December 26, 2012

A celebration of life for Elliston Julian Driver, 88, of Decatur will be Sat., Dec. 29, at noon at GraceRiver Community Church with Julian’s best friend for many years, Frank Thurber of Nashville, Tenn., officiating and Jan Byrd will providing music.

Burial will be at Center Springs United Methodist Church cemetery in Somerville immediately following the service.

Visitation will be held at GraceRiver Community Church, 2018 Cleveland Ave., SW, Decatur, on Sat., Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. until noon.

Mr. Driver died Dec. 26, 2012 at Decatur Health and Rehabilitation after a brief illness. Julian was born on Oct. 5, 1924, in Lebanon, Tenn.

Julian was a spirit-filled Christian who truly lived his faith. He served in the Navy in World War II and was retired from Amoco and the National Guard. Julian served as an Honor Guard for military funerals for many years. He was an avid bowler and volunteered as a bowling coach for hundreds of young people in the area and, until recently, continued to bowl on three leagues. He enjoyed gardening and time spent with family, friends and his bowling buddies.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Decatur General Hospital and Decatur Health and Rehab, who lovingly provided care and support in his final days.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lydia Driver and a daughter, Jeri Leveta Driver; four brothers; and a stepson, Kenneth Johnson.

Survivors include his wife, June Lemmond Driver; daughters, Jill Driver Lindsey of Nashville, Tenn., Brenda Snow of Tampa Fla.; and step-daughters, Dr. Patricia Johnson of Robbinsville, N.C. and Sarah Johnson Sims of Robbinsville, N.C. and Decatur; grandaughter, Karli Eisemann Mendez of Tampa, Fla.; a grandson, David Snow of Williamsburg, Va.; step-grandchildren, Jeremy Sims of Whittier, N.C., Daniel Johnson of Rainsville and Amber Johnson of Macon Ga.; a sister, Helen McVey of Denver, Colo.

Pallbearers will be Julian’s family and dear friends, Hal McVey, Jeremy Sims, Bud Lemmond, Willard Sherrod, Mitch Blackwood, and Bobby James.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to GraceRiver Community Church or to your favorite charity.