My Daddy (Tony Daniel) has been my biggest fan. I truly believe he loves me and he always seems so proud of me. He is always encouraging and just loves me unconditionally. Thanks Daddy!!!!!!

I feel so blessed and lucky to have my Dad, Frank Clark. You know the saying “Anyone can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a daddy.” This is my Dad. He’s a great Papa. I feel he lives my childhood through my girls...He can fix anything and will come and help with anything that needs repaired. It is true you learn to appreciate your parents more as you get older. My Dad was the first man I loved. Thanks Dad for always being there when I need you. Happy Father’s Day!!

My dad has always given my earthly example of what my Heavenly Father is to me. He became a Christian when I was 12 years old and our lives changed dramatically. I think seeing that drastic change of how God could change someone’s heart has made me never question my faith. I cannot count the endless times I have seen him help someone in need. He loves our family unconditionally and is now the best “Papa” to his grandkids. They think he is the fun one of the family! 

When he went through prostate cancer treatment, he didn’t feel well at times. His determination and selflessness was an inspiration to us all. Being a leader in many churches, I have seen him stand up against crowds to do what was right and not what was popular. That has always made me admire him so much.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! I am so glad that you are my dad. Love you always.

I don’t think that I could choose one memory of my dad, cause there are so many. He has always been there for me and my brother. He was dad and mom for most of my life. He is a very special man. He is the type that would give you the shirt right off of his back if you needed it. He taught me to fish, ride horses and how to cook. I am so blessed to have him as my daddy. When I was very young he was run over by an 18-wheeler and every one thought that he would never walk again. With the lord’s help and his love for his two kids, the man can out run me. When I think of my daddy I think of a very strong man, loving husband to Phyllis Smith (my mom), and a wonderful daddy. My favorite thing that he does every morning is he calls me and tells me to have a great day and he loves me. Now how many daddys out there still do that. This is why I love him so much.

Love always your little girl

I think my brother should be recognized as “My Dad, My Hero.” My brother is Scott Fuss. At the age of 47 he is the proud father of two beautiful children Hannah, 5, and Caleb, 3. Scott and his wife adopted Hannah and Caleb from Guatemala when they were babies. Because of Hannah and Caleb’s age that is why I am writing this for them because I know how much they love their dad and how he would go to the end of the earth for them. He is blessed to have them as his children and they are blessed to have him as their Dad.

I always knew that Scott would be an exceptional dad. When he was in college, he would call me on Fridays and ask to pick up my son from daycare and keep him for the day. He would take him to the zoo, parks or just spend time with him. He has always been there for or to lend a helping hand for his nieces and nephews and youth at church. He is involved with Chimney Park and The Miracle League; two important projects devoted to special needs children in Newton County.

Scott is always finding time to do for others without taking any time away from his children. He gets them ready for the day, off to daycare, picks them up after working at his job, prepares dinner, has playtime and baths before bedtime. He always attends his children’s fieldtrips, plays at church, and any other event they are involved in are important to Scott.

Scott’s children are his main focus and his is theirs. Living out in rural Newton County gives him the opportunity to teach his children a lot about nature and about making your own adventures. Planting and watching a garden grow, raising chickens, turkeys, building things in the workshop for show and tell at school, playing in the creek or just rolling down a hill in the grass are some of the simple pleasures that Hannah and Caleb are able to experience daily with their dad. These are just a few of the precious memories that they will always remember and be thankful to have. 

When Hannah was small, Scott would ride her on his shoulders. When she was able to talk, she would say, “Dada, I want to ride tall!” I know she liked being up high, but I think she was more proud to be on the shoulders of the person that is the apple of her eye…her Dada! Scott was out of town a few weeks ago and Hannah told me that her Dada called her in the morning. I asked her if he said “Good morning, Sunshine.” She said no, he calls me “Sweetheart.”

My father is special to me because he has demonstrated renewal. A veteran of the Korean War, a former banker with C & S Bank, and formerly with Delta Air Lines, he pursued a doctorate in his forties and did research on shut ins. He was instrumental in the ministry during the 70s, when technology was not an everyday word, in bringing church sermons to those who were physically unable to attend church services. Upon retirement from that field, he moved on to work with home missions at the Georgia Baptist Convention and retired once again. Now, in his 70s, he insists on reviving those old banking skills and assists with tax preparation from January through April. Born in the 30s in a tiny house off of Floyd Street, he loves Newton County and calls it his home. A man of many hats and talented in various professions, he embodies the American spirit of hard work, tenacity, renewal, and love of country and county. 

My PawPaw, Jackie Spears, is the best grandpa. I am named after my PawPaw and my great-grandpa Jack Spears Sr. PawPaw Jackie has a farm in Mansfield. He has been a farmer all his life. He had a special seat made in his tractor so I could go to the hayfields with him. I have helped cut and bale hay. My favorite is when he does round bales. I like to see the round bales roll out of the baler. PawPaw’s favorite TV show is “Tom and Jerry.” In March he had an operation to fix his back. Something went wrong and he is at Shepherd Center. He can’t walk and is in a wheel chair. He can’t use his arms very good but he can still hug me and my brother. The doctor and nurses are helping him walk again. I can’t wait to do all the fun stuff again with PawPaw like check cows, got to Tractor Supply and my favorite is when the picks me up at school in his big black truck that looks like the Transformer Ironhide. My brother and I will be so happy to get back in the field with PawPaw Jackie and his big green tractor. You are our hero PawPaw!

To me, my paw-paw is my hero. I’m sure a lot of you in this community know of him, he never meets a stranger and can carry on a conversation with anyone. I am only 14 years old but he has been a big influence in my life and has helped make me who I am today. My paw-paw has a heart of gold and is always putting his family, friends and God before his self. No matter who or what it is, he’ll lend a helping hand. He has taught me to do my best at everything and I will get rewarded for it in the end. Like report cards, he always gives us grandkids $100 for making good grades in school. Sometimes, my cousin Ashton and I spend the night on school nights and he always takes us to breakfast before taking us to school. He also loves to cook for everyone. Sometimes, I go to his house and meet people that he has just met in a store and has invited them over to eat and swim. Also, every year on Easter he cooks and has a big Easter egg hunt for whoever wants to come and each year I meet new people. He loves and enjoys helping people, he volunteers to do things at the church and he has a passion for racing and remodeling old cars. My paw-paw is not only the best at being a paw-paw, but is also the best dad to my mom and aunt, and also the best husband to my maw-maw. If you haven’t already figured out my hero’s name, his name is Puddy Bullard.