Lewis Justus

Lewis Cleon Justus, 76, of Cartersville passed away Thursday, April 30, 2009 at his residence. Born in Dahlonega, Georgia on April 18, 1933, he was the son of the late Pearl Connor Justus and the late John Henry Justus.



Mr. Justus graduated from North Georgia College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in history. With this background, he worked as a teacher for only a few years before devoting the rest of his career to journalism. Beginning June 1956, Mr. Justus served six months, rank of Sgt. 1st Class, in active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then served in active reserves for eight years. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army on March 23, 1962.



At the age of twelve, Mr. Justus began working on �The Dahlonega Nugget�, Dahlonega�s weekly newspaper. He moved to Cartersville in 1959 as a reporter for �The Daily Tribune News.� He worked as a photographer and writer finally ending his career as editor for that same paper after forty years.



Mr. Justus wrote a daily column �At Random� for all of those forty years winning numerous awards. Some of those awards include the Georgia Press Association�s �Best Editorial Column,� the Associated Press Association�s �Best Stories of the Year,� and �Best Pictures of the Year,� and the United Press International�s Award of Journalistic Excellence. These Otis Brumby Awards are some of the most prestigious given in the journalism field.



As a member of Cartersville First Baptist Church for thirty-five years, Mr. Justus had served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class.



In the year 2000, Mr. Justus received a resolution from the Georgia State Senate commending him for the course of his long journalistic career. He was held in the highest regard for taking great pride in reporting facts with integrity and fairness.



Mr. Justus served and led his community with his involvement in the Optimist Club and the Rotary Club. His hobbies included being a ham radio operator, flying, reading, and listening to gospel music.



Mr. Justus is survived by his wife of fifty years, Barbara, to whom he affectionately called the �LADY WHO RUNS OUR HOUSE�; four devoted children, Mrs. Lynn Traylor and husband Joe of Newnan, Mrs. Terri Smith and husband Tony, Mr. Michael Justus and wife Debbie, and Mr. Barry Justus and wife Suzi all of Cartersville; nine loving grandchildren, Emily and Drew Traylor, Tyler McGlone, and Reid Smith, Sarah, Ben and Kate Justus, and Morgan and Connor Justus; one great-granddaughter, Lyla McGlone; brothers, John Justus and wife Sharon of Marietta and Bobby Justus and wife Fran of Riverdale; sister-in-law, Rita Truelove and husband Neal of Cumming; and brother-in-law, Carlton Southwell and wife Annette of Hayden, Alabama.



Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009 at Cartersville First Baptist Church with Rev. Paul Battles and Rev. Randall Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Dahlonega, Georgia.



Serving as pallbearers will be Jim Grooms, Stan Tilley, Judge Carey Nelson, Nils Pearson, Carlton Southwell, Neal Truelove and Jordan Day. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Wade Ash, Dr. Christopher Sward, The Adult Fellowship Class of Cartersville First Baptist Church, and the Senior Adults.



Those desiring may make donations in Mr. Justus� memory to The Next Generation Fund, % Cartersville First Baptist Church, 241 Douthit Ferry Rd., Cartersville, GA 30120.



The family will receive friends from 6 - 9 p.m. Sunday at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 430 Cassville Rd., Cartersville, GA 30120.