Larry F. Dillard, Sr.

Mr. Larry F. Dillard, Sr. aged 77, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, February 4, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. A private, family graveside service is planned for Wednesday, February 9th at 2:00 pm at Liberty Hill Church in Cusseta, Georgia. A memorial service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, Georgia later this spring. Born October 19, 1944 in Vidalia, he was the son of the late William Frank and Zenona Drake Dillard. He lived in Macon and Dublin, Georgia for most of his life before retiring to Chattahoochee County. He attended Mercer University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics and served as President of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army Finance Corps where he served from 1966-1968, continuing in the Army Reserves until 1972. While attending Mercer he met the love of his life, Abigail (Abbie) Howard. Married at age 19, their 58-year marriage was a love affair for the ages. Larry continued to put his financial knowledge to work as a stock broker and then a commodity broker with Merrill Lynch. Following his dream to work in the agricultural industry, he moved to Dublin in 1976 to become the Vice President and General Manager of Southern Peanut and Storage, Inc. and later president of Lovett and Brinson. He returned to the financial sector, ending his career as an insurance agent and financial consultant. Larry always felt an obligation to contribute to each community in which he lived. Active in Scouting as a youth and as an adult, he served as a Boy Scout leader for over 30 years, culminating as a Southeast Regional Honor Commissioner. He was a Rotarian and was both a Paul Harris Fellow and a Will Watt Fellow. He served on the Vestry and was Senior Warden of Christ Episcopal Church in Dublin. After Abbie and his family, the Dillard family home was his second love. In 2000, Larry and Abbie retired to Chattahoochee County where he lovingly restored his great-grandparents’ 19th century farm house on Patterson Road. After restoring the family home, he threw himself into the west Georgia community. In the final 22 years of his life, he served on the Vestry and led the Endowment committee at Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, served as Soil and Water Commissioner for Chattahoochee County, and as the first Chairman of County Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta- Chattahoochee County. Larry was renowned for his expertise in farming, beekeeping, ballistics, small engine repair, animal husbandry, welding, personal finance, forestry, oil painting, gardening, sailing, fine furniture carpentry, and his sense of humor. Most of all, his family, friends and community will remember him as a man of great integrity who loved his family and his home place. He is survived by his wife, Abbie Dillard; his children: Chaudron Gille, Elizabeth Kuipers (David), and Larry F. Dillard, Jr. (Heidi); and grandchildren: Kathryn Dillard, Thomas Dillard, Emilie Gille, Louisa Gille, David Gille, Ben Kuipers, Andy Kuipers, and Matthew Kuipers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the “Calvary, the Next Hundred Years” Fund for the restoration and renovation of the historic church, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 408 South Lee Street, Americus, GA 31709. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mr. Larry F. Dillard, Sr.