Emmett Monroe Priest

March 3, 1916
-
March 19, 2009

Funeral services for Emmett Monroe Priest, 93, of Gainesville, Georgia, were held Sunday, March 22, 2009 in the chapel of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, Ga., with Rev. Dr. Bill Coates and Rev. Bruce Fields officiating. Interment followed in Alta Vista Cemetery.

Emmett Monroe Priest was born in Decatur County, Ga. on March 3, 1916 and he passed away Thursday, March 19, 2009. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Army. His career included eight years with the State of Georgia Revenue Department Alcohol Tax unit as an undercover agent in Atlanta. An assignment with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which brought him to Gainesville, Ga. He was very highly regarded and important serving Hall County as an Investigator under several sheriffs. After a semi-retirement he rose to the rank of Major with Pinkerton Inc. and received many commendations for outstanding achievements above and beyond assigned duties covering security for AT&T Cable Plant and Lucent Technologies.

He was a member of First Baptist Church on Green Street and was a lifetime Mason. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Tankersley.

Survivors include

Wife, Jean Priest of Gainesville, Ga.

Daughters, Alane Hill, Pam Lewis, Leah Lewis, Cathy Lewis

seven grandchildren

six great grandchildren

Little & Davenport Funeral Home of Gainesville, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.

MONROE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE WATERS OF BETT'S MILL POND

MONROE WAS A CHILD OF
LEVI MALCOLM PRIEST
5/2/1871 - 4/22/1950
JEANETTE POITEVINT PRIEST
4/17/1879 - 10/22/1948
BURIED AT FRANKLIN CEMETERY.

MONROE'S BROTHER AND HIS WIFE ARE BURIED THERE ALSO
EMORY BERYL PRIEST
11/18/1909 - 6/12/1943
HANNA BETH BETTS PRIEST 12/15/1909 - 9/21/1986.

IN ADDITION MONROE HAS AN UNCLE AND AUNT BURIED THERE
LOVE GILBERT PRIEST
8/11/1886 - 7/25/1956
RUTH BETTS PRIEST
11/19/1896 - 4/5/1942

MONROE'S OLDER BROTHER EARL PRIEST MARRIED NELL BETTS AND THEIR SON HARRY EARL PRIEST LIVES IN TALLAHASSEE.

MONROE REMEMBERED AS A BOY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ALL DAY SERVICES OF SINGING AND DINNER ON THE GROUND. HOWEVER, HE THOUGHT THE PREACHER SPOKE ABOUT ONE AND A HALF HOURS! ONE OF THE SPECIAL SOUTHERN DELICACIES HE REMEMBERED BEING ON THE TABLE WAS BOILED HAM.

After Monroe's service to his country in the Army he was with the Ga.
Revenue Dept.alcohol tax unit for 8 years and said it was the most fun
he had ever had on a job.

During Marvin Griffin's campaign for governor Monroe was assigned to him
driving him all over the state. Marvin had been Monroe's commanding
officer and was also from Bainbridge as well as most of the boys from
Battery D in the 101 Battallion.

When Ernest Vandiver was about to take the governor's seat Marvin
stationed Monroe in Gainesville with the GBI because they had heard that
Vandiver would run off everybody from down there in "Griffin" country.

After this job ran out because of "economy and reorganization" after
another election in spite of efforts by the Hall co. Sup. Ct., etc. on
his behalf he became one of the two head detectives for Hall Co. serving
under several sheriffs unscrambling the issues of crime.

In semi-retirement he went with Pinkerton, Inc.covering security for
AT&T later known as Lucent Technologies rising to their highest honor,
the rank of major and receiving commendations and congratulations for
outstanding achievements above and beyond assigned duties.

He lived a life of service and contributing and one of the ways he did
this was when Jean's mother collapsed in our home and was rushed to the
hospital he regretted he did not know CPR and after that through the Red
Cross he trained himself and taught classes for his men and women for
the next decade.

Monroe was not only my husband but a partner with me, making decisions
together and he was a pillar for our immediate family, the community and
his country.