Lawson C. (Buddy) Culpepper

Lawson C. (Buddy) Culpepper died October 21, 2005. He grew up on Ivy Street in Atlanta and played football for Marist High School graduating in1939. In recent years, he attended the Marist High School Alumni annual weekends with the "IVY STREET GANG". Buddy was a proud veteran serving in the army for five years during World War II., beginning in the South Pacific Theater in Australia and New Guinea. He soloed after six weeks of pilot training in New Braunsfels, TX, but "D" Day was launched and he was transferred into the 101st Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He spent his final service in the European Theatre in France, Belgium, Austria and Germany. Buddy was a longtime Atlanta area residential building contractor. As a charter member of the Clairmont Hills Baptist Church in the early 50's, he served as a Deacon and General Sunday School Secretary for over 35 years. Friends called him "the Mainstay". He bowled with many friends in leagues in Atlanta for over 50 years. Buddy played scratch golf in his younger days and won the senior division for many consecutive years in the National and Georgia Left-Handed Golfers Association. A Bass Master member, Buddy loved tournaments in the region. His greatest love was his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Williams Culpepper and his four daughters. He was preceded in death by his daughter Joyce Culpepper. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Williams Culpepper; daughters, Mary Culpepper Harris of Atlanta, Susan Culpepper Phillips and son-in-law, John Phillips of LaGrange, GA, Grace Culpepper and son-in-law Bill Johnson of Fayetteville, AR; five grandsons, Thomas Lawson Harris, Christopher Scott Harris, John Williams Harris, David Michael Lynd, Daniel Robert Lynd; and six great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 24th, at 11 a.m. at Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Pitts and Rev. Larry Burgess officiating. Burial will follow in Decatur Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at A. S. Turner & Sons.