Lace Futch

Marion “Lace” Futch, age 83, passed away Friday morning, June 17, 2022, in Savannah, Ga. following a brief illness.  Lace, as he was known to all, was a lifelong resident of Willacoochee, Georgia. He was born October 13, 1938, the son of Clarence and Effie Futch and was one of seven children.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by son, Keith; daughter, Melinda; four brothers, Luther, Clyde, Clarence and Reuben; sister, Dorothy Lott; and granddaughter, Kay Morris.

Lace spent his life working on the growth, development and making a better life for all in his beloved South Georgia. He was Mayor of Willacoochee, GA from 1978 to 1989.  Following that, he was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to head up the Georgia Finance Authority in Atlanta.  In 1991, he was appointed as Director of the Regional Development Center in Waycross where he served until retirement in 2009.  He was past president and an active member of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA).  In 2010, he was once again elected as Mayor of Willacoochee, GA until 2014 when he was elected Chairman of the Atkinson County Board of Commissioners, a post he was still serving at the time of his death.

Lace is survived by his wife, Nancy Williams Futch; son, William Futch (wife, Rachael) of Scott, LA; daughter, Susan Chancey of Nashville, GA.; sister, Glenda Yawn of Willacoochee, GA; brother, Ray Futch of Smithdale, MS; grandson, Clay Morris, of Nashville, GA.; granddaughter, Cara (husband, Evan) Williams of Wewahitchka, FL.; several great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins as well as, many other relatives.

Funeral services for Lace were held at the Pearson Civic Center at 3:00 pm, on Friday, June 24, 2022, with Pastor Troy Jackson, Rev. Joe Taft, and Rev. Joey Floyd officiating, as well as speaker, Commissioner Gloria Ferrell.  Special musical selections included, as prelude song, “When the Saints Go Marching In” performed by The Lite Brigade Band.  “Amazing Grace”, and “I’ll Fly Away”, as postlude song, were both rendered by Pastor Troy Jackson Ministries and The Lite Brigade Band.  The interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery. 

Serving as active pallbearers were:  Ernest Styles Futch, Danny Griffin, Kelly Morris, Jaron McKinnon, Kevin McDonald, and Donald Ray Lott.  Evan Williams served as honorary pallbearer.

The family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Lace’s name.  This can be done online at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or mail your donation to:  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.

Relihan Funeral Home in Pearson, Ga. was in charge of the arrangements.