One of the

pillars of the Fayette County community, Grady Huddleston, is dead at

77.

A former state

legislator and county magistrate judge, Huddleston, of Fayetteville, died

of an apparent heart attack Feb. 20, 2001.

A native Fayette

countian, he was a 1939 graduate of Fayette County High School, received

a bachelor of science degree from the University of Georgia and an L.L.B.

degree from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law.

He served in

the United States Army in World War II, serving in the 34th Infantry Division

in Europe. He received the Bronze Star and the European Theater ribbon

with two battle stars.

He worked for

the state of Georgia for more than 20 years and spearheaded its merit

system. He served Fayette County for 14 years in the Georgia House of

Representatives and for the past 13 years served as a Fayette County magistrate

judge, as well as having been a past president of the Fayetteville Kiwanis

Club.

He was a past

master of the Tyrone Masonic Lodge 644 and the Fayetteville Masonic Lodge

711. He also was an active member of the Fayetteville Veterans of Foreign

Wars and American Legion.

Said former

Fayetteville Mayor A. O. "Bo" Ingram, also a Fayette native,

"Even though we were reared on opposite sides of the county, in our

adult years we were very close. We both served our country in World War

II and have served our home county in many capacities. We worked together

as magistrate judges and I could always count on Grady when needed."

Fayette County

High School graduate David Cary said he always appreciated Huddleston

for taking the time to help him. "He always guided me in writing

school papers, whether it was about politics or Fayette County. I appreciated

his easy-going manner and concern for whatever I was doing."

He was born

Oct. 7, 1923 in the Clover community of what is now Peachtree City, the

son of the late Robert H. "Mr. Bob" and Emily Pope Huddleston.

He was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Myrtice Whitlock Huddleston,

and a brother, Hugh Huddleston.

Survivors include

his wife of 52 years, Carolyn "Put" Putman Huddleston, formerly

of Brooks; daughters Anne and John Palcer, Warrenton, Va., and Gloria

Gradine "Gee Je" Huddleston, Atlanta; grandsons Chase Palcer

and Jake Palcer, Warrenton, Va.; a brother, Kenneth Huddleston, Americus,

Ga.; and sisters Florene H. Adams, Fayetteville, Ruby H. Shelley, Thomaston,

and Linda H. Blanchard, Fayetteville.

Funeral services

were at the Fayetteville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Glenn Stringham

officiating. Interment was at Westminster Memorial Gardens, Peachtree

City. The cortege was escorted by a dozen law enforcement vehicles.