Good Hope, GA on February 28th, 1945 to Hazel Barnes Prather & Iris Paul Prather.
Tony lived in Good Hope, GA until he was 3 years old when his dad
moved their family to West Palm Beach, FL. His dad passed away shortly after
they moved from damage to his heart that Scarlet Fever caused him as a child.
His mother re-married several years later to William "Bill" Haynes. Tony grew
up with his sister, Paula Prather, his mom, step dad, & two half siblings,
Leigh & Matt Haynes. They moved to Clarkesville, TN several years later
where Tony attended Austin Peay University, graduating with a Batchelor of
Science degree. He spent his teen years in Milledgeville, GA at GMC attending
high school & playing football. He then moved to Monroe, GA for his Senior
year at Monroe Area High School where he also played football.
He was drafted into the Army after graduating from college, where
he served 2 years during the Vietnam War, stationed in Hawaii.
As a little boy & through many of his teen years Tony spent his
summers in Good Hope with his Great Grandparents, I.M. & Bessie Thompson,
& many of his cousins which included Matt Thompson, Brannan Thompson, Jr.,
Tommy Vandiver, & Jib Barnes. He learned the art of making a deal, whether
it was trading hunting dogs, land, or cows. He mastered hunting,
shooting, fishing, taking care of farm animals, & hard work from his great
grandad.
He grew up spending a lot of time at the beach with his mom, &
sister, Paula. He loved snorkeling, scuba diving, crabbing, surfing, fishing,
& boating so much that he continued it while stationed in Hawaii where he
became a scuba diving instructor.
After his discharge from the Army he returned home to his beloved
Good Hope to be close to his family of Great Grandmother, Great Aunts &
Uncles, cousins, & friends where he continued to live throughout the
majority of his adult life. When returning to Good Hope from his service in the
Army he met the love of his life, Teresa Gravette, from Loganville, GA. They
just celebrated their 50th
Anniversary on September 1st, 2024.
They have three children, Holly, Isaac, & Jacob Prather, along with ten
grandchildren, & one great grandchild to arrive in February 2025. He
eventually purchased half of his great grandparent's estate where he spent his
favorite summers. He built a lake, a pond, & his & Teresa's dream home.
He was always happiest in Good Hope. He loved feeding & nurturing the
birds, horses, dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, & deer. He loved anything
outdoors. He would plant beautiful roses, pots of flowers for the porches,
& gardens for Teresa.
He was hired by AgSouth Farm Credit in Madison where he served as
Sr. Vice President, retiring after 34 years of service. During his years at
AgSouth Farm Credit, Tony also farmed thousands of acres in Good Hope &
surrounding areas of wheat, soybeans, & sorghum. He raised 8 houses of
poultry, beef cattle, & hogs for many years. He participated in the
commodities market, as well as the Agricultural Conservation Program. After
retiring from AgSouth Farm Credit, Tony became a Real Estate Developer,
Builder, & Investor in Gwinnett, Rockdale, Walton, & Dekalb Counties.
He bought, sold, & traded many rental properties, & owned, managed,
& maintained 50 duplexes. He continued to build throughout his years of
retirement. He was also half owner & silent partner of several bail bond
companies for many years.
Tony loved to travel after retiring with his wife, family, &
friends. He spent time traveling within the U.S., as well as Jamaica, Bahamas,
Aruba, Costa Rica, Honduras, Alaska, Israel, Jordan, & Egypt. He loved
Georgia football & for years never missed a game at home or away. He was
known as the walking encyclopedia of UGA football facts. His love of hunting
& fishing brought him a record setting Grizzly bear in Alaska, a beautiful
Sailfish in Costa Rica, many bucks, an elk, a fox, pheasants, quail, wild hogs,
& ducks.
Tony loved the Lord, his family, & friends with his whole
heart. His motto, which he lived by, was to never judge anyone till you have
walked in their shoes. He was a true patriarch, spiritual leader, provider,
protector, the "fixer' of all things broken, & the giver of wisdom he had
learned throughout his life. Tony leaves behind a true & beautiful legacy
for his family. He had a life that was well lived. Tony was preceded in death
by his father, Iris Paul Prather, his mother, Hazel Barnes Prather Haynes, &
his sister, Paula Prather Caray. He is survived by his wife, Teresa Prather,
children, Holly, Isaac (Jessica), & Jacob (Carey) Prather, &
grandchildren, Zoey, Elisha, Jehoiada, Bella, Madi, Jerusalem, Abigail, Samuel,
Carter, & Anna Rose Prather.
Tony will be laid to rest in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe, GA
on January 18th, 2025.
We know that he heard Jesus say, "Well done good & faithful servant." He
will be forever missed till we meet again.
Meadows Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of arrangements.