Richard A. Speed, 85, of the Warwoman community, Clayton, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at Mountain View Health Care.

He was born May 24, 1926, in Rabun County to the late Judson A. and Josie Goble Speed. He was a sawmiller in the lumber industry and was employed in the textile industry for a period of time. He was a member of Newman Chapel Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by: two sons, Raymond C. Speed and Carroll L. Speed; two brothers, Leroy Speed and Carlton Speed; and three sisters, Beulah Bleckley, Genelia Wise and Cora Crowe.

He is survived by: his former wife, Dorothy Seay Speed; two sons, Richard Arthur Speed Jr. and wife Jewell of Clayton and David Allen Speed of Clarkesville; three daughters, Patricia Gravley and husband Bill of Lakemont, Joyce Chastain and husband Ernest of Dillard and Barbara Clark of Clarkesville; a sister, Dorothy Whitmire of Clayton; 21 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill Gravley and Danny Cannon officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. Grandsons and grandsons in-law served as pallbearers.

Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.hunterfuneralhomega.com.

The Clayton Tribune, Oct. 20, 2011