Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr., of 339 Watkins Street, Jackson, Georgia, died peacefully at Westbury Medical Care facility on June 30, 2009, after a lengthy illness.
A prominent Jackson attorney for over 60 years, he was also a religious, civic, and political leader in his native Butts County, Georgia, where he was born on April 23, 1919, to the late Georgia Alberta Pope and the late Robert Lee Fears. Mr. Fears completed his elementary education in the public schools of Butts County and graduated from Martha Berry High School in Mt. Berry, Georgia, which he attended during the depression years of the 1930s. It was here where he met and knew Miss Martha Berry and Henry Ford, a benefactor of his beloved school.
It was from Miss Berry where his love of learning and appreciation of education began. Upon graduation, he entered North Georgia Military College which he left voluntarily after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Fears received his flight training in Pensacola, Corpus Christi, and St. Mary's, California, and rose to the rank of Junior Grade Lieutenant as a naval aviator. During the war years, he was stationed in the Mayport and Pensacola Naval bases, running anti-submarine patrol. Mr. Fears remained in U.S. Naval Reserves until 1955. After World War II, Mr. Fears continued his collegiate education by entering the University of Georgia, another school he revered and always supported. He was admitted to the law school at UGA which he completed in record time, graduating from law school before receiving his two undergraduate degrees.
After passing the Georgia bar exam, Mr. Fears was admitted to the practice of law February 2, 1948, when he returned to Jackson and entered private practice and taught business law at Georgia State University. It was also during this time in the 1950s when Mr. Fears began his political career by serving in the Georgia General Assembly as representative from Butts County. He was instrumental in appropriating funds which created the lake at Indian Springs State Park.
During the 1960s, Col. Fears concentrated on his law practice. He served as city attorney for the City of Jackson for many years. He began a workers' compensation and social security practice when such cases were frowned upon by other attorneys. He routinely and often single-handedly took on, and won many civil, criminal and "politically charged" cases. He helped almost all local attorneys when they began their practice of law and was fond of saying, "There is always room for another good lawyer." Dan Fears, Sr., was admitted to every inferior, superior, and appellate court in the State of Georgia. Additionally, the Colonel was admitted to practice in the U.S. Tax Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
In 1968, he entered politics again and successfully ran for and was selected to two terms as a Butts County Commissioner, serving as Chairman of the Board. During this time, he successfully cut county expenses and balanced county budgets. When others wanted to tear down the Butts County Courthouse, erected in 1898, he saved this historical building from destruction, saving Butts County taxpayers the expense of a new courthouse. Mr. Fears was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. Together with Mr. Pliny Weaver and Mr. Hamp Daughtry, Dan Sr. was able to help finance and construct the current church building located on Highway 16 in 1975.
He was a Sunday School Teacher and close advisor to many of the former Pastors. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, receiving his 60-year award this past February. He was a member of the old Flint Circuit Bar Association, the Towaliga Bar Association, and a 60-year member of the State Bar of Georgia, only recently assuming inactive status. He was a former member of the American Bar Association and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Fears was predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years, Mildred Andrews Fears, whom he met while he was in law school. Dan Sr., was proud that Mildred was one of the registered nurses who helped open the local Sylvan Grove Hospital.
Mr. Fears, Sr. is survived by their four children, Denise F. Hemmann of Jackson, Deborah F. and Mike Samford of Alpharetta, and Dan Fears Jr. and Linda Fears of Jackson, and Honorable William A. Fears and Joyce Fears of Jackson, and their children, his eight grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Evelyn F. Lambert of Jackson, Mrs. Mervin F. Bryan of Flovilla, a brother, Mr. and Mrs. David Eugene Fears of Montgomery, Alabama, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Andrews Waters of Savannah, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr. will be Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 11 am, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Dr. Ed Hoard and Reverend Robert L. Henderson, Sr. will officiate. Interment will be in the Jackson City Cemetery. Those desiring may make a memorial donation to the Alfred D. Fears Endowed Fund, Berry College, P.O.Box 490069, Mt. Berry, Georgia 30149. Haisten Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements. 770-775-3119
A prominent Jackson attorney for over 60 years, he was also a religious, civic, and political leader in his native Butts County, Georgia, where he was born on April 23, 1919, to the late Georgia Alberta Pope and the late Robert Lee Fears. Mr. Fears completed his elementary education in the public schools of Butts County and graduated from Martha Berry High School in Mt. Berry, Georgia, which he attended during the depression years of the 1930s. It was here where he met and knew Miss Martha Berry and Henry Ford, a benefactor of his beloved school.
