Claud Bradley Almon Jr.

Claud Bradley Almon, Jr. (Brad), 83, died peacefully at his home on Friday, May 17, 2024. He was born on April 18, 1941, in Americus, Georgia to the late Claud Bradley Almon, Sr. and Mary Kimbrough Almon. He was a member of Morgan’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Winette Thomas Almon, and two sons, Claud Bradley Almon, III (Gaye) and Richard Bryan Almon. He is also survived by two brothers, Philip Kimbrough Almon (Hope) and Edgar Henry Almon (Monika), and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM at the Morgan’s Chapel United Methodist Church on Thursday, May 30, 2024, with Reverend James Sapp officiating. Following the service, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Sapelo Hammock Golf Club.

Brad grew up in Dawson, Georgia and graduated from Terrell County High School. He continued his education at the University of North Carolina and graduated from West Georgia College, now known as the University of West Georgia with a BS in History. He later attended graduate school at the University of Alabama and received his MEd degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Georgia and served as a rehabilitation counselor in Valdosta, Georgia from 1971-1975. He received his Educational Specialist degree from Valdosta State University.

While living in Valdosta, he was a volunteer coach at the Boys’ Club and the Little League sports teams. He also volunteered as a radio analyst for the Valdosta Wildcat Football games. In 1975, he joined the coaching staff at Lowndes High School as the defensive coordinator and coached there for 13 years. Lowndes High School had never had a winning football season and went 8-2 his first season there. The team won their first state football championship in 1980.

Prior to coaching at Lowndes High School, Brad coached high school football at Manchester, Thomasville, and Warner Robins. After leaving Valdosta, he served in school administration and coached for the Toombs County Bulldogs as the defensive coordinator until 2006.

He was a member of the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and coached high school football for forty years. His last seventeen years were spent in school administration. He was a mentor to many of his high school players and coached many players who went on to play college and professional football. Five of his former players played in the Super Bowl.

After retiring, Brad moved to Shellman Bluff, where he enjoyed fishing and playing golf. He was an original owner of the Sapelo Hammock Golf Club and member of the Sapelo Hammock Men’s Golf Association for the past 18 years.

Brad was affectionately known as Coach and Cuz by his fellow golf members. His fellow golfers were frequently treated to his boiled peanuts, Vidalia onions, and his pig picking cookouts. He was a sports enthusiast who possessed a cyclopedic knowledge of college and professional sports figures, names, and statistics. He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan, as well as a reader of World War II history.

Memorials may be made to Morgan’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 3308 Shellman Bluff Rd. NE, Townsend, Georgia 31331; to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 or www.t2t.org; or to the charity of your choice.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.