Agriculture + Lifestyle

GFB mourns loss of Childs, former Farm Bureau leader

Posted on August 23, 2020 8:00 PM

By  Jennifer Whittaker

Longtime Georgia Farm Bureau leader Donald Childs of Jackson County died July 24 at age 87.

During the 64 years he was a Farm Bureau member, Childs inspired many to follow his example of service to agriculture and the organization.

Childs was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Merle, and son, Steve. He is  survived by his son, Jerry, and brother, Sammy, both of Commerce; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Childs grew up on his family’s farm, helping to grow wheat, soybeans, hay and other crops along with chickens and beef cattle.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and resumed farming after returning home.

He began serving on the Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) Board of Directors when he joined Farm Bureau in 1956. Through the years, Childs served several terms as county president and vice president and was a county director  when he died. 

Childs was elected to the Georgia Farm Bureau  Board of Directors  in 1979 as a GFB 2nd District  Director and held this position until 1984 when he was elected as one of the  organization’s three vice presidents. In 1994 GFB voting delegates designated Childs to serve as the organization’s 1st vice  president, a position he held until he stepped down in 2008. 

“Georgia Farm Bureau is a better organization thanks to the dedication and service Donald Childs provided as a county and state leader,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “I was always impressed with the thoughtfulness with which he considered the issues and the dignity he brought to a room.”

Childs worked for years with the GFB Hay Advisory Committee to help acquire Vermeer hay equipment as  first-place prizes  for the organization’s annual hay contest.