Burel Forrester, Sr.

Mr. Burel D. Forrester, Sr., affectionately known as “Paw-Paw”, age 83, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at his home, supported by his family. Mr. Forrester was born on May 28, 1924 in New Holland, Georgia, to the late Amanda Blalock Forrester and the late Marcus Carl Forrester. He was the second born of seven sons. His family moved to Griffin in his early childhood. At the early age of 15, pretending to be 16 years old, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, known as the CCC’s. Mr. Forrester was drafted into the Army at the beginning of World War II. He served honorably in England with the 128th General Hospital and completed his service in Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas. He retired from Complete Auto Transit after 29 years. Retirement summers were spent in Hiawassee, Georgia at his summer home. Blessed with a wonderful circle of friends, he was a covenant member of the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in Hiawassee. His passion in life was his faith in God, his wife and family, as well as his caring for children. Mr. Forrester was a gifted Sunday School worker in the Nursery Department at DeVotie Baptist Church for 57 years, also, serving his Lord as a Deacon and Usher for many years. Mr. Forrester is preceded in death by infant son, Cranford Marcus Forrester; brothers, Harold Forrester, Bobby Forrester, Gene Forrester and David Forrester. Mr. Forrester’s memory will be cherished by his wife of 58 years, Virginia Church Forrester; daughters and sons-in-law, Donna Ann and Jim Rector, Jane and Frankie Taylor; son and daughter-in-law, Dee and Denise Forrester; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Lee, Blair, Madison and Harrison Peeples, Lance, Julie, Tabetha Allison, Shelby, Della and Zoie Peeples, Chris, Crystal, Caitlyn, Caleb, Conner and Chloe Taylor, Carmen, Alex, Will and Jackson Forrester, Chad and Carol Taylor, Morgan and Cole Kennedy and Leland Ellis; brothers, Wilbert Forrester and John Forrester. Funeral services for Mr. Burel D. Forrester, Sr. will be conducted on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 1:00pm at DeVotie Baptist Church. Reverend Drew Stephens will officiate. Interment, with military honors, will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit the family Wednesday from 2:00pm until 4:00pm and from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at the funeral home. Mr. Forrester will lie-in-state at the church from 12:30pm until the funeral hour on Thursday.

Burel Forrester, Sr.

May 28, 1924 - September 4, 2007