Merrel P. Callaway Obituary

Merrel Purvis Callaway, 87, died February 3, at Palmyra Hospital. The son of Thomas James Callaway, Sr., and Minnie Purvis Callaway, he was born July 10, 1921 in Milstead, Georgia.He was a graduate of LaGrange High School and Emory University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. Mr. Callaway was Vice President and Senior Credit Analyst, and was responsible for Credit Administration at Citizens & Southern Bank from which he retired in 1986.Because of a strong community spirit and a lifetime dedication toVolunteerism, he was honored with the Harry Goldstein LifetimeAchievement Award for Volunteer of the Year and the American Red CrossHumanitarian of the Week award. The Thomasville Music and DramaTroupe honored him with a special award for longtime support in 2008; andhe won the Exchange Club of Northwest Albany's Golden Deed Award, theservice organization's most prestigious award honoring lifetimeachievements in civic service. An active member of at St. Paul's EpiscopalChurch where he was member of the choir for 30 years, he founded theClothing Room which supplied uniforms for local elementary schools. Hewas active with the United Way, The Albany Museum of Art, the SowegaCouncil on Aging, and on the board of directors of The America RedCross, Girls, Incorporated, Theatre Albany, the Albany Symphony andAlbany Concert Association. He sang and danced his way through manymusicals in Theatre Albany. He taught ballroom dancing and etiquette for25 years to Albany's sixth and seventh graders and served as the choreographer for the Albany Debutante Club for almost 20 years.He participated in the art scene with both time and financial commitments.He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Thomas JamesCallaway, Jr. and his brother-in-law, William Allen. Survivors include hissister, Mary Callaway Allen; his sister-in-law, Gladys Pace Callaway, ofAlbany; his nephews, Thomas James, Callaway III and wife, Sherrie, ofThomasville, Georgia; Scott Allen and wife, Karen, and Richard Allen and wife, Janet, Marietta, GA; nieces, Cantey Callaway Tull and husband, Chris,of Charlotte, NC; Merrel Callaway Hattink and husband, Willem, of Atlanta, Georgia; Sandy Allen Gross and husband, Ken, of Cartersville, GA; Lori Allen of Salt Lake City, Utah; and many great nieces and great nephews.The Callaway Family would like to extend a special thanks to Mr.Callaway's very special friends, Will and Sue Carpenter, for their loyalservice, support and devoted friendship for the last 10 years. Anotherspecial thank you goes to Jessica Riggins at Morningside and Evelyn Jonesfor their ever present care and attention. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors will handle the funeral arrangements. The visitation will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in the Parish Hall, Friday, February 6 at 1 pm followed by the memorial service in the sanctuary at 2 pm. A graveside ceremony will be held immediately after the service for family and friends at Oakview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe, P.O. Box 284 Thomasville, GA 31799 or St Paul's Episcopal Church, 212 N. Jefferson St., Albany, GA 31701. You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts with the family of Merrel Callaway by visiting Kimbrell-Stern's website at www.kimbrellstern.com

Merrel P. Callaway Obituary

July 10, 1921 - February 3, 2009