Social Circle is grieving the loss of a man who dedicated 26 years of his life to his beloved town.

Grady Paul Lemonds, 73, passed away early Monday morning of congestive heart failure. He was a former Social Circle councilman and served as chairman for the city's development authority board.

During his years of service for the city, Lemonds helped bring Solo Cup and General Mills distribution centers into the town, said Social Circle City Manager Doug White.

Lemonds' dedication to the Solo Cup Distribution Center is an example of how he treated everything in his life, White said.

"I remember when Solo Cup began the work on their facility, Mr. Lemonds would put on his hard hat and head for their construction trailer," White said. "He was so interested in how that project was coming along. He was on top of the effort from the road work through to the grand opening.

"That was how he approached all his life's work," White said. "He was not one to sit back. He would much rather be on the scene and reviewing things as they were happening."

Lemonds also owned and operated Circle Electric, an electrical contracting company, for 39 years.

His dedication to the city was also carried through his work in his business.

"Grady was one to always, always help the schools or city with electrical issues," White said.

"There is no telling how many man hours were spent at night or on weekends helping with issues at a school or a pump station or other city facility. From ball park lighting to panel boxes, he would either be there himself or have his
crew there with a phone call," White said.

Lemonds was also a charter member of the Social Circle Rotary Club and strived to provide scholarships to students who wanted to attend a technical school.

"He knew that there were good students that wanted to go to school beyond high school but they didn't have an interest in college studies and he wanted those students to be included in the scope of the scholarships," White said.

Lemonds was the son of Stella Everett Lemonds and Homer Grady Lemonds and was born in Morgan County Dec. 28, 1938.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 13, at Social Circle First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Hardy, the Rev. W.C. Tribble and Bill Clegg officiating. Interment followed at Social Circle City Cemetery.

"He loved our community and always kept his priorities as God, family and community," White said. "He was someone I described as a champion for Social Circle. I consider him a good friend."