It was from Miss Berry where his love of learning and appreciation of education began. Upon graduation, he entered North Georgia Military College which he left voluntarily after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Fears received his flight training in Pensacola, Corpus Christi, and St. Mary's, California, and rose to the rank of Junior Grade Lieutenant as a naval aviator. During the war years, he was stationed in the Mayport and Pensacola Naval bases, running anti-submarine patrol. Mr. Fears remained in U.S. Naval Reserves until 1955. After World War II, Mr. Fears continued his collegiate education by entering the University of Georgia, another school he revered and always supported. He was admitted to the law school at UGA which he completed in record time, graduating from law school before receiving his two undergraduate degrees.
After passing the Georgia bar exam, Mr. Fears was admitted to the practice of law February 2, 1948, when he returned to Jackson and entered private practice and taught business law at Georgia State University. It was also during this time in the 1950s when Mr. Fears began his political career by serving in the Georgia General Assembly as representative from Butts County. He was instrumental in appropriating funds which created the lake at Indian Springs State Park.
During the 1960s, Col. Fears concentrated on his law practice. He served as city attorney for the City of Jackson for many years. He began a workers' compensation and social security practice when such cases were frowned upon by other attorneys. He routinely and often single-handedly took on, and won many civil, criminal and "politically charged" cases. He helped almost all local attorneys when they began their practice of law and was fond of saying, "There is always room for another good lawyer." Dan Fears, Sr., was admitted to every inferior, superior, and appellate court in the State of Georgia. Additionally, the Colonel was admitted to practice in the U.S. Tax Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
In 1968, he entered politics again and successfully ran for and was selected to two terms as a Butts County Commissioner, serving as Chairman of the Board. During this time, he successfully cut county expenses and balanced county budgets. When others wanted to tear down the Butts County Courthouse, erected in 1898, he saved this historical building from destruction, saving Butts County taxpayers the expense of a new courthouse. Mr. Fears was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. Together with Mr. Pliny Weaver and Mr. Hamp Daughtry, Dan Sr. was able to help finance and construct the current church building located on Highway 16 in 1975.
He was a Sunday School Teacher and close advisor to many of the former Pastors. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, receiving his 60-year award this past February. He was a member of the old Flint Circuit Bar Association, the Towaliga Bar Association, and a 60-year member of the State Bar of Georgia, only recently assuming inactive status. He was a former member of the American Bar Association and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Fears was predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years, Mildred Andrews Fears, whom he met while he was in law school. Dan Sr., was proud that Mildred was one of the registered nurses who helped open the local Sylvan Grove Hospital.
Mr. Fears, Sr. is survived by their four children, Denise F. Hemmann of Jackson, Deborah F. and Mike Samford of Alpharetta, and Dan Fears Jr. and Linda Fears of Jackson, and Honorable William A. Fears and Joyce Fears of Jackson, and their children, his eight grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Evelyn F. Lambert of Jackson, Mrs. Mervin F. Bryan of Flovilla, a brother, Mr. and Mrs. David Eugene Fears of Montgomery, Alabama, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Andrews Waters of Savannah, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr. will be Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 11 am, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Dr. Ed Hoard and Reverend Robert L. Henderson, Sr. will officiate. Interment will be in the Jackson City Cemetery. Those desiring may make a memorial donation to the Alfred D. Fears Endowed Fund, Berry College, P.O.Box 490069, Mt. Berry, Georgia 30149. Haisten Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements. 770-775-3119
Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr., of 339 Watkins Street, Jackson, Georgia, died peacefully at Westbury Medical Care facility on June 30, 2009, after a lengthy illness.
