William Fallin

William G. Fallin

September 9, 1932 – January 4, 2025 

“Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.” William Wordsworth

William G. Fallin died peacefully on January 4, 2025, leaving a deep legacy of faith, family, love, and service. This legacy is what remains from his extraordinary life. 

William G. Fallin was born in Thomas County, Georgia on September 9, 1932 to Brady Fallin and Ernestine Cason Fallin. He moved with his parents to Moultrie as a young boy where he lived for most of his life. His mother was an elementary school teacher who enrolled him in a first-gradeclass at age five. He graduated from Moultrie High School at age fifteen. Billy entered Georgia Military College in Milledgeville in 1947 followed by enrollment in Mercer University where he was a member of the Varsity Tennis Team and a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated from Mercer with a B.A. in History. He was a ROTC Cadet at GMC and Mercer and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. 

While serving in the Army, Billy came home on weekends to help his father with two business ventures, Brady’s Restaurant and Brady’s Motel. It was during a busy weekend at Brady’s Restaurant that Billy first saw Barbara Vines attending a college function in one of the private dining rooms. With the encouragement of her faculty advisor, their relationship began and lasted for over 67 years of marriage. After marriage, they continued atMercer University where she finished her degree, and he received his Juris Doctorate from the Walter F. George School of Law. Graduation weekend was celebrated with the birth of their first child, Leah, and notice that he had passed the Georgia Bar Exam. That summer, the Fallin family moved from Macon to Thomasville where he began his legal practice with Sol Altman. Two years later, Billy and Barbara returned home to Colquitt County where Laura and Bill were soon born completing the Fallin family. Billy began a successful law practice lasting over six decades and continuing today as the Law Offices of Fallin and McIntosh. 

Billy had a lifelong commitment to his church and community. He firmly believed in public service and was a forward thinker, always looking to the greater good of his community and state. He served in the Georgia State House of Representatives for two terms and as Chairman of the Colquitt County Board of Commissioners for twelve years. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living past president of the Georgia Association of Counties. He served as a member of the Georgia Board of Industry and Trade, inaugural World Congress Center Building Authority, inauguralState Quality Basic Education initiative, and the second class of Leadership Georgia. Following Leadership Georgia, he began Leadership Colquitt County to encourage a new generation of leaders in his home community.His lifelong passion for Colquitt County included service as Chairman of the Moultrie Housing Authority, Colquitt County Economic Development Authority, and Colquitt County Arts Center. He had a continuing dedication to the Colquitt County School system. Billy served as legal counsel in the founding of ABC Bank, now Ameris, and was instrumental in the location of Maule Aircraft, Miller Brewing Company, and Farmland National Beefin Colquitt County. As Chairman of the Colquitt County Commissioners, he championed the building of Colquitt Regional Medical Center. He was recognized as Colquitt County Man of the Year in 1976. In 2006, he and Barbara were honored by the Georgia Association of Museum and Galleries as Patrons of the Year. He was President of the Kiwanis Club, active in the YMCA, and a lifelong, loyal Packer booster. Billy served with unique foresight and vision. He was a trailblazer who lived with a determination tomake his community a better place. There was no task too great and no goal too large.

Billy had a passion for historic preservation. He purchased and repurposed the Carnegie Library building as his law office, and he purchased and restored the Grand Theater. He was instrumental in the restoration and repurposing of the original Moultrie High School building into the Colquitt County Arts Center and the abandoned Colquitt County jail into the Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. Three of these buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

An avid sportsman, athlete, and outdoorsman, Billy excelled in tennis, golf, running, fishing, and hunting, mastering the bird field and the deer stand. He was a musician playing clarinet, saxophone, harmonica, and ukulele. Hesang bass in the church choir, Service League follies, and the “Men of Note.” Billy maintained his own yard and would try to fix anything. He often was seen in his suit driving his long bed pickup truck to work so he could stop by the hardware store on his way home for lunch.

Billy was an active member of First Baptist Church serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, choir member, and co-chair of two renovation and addition projects. On Sundays he could always be found in a center pew with his Bible in hand. His faith was personal and deep. Christ was always at the center of the Fallin home.

Although Billy’s days were full of commitments to his profession, church, and community, he took the concept of family to another level. He was fully present for Barbara, Leah, Laura, and Bill. Most of all he loved his dear Barbara. They had an enviable love story. They did everything together! They loved being a team, and they were a formidable one. They enjoyedtraveling with friends. They dressed for every occasion and were never late for an event. He supported and was present for his children and grandchildren in their numerous activities, and he always answered the phone when one of them called. He led his family as a gentle giant and taught by example and his presence. 

One of Billy’s mentors, Dr. J.W. Fanning, challenged, “May you be alive as long as you may live.” Billy accepted the challenge. For 92 years, he liveda life of purpose, passion, and meaning through his commitment to God, family, and community. “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”

Billy was predeceased by his parents, Brady and Ernestine Fallin, and his son, William Brady Fallin. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Vines Fallin; his daughter, Leah Fallin Sumner and husband Michael E. Sumner of Newnan, Georgia; his daughter, Laura Fallin Redding and husband, Robert L. Redding, Jr of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Ernest Brady Sumner and wife, Margaret; Stuart Fallin Sumner; Katherine Redding Vaughn and husband, Christopher; Thomas Meadows Sumner and wife Kate; Robert Hamilton Redding; and William Houston Redding; and great granddaughters, Mary Frances Sumner and Fallin Frances Vaughn.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, January 8, at 1:00 P.M., First Baptist Church, Moultrie, Georgia with visitation to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to The Arts Center of Moultrie or other charity or church. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home.