Mr. Fred Bang “Freddy” Rachels, age 80, of Sparta, died Monday, September 16, 2019 at his residence following an extended illness. A graveside funeral service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 19th at Pine Hill Methodist Church north of Warthen. Reverend Phil Prim and Reverend Bob Beeland will officiate. The family will receive friends in Pine Hill sanctuary from 4:00 p.m. until the hour of service and also following the service in the church social hall.
Mr. Rachels was born in Sandersville and reared in Sparta, the son of the late Fred Rachels and the late Maggie Burgamy Lovett. He graduated from Sparta High School in 1956 and worked his entire life beginning with his father in the dairy business, as well as Rachel’s Gas Station in downtown Sparta and also his own farm, raising cattle. At the age of seventeen, with parental consent, he joined the Georgia National Guard where he would serve for the next 35 years. His early employment years included Higdon Grocery Store, Owens-Illinois Timber Corp. and finally retiring from a 23-year career with Civil Service at the Hancock County Georgia National Guard. Freddy possessed a lifelong love of music, playing in bands including the Rock-a-tones in high school, the Cadillac Cowboys in the 70’s and, later in life, the Klassic Kountry Band performing in numerous stages and churches throughout middle Georgia. He developed an early hobby showing horses in the Western Pleasure division often competing against his own son, most of the time, winning! Freddy was a member of his childhood church, Pinehill Methodist and he was an active member of Mt. Stephens Baptist Church in White Plains where he played his bass guitar every Sunday.
Survivors include, his wife Kay Snider Rachels; children, Jan Garland (Ronny) of Sparta, Mark Rachels (Jeanne) of Conyers, Paul Searcy (Miranda) and Amy Brooks (Tim) all of Gibson; grandchildren, Paul Garland (Melissa) of London, England, Megan Bass (Owen) of Augusta, Linton Flowers (Samantha) of Walnut Grove, Lance Flowers (Breanna) of Covington, Lee Flowers of Conyers, Zachary Rachels of Atlanta, Jeremy Rachels of Portland OR., Payton Searcy, Paisley Searcy, Chant Brooks and Mary Kaylyn Brooks all of Gibson; and siblings, Mary W. Warren (Brick) of Indianapolis IN., Jimmy Walton (Nancy) of Milledgeville, Hugh Walton (Candy) and Tonya Thurman (Tom) all of Sparta.
The family will be at the Rachels residence on 751 Fairmont Road in Sparta.
Donations may be made to Pine Hill Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Marjorie Sheppard, 2012 Bay Springs Rd. Warthen, GA 31094, Mt. Stephens Baptist Church c/o Jane Morgan, Edwards Road, White Plains, GA 30678, or The Gideons International.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.