LINCOLNTON, GA. - Mr. Ben Barron Ross, 95 attorney and former member of the Georgia House of Representatives peacefully entered into rest on Friday, December 30, 2016 at his residence on Sunrise Drive.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the Lincolnton United Methodist Church with Rev. Deborah Griffith and Rev. Paul Reviere officiating. Interment service will be at 4 p.m. in the Clinton United Methodist Church cemetery in Clinton, GA.
Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Ross, Tom Ross, Ross Swicord, Robert Smalley, Johnny Spratlin and Larry Goolsby. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the bar.
Mr. Ross was the son of James Morgan Ross and Kate Barron Ross of Jones County, GA. He was a 1949 graduate of Mercer University where he earned a bachelor of arts degree and a juris doctor degree.
After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he moved to Lincolnton in 1949 and in 1957, began his first term as a state representative. Mr. Ross served as a state representative for 28 years and as an attorney for Lincoln County for 38 years. During his career in the legislature, Ross chaired the influential House Education Committee for a number of years. He was one of the sponsors of the QBE (Quality Basic Education) Act which changed the funding formula for local schools. Mr. Ross was also instrumental in paving the way for a new library building in Lincoln County. Mr. Ross was a member of the Lincolnton United Methodist Church and the Lincoln County Historical.
Survivors include nieces and nephews, Roland Ross of Clinton, GA., Wayne Ross and wife, Norma of Macon, GA., Kate Ross Williams and husband, Tommy of Gray, GA., Holmes Hawkins, Jr. of Lilburn, GA., Bonner Hawkins, Jr. and wife, Virginia of Conyers, GA., Harris Hines and wife, Helen of Marietta, GA., Carol Hawkins Smalley and husband, Robert of Augusta, GA., Jeff Bridges and wife, Delia of Macon, GA., Preston Hawkins and husband, Don Taliaferro of Griffin, GA. Mr. Ross was also preceded in death by his wife, Mobley Gamble Ross; two sisters, Elizabeth Sherrod and Juanita Billingsley; and by two brothers, Roland Ross and James Ross. The family would like to thank the caregivers Elizabeth Lee, Salina Leverett, Bertha Kennebrew, Mary Bowick, Edna Ashmore, Kye Knox and Debra McCord for their excellent care of Mr. Ross while he was confined to his home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Lincolnton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 85, Lincolnton, GA. 30817 or to Regency Hospice, 105 Summerwood Way, Ste D, Aiken, S.C. 29803 or to the Lincoln County Historical Society, 1250 Price-Reese Rd., Lincolnton, GA. 30817.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service at Rees Funeral Home, 195 N. Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA. 30817
