H. Calvin Stovall, Jr.

Henry "Calvin" Stovall, Jr., died on November 15, 2009 in Cornelia, Georgia after an extended period of declining health. He was 94. After his coronation on May 12, 1937, England's King George VI stated, "The highest of distinctions is service to others." Calvin Stovall was a perfect example of the truth in this statement for he truly distinguished himself through his unselfish service to his family, his country, his church, his community, his profession, and his friends. Mr. Stovall was born in Cornelia, Georgia on August 20, 1915. He was the son of the late Henry C. Stovall, Sr. and Elizabeth Patton Phillips Stovall, and was preceded in death by his two sisters, Elizabeth Stovall Cuttino Griffin, and Laura Stovall Davis. Calvin attended Habersham County Schools and received his A.B. degree from the University of Georgia in 1937. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. After college he began his career with Commercial Credit Corporation as Office Manager in Columbus, Georgia and Mobile, Alabama. Calvin began his automotive career in 1946 after his release from active duty in the U.S. Army. While in service from November 1940 to February of 1946, Calvin rose in rank from Private to Major. He participated in ten campaigns and received 10 battle stars in the African-European Theater. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a Colonel and Commanding Officer in 1970. The retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Stovall Motor Company and Stovall Tractor Company, both companies founded by his father, Calvin was an active member of the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA) and the National Automobile Dealers Association. He served as President of the GADA in 1975 and 1976. He was the State of Georgia's Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award winner in 1974. Calvin was honored by Ford Motor Company on many occasions earning 13 Ford Distinguished Achievement Awards. He represented dealers of the Southeastern Region on the Ford National Dealer Council in 1970. Giving of his time and talents to his automotive career did not keep Calvin from being extremely active in civic, religious, and community endeavors. He served as President of both the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce and the Cornelia Kiwanis Club, and served on the Board of the Cornelia Housing Authority for 40 years. Appointed by Governor Carl Sanders to the State of Georgia Commission on Aging in 1966, he served in that capacity for a six-year term. Governor Jimmy Carter appointed Calvin to the Council on Aging for the Department of Human Resources from 1972-1975. From its inception in the early 1950s, Calvin served on the Executive Committee and as a officer of Wesley Homes, Inc., a United Methodist organization of the North Georgia Conference to care for the aging. In 1974, Calvin was named by the Supreme Court of Georgia to serve on the State Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Georgia for a two-year term. He was one of the first three lay members who were appointed to serve on this distinguished board. And, in 1990, the Habersham County Rotary Club honored Calvin by naming him a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. Several years later, the Cornelia Kiwanis Club honored him with the Kiwanis International Hixson Award and, most recently, named him a Kiwanis Fellow. A long-time supporter of his alma mater, the University of Georgia, Calvin contributed his financial support to the "Memorial Garden" project honoring service men and women who served our country during World Wars. He was a strong advocate and dedicated supporter of Piedmont College as well. Calvin also served his church in virtually every capacity a layman can. Most recently, he served on the Long-Range Planning Committee of the Cornelia United Methodist Church, and, for the last few years, served on the Administrative Board as the church's representative to the Habersham Christian Learning Center's Board of Trustees. In 2008, he was elected an honorary life-time member of the Administrative Board. A member of both the Masons and Shriners for over 50 years, Calvin also served as both the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Community Bankshares, Inc. In April 2007 he was named Chairman Emeritus of the bank holding company. He also served on the board of Community Bank & Trust since 1967 and the board of Financial Supermarkets, Inc. from its inception in 1984. Calvin was a charter member of the Habersham Historical Society and was honored by the City of Cornelia in 2008 as the recipient of its Citizenship Award. Through his life-long commitment to his church, his family, and his career, Calvin continually placed the welfare of others above his own. A true "Southern Gentlemen", he was a living example of a devoted husband to his wife Nancy, father of daughter, Marcia, and friend to many, many people. His example fulfilled the time-honored statement that "Service to others is, indeed, the rent we pay for the space we occupy here on earth.' In addition to his wife Nancy, his daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Bill Loyd, Mr. Stovall is survived by several nieces, nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews along with a host of friends. Visitation we be held on Monday, November 16th from 4-6 p.m. at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, and a memorial service will be held at the Cornelia United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Cornelia United Methodist Church at 275 Wyly Street, Cornelia, Georgia 30531. Acree-Davis Funeral Home of Toccoa is coordinating arrangements with Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel of Demorest, Georgia. (706) 778-1700