Ralph Lamar Lairsey, 85, of Blackshear, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at his residence following a brief illness.
Born in Waycross June 11, 1938, he moved to Pierce County with his parents and siblings in 1950. He graduated from Blackshear High School in 1957 and soon began working with Atlantic Coastline Railroad in Waycross as a young man. He later joined the United States Army Reserves and was called into active duty during the Bay of Pigs Crisis in 1961. He opened Lairsey’s Grocery Store in Offerman in 1962, and operated that store until 1976. He also owned and operated Terry’s Motor Company and Scott’s Mobile Homes during the 1970s. In 1975, he became a bi-vocational pastor and pastored the Church of God of Prophecy in Blackshear until 1983 when he became the pastor of the Gilchrist Park Church of God of Prophecy in Waycross. He pastored there until 1987. During these years, he also sold insurance for American General Life Insurance Company. He and his late brother, William Lairsey, opened Lairsey’s Country Store on Highway 84 on the same corner where his parents operated their grocery store from 1949 until 1985. Later, he added Lairsey’s Auto Sales adjacent to the store.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fluis Cecil and Lily Frances Davis Lairsey; his father-and mother-in-love, Anderson and Ethel Collins Davis; his daughter, Cassandra Marcella Lairsey; his granddaughter, Cassandra Susanne Lairsey and his brother, William Cecil Lairsey.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Nadean Davis Lairsey, Blackshear; his children, Terry (Susan) Lairsey, Blackshear, Scott Lairsey, Statesboro, Karla (Roger) Swafford, Talmo, Eric (Erin) Lairsey, Augusta, Matt Lairsey, Nashville, TN and Michael (Tori) Lairsey, Waycross; his 14 grandchildren, Davis (Hannah) Lairsey, Austin (Ginny) Lairsey, Gantt Lairsey, Noah Lairsey, Jackson Swafford, Caleb Lairsey, Eve Lairsey, Clara Lairsey, Ellie Lairsey, Coleman Lairsey, Adain Lairsey, Whitt Lairsey, Reagan Lairsey and Eli Lairsey; four great-grandchildren who brought him so much joy, Eliza Lairsey, Tate Lairsey, Collins Lairsey and Beau Lairsey; his sisters, Carolyn Rosenberger, Christine Ring, Linda Thornton, Diane (Marvin) Hopkins and Sherry Lairsey and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, from the Word of Life Worship Church of God of Prophecy in Blackshear.
Interment will be in the Blackshear Cemetery.
The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
