Bishop Willard R. Fitzpatrick, age 66, of 4661 Vickery St. Lavonia, died Monday, November 20, 2006 at his home.
Born August 24, 1940 in Walker County, Bishop Fitzpatrick was a son of the late Gordon Madison and Edith Ilene Fitzpatrick. He attended Lee College for 2 years, he served as pastor of the Lavonia Church of God for 17 years and three months, and he served in the ministry for 40 years having served in the pastoral ministry for 35 years and District overseer for 25 years. Bishop Fitzpatrick also served on the ministerial license board for the North Georgia Church of God State Office.
Survivors include his wife Mary Lou Richardson Fitzpatrick of the home; sons: Wendell Fitzpatrick of Hartwell and Garland Fitzpatrick of Lavonia; daughters: Darcel Kitchens of Milledgeville and Regina Hooper of Lavonia; brothers: Larry Fitzpatrick of Chickamauga and Donald Fitzpatrick of Dalton; sister: Frances Jones of Chickamauga; 7 grandchildren: Corey Kitchens, Raymond Fitzpatrick, Michelle Kitchens, Ryan Kitchens, Andrea Fitzpatrick, Kandice Hooper, and Austin Fitzpatrick; 3 step grandchildren: Ashley Hooper, Jessica Byrum, and Eli Powell; and 1 great grandchild: Emily Hooper.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 pm Wednesday, November 22, 2006 from the Lavonia Church of God with Bishops Theo Arnett, James Gunn, Tyrone Hutchinson, Darvin Slaton and Eddie Umbehant officiating. Burial will follow in the Lavonia City Cemetery with Bishops Johnny Stowe and Ralph Goss officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Flowers are optional or memorials may be made to East Lavonia Church of God Building Fund, 2907 Georgia Highway 59, Lavonia, Georgia 30553.
Strickland Funeral Home – Lavonia Chapel has charge of arrangements.