Charles Ward Elam

CHARLES WARD ELAM

Mr. Charles Ward Elam, 80, of Elam Avenue, entered into eternal rest on Friday, January 4, 2008 at Wills Memorial Hospital in Washington, Ga.

Funeral service were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 7, at Lincolnton Baptist Church with Revs. George Elam and Dan Rosser officiating. Interment followed in Lincolnton City Cemetery.

Mr. Elam was born on January 22, 1927 in Fort Pierce, Fla. and was the son of the late Lincoln Patrick Elam, Sr. and Thelma Ward Elam.

Mr. Elam was a agricultural engineering graduate of the University of Georgia and a registered surveyor in Georgia and South Carolina. He was also a registered professional engineer in Georgia. Charles was always interested in new methods and technology that would improve the accuracies of surveying work. It was a passion that he began developing computer software and programs. He was a founding contributor to the SMI software system that is used worldwide by land surveyors. Mr. Elam was a member of the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia (SAMSOG) for over thirty years. He served in many positions including president to the society. Charles was an avid Lincoln County Red Devil and Georgia Bulldog fan. He was an active member of the Lincoln County Athletic Booster Club and prided himself on rarely missing a football game. Mr. Elam was also a member of Lincolnton Baptist Church, Adult Men's Sunday School Class and was an ordained deacon. He was a veteran of the United States Navy where he served his country honorably during World War II.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. L.P. "Pat" Elam.

Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Margaret Blackwell Elam; two daughters, Brenda Elam Lovett and husband, Richard of Valrico, Fla. and Lily Elam Crook and her husband, Darrell of Lincolnton; son, Charles Ward Elam, Jr. of Sarasota, Fla.; four grandchildren, Denise Crook Vance and husband, Greg, and Brian Eugene Crook of Rockingham, N.C., William Edgar Courtney, III and Trent Ward Courtney of Charlotte, N.C.; one great grandson, Jared Storm Henry of Rockingham, N.C.

Serving as pallbearers were Brian Crook, Trent Courtney, William Edgar Courtney, III, Jared Henry, Roy Mutimer and Randy Cook. Honorary pallbearers were men of the Adult Men's Sunday School Class and Jip's Sit-A-Spell.

If so desired memorial contributions may be made to the Lincolnton Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 357, Lincolnton, GA. 30817.

Rees Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.