Freddie Harold Freeman

Funeral services for Freddie Harold Freeman, 80, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha; daughters, Shawn (Russell Mawn) Freeman of Vestavia Hills and Shelly Klein of St. Pete Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Paige Klein of Birmingham, Paul Klein of Charleston, S.C., Allyson Mawn of Bethsadia, Md., and Russell A. Mawn Jr. of St. Louis, Mo. He is also survived by his sister, Evelyn Stevens of Cullman; a brother, Ralph Freeman of Greeneville, Tenn.; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Known as “Freddie” to his wife and family, the rest of the community knew hin as Harold and will remember him as a longtime Cullman businessman, community leader, and loyal member of First United Methodist Church. Harold was born Sept. 3, 1930, and attended college at St. Bernard and the University of Alabama before graduating from Auburn University with a business degree. He was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and came home to marry Martha Jo Smith Oct. 31, 1954.

Harold was best known as the owner of the Western Auto Associate Store in downtown Cullman for over 25 years. After closing the store in 1984, he served for 10 years as the first executive director of the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center.

As a member of First United Methodist Church for over 57 years, Harold served at various times as chairman of the administrative board, church treasurer, chairman of the finance committee, and Sunday school teacher.

Harold was the last active charter member of the Cullman Lion’s Club, with 57 years of continous membership, and he achieved 55 years of perfect attendance. Lions International awarded him the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 1994, and he was the first member given lifetime membership in Lions International. Additional awards included Lion of the Year (1960-61) and Knight of Blind (2003). Harold was Lions deputy district governor (1969-70) and held all offices in the Cullman Lions Club over his tenure, including president, secretary/treasurer, vice president, board of directors, Lion Tamer, and president of the Cullman County Fair Association Board of Directors. But perhaps the office that took the best advantage of Harold’s humor and wit was that of Tail Twister. His fellow Lions elected him to the position numerous times, recognizing that it put his love of practical jokes and witty teasing to good use. He was also the first editor and publisher of the Tale Twister, the weekly club news bulletin that is still published today.

Harold was the founder of the Monday Night Study Club, and several current members of the club will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Moss-Service Funeral Home Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Funeral services will also be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, with interment in Cullman City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to First United Methodist Church’s Tornado Building Repair Fund, 320 Third St. SE, Cullman, AL 35055.