Dr. John D. McCord, 93, of Fitzgerald, died Friday, September 17, 2010, at his residence.
Services will be held 2 P.M. Sunday, September 19, at Central United Methodist Church with Rev. Keith Goodlett and Rev. Michael McCord officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Saturday evening at the funeral home.
Dr. McCord was born April 13, 1917 in Oliver, Georgia to the late J.D. and Elizabeth Taylor McCord. He attended Young Harris College and received his degree in Optometry from Northern Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. McCord practiced Optometry in Fitzgerald for 60 years. He was an active member of Central United Methodist Church. He was an honorary member of the Administrative Board and served in many ways, from Sunday school teacher to chairman of the board of stewards. Dr. McCord was former president of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce and former chairman of the Ben Hill County Development Authority. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, past president of the Rotary Club of Fitzgerald and was presented with the Fitzgerald Rotary’s Club Service Above Self Award. Dr. McCord served on the school board for eight years and he was a former Scout leader with Boy Scout Troop 875. He was former Chairman of the board of the National Bank of Fitzgerald (later became C& S Bank). McCord assisted the Fitzgerald and Ocilla Lions Clubs in providing free eye exams and glasses at a reduced price to those who could not afford them and he worked with the local March of Dimes. Dr. McCord was among Fitzgerald’s first plane owners. He belonged to a group of local aviators who met on Sunday mornings for breakfast.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years: Lois Sikes McCord of Fitzgerald; sons and daughter-in-law: Sikes McCord of Fitzgerald and Dodge & Anne McCord of Kennesaw; daughter-in-law: Sandy McCord of Macon; grandsons: Sean (Laurel) McCord, Michael (Emily) McCord, Robert (Amy Leigh) McCord, Matt McCord, Luke McCord, Sam McCord, Adam McCord and Garrett McCord; 1 great grandchild; sister: Martha Giles of Macon; caregivers: Louise Jenkins, Sue Adkinson, Darlene Cook and Blue-Gray Community Hospice and several nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, John D. McCord, III and 2 sisters.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 428, Fitzgerald, GA 31750, Blue-Gray Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1447, Fitzgerald, GA or the donor’s favorite charity.