Russell O. Cleghorn

Russell O. Cleghorn, 95, died on April 10, 2008, among extended family and friends at Limestone Heritage Nursing Home in Gainesville. He was born October 24, 1912 in Villa Rica. A quiet man with a modest mien, he spoke more with his actions. He was elected mayor of Flowery Branch in 1940, and at the age of 27, was the youngest mayor in the town’s history. He defeated his opponent by a vote of 33 to 28. He was elected to another term in 1942. Even though he never again ran for public office, he developed an insatiable appetite for politics, which, along with a passion for University of Georgia football, sustained him until his passing. The 1934 graduate of the University of Georgia was such an avid fan that the August 1994 issue of The Georgia Bulldog ran a picture of him posing with a framed montage of 144 ticket stubs to Bulldog home and bowl games. He was senior warden of St. Martin in the Fields Church in 1954. One of the original members of a small group which met at Oglethorpe University, he was chairman of the building committee, which was responsible for buying the land and designing and constructing the Episcopal Church. He retired from J.C. Penney Company in 1982. He was such an enthusiastic associate in the hardware department that for several years, former customers would see him in public, introduce themselves, and tell what he sold them. He was a member of Villa Rica Lodge No. 72, F. & A.M. He is survived by a son, David A. Cleghorn of Demorest and sisters, Edna Pittman of Decatur and Sue Taylor of Villa Rica. Visitation will be at 1 o’clock, April 14, 2008 at Jones-Wynn Funeral Home in Villa Rica. Graveside services, officiated by the Rev. John McCard of St. Martin in the Fields Church will be at 3 o’clock, April 14, 2008 at Hillcrest Cemetery in Villa Rica. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to St. Martin in the Fields Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30319. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.jones-wynn.com. Jones-Wynn Funeral Home of Villa Rica is in charge of arrangements.