Emmett Graydon Shuford of Stone Mountain, GA passed away Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Odyssey Hospice in Decatur, GA. He was bom May 30, 1934 in Greenwood, SC to Emmett Graydon & Sallie Scott Erwin Shuford. He grew up in
Lincolnton, NC and graduated from Lincolnton High School in l95l where he starred in football and was the President of his Presbyterian Youth Fellowship. In this capacity, he conducted the service and preached the sermon on youth Sunday.
He grew up spending several summers in Montreat, NC during his youth. Later, he and his family would meet each July for vacation, camp, and enjoy "the fourth" activities with his mother and his brothers family. Many great times and stories evolved from these gatherings right up to the present. It was a tradition through the years that became the highlight of the summer for the kids of all ages and the number grew rapidly as the family expanded over the years. ln his teen
years, Graydon and cousin John Shuford were the dedicated workers their Grandmother could count on in the floral business she had run since 1929 in Lincolnton. Then on the typical Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day or times of
heavy volumes of funerals, the entire group of aunts, uncles, cousins and others would rally together to take care of the heavy work load; but he and John were the more experienced twosome, and they were closer in age than the others.
This is the time that Mom, the grandmother, became quite close to them as she led and directed them through all the many chores of Shuford's Floral Gardens. It also gave them some valuable experience in the enterprise as well as meeting and
serving the public as representatives of their grandmother's business. In his younger and teen years, he spent several summers in Sharon, SC working at Sharon Sales Service and visiting with his maternal grandparents, along with Dick Babington. They played, assisted and performed duties in their grandfather's store and service station. When their Uncle Arthur came home from WWII, their stays there became more work and less play, but they learned many great lessons of life through his guidance as he had experienced so much during his 36 months of service in Europe. They both showed a lasting respect and love for Aunt Wilma who had become the new bride for Uncle Arthur shortly after the war. Sharon was also the location of many Christmas Day family gatherings and visiting with cousins and other aunts and uncles during those early years, which were a vital part of his family life. Following high school, he attended Clemson College for two years, walked on for the football team, and also won 3 golden gloves boxing tournaments in Greenville, SC, Mt Holly, NC, and High Point, NC in the Novice Heavyweight Division. He had been taught some boxing by his father, but Graydon conditioned himself well and learned many techniques on his own. Graydon remained in excellent physical condition and assisted many young boxers throughout his college and military service years. Graydon was great at coaching his younger brother in football and challenging him to be better conditioned with all the techniques of sound fundamental drills of the sport, and it was successful and appreciated and created a genuine bond even though they were 6 years apart in age, they remained very close throughout his life, assisting each other in time of need. After 2 years at Clemson College, he served in the USAF for 4 years at several locations. Upon discharge from the military, he obtained hisdegree in Economics at the U. Of SC in 1960. He became employed by The Associates Finance Corp. For several years in Charleston, SC and after several years moved to Collection Manager with NC National Bank in High Point, NC. Around 1964, he entered the U. of SC Law School in Columbia, and graduated in 1966, and thereafter set up a law practice in Hanahan, SC. While Graydon was completing his college in Columbia, SC, he was in closer contact with Tom and Sally Mac Babington, the younger cousins, of that family because he worked part time with their dad Dick Babington, Sr. This experience was quite meaningful and memorable for him especially since they had lost their mother at a young age, and his presence was at least a comfort in this critical time for their maturing. It was while he was in Colorado with the USAF that he found his fondness for skiing and the outdoor sports of the Rockies, so it was not too surprising that he eventually bought a second home in the Winter Park area, and became an avid skier with his wife and other friends out there. He bought and rented several properties out there in the Fraser area where he managed to spend almost every August and December
vacationing and enjoying the outdoors. He and his wife, Anne, always kept space available out there for friends and family to visit. On many occasions his younger brother and nephews and their families spent some great time skiing with Graydon
and Anne on the tougher slopes in Winter Park. In 1973 Graydon moved to Atlanta, GA where he practiced law until his retirement in 2008. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Anne H. Shuford, of Stone Mtn, GA; children Susan Ingerson of Moncks Corner, SC, Mary Jessey and husband, Paul, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Julie Barrington of Macon, GA, Alan Hunt of Pendergrass, GA, Laurie Williams and husband, Jim, of Conyers, GA, 9 grandchildren; brother, Dr. Gene M. Shuford and wife, Judy, of Montreat, NC; and nephews Scott, Wynn and Mac Shuford.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, www.pdf.org.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 12 pm in the chapel of Floral Hills Funeral Home with Rev. Owen Skinner officiating. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 11 am until service time. Please visit our online tribute at www.floralhillsfuneral.com.
Arrangements by Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Tucker
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