Two Funerals

originally published November 30, 2005

Recently, in the same week, I attended the funerals of two men who lived long and died in their 80s: Hugh Logan and Clarence Stewart. While Hugh was well known here, Clarence was not, having moved to Athens only after his retirement.

My acquaintance with Hugh reflected that of literally thousands of local people, because he was such a public man. For much of his adult life he was an elected government official - Clarke County Commissioner, Member of the Georgia General Assembly, Athens-Clarke County Commissioner - and he was also a businessman who was always on the job at Normal Hardware.

This combination of politics and business meant that Hugh never hid: no matter how he voted on issues, and whether you agreed with him or not, he was always right there in the store, more than willing to talk politics. That accessibility meant that he was not some remote power figure, but the man who helped you pick out the right paint color or garden rake. You could tell him what you thought, and all that telling provided him with a pretty good finger on the pulse of the public.

Hugh and I were on opposite sides of the fence on many issues, and as much as I liked him personally, I generally supported his opponents, though I came close to thinking he was invincible. He seemed to know everybody in his district and for sure took care to get absentee ballots to all who needed them - usually enough to cement his victory margin.

I wrote some harsh things about Hugh over the years, but he never failed to greet me with a smile, until I quit going into Normal Hardware.

Finally, though, I broke the handle on my trusty mattock (which I have always mispronounced as “maddox,” allowing me to nickname it “Lester”).

I was right in the middle of clearing out a privet patch, so I went out to Home Depot and decided that I needed a lighter mattock, and bought one there with a bright yellow plastic handle. The third time I hit the privet root, the new mattock rolled up like a tin can. I got my money back and headed for Normal Hardware. Hugh was busy behind the counter with other customers, but he greeted me warmly.

“Hugh,” I said loudly, “I bought this maddox (sic) in 1980, and the handle broke and I want a new one.” A young clerk jumped to my assistance before Hugh could get loose, or he probably would have given me the new one. In keeping with Normal Hardware’s personal service, the young guy knocked out the stump of the old handle and installed a new one while I stood there.

That’s the last time I saw Hugh, but I know I will think of him every time I swing that mattock. I’m sure it will last another 25 years, and I hope I do, too. But whenever I have to lay it down, if I can leave only a fraction as many friends as Hugh, I’ll be a lucky man.

Clarence Stewart was born and raised down in Taliaferro (“Tolliver”) County, way out in the country. He got married and moved to Cincinnati. Then he joined the Army during the war and served in Japan and in France, becoming the first member of his family to travel around the world. Following the war, Clarence worked until his retirement at construction jobs in Cincinnati. He was able to retire comfortably, and he and Arlean moved to Athens to be near her sisters, Susie B. Johnson and Sonia Bishop, retired from her work in New York City.

It was around this point that I got to know Clarence and to appreciate his dignity, his humor, his solicitous regard for Arlean and his sisters-in-law and his dapper demeanor.

Clarence was of that generation of Taliaferro Countians who had to head north to make a living, and he was sophisticated beyond his rural upbringing, but always at home “down the country,” where they went as often as possible to Greater Level Hill Baptist Church, an institution that continues to flourish because of those who still live nearby and those who live far away. (Among Clarence’s nephews, for instance, are five who left Taliaferro County to seek their fortunes in New York City.)

These two men, Hugh Logan and Clarence Stewart, served their country and made the best of what life gave them. These two men worked hard, lived long and looked after their families. These two men are indeed an inspiration, and their example can help us keep our bearings.

Pete McCommons Editor & Publisher -- editor@flagpole.com

Pete McCommons

Editor & Publisher -- editor@flagpole.com