Mr. Gillespie Carl “Bud” Stallings

Published 2:44 am Saturday, September 14, 2013

September 10, 1926 – September 11, 2013

Mr. Gillespie Carl “Bud” Stallings, age 87, a former resident of Griffin-Hodges Road, Old Ford community Washington, died Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at Ridgewood Manor in Washington.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, September 16, 2013 from the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington conducted by Eddie Bowen.  Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.
The following will serve as pallbearers:  Raymond Williams, Steve Gorham, Churchill Hodges, Jimmy Hodges, Mac Hodges and Bobby Hodges.
Honorary pallbearers will be the staff of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory, Old Ford Ruritan Club and Beaufort County Grange #1233.
Mr. Stallings was born in Franklin County, N.C. on September 10, 1926.  He was the son of the late Baily Carl Stallings and Alberta Medlin Stallings.  Mr. Stallings attend Kings Business College in Raleigh and Albany Tech in Albany, Ga.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  Mr. Stallings worked 25 years in the wholesale and retail baking business with Bell Bakeries in Jamaica, N.Y., Raleigh, N.C., Orlando, FL, and Winston-Salem, N.C. and Southern Bakeries in Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, FL and Albany, Ga.  After his retirement, he owned and operated a chain of retail bakeries known as Tasty Bakeries and had a chain of florists known as Bud’s Buds and Catering.
His memberships included the Sertoma International Club, Director of the March of Dimes, Jaycees, American Legion Post 30, Elks Club #713, Loyal Order of the Moore #1285, Albany Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Club, various humane societies, Lee County Heart Association, Dougherty County Action Team, Lee County Civitan Club, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Dougherty County, Lee County Election Board, Campaign Manager for Sen. Al Holloway, Gov. Zell Miller, Steering Committee Dougherty County, Ga. for Al Gore, Peanut Brigade and 800 Club of President Jimmy Carter, MADD, child abuse programs, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Exchange Club, Volunteers of Albany, Ga., Old Ford Ruritan Club, Beaufort County Grange #1233, the Old Ford Church of Christ and the Barnabas Sunday School Class.
On January 29, 1949, he married the former Opal Hodges, who survives.
He moved to Washington in 1991 and worked part time as a funeral home assistant at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory as long as his health permitted.
Mr. Stallings loved animals and his special children were Boochie, Frederick, Eickles, Rigsby, Schnitzel, Barney and Sampson.
Mr. Stallings is survived by his wife, Opal of the home; sister, Nell Beddingfield of Winter Haven, FL and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by sisters, Carolyn Stallings, Dimock S. Keith and Kitty S. Garrett.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington and other times at the home.
Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Beaufort County Humane Society, P.O. Box 8, Washington, N.C.  27889.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington is honored to serve Stallings family.