A prominent Jackson attorney for over 60 years, he was also a religious, civic, and political leader in his native Butts County, Georgia, where he was born on April 23, 1919, to the late Georgia Alberta Pope and the late Robert Lee Fears. Mr. Fears completed his elementary education in the public schools of Butts County and graduated from Martha Berry High School in Mt. Berry, Georgia, which he attended during the depression years of the 1930s. It was here where he met and knew Miss Martha Berry and Henry Ford, a benefactor of his beloved school.
It was from Miss Berry where his love of learning and appreciation of education began. Upon graduation, he entered North Georgia Military College which he left voluntarily after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Fears received his flight training in Pensacola, Corpus Christi, and St. Mary's, California, and rose to the rank of Junior Grade Lieutenant as a naval aviator. During the war years, he was stationed in the Mayport and Pensacola Naval bases, running anti-submarine patrol. Mr. Fears remained in U.S. Naval Reserves until 1955. After World War II, Mr. Fears continued his collegiate education by entering the University of Georgia, another school he revered and always supported. He was admitted to the law school at UGA which he completed in record time, graduating from law school before receiving his two undergraduate degrees.
After passing the Georgia bar exam, Mr. Fears was admitted to the practice of law February 2, 1948, when he returned to Jackson and entered private practice and taught business law at Georgia State University. It was also during this time in the 1950s when Mr. Fears began his political career by serving in the Georgia General Assembly as representative from Butts County. He was instrumental in appropriating funds which created the lake at Indian Springs State Park.
During the 1960s, Col. Fears concentrated on his law practice. He served as city attorney for the City of Jackson for many years. He began a workers' compensation and social security practice when such cases were frowned upon by other attorneys. He routinely and often single-handedly took on, and won many civil, criminal and "politically charged" cases. He helped almost all local attorneys when they began their practice of law and was fond of saying, "There is always room for another good lawyer." Dan Fears, Sr., was admitted to every inferior, superior, and appellate court in the State of Georgia. Additionally, the Colonel was admitted to practice in the U.S. Tax Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
In 1968, he entered politics again and successfully ran for and was selected to two terms as a Butts County Commissioner, serving as Chairman of the Board. During this time, he successfully cut county expenses and balanced county budgets. When others wanted to tear down the Butts County Courthouse, erected in 1898, he saved this historical building from destruction, saving Butts County taxpayers the expense of a new courthouse. Mr. Fears was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. Together with Mr. Pliny Weaver and Mr. Hamp Daughtry, Dan Sr. was able to help finance and construct the current church building located on Highway 16 in 1975.
He was a Sunday School Teacher and close advisor to many of the former Pastors. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, receiving his 60-year award this past February. He was a member of the old Flint Circuit Bar Association, the Towaliga Bar Association, and a 60-year member of the State Bar of Georgia, only recently assuming inactive status. He was a former member of the American Bar Association and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Fears was predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years, Mildred Andrews Fears, whom he met while he was in law school. Dan Sr., was proud that Mildred was one of the registered nurses who helped open the local Sylvan Grove Hospital.
Mr. Fears, Sr. is survived by their four children, Denise F. Hemmann of Jackson, Deborah F. and Mike Samford of Alpharetta, and Dan Fears Jr. and Linda Fears of Jackson, and Honorable William A. Fears and Joyce Fears of Jackson, and their children, his eight grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Evelyn F. Lambert of Jackson, Mrs. Mervin F. Bryan of Flovilla, a brother, Mr. and Mrs. David Eugene Fears of Montgomery, Alabama, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Andrews Waters of Savannah, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr. will be Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 11 am, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Dr. Ed Hoard and Reverend Robert L. Henderson, Sr. will officiate. Interment will be in the Jackson City Cemetery. Those desiring may make a memorial donation to the Alfred D. Fears Endowed Fund, Berry College, P.O.Box 490069, Mt. Berry, Georgia 30149. Haisten Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements. 770-775-3119
A prominent Jackson attorney for over 60 years, he was also a religious, civic, and political leader in his native Butts County, Georgia, where he was born on April 23, 1919, to the late Georgia Alberta Pope and the late Robert Lee Fears. Mr. Fears completed his elementary education in the public schools of Butts County and graduated from Martha Berry High School in Mt. Berry, Georgia, which he attended during the depression years of the 1930s. It was here where he met and knew Miss Martha Berry and Henry Ford, a benefactor of his beloved school.
