Don Hilliard Townley

Don Hilliard Townley, affectionately known by us as "Dad" and "Grampy;' was born June 20, 1946, to Ivan "Ike" and Johnnie Mae Townley. He passed away on May 29, 2025.

Dad was the youngest child of three boys. Growing up on a turkey farm in Wilmington, Massachusetts, he spent most of his time outdoors. Throughout his life, he loved being on the road and out in nature.

He attended the Essex Agricultural Technological Institute, where he developed his knowledge in working both the land and machines, skills that he would carry throughout his life as he built a future for his family. Dad was a lifelong fan of the Boston Bruins, a team he aspired to play for as a member of their junior league team but also cheered for throughout his life, even after leaving the cold of Massachusetts for the hot, sunny weather of middle Georgia.

Don was married just shy of 50 years to his beautiful bride, Karen. Their marriage was the union of two good forgivers. Don had seven children, and his pride for each of them could not be matched. Terri, Joy, Robin, Robert, Kim, Donny, and Shawnna. His family was everything to him, and he worked hard to provide them with everything they needed. He also had fifteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren who he loved dearly.

Our Dad prided himself on hard work and a job well done. He could work on anything with a motor. He would build his family around D&D Auto, the business he owned and ran for thirty-five years in Statham, Georgia. He loved his community and served with the Statham Barrow Fire Department for many years. After a life of working hard and helping others, he retired to hit the road with his sweetheart in their motorhome.

Karen was Don's caregiver for the last ten years due to heart problems that brought on the placement of an LVAD device to repair his heart in 2018. To Dad, this was a small piece of a diesel engine, making an already larger­than-life man bionic. How fitting for a mechanic to have a mechanical heart thrumming to keep him on the road. Now his heart was racing at the speed of a NASCAR engine at 5,000 rpm, perfect for a man who had been a HUGE fan of those races for many years.

Our Dad, Don, will be greatly missed, but he is now reunited with his mom, dad, brothers, and friends who have gone on before. THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND. Forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held on Friday, June 20, at 4:00p.m. at Elder Road Baptist Church, 1930 Elder Road, Bishop, GA 30621.

Those wishing the online guestbook at berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is assisting the family of Mr. Don Hilliard Townley.