Dr. Donald Lee Folsom

Dr. Donald Lee Folsom of Villa Rica, Georgia passed away Saturday, April 15, 2006 at his home after a lengthy illness at 72 years of age. He was born December 18, 1933 at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. He was the son of the late Rev. Homer Lee Folsom and the late Mary Lucile Howard Folsom. He was reared in East Point and baptized in 1948 at Harrison Road Baptist Church. He was a 1952 graduate of Russell High School in East Point, 1954 graduate of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia, and a 1956 graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He graduated in1959 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina with a Master of Divinity Degree. In 1985 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia. He was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel on February 7, 1954 at Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta. His pastorates included Bethel Baptist in Tiger, Harmony Baptist in Eatonton, Ways Baptist in Wrens, Samford Memorial Baptist in Broadnax, VA, Cool Springs Baptist in Tate, First Baptist in Hogansville, First Baptist in Jackson, and Rainbow Park Baptist in Decatur. He served as Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Foundation for ten years and had interim pastorates at Jenkinsburg Baptist, First Baptist Conley, First Baptist Fayetteville, Palmetto Baptist, and Rainbow Park Baptist in Decatur. Folsom was actively involved in Baptist denominational life. He served in as moderator of the Kimbell Baptist Association; president of the board of trustees, Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes; first vice-president of the Georgia Baptist Convention; member of the Georgia Baptist Convention Executive Committee and its Administration Committee; trustee of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay); president of Alumni Associations for Southeastern Seminary, Mercer University, and Truett-McConnell College; and president of the Association of Baptist Foundation Executives, Southern Baptist Convention. He was awarded Outstanding Alumnus Awards from Truett-McConnell College and Mercer University. As a community leader, Folsom served as president of the Jackson Lions Club, president of the Hogansville Lions Club, fund-raising chairman for the Butts County United Appeal, Heart Fund chairman for Butts County, member of the board of directors for the Jesse Draper Boys’ Club in College Park, and member of the Downtown Atlanta Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed traveling and had traveled in all 50 states and 25 foreign countries including a mission trip to Nigeria. He was an avid reader and enjoyed playing golf. Folsom is survived by his wife of 47 years, Myra Callaway Folsom of Villa Rica and his children: Merrill and Nannette Parr Folsom of Villa Rica, GA; Alan and Paula Chapman Folsom of Woodstock, GA; Scott and Glenda Long Folsom of Johnson City, TN; and Johnathan and Andrea Folsom Gray of Sharpsburg, GA; 12 grandchildren: Luke, Kelly, Susannah, Curtis, Abbey Kate, Caroline, Myra Ashley, Hammond, Emilyn, Lucy, Ellie, and Parr; siblings: Carolyn Folsom Brown and Bradley D. Brown of Marietta, Annette Folsom Tedder and Jerry Tedder of Fayetteville, Eleanor Folsom Koon Nagle of Fayetteville, and Janice Folsom of Fayetteville; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 11:00 AM from the First Baptist Church of Villa Rica with Rev. Bobby Boswell and Dr. J.B. Marlow officiating and Rev. Ken Dobbs and Rev. Gene Bowman assisting. He will lie in state at the church from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour. Interment will be Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 5:00 PM in Bostwick Cemetery in Bostwick, Georgia. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church of Villa Rica on Tuesday, April 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Those desiring to do so may make donations in memory of Dr. Donald L. Folsom to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 329. Palmetto, Georgia, 30268 or to the Don Folsom Memorial Scholarship Fund for Truett-McConnell College, 2930 Flowers Road South, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341. Messages of condolences may be sent to www.Jones-Wynn.com. Jones-Wynn Funeral Home of Villa Rica 770-459-3694.