It was from Miss Berry where his love of learning and appreciation of education began. Upon graduation, he entered North Georgia Military College which he left voluntarily after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Fears received his flight training in Pensacola, Corpus Christi, and St. Mary's, California, and rose to the rank of Junior Grade Lieutenant as a naval aviator. During the war years, he was stationed in the Mayport and Pensacola Naval bases, running anti-submarine patrol. Mr. Fears remained in U.S. Naval Reserves until 1955. After World War II, Mr. Fears continued his collegiate education by entering the University of Georgia, another school he revered and always supported. He was admitted to the law school at UGA which he completed in record time, graduating from law school before receiving his two undergraduate degrees.
After passing the Georgia bar exam, Mr. Fears was admitted to the practice of law February 2, 1948, when he returned to Jackson and entered private practice and taught business law at Georgia State University. It was also during this time in the 1950s when Mr. Fears began his political career by serving in the Georgia General Assembly as representative from Butts County. He was instrumental in appropriating funds which created the lake at Indian Springs State Park.
During the 1960s, Col. Fears concentrated on his law practice. He served as city attorney for the City of Jackson for many years. He began a workers' compensation and social security practice when such cases were frowned upon by other attorneys. He routinely and often single-handedly took on, and won many civil, criminal and "politically charged" cases. He helped almost all local attorneys when they began their practice of law and was fond of saying, "There is always room for another good lawyer." Dan Fears, Sr., was admitted to every inferior, superior, and appellate court in the State of Georgia. Additionally, the Colonel was admitted to practice in the U.S. Tax Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
In 1968, he entered politics again and successfully ran for and was selected to two terms as a Butts County Commissioner, serving as Chairman of the Board. During this time, he successfully cut county expenses and balanced county budgets. When others wanted to tear down the Butts County Courthouse, erected in 1898, he saved this historical building from destruction, saving Butts County taxpayers the expense of a new courthouse. Mr. Fears was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. Together with Mr. Pliny Weaver and Mr. Hamp Daughtry, Dan Sr. was able to help finance and construct the current church building located on Highway 16 in 1975.
He was a Sunday School Teacher and close advisor to many of the former Pastors. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, receiving his 60-year award this past February. He was a member of the old Flint Circuit Bar Association, the Towaliga Bar Association, and a 60-year member of the State Bar of Georgia, only recently assuming inactive status. He was a former member of the American Bar Association and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Fears was predeceased by his beloved wife of 46 years, Mildred Andrews Fears, whom he met while he was in law school. Dan Sr., was proud that Mildred was one of the registered nurses who helped open the local Sylvan Grove Hospital.
Mr. Fears, Sr. is survived by their four children, Denise F. Hemmann of Jackson, Deborah F. and Mike Samford of Alpharetta, and Dan Fears Jr. and Linda Fears of Jackson, and Honorable William A. Fears and Joyce Fears of Jackson, and their children, his eight grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Evelyn F. Lambert of Jackson, Mrs. Mervin F. Bryan of Flovilla, a brother, Mr. and Mrs. David Eugene Fears of Montgomery, Alabama, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Andrews Waters of Savannah, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Alfred Daniel Fears, Sr. will be Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 11 am, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, Dr. Ed Hoard and Reverend Robert L. Henderson, Sr. will officiate. Interment will be in the Jackson City Cemetery. Those desiring may make a memorial donation to the Alfred D. Fears Endowed Fund, Berry College, P.O.Box 490069, Mt. Berry, Georgia 30149. Haisten Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements. 770-775-3119
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