George Dame Barnhill

George Dame Barnhill, age 91, passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 19, 2023 with his family by his side.  He was born at home March 14, 1932 in Clinch County, Georgia.  George grew up at the Barnhill Turpentine Still and large farm on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp, Clinch County, Georgia.   He developed expert hunting and fishing skills that stayed with him throughout life.  As an adult he was an avid quail hunter and well known marksman.  His Barnhill and Dame ancestors were cornerstones in the founding of Clinch County and the town of Homerville.   He returned home often to see family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonso Leo Barnhill and Olivia Dame Barnhill, his wife of 66 years, Maldine Griffis Barnhill, three sisters: Rosalind Olivia Ogletree, Sarah Frances Bessonette, and Martha Alice Denton and son in law Wade Pepper Walker.

George is survived by his three children George Elemuel Barnhill (wife Pamela), Alice Olivia Walker and Maldine Elizabeth Bailey (husband Jett).   Seven grandsons, George Franklin Barnhill [wife Magan] , Ethan Hunter Barnhill, John Elemuel Barnhill [wife Charissa], Benjamin Todd Friedman, Samuel Louis Friedman, Stephen George Friedman [wife Drew] and Dashial Robert Bailey,  three great grandchildren, Magnolia Grace Barnhill, Rose Olivia Barnhill, and George Griffin Barnhill, and numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Clinch County High School in 1949, he attended college in Douglas, Georgia before volunteering for service in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  He was discharged honorably at the end of the war and returned to Clinch County to marry Maldine Griffis in August 1954, He and Maldine had known each other since early childhood.  George had spent many weekends and summer days at the Griffis Fish Camp on the Suwannee River, near Fargo, and was close boyhood friends with Maldine and both of her brothers.

The newlyweds moved to Gainesville, Florida where George completed his degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida.  He graduated with Honors in May 1957.  Over his career in Pulp and Paper George worked for International Paper in Panama City, Florida, Interstate Pulp & Paper Mill in Riceboro, Georgia and Rayonier Paper Mill in Jesup, Georgia.  While at Rayonier he developed several U.S. patented innovations in the pulping of pine chips for which he was recognized in the industry.

While respected and successful in the pulp and paper industry, George’s true love was his family and traveling with them.  Trips to the beach, the mountains and back to the woods and swamps of his youth were what he enjoyed most. Very often taking a canoe or small boat to fish from.  After first retiring to the beach at Saint Simons, George & Maldine later moved to Sweetwater Farm near the Little Satilla River, Hortense, Georgia where they lived the last 18 years. He loved farming, fruit trees, grapes, blueberries, growing a garden, and in 1996 was named Wayne/Brantley County Farmer of the Year.  George and Maldine were well known for their homemade jams and jellies.

A life spent doing much, and then telling people about it, whenever possible, earned George a reputation as a Southern Raconteur, a moniker he truely relished.

Graveside services for Mr. Barnhill will be held Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 at 11:00 o’clock in the Pine Forest Cemetery, Homerville, Georgia.  

Condolences to the family may be conveyed at the online registry at www.roundtreefuneralhome.net.  

Roundtree Funeral Home is in

charge of the arrangements.