Ezell Sammons Goolsby, Jr
Ezell Sammons Goolsby, Jr., 81, died Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.
“Sam” Goolsby was born in Macon to the late Ezell Sammons Goolsby, Sr. and Vera Burney Goolsby. He was raised in Monticello where he was a graduate of Monticello High School. He attended the University of Georgia, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Mercer University in Macon.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Before retirement in 1987, Mr. Goolsby was a sales representative for Bristol Myer Squibb Company. He returned to Monticello in 1973 where he was a member of the Monticello First United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 110. He enjoyed singing and was a member of a barbershop quartet in Macon.
Mr. Goolsby loved cooking, hunting, fishing, telling larger-than-life tales, and the Georgia Bulldogs. He was a crack dove shooter. Combining his love of cooking and hunting, Mr. Goolsby published Cedar Creek Game Cookbook in the 1970s. Mr. Goolsby created his own recipes for sauces and seasonings and opened New Garden Gifts in 1986. He and his wife, Shirley, traveled to personally deliver his products to his customers.
He owned and operated the Cedar Creek Hunting Lodge, Inc. from 1969 until 1984. He was formally recognized in a congratulatory letter from the second in Command from the Department of Interior for the Successful Entrepreneurship of a Hunting Lodge in the Central Georgia area.
He loved his family and friends; and always had a smile, a joke, or story to pass along.
A brother, Burney Goolsby, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Tarvin Goolsby of Monticello; children and spouses, Ezell Sammons, III and Theresa Goolsby of Augusta, Raymond Carden and Janet Goolsby of Monticello, Mary Katherine Fox of St. Johns, S.C., and Mary Elizabeth and Dan Ramsdell of Monticello; grandchildren, Adam Goolsby, Ricky Fox, Samantha Ramsdell and Danny Ramsdell; and sister, Mary Alice Reagan of Rome.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Monticello First United Methodist Church. Interment will be held in West View Cemetery. Dr. John Brown will officiate.
Pallbearers will be David O’Brien, Scotty Dumas, Guerry Marsh, Todd Cowart, Earl Holsenbeck, and Chris Baden.
The family will receive friends Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Jordan Funeral Home.
Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information, visit our website at www.jordanfuneralhome monticello.com.