William T. “Bill” Pelham, 67, of Fitzgerald, died Wednesday, December 23 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M. Saturday, December 26, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel, Fitzgerald with Rev. Earlie Holt officiating. Interment will follow at 2 P.M., in Arabia Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Clinch County. The family will receive friends from 9:00 A.M. Saturday morning until the funeral hour.
Mr. Pelham was born November 18, 1942 in Albany, Georgia to the late J.B. and Maurine Taylor Pelham. He graduated from Albany High School and was a graduate of Georgia Southern College. Mr. Pelham taught math in the Statesboro school system before moving to Fitzgerald in 1970. He was former owner/operator of Industrial Light Company and a former Cotton States Insurance agent. Mr. Pelham was past-president of the Georgia Democratic County Chairs, was a member of the Ben Hill Democratic Executive Committee and is a Yellowdog Democrat. He was a member of the Elks Club and a former member of the Lions Club. He was instrumental in putting lights on the Lions Park baseball field.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lea P. & Lance Streetman of Mableton; sons and daughter-in-law, Scott Pelham and Clay & Melissa Pelham, all of Fitzgerald; grandchildren, David Lee Nelms, Daniel Pelham, Tayler Pelham, Alli Pelham, Dawson Pelham and Shelbi Pelham; brother & sister-in-law, Charles & Eloise Pelham of Albany; special friend, Myra Dorrity of Fitzgerald; caregivers, Ruby Clements and Christine Hayes, both of Fitzgerald as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn “Carlie” Pelham and a brother, James B. Pelham, Jr.