Charles Lafayette Short

Mr. Short was a native of Thomaston. He was a 1937 graduate of the R. E. Lee Institute and then attended Georgia Southwestern College. Mr. Short's father opened the Commercial Finance Company in Thomaston in 1937 and Mr. Short joined the business in 1940. He would eventually become the owner and president of the company. In 1942 Mr. Short joined the U. S. Navy. He served on the USS Saratoga in the Pacific Theater, at Pearl Harbor and on Guam during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1947 Mr. Short met and married Kathleen Grantham. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Short, Stephen (San) Short, David (Angie) Short and Ellen (Bob) Cunningham. Mr. Short was active in government, school, business and civic affairs in Thomaston. He served two terms on the Thomaston City Council, was chairman of the Thomaston Housing Authority for 25 years, and was also a member of the Thomaston Building Authority. Mr. Short served as Chairman of the Board at Westwood Academy for two years and later served as president of the Thomaston Touchdown Club. He had been a director at West Central Georgia Bank since its opening in 1973. Mr. Short also held the post of President of the Thomaston Country Club and was active in Troop 25, Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Short was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as Commander and Quartermaster for the VFW. He was also a member of the Royal Arch Masons and the Al Sihah Temple Shriners. Mr. Short joined the First United Methodist Church in 1929. For many years he was a Sunday School Teacher for the Junior High Class, and later was a member and served as President of the Service Class. He also served on the Administrative Board, the Board of Trustees and the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. In addition to his children, Mr. Short is survived by seven grandchildren, Kara Short of Atlanta, Kyle Short of Jackson, WY, Chas, Cam and Seth Short, all of Thomaston, and Will and John Cunningham of Athens; a sister, Claire (Roy) Herrin of Milledgeville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Short and Rozelle Corley Short, and a granddaughter, Whitney Camille Short.