Bemon Gilmore McBride Jr.

Bemon Gilmore McBride, Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother passed away on February 10, 2016 at his home in Columbus. He died peacefully at the age of 92 and leaves many loved ones and friends.

Visitation will take place at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 15, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on February 16, 2016 at Waldrop Memorial Baptist Church, 2308 Hilton Avenue, Columbus, followed by interment at Park Hill Cemetery with Reverends Mike Knowles, Larry Lee and Jimmy Elder officiating.

Descended from early Georgia settlers, Bemon was born in Macon, Georgia, the eldest of three children, on October 26, 1923 to Bemon Gilmore McBride, Sr. and the former Ethel Lee Newman. He grew up in Macon where he worked in his family's seafood and poultry business and was educated in local schools, graduating from Lanier High School and later completing a bachelor of arts at Mercer University where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Like many of his generation, Bemon interrupted his college education to serve his country in the U.S. Naval Services during World War II.

Prior to enlisting, Bemon married his high school sweetheart, the former Martha Miriam Williamson of Macon, with whom he travelled to postings in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Virginia and Brooklyn, New York, before joining the crew of the destroyer escort USS Cross for service in the Pacific Theater. He saw combat during the Okinawa campaign for which his ship earned a battle star. For his service, Bemon earned an Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (bronze star); American Campaign Medal; and World War II Victory Medal. He remained grateful to his country for the rest of his life.

Upon honorable discharge, Bemon returned to Macon where he completed his degree at Mercer and began working for Southern Bell Telephone Company, eventually accepting a position which brought him to Columbus in 1964. Following a series of promotions over a forty one year career, Bemon retired as District Forecast Supervisor from Bell South in 1987.

Bemon was raised in a Christian household and made a profession of the Christian faith at a young age, practicing Godly stewardship and daily Bible study until the last morning of his life. For many years, he and wife Miriam led a Sunday School class for young married couples at Waldrop Memorial Baptist Church. Through the example of their marriage, they enjoyed helping dozens of Columbus couples establish Christian homes and marriages of their own. Bemon and Miriam served their church in this capacity until Miriam’s death in 1989, after a marriage of over forty-seven (47) years.

Bemon worshiped, served multiple terms as Deacon chairman and held various leadership roles over more than fifty years of membership at Waldrop Memorial Baptist Church and served in similar roles at the Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church in Macon before moving to Columbus.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus for forty nine years during which he served as chairman of numerous committees. He was a member of the Kiwanis Legion of Honor and recognized as a Hixon Fellow in 1996. Bemon was active in Junior Achievement, having served on the Chattahoochee Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the United Way, and was a life member of the Salvation Army advisory board, among his many civic engagements.

Bemon is survived by his wife, the former Reba Wooten Baird; daughter Beverly MacGregor (Paul) of Metter, Georgia; son, Bemon Gilmore McBride, III (Betsy) of Cataula; stepdaughter Becky Mims of Columbus; and grandchildren: Paul Scott MacGregor of Jacksonville, Florida; Miriam Amy MacGregor Davis (Hugh) of Dothan, Alabama; Robert Gilmore MacGregor (Laura) of Savannah, Georgia; and Bemon Gilmore McBride, IV, Elizabeth Newman McBride, William Michael McBride and Caroline Michelle McBride, all of Cataula. He was gratified to have five great-grandchildren. Bemon is also survived by his loving sister, Joyce McBride Steel (Frank) of Macon. He was especially thankful for close friend, caregiver and encourager Sonya Martin of Columbus. Bemon also leaves many life-long friends and a loving, extended family.

In lieu of flowers, Bemon asked that contributions be made to the Salvation Army, Waldrop Memorial Baptist Church benevolence ministries or the charity of one's choice.