Clayton Lamar Palmer, 85, of Cohutta, GA, died Monday, June 16, 2014 at home surrounded by his family.
He was born to the late Floyd Alton and Della Marie Palmer on July 20, 1928 in the Crown Mill Village in Dalton; and was also preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Palmer; brothers, Edwin O. Palmer, Jack R. Palmer of Dalton and Gerald Palmer of Rocky Face; and his only sister, Cumberland Joyce Palmer.
He was ordained a Baptist Minister as a teenager in Happy Valley Baptist Church and attended Harrison Chilhowee Baptist Academy in Seymour, TN before entering the Army in 1950. He served in the 34th Reg. 2nd Infantry Division where he earned a Combat Infantry Badge a Presidential Unit Citation and a Bronze Star with V for Valor device among several other awards. He also served in the 1st Cavalry Div. in Japan, the Third Army at Ft. Jackson SC, the 2nd Armored Div. In Fort Hood TX and at Ft Allen at Ponce Puerto Rico. After leaving the Army he returned to Dalton and returned to the ministry serving as pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church on Duggan Mountain in Murray County, the Cohulla Baptist Church at Straw Hill in Bradley Co. TN. He and Pauline then went on the mission field to the Caribbean where over the next dozen years or so he founded churches on Dominica W.I. where he also started and ran a orphanage, on St. Maarten, Anquilla, and St. Kitts. Their ministry expanded to several other islands in the surrounding seas. After ill health forced him back to the U.S. he served as pastor of Bingham Heights Baptist Church in Asheville NC before retiring but came out of retirement to serve as the founding Pastor of Good News Baptist Church in Cohutta GA. He leaves a legacy of souls saved and friends made across the country and the world.
He is survived by his sons, Douglas and Debbie Palmer of Dalton, James Alton and Hyo-Nam of McDonough GA, and Stewart and Debbie Palmer of Cohutta; daughters, Cynthia and Alvin Cooper of Cohutta, Annette Gordy of Cohutta, Janice and Billy Galloway of the Beaverdale community and Paula and Craig Brazil of Dalton; brothers, Winston Duane Palmer and Juanita of Ringgold, Charles Palmer and Coleen of Maryland, Perry and Gwynelle Palmer of Fairy Valley, Roger and Palmer of Tunnel Hill Pastor Michael and Susie Palmer and Sam and Phyllis Palmer both of Spring Place; grandsons, Robert Fritts, Tyler Palmer, Jonathon Palmer, Lamar Palmer and Bryan Cooper; granddaughters, Tabitha Fincher, Miranda Rigsby, Diane Palmer, Crystal Babb, Sheila Wheeler, Elizabeth Cooper, Julia Galloway and Olivia Brazil; ten great-grandchildren; and special friends, Sam and Anne McAbee of Asheville NC, Phillip and Geneva Edwards of Dalton, and Bill and Mary McCracken of Reliance TN.
The funeral service to honor the life of Pastor Palmer will be at Happy Valley Baptist Church on Friday, June 20 at 3 p.m. with Bro. Duane Hamby and Bro. Clay Sutton officiating. Burial will be in the Dawnville Cemetery with a Military Honors graveside service. Grandsons, Robert Fritts, Tyler, Lamar and Jonathon Palmer, Bryan Cooper along with grandson-in-law Billy Wheeler will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Rev. Danny Hobbs, Leon Crowder, Phillip Edwards and Wilbur Bravard.
The family will receive friends at the Pleasant Grove Chapel of Julian Peeples Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19 from 5-9 p.m.
Flowers may be omitted and contributions made to Good News Baptist Church Building fund, C/O Phillip Edwards 232 Tanglewood Drive Dalton GA 30721.
Julian Peeples Funeral Home, Pleasant Grove Chapel, Dalton is in charge of funeral arrangements.