Gordon C. Bynum Sr.

Gordon Calhoun Bynum, a delightful, loving, and accepting person, passed away on July 1, 2016 at age 92. He was born in 1923 in Cedar Springs, Georgia, as the eldest of seven children and is preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Margaret Vanneman Bynum, as well as his treasured son, Gordon Calhoun Bynum, Jr. He is survived by his daughters, Elyse Defoor (Bob Frederick) and Paige Girardot (Joseph), and his beloved grandchildren, Emily Reeves, Preston Girardot, Bennett Girardot and Madeleine Girardot, his sister Frances Bynum Mitchell and brothers Hal Bynum (Era) and Max Bynum, as well as sister-in-law Shirley Johnson Bynum and numerous nieces and nephews and their children. He is also survived by Mrs. Annette Conner, who lovingly helped the family for over 50 years that included being by his side as he cared for his wife through her journey with Parkinson's disease, weddings, funerals, and many Christmas Eves that were beautified by her touch.

After his return from the serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, a new world opened up to Gordon when he attended college at Oglethorpe University. There, he formed many lifelong friendships with people of all walks of life, including his best friend Stuart Herman of New York. It was at Oglethorpe where Gordon began the journey toward his deep love of music and the arts, dapper dressing, and his chance encounter meeting the beautiful Peggy Vanneman at the post office across the street. He thrived at Oglethorpe, pursuing subjects fit for the true Renaissance man he came to be, and he enjoyed extra-curricular clubs that included fencing, chorus, public relations, and the Boar's Head Honorary Fraternity.

Gordon enjoyed 40 years with The Coca Cola Company and was a proud liaison between The Coca Cola Foundation and major cultural institutions including The High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Symphony. He also provided insight and support as a board member of non-profit organizations such as Art Papers Magazine and the New Visions Gallery. Gordon's father-in-law had instilled in him a passion for real estate, encouraging him to become a licensed broker in the post World War II boom days. He later devoted his life to real estate full-time upon his retirement from Coke, and he was a member of the Northside Kiwanis and Buckhead 50 clubs. He was a founding member of St. Anne's Church and the Church of the Atonement where he served as Senior Warden, and later in life returned to the Cathedral of St. Philip where he and Peg's family had been active many years before. He studied art at the Atlanta College of Art, became an artist of note, and he took up the violin when he was in his 70's. He was an avid collector of art and had an eye for finding fine paintings in "junk shops" and having them framed properly to bring out their beauty. He also collected musical instruments which he kept lying around as an invitation for any grandchild to pluck or blow.

The last chapter of Gordon's life was one of his happiest. In 2012, he joined the community of Lenbrook, where he made many friends and enjoyed a lifestyle that quenched his thirst for culturally satisfying activities. Tea dances were not to be missed for any reason as he found extreme joy in dancing with all the ladies and was well known for his prowess on the dance floor. His family is grateful for his finding love again with the delightful Mrs. Sarah Black, whose arrival at Lenbrook brought new meaning into his life, bringing a sparkle to his eye whenever she entered a room and whose loving ways have deemed her a member of the family. Gordon's daughters would also like to thank those who cared for him and encouraged him to work toward his recovery after a nearly fatal fall in April of this year.

The family will receive visitors at Patterson's Spring Hill on Thursday, July 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 8 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations would be encouraged to Oglethorpe University, Art Papers Magazine or Hospice Atlanta.