Marion Lee Cartwright

Marion Lee Cartwright, 83, of Royston, GA, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024, with his family and friends at his bedside.

Born in Tifton, Mr. Cartwright was one of three children born to the late H. L. Cartwright Jr. and Lucile Lindsey Cartwright.

Survivors include his children, Brian Cartwright (Larisa) of Jefferson, Dean Cartwright of Athens, and Dr. Reed Cartwright (Tiffany) of Chandler, AZ; grandchildren, Jay and David Cartwright of Chandler, AZ; brother, Charles Cartwright of Palatka, FL; sister, Joanna Cartwright of Eatonton; and nephews, Andy Cook (Betsy) of Wake Forest, NC and Taylor Cook (Kelly) of Winston Salem, NC.

Known as “Hoss” to his friends, he graduated from Albany High School in 1960 and first attended Georgia Southwestern College where he met his future wife, Martha Hart of Americus, in a math class that he later dropped. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 where he majored in business and was elected president of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Hoss was a perpetual entrepreneur, unafraid of conflict, and earned his first dollar as a young boy by cleaning and reselling discarded boxes. He built a successful career in real estate development in Athens and across North Georgia. In 1968, he repurposed St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Oconee Street into apartments, which he leased to Kathleen O’Brien, Michael Stipe, and Peter Buck in 1979. The church is remembered as the site of R.E.M.’s first show at a birthday party for Ms. O’Brien in 1980. He developed many other notable projects including Eaglewood Condominiums on S. Lumpkin St. and Rivercliff on Tallassee Road.

Hoss spent much of his time working on his beloved farm in Royston. A cowboy at heart, he often rode Sheikh, his favorite horse, on Sunday afternoons. He enjoyed hunting in his youth, teaching his grandsons to fish, and catching the first fish, the biggest fish, and the most fish. He loved going to auctions and flea markets and acquired many interesting things during his lifetime. His enthusiasm for classic cars inspired him to operate Brake Pro-Budget Tire auto shop on W. Broad Street, blending his work with his passion for decades. His love of music, particularly Elvis, David Allen Coe, and country/western, was a significant part of his life. He opened several western-themed bars and restaurants during his lifetime, including the Armadillo Palace in 1981, a nightclub on W. Broad Street. Many famous acts performed at the Armadillo Palace in the 1980s, including infamously “No-Show” George Jones whom Hoss threatened with a shotgun when Jones walked off stage after performing for only 29 minutes. The incident was reported in People Magazine at the time.

Hoss was a lifelong football fan. He was a halfback on Albany High’s 1959 state football championship team, and fondly remembered watching UGA home football games from the train tracks outside Sanford Stadium or the hill on the northwest side of the stadium. He attended Super Bowl VII in 1973, had Falcons season tickets, took his sons to opening day of the Georgia Dome in 1992, and owned the football that Lindsay Scott carried during the famous “Run, Lindsay” touchdown in the 1980 Georgia-Florida game. In the last years of his life, he created the Alumni Hill tailgating spot on Harris Street near Sanford Stadium. At its heart stands the iconic scoreboard that was in the stadium from 1960 to 1978, a piece of UGA history that he personally salvaged from the scrapheap and lovingly had restored.

Due to inclement weather, visitation will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Bernstein Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at Bernstein Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Georgia Equine Rescue League, P.O. Box 328, Bethlehem, GA 30620 or ReDux Equine Rescue, 242 Mitchell Farm Road, Colbert, GA 30628.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.