Hollis Clay Chason
January 17, 1923 – September 23, 2018
Funeral services for Hollis Clay Chason, 95, of Whigham, GA, are at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 27, 2018, at the El Bethel Baptist Church, Whigham, GA. Rev. Bob Knight will officiate. Interment with Military Honors will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Whigham, GA. Mr. Chason passed away at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge, GA, on Sunday, September 23, 2018.
Active pallbearers will be Cecil Gibbs, Jr., Cuy Harrell, III, Israel Kirkland, Travis Brinson, Jerry Maxwell and Bryan Scarbrough. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Sasser, Spencer Duncan and Dr. Ashley Register.
Mr. Chason was born on January 17, 1923, in Grady County, GA, to the late John Harvey Chason and Annie Lora Morgan Chason. He received some formal schooling in Grady County, but since his father was a sharecropper, the need to work in the fields took priority over attending school. He served his country in WWII, enlisting in the United States Army in 1942 and arriving in Europe in December of 1943. A double purple heart recipient, he saw continuous action from D-Day plus 3 until V-E Day in France, Normandy, and the Rhineland. Eleven days after returning home from the war in Europe, July 31, 1945, he married Mildred Ann Brinson, who survives. They were blessed with more than 73 years of marriage. He was a carpenter and brick mason by trade and constructed many homes, mostly in Grady and Decatur counties, during his working career, making lifelong friends along the way. He took great pride in his work and those friendships were a tremendous joy throughout his life. His focus in life was providing and caring for his family and providing quality work for those who entrusted him to build for them. He had little interest in acquiring unnecessary property and material things. His family was foremost in his life and his love for them was evident from his youth, through marriage, six children, nine grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren. He has been the rock for his family. He also took an active role in the City of Whigham, serving on the city council for 10 years from 1964 until 1974. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: his wife of 73 years, Mildred Ann Chason of Whigham, GA; his children, Gloria Pyles (Tommy) of Cairo, GA, Mary Porter (Bobby) of Whigham, GA, Wallace Chason (Anita) of Whigham, GA, Lisa Calhoun (Hunter) of Bainbridge, GA, Keith Chason of Whigham, GA; grandchildren, Scott Pyles (Lizz) of Coral Springs, FL, Katina Stewart of Whigham, GA, Clay Chason (Jennifer) of Cairo, GA, Brad Chason (Kristin) of Jasper, GA, Laura Brown (Dusty) of Whigham, GA, Melissa Boyett (Lyle) of Bainbridge, GA, Heather Vickers (Kyle) of Donalsonville, GA, Michaela Calhoun of Bainbridge, GA, Brian Chason of Whigham, GA; great-grandchildren, Elliott Pyles, Stewart Pyles, Christian Stewart, Jesse Stewart, Cameron Miller, Morgan Miller, Olivia Chason, Alex Chason, Halle Chason, Brody Chason, Brantley Linn, Nolan Brown, Addilyn Brown, Luke Boyett, Annlee Boyett, Kori Boyett, Avery Vickers, Sawyer Vickers; great-great-grandchild Joey Miller; sister, Jean Harrell of Whigham, GA; as well as numerous very dear nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; a daughter, Bonnie Michael; a daughter-in-law, Pam Chason; a brother, Carroll Chason; and four sisters, Louise Wimberly, Inez Singletary, Jeanette Eakins and Myrtle Thomas.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Chason’s memory to a charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
