Dawson–Ralph Emerson McGill, Jr. 96, of Dawson, passed away on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11:00 A. M. at the First Baptist Church of Dawson. Visitation will be from 10:00 A. M. to 11:00 A.M. prior to the funeral service.
Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Dawson. Mr. Ralph was born March 20, 1922 at the family home in the Yeomans Community in Terrell County, Georgia. He was the son of the late Ralph Emerson McGill, Sr. and the late Mattie Gertrude Fillingame McGill.
He attended Terrell County schools in the Yeomans and Parrott communities and graduated from Dawson High School in 1941. He entered the U. S. Army-Air Forces Unit in l942 and served in several state-side bases during World War II. After the war was over, he attended Bob Jones University and New Orleans Theological Seminary.
His father became ill in September 1949, and he returned to Terrell County to assist his mother in the farming operation. In the early l950’s Mr. Ralph’s career changed to Music. Even before music was his full-time career, he shared his musical talents.
He was post organist at military bases and wherever he happened to be he was continually asked to play for local churches and events. In March 1950, Mr. Ralph accepted the position of Organist for the First Baptist Church of Dawson and continued his committment for 66 years until he retired in 2016. In 1956 he started to teach piano lessons on a limited basis, but it soon became a long and rewarding career.
In the l964-65 school year he taught a total of 79 students in Webster and Terrell Counties and other surrounding communities. The community was still being blessed with Mr. Ralph’s talent until just a few short years ago. Because he was such a dear friend to everyone, he was continually asked to play at weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers, Terrell Academy, funerals and other such occasions.
He is survived by a nephew, Stephen McGill (Luann) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, sister-in-law, Edris McGill of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; two great-nephews, Chris McGill and Brandon McGill (Sylvia), a great-niece, Haleigh McGill, great-great niece, Abby McGill and cousins, Gail Fillingame Delfino and John Clark. Memorials may be made to the Georgia Baptist Childrens Home, P. O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268 or the First Baptist Church, 309 Church St.,NE, Dawson, GA 39842.
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