Willie Raymond Higginbotham

Mr. Willie 'Raymond' Higginbotham, 78, of Willie Black Road, Elberton, longtime companion of Barbara Hammond, passed away on Friday, June 6, 2014, at Elbert Memorial Hospital. Mr. Higginbotham was born in Elbert County on July 27, 1935, to the late Rufus Howard Higginbotham and Wille Jewette Mauldin Higginbotham. He was the oldest living charter member of Elberton Pentecostal Holiness Church and was retired from Sears and GE as a mechanic. Raymond served his country in both the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Left to cherish his memories are his children and their spouses: Patricia and Teddy Campbell of Statesville, North Carolina and Brian and Sonya Higginbotham of Hope Mills, North Carolina; longtime companion and special friend, Barbara Hammond of Elberton; a grandson, Caleb Higginbotham; sister, Bernice Lancaster of Dewy Rose; aunt, Jean Herndon and family; nephew and nieces, Kennon and Norma Wood, Mary and Wayne Gafford, and Lisa Higginbotham and families. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Milford Higginbotham; grandson, Wayne Blackburn; nephews, Eric Higginbotham and Eddy Higginbotham; and grandparents, John William Mauldin and Mattie Evelyn Mauldin. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held on Sunday, June 8, at 3:00p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. Interment will follow in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church cemetery with Kennon Wood, Johnny Herndon, Wayne Gafford, Teddy Campbell, Adam Higginbotham, and Eddy Higginbotham honored as pallbearers. Robert Weston, James Lord, David Worley, Larry Guest, Alex Nelms, and Bob Higginbotham will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family is at the residence and will receive friends at Berry Funeral Home from 1:30-3:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon prior to the service. Flowers are greatly appreciated by the family and those desiring may make contributions in Mr. Higginbotham's memory to the Wayne Blackburn Fund at Camden Military Academy or to the charity of one's choice Share your stories and photos in Mr. Higginbotham's Book of Memories at www.berryfh.com. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton, is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mr. Willie 'Raymond' Higginbotham.