James Howard "Foots" Gantt, Sr., 81, of Kennesaw, died Sunday, February 19, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 in the chapel of Marietta Funeral Home with Dr. Charles Sineath and Dr. Diane Parrish officiating. Interment will be held privately at Kennesaw Memorial Park Cemetery in Marietta.
Mr. Gantt was born in Cobb County and his parents, Carl and Bertha Gantt, were settlers of East Cobb County. He was a 1952 graduate of Osborne High School. He received a degree in Funeral Service from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX where he was also an instructor in Microbiology. He served as a dignified funeral director and embalmer in Marietta and surrounding areas for 65 years, owning and operating Hay-Gantt Funeral Home on Roswell Street for 38 years. He served many families with personalized care and perfection during his career. He was a pioneer in the field of Emergency Medical Service providing ambulance service to the area. In 1967 when the funeral homes stopped providing ambulance service, he and his partners ensured that ambulance service was still provided to the community. At that time, he became part owner and corporate officer of General Ambulance Service, Inc. in Marietta.
Mr. Gantt was a member of the Kennesaw Lodge #33 F&AM Masonic Lodge; Cherokee Chapter #13 Royal Arch Masons, Marietta Council #74 Cryptic Masons, and Constantine Commandery #26 Knights Templar; Yaarab Shrine Temple, Atlanta and the Kennesaw Mountain Shrine Club. In the 1960s and 70s, he was actively involved with the Boys Club in Marietta and received the Eagle Scout award. He was a member of the Marietta Kiwanis Club since 1965 where he served in numerous positions including Interclub Chairman and Membership Chairman. He became a life member in 1989 and he was also awarded “Kiwanian of the Year”. He was most recently active in the Marietta Golden K Kiwanis at Mountain View Community Center after becoming a charter member in 1991. He was a member of Marietta Campmeeting where he served on the Board of Directors over the years. He attended the campmeetings there for most of his life.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Jones Gantt of Kennesaw; daughter, Michelle Tennant (Rob); Sons, James Howard “Jim” Gantt, Jr. (Lori) and John Gantt (Mary); step-children, Holly Claypole, Ben Holcomb (Kim), and Boone Holcomb (Dane); grandchildren, Bethany Ciraky (Chris), Trey Gantt, Trenton Gantt, Jared Gantt, Melissa Tennant, Matthew Tennant, Erin Thomas, Hannah Jepson, Chase Jepson, Hank Holcomb, Annie Holcomb, Hayes Holcomb, Bo Holcomb, and Henry Holcomb; great-grandsons, Caleb and Levi Ciraky.
Burial arrangements under the direction of Kennesaw Memorial Park.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5