Henry Cordell Futch, 78, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2019 at home in Nashville, Georgia after a battle with lung cancer. Cordell was born May 15, 1941 to Henry Turner "Dumps" Futch and Georgia Louise Bradford at Avera Mill Pond east of Nashville, GA, the third of nine children.

Cordell attended Berrien Primary, Elementary and High Schools, excelling in athletics such as football and basketball. He met his beautiful bride in school and they were married on June 12, 1960 in Nashville, GA for 59 wonderful years. A life-long resident of Nashville, he built and lived in his home with his wife, Wilma, south of Nashville on the Cecil Road (now South Coffee) until his death. Small town life suited him well. He enjoyed taking his birthday off every year to visit with friends and family as well as meeting with friends most days for breakfast.

If Cordell put his mind to something, he usually did it. This included a love of speed as a teenager, which he pursued via a range of motor sports over his lifetime. These included his first car (a black 1949 Ford), dragsters, skeeter cars, swamp buggies, late model stock cars, go-carts, boats, motorcycles, racing lawnmowers, radio controlled airplanes and a range of other vehicles. Few residents of Berrien County have not been passed on the road by Cordell at some point. He earned a reputation as an excellent engine builder and a prepared competitor with the late model Chevrolet stock car #92. A signature accomplishment was winning the Florida and Georgia Grand National Points Championships with Eddie McDonald, Jr. as driver, finishing 15th place nationally in 1972. He was honored with a commemorative brick on the Racer's Walk of Fame at Main Street Station in Daytona Beach, Florida in February 2019.

Aligned with his leisure interests, Cordell in his early years worked for various gas station proprietors in Nashville, as a mechanic and then service manager at Martin Motors Dodge/Chrysler and later as the service manager at Griner Chevrolet. Following that, he worked with Clark Futch, Wilma's father, at Futch Manufacturing in the production of farm trailers, equipment and implements, and then Cordell started his own welding and metal fabrication business in 1978. After 24 years of running his own business with Wilma at his side, serving area farmers, municipalities, builders and a variety of other customers, he retired in 2002.

Cordell served his community well throughout his life. He was an Eagle Scout and for 19 years was a volunteer fireman in Nashville, GA. His fireman's helmet #17 sits atop the flag pole at the fire station in Nashville, placed there by his fellow firefighters in recognition of his service. He was a Royal Arch member of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M., Macon, Georgia, Masonic Duncan Lodge Chapter 234 in Nashville, GA for more than 50 years.

He was an avid fisherman throughout his life, angling in the creek behind his boyhood home at 912 South Berrien and area rivers and lakes.

Motorcycle riding was a favorite pursuit with an array of friends over the years. This included dirt bike riding along logging trails and on motocross tracks in the 1970s to street bike trips throughout Georgia (particularly the mountains). He and the "boys" were accomplished adventurers, traveling to Key West, Daytona, Sturgis, California, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Canada up until his passing.

Cordell accepted Christ at the First Baptist Church in Nashville, GA in his early teenage years and affirmed and shared his faith in the winter of his life. He provided for his wife and children, setting examples of commitment in his marriage and of the values he passed along to his children. Cordell was a friend to all as he travelled through life, helping folks with what he had and the skills God gave him.

He was a life-long banana pudding, fish-fry, salt and pepper, family reunion, yard maintenance, genealogy, photography and TV channel flipping enthusiast among other interests. Cordell was a firm opponent of leaf raking in any form, which was ultimately limiting for trees in the yard. He thoroughly enjoyed his children and grandchildren, patiently playing with and teaching them when they were young and following their accomplishments into adulthood. Cordell found joy in life and brought joy to others.

Cordell is survived by his wife, Wilma Frances Futch, son Dell R. Futch (Sherrie) and grandchildren Erin Futch and Turner Futch; daughter Jill E. Futch, and grandchildren Tara Sly, Tina Sly and Jeferey Sly, Jr.; brothers Swinton "Dan" Futch, Roy E. Futch and Carrol Futch and sister Carolyn Futch Grubaugh. Cordell was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Patty Futch Anderson and Marie Futch Beeman, brother Charles Winslow "Chuck" Futch, and an infant brother. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Sunday September 1, 2019 at 4 PM in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard McNair and Rev. Swinton Futch officiating.  Internment will follow at Westview Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Sunday 2-4 PM. Please join us for a celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Caring Place via Hope Baptist Church, 1011 S Dogwood Drive, Nashville, GA,  31639-2642.