William Melbourne Lovett,of Evans, Georgia, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away peacefully June 4, 2012. He was born on June 9, 1922, near Sylvania, Georgia, and is predeceased by his parents, William Atkinson Lovett and Exie Lewis Lovett, his infant sister, Mary Ercel Lovett, and his loving and dedicated wife of 67 years, Bernice Griffin Lovett.
He grew up near Hiltonia, Georgia, where he went to Screven County schools before attending Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Georgia, where he studied farm management and animal husbandry. After his father’s death, he left ABAC to return home to manage the family’s farming and cattle business. In 1960, he sold his farm and property to the adjoining Milhaven Plantation and relocated his family to Evans, Georgia, near Augusta. He worked for Merry Brick Company for many years until his retirement in 1986. He was a dedicated and faithful member of Warren Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons and was a member of the Muns Sunday School Class. He was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
He is survived by his son, William Atkinson (Bill) Lovett and his wife, Vivian, of Roswell, Georgia, and his daughter, Kathie Lovett Treado and her husband, Dennis, of Evans, Georgia. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren, William Atkinson (Tripp) Lovett, III and his wife, Patty, of Marietta, Georgia, James Kyle Lovett and his wife, Katie, of Roswell, Georgia, Charles Dennis (Chad) Treado and his wife, Bonnie, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and Beth Treado Simms and her husband, Brian, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. He is also survived by three adored great-grandchildren, Griffin James Lovett, Greer Frances Lovett, and Grady Wilson Simms. In addition, he is survived by several nieces and nephews, many loving friends and extended family members, Casie and Graham Hill and their sons, Jack and Joe of Evans, Georgia.
His funeral and celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia, with Dr. David McKinley and Rev. Dave Dillard officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Lovett Cemetery in Screven County.
Pallbearers will be Tripp Lovett, Kyle Lovett, Chad Treado, Brian Simms, Graham Hill, and David Timmerman. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Muns Sunday School Class, and the Deacons of Warren Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, if anyone so desires, the family requests that memorials be made to The Garden at Warren, Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Platt’s Funeral Home, 337 North Belair Road, Evans, Georgia.