Grady Foster McArthur

Mr. Grady Foster McArthur was a local of Ellijay. He  lived in Gilmer County all his life. He was born in his childhood home on Lower Cartecay Road. He lived on the river with his mother, Mary Etta McClure and father Grady Lefford, brothers, Creston and Ernest and sisters, Jessie and Maxinme.

He was the youngest of his siblings. Growing up in Ellijay is different now compared to 83 years ago. He said back then things were a lot slower.

“We didn’t have a telephone. We didn’t have a television. We did have a radio, but everything was more laid-back.”  Back then, fun was a little strange. McArthur says, “If I could find a crabapple tree, I’d sharpen me a stick, put the crabapples on the stick and throw them.”

His family extends beyond his brothers and sisters. He and wife, Barbara, have a daughter, four grandkids and three great-grandkids.

He reminisced on how he and his wife met. “Her mother ran a restaurant. I was on my way to a singin’ so I stopped to get a pack of gum. I don’t really know, it’s been so long ago, but we dated for five years before we got married in 63, so we’ve been together for 64 years.” Family is essential in the generation he comes from.

Throughout his life, he worked several jobs. He worked for Brinx, a sawmill, Ellijay Tire, Bernhardt Funeral Home, Georgia State Patrolman and many other things. He could not think of how many jobs he had; he said he’d have to count. His first job was when he worked at the sawmill.

“I carried slabs and strips and piled them up.” When I asked him what his least favorite job was, he was quick with a simple direct response, “the sawmill.”

His favorite job was his time as a GSP, during which he had some interesting experiences and learned a few things. Mostly he learned that a lot of people would lie to you. But, he said the most valuable lesson is, “Try and do what was right. Try to treat people right. You can’t treat everyone the same cause everyone is not the same. You can’t do that, but you can treat them fair.”

During his younger years, he developed a love for southern gospel music. He would become the president of the Gilmer County Singing Conventions and become a member of a quartet and a trio. He absolutely loved to sing, and that’s how he contributed to the church.

Sadly, he lost his hearing in June of 1980. He was such a devoted Christian that he had become treasurer of his church and was for 55 years. He says the reason he became treasurer was so he could contribute in some way.

Luckily, in 2000 he had a cochlear implant, so he retained some hearing. Even without being able to hear fully, he still directed the church choir for years.

Among the many things, he was also a Freemason for over 50 years. But due to his hearing loss, he stopped going to the meetings. He also served on the Board of Education and thoroughly enjoyed it.

He loved watching sports, westerns and Fox 5 news. He loved to follow the Braves and the Dawgs and to watch Gunsmoke. Most of all, he loved his family.

He lived a full, extensive life. He had seen and done enough for several people. He was a man of faith, family, trust and respect.  I’m humbled by the fact that I can share a small portion of this great man’s life.

He is survived by wife, Barbara McArthur; daughter, Cheree Jack (Bryan); grandchildren, Corey Crump (Jana), Jacob Burnette, Tyler Babb; great-grandchildren, Toccoa Burnette, Oliver Crump, Brentlee Crump; sister, Maxine Chastain; brother in-law, Kent Reece (Sandra); sisters-in-law, Helen R. Pinson, Mary Alice Turner (Bency), and Elaine McArthur; and several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, from the Ebenezer Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Cantrell, the Rev. Russell Burt and the Rev. Calvin Grogan officiating.

Interment was in the Yukon Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ernie McArthur, Russell Reece, Melvin Chadwick, Johnny Cornelius, Bryan Jack and Tyler Babb.

Honorary pallbearers were Ronald Knight, Gene Pankey, Danny Sparks, Jim McVey, Doug Morrow, Leslie Richards, James Southern, Billy Davis, Donald Cantrell, Lanny Chastain, Ronald West and Harvey McClure.

Donations can be made to the Yukon Cemetery Fund, c/o Billy Bernhardt, P.O. Box 466, Ellijay, Ga. 30540 or the North Georgia School of Gospel Music, c/o Barbara McArthur, 170 Dogwood Road, Ellijay, GA 30536.

Bernhardt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.