Rev. Lemaster

Rev. Clifford Lemaster, age 95, of 105 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, GA, died Thursday, August 23, 2007, in a nursing home following a lengthy illness.

Rev. Lemaster was born in Floyd County, GA on June 15, 1912, the son of the late Jehu and Ozella McCain Lemaster. He grew up on Reeseburg Road in the New Bethel Methodist Church Community. He spent many years of his life in Rome and spent eight years in the Gore Drive Community until declining health moved him to Woodstock Nursing and Rehab Center. During his youth he worked at Cherokee Hosiery Mill and Anchor Rome. He later worked and retired from the Rome Post Office in 1970. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard the U.S.S. Hissem in the Atlantic and Pacific and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves during the Korean War. He attended Shorter College and Mercer University. He was ordained in 1953 by West Rome Baptist Church. He pastored the following churches: New Hope, New Prospect, Rehoboth, Ebenezer (twice) and Antioch Baptist Church (Texas Valley). He was a chairman of the Floyd County Baptist Association for fundraising for the GA Baptist Children's Home for several years. In addition to his parents Rev. Lemaster is preceded in death by a daughter, Martha Louise Lemaster, three sisters, Della Boatner, Elsie Owens, and Rovene Otting; and three brothers, Carl and Asbury Lemaster, and Clarence Boatner.

Rev. Lemaster is survived by his wife, Frances Lucille Angle Lemaster to whom he was married on January 26, 1934; a daughter, Gail Thurman of 204 Trafford Lane, Savannah, GA 31410; a granddaughter, Tonya Rintye and her husband, Nick Rintye of Savannah, GA. Rev. Lemaster was expecting a new arrival of a great-grandchild at any time. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 25, 2007, at 11:00 A.M. in the Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home with Rev. Talmadge Barnes and J. Parnick Jennings, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in East View Cemetery.

Rev. Lemaster will remain in the Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home where the family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the funeral hour.

The following gentlemen have been asked to serve as active pallbearers and are requested to meet in the Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home on Saturday by 10:30 A.M.: Ranford Wright, Bob Angel, George Bevels, Joe Otting, and Jack Otting. The honorary pallbearers will include, Dr. James Collins (his GA Bulldog friend), Wesley Fowler, (who carried Rev. Lemaster's mail when he was unable), West Rome Baptist Church Homebound Ministry Members; postal employees with whom he worked; and ministers retired and active in the Floyd County Baptist Association.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to West Rome Baptist Church Homebound Ministry, 914 Shorter Avenue NW, Rome, GA 30165 (on check Homebound Ministry), Georgia Baptist Children's Home (please put In Memory of Rev. Clifford Lemaster), P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268, Disabled American Veterans, Att. Comm. Steve Rood, P.O. Box 1145, Rome, GA 30162, or Georgia Chapter Alzheimer's Association, 855 Abutment Road, Suite 6, Dalton, GA 30721.

Please join Rev. Lemaster's family in honoring his life by visiting www.jenningsfuneralhome.com to post tributes and share memories.

The Heritage Chapel of the Jennings Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Rev. Clifford Lemaster.