Leonard Seymour

Leonard Martin Seymour, 92, of Golfview Drive, Hartwell, passed away Thursday, November 21, 2019, at The Pines Senior Living Center, Maysville, Ga.
    Born on April 12, 1927, in Canon, Ga., he was the son of the late Joel Martin Seymour and Millie Partain Seymour. Mr. Seymour was one of 10 children and grew up on a farm in rural Hart County.
At the beginning of WWII, he worked two summers at the Savannah Shipyards and then, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Pacific Theatre. During his 25-year career in the Army, he volunteered for Airborne duty and was a Paratrooper for eight years, earning the Master Parachutist wings and Expert Field Medical Badge, while serving in WWII, the Korean War, the Lebanon Crisis in 1956 and as an advisor in the early years of the Vietnam War.  He retired after 25 years of service as a Colonel in the Medical Service Corps branch.
    After retiring from the U.S. Army, Mr. Seymour served as Administrator of Hart County Hospital from 1970 to 1979, and then as Administrator of Cobb Memorial Hospital and Brown Memorial Convalescent Center from 1979 to 1986.  In 1987, he was appointed to the Hart County Board of Commissioners, where he served as Chairman 1989 and 1990. 
Mr. Seymour was a former member of the Hartwell Rotary Club, Royston-Franklin Springs Rotary Club and was a member of the Military Officers Association of America and served as president of the NE GA Chapter from 1989 to 1993.  He also was a member of the Hartwell American Legion Post #109, where served in every officer position and served as Post Commander twice. Mr. Seymour was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hartwell and the Doc Adams Sunday School Class. He was a long-time member of the Hartwell Golf Club where he was an avid golfer, board member and, in his later years, served as a volunteer assisting in the maintenance of the club and the golf course. 
Survivors include his wife, Betty Ayers Seymour; two daughters: Debbie Oliver (Charles) and Shirley Merritt (Tim) all of Hartwell; three grandchildren: Dallas Oliver, Reed Oliver and Jennifer Merritt; a great-grandson, Dallas Oliver and a sister, Ruth Sellers Bowers (Bill) of Anderson, S.C.  Mr. Seymour was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Lee Seymour, Herman Seymour and Roger Seymour and five sisters: Etta Massey, Eunice Massey, Dora Ginn, Nellie Ellis Swink and Mildred Ferschke.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 14, at the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell.
A memorial service celebrating Leonard's life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 14, in the Chapel of the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell with Dr. F. Hugh Kirby and Rev. Carter Tucker officiating with the American Legion Post #109 rendering military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hartwell, 81 E. Howell Street, Hartwell, GA 30643 or to the American Legion Post #109, PO Box 513, Hartwell, GA 30643.
The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.stricklandfh.com.