David Martin Still

David Martin Still passed away peacefully at his home in Blakely, Ga., on Thursday, January 18, 2024, after an extended illness. He was 87. He was born on March 16, 1936, in Early County, Ga., to the late Martin Wilson Still and Miriam Bernice Mosely Still. He grew up in the Lucile Community, the oldest of six siblings, on the family farm. David was educated at Hilton School and was in the final graduating class of 1954, before students were consolidated to Blakely. He always loved to be counted among the Hilton students and loved attending reunions. The following year, he enrolled at Berry College in Rome, Ga., later transferred to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga., before joining the United States Army in 1957. After basic training, he was stationed in France for two years where he worked in the finance department. While on furlough halfway through his deployment, he married his childhood sweetheart, Hallie Jean Murkerson, on Christmas Day in 1958. When he returned home, he worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance before becoming office manager at Blakely Peanut Company. Later he farmed with his father and brother, Ronnie, until the Stills opened Trends in 1982, a local department store they operated for more than two decades. After closing Trends in 1993, David managed Rainbow Fertilizer. But he will be best remembered for serving Southwest Georgia in the local Sears, Roebuck and Company Hometown Store they opened 25 years ago this week. He loved his customers as much as they loved him, and he missed them terribly after the store closed in April of 2020. He loved music, having sung in the Hilton School Quartet. He spent his life singing bass in the church choir and sang with the Southern Gospel group, the Harmony Echoes. The sounds of the Gaithers could almost always be heard playing in his truck and in their home. David Still spent his life in service to his family, his beloved church, and the small/agri-businesses of the Blakely-Early County community. A member of many civic and Christian organizations, he served as president of the Lions Club, a member of the Farm Bureau board, chairman of deacons at Zion Free Will Baptist Church, moderator of the Paul Palmer Conference of Original Free Will Baptists and was active in the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star. In addition to his wife of 65 years, Hallie Murkerson Still, he is survived by two brothers, Harold Wayne Still (Veronica), and Ronald Mosely “Ronnie” Still (Sharon), both of Blakely; two sisters, June Still Jones of Blakely and Ann Still Reese (Randy) of Dublin, Ga.; the unofficially adopted "Glass girls," Ann Lucas, Sue Hughes, Rhonda Weaver and Kay Willis (Ronnie), all of Blakely, and their families (including Trey Terry, Brad Hughes, Jamie Smith, Jill Neeley, Meredith Weaver, Kelli Naramore, Bliss Halvorson, Aimee Henderson, Tyler Willis, Trevor Willis and Connor Weaver, to whom he was a “grandpa,” and twelve to whom he was a “great grandpa”); ‘in-laws’ Buddy Lucas and Curtis Hughes; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel Wilson Still, a brother-in-law, Julius Jones, a sister-in-law, Laura Still, and James Weaver. A private burial will take place at Sowhatchee Cemetery at Zion Free Will Baptist Church in Blakely on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. William Smith officiating. His family will welcome all family and friends to a Celebration of Life at Zion Free Will Baptist Church at 2 p.m., also on Sunday, with Dr. Alex Howell, Rev. Wayne Sheffield and Brad Hughes officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Harold Still, Ronnie Still, Steve Jones, Kevin Jones, Hal Still, Bradley Still, Ron Still and Adam Still. The family will receive friends at the Still home at 3848 Martin Road following the service. In lieu of flowers, loved ones are asked to consider donations to the ministries of Zion Free Will Baptist Church, C/O Kay Willis, 14859 Cedar Springs Road, Blakely, GA 39823. The family wishes to thank everyone for their expressions of kindness and love. He had the first of five strokes in 2005 and required different levels of care and therapy since that time. The family wishes to thank all those who served him during those many years, especially the staff and therapists at Early Medical Center in Blakely. Thank you to the faithful employees at Sears who ‘took up the slack’ at every turn. Thank you to the staff of Georgia Hospice Care for their consistent, loving and compassionate service since the massive stroke early in 2023. We also want to thank Steve Anderson and Arthur Brackin (and all the members of the Zion Church, Hilton and Sowhatchee communities) who helped to lighten the load as David required full-time care at home. Last, we want to thank Tawanda Gilbert for her loving care and express our most heartfelt gratitude to Juanice “Neicy” Hightower, a kind and selfless caregiver we count as part of our family. Manry Jordan Hodges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.