Thomas Montgomery Bell Cash Sr

declining health. Tom was born in 1925 on the family farm in Banks County, GA, the son of Thomas Clarke and Winnie Montine Patterson Cash. He was predeceased by Audrey Sutton Cash, his wife of 52 years and two sisters, Juanita Pruitt and Louise Taylor. He is survived by Jonell Kirby Cash, his wife of 12 years and his remaining sister, Elene Ariail, who lives near Carnesville, GA.
Like many of his generation, Tom grew up in hard times, working and hunting from a young age to help support the family. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the Army, served in the 4th Infantry Division and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. Tom was proud that he was qualified as an Expert in both Rifle and Mortar. He was deployed in France several weeks after D-Day and received the Purple Heart after being wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. On August 16, the French government planned to bestow on Tom its highest honor, The Order of the Legion of Honor, Chevalier Degree, in recognition of his role in the liberation of Paris and France.
Following his military service, Tom returned home and finished high school, completed 2 years at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in agricultural economics. He also taught returning veterans for a brief period of time. He spent most of his working career as a sales executive with Seaboard Airline Railroad, eventually retiring as an Assistant Vice President of Sales with CSX Corporation after a number of mergers. In his early years Tom also started and operated a very successful anhydrous ammonia distribution business in South Georgia with his brother-in-law, Frank Sutton.
Additional survivors include his four children and their spouses, Monty and Janet Cash, Martha and Terry Reubert, Melanie and Jerry Hill, and Richard and Marcia Cash, all living in the Greenville, SC area and Sylvia Knight of Athens, daughter of Jonell. Papa was also blessed with 17 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, July 12, from 5-7 pm at Lord and Stephens Funeral home in Bogart, GA 30622 on 1211 Jimmy Daniel Road. Memorial services will take place at 11 am on Saturday at Nails Creek Baptist Church, his childhood church where he was baptized at age 12. The Church is located on Highway 51 North in Homer, GA 30457. There will be a luncheon immediately following in the church social hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.