Ernest Jackson Claxton, Jr.

Ernest Jackson ‘Jack’ Claxton Jr., 88, of Warm Springs, died Thursday, July 10, 2014 at his home.Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Sunday, July 13, 2014 at Warm Springs First Baptist Church with Dr. Bob Patterson officiating. Members of the Manchester-Warm Springs Lions Club will serve as honorary pallbearers.Mr. Claxton was born Feb. 26, 1926 in Kite, Ga., the son of Ernest Jackson Claxton Sr. and Bessie Harrison Claxton. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia  where he earned a master’s degree in counseling. He also taught industrial arts at the university as well as on the high school level. Mr. Claxton retired from the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation as director of counseling. He was a World War II Navy veteran and was present during the invasion of Iwo Jima. He was a member of Warm Springs First Baptist Church where he was a deacon and on the finance board. His dedication and commitment to helping others was evident through his work in the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, as a board member of the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. He additionally served Georgia as director of Services of the Deaf and Blind. Mr. Claxton was a member of the American Wood Turning Association and in his retirement exhibited his talent as a master wood craftsman, making beautiful wood turned ink pens which have been given to many dignitaries including members of President Roosevelt’s family and the governor of Georgia.Mr. Claxton was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Powell; and is survived by his wife, Merle B. Claxton of Warm Springs; two sons, Jack Claxton and his wife Monica of Hall County, Ga., Bill Claxton and his wife Anne of Barnesville; one daughter, Cathi Claxton of Ukiah, Calif.; two sisters, Lynne Paul Neal of Madison, Ga., Betty Jo Bryan and her husband Jack of Hudson, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, Kevin Powell of Washington, D.C., Carolyn Powell of Delaware, Matt (Kris) Claxton of Dallas, Ga., Courtney Claxton of Barnesville, Zack Claxton of Decatur, Kathryn Claxton of Barnesville, Chris Brown of Athens, Kim (Malcolm) Peterson of Woodstock, Craig Brown of Woodstock, Chase Landry of Thomaston and Bailey Landry of Ukiah, Calif., and six great grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Claxton may be made to the Warm Springs First Baptist Church or the Manchester-Warm Springs, Lions Club.Cox Funeral Home, Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the online register at coxfh.com.