Charles Franklin Acree

Charles Franklin Acree

Charles Franklin Acree, 92, died Tuesday, November 25, at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. With him were his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mr. Acree was born June 27, 1916, in Redwine Cove, Georgia, to Walter Green and Mamie Redwine Acree. After receiving a diploma from Valley Point High School in 1933. He enrolled at Dalton High School, whereupon one year later he earned a second high school diploma, thus making him perhaps the only person to graduate from both Valley Point High School and Dalton High School. He would later teach at both schools.

Mr. Acree graduated from Berry College in 1938, with degrees in chemistry, mathematics, and physics. In 1940 he married Grace Virginia Walker, with whom he loved to dance. He lost his helper and companion on May 25, 2000.

Mr. Acree was a teacher and principal at Varnell School in Dalton, Georgia, until World War II. In 1942 he joined the war effort as a chemist at the Redstone Arsenal in Hunstville, Alabama. Three years later he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, with brief stints in Colorado, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. Upon his discharge in 1946, Mr. Acree returned to Dalton. The following thirty-two years were spent teaching the students of Whitfield County.

Between 1946 and 1962, Mr. Acree was a teacher, coach, and principal at Valley Point High School. During this time, he earned his Master Degree in Education at the University of Chattanooga; he also earned graduate certificates in science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University. In 1962 Mr. Acree joined the faculty of Dalton High School as a chemistry and physics teacher. His teaching career earned him numerous honors. Upon his retirement in 1977, he was inducted into the Georgia Association of Educators’ Teachers Hall of Fame. On that occasion, his former students offered their appreciation: “Through his vast knowledge of subject matter and his enthusiasm . . . we [were] given scientific knowledge far beyond that of students in other schools.”

Mr. Acree’s commitment to education did not exhaust his contributions to Whitfield County and beyond. He and his three brothers joined the Masonic Hill City Lodge in 1939, eventually becoming the fifth generation of Acrees to become Master Masons. In 1989 the four brothers were honored simultaneously for fifty years of membership. Mr. Acree and his wife were dedicated members of First Baptist Church of Dalton, where they taught Sunday School; served in numerous leadership capacities; participated in and supervised construction projects; and volunteered for twenty-eight mission trips. Between 1983 and 1999, working with Habitat for Humanity, the two of them assisted in the construction and improvement of more than twenty-five homes.

He is reunited in death with his parents; three brothers—Ernest Millard Acree, Alvin John Acree and Walter Green
Acree and loving wife Grace, with whom he is now dancing again.
He is survived by his two children—Lillian (Robert) Stitts and Warren (Tamra) Acree; five grandchildren—Adrian (Dee) Stitts, Lorena (Richard) Glenn, Eric (Amy) Stitts, John Acree, and David Acree; and eight great grandchildren—Caroline Stitts, Ross Stitts, Ryan Glenn, Andrew Glenn, John Robert Stitts, Emily Stitts, Mary Beth Stitts, and Matthew Stitts.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 827, Dalton, Georgia, 30722; Five Springs United Methodist Church, 2823 Five Springs Road, Dalton, Georgia, 30720; Bayside Baptist Church, 6100 Highway 58, Harrison, Tennessee, 37341; Ellijay First United Methodist Church, 75 McCutchen Street, Ellijay, Georgia, 30540; or Berry College, 2277 Martha Berry Highway Northwest, Mount Berry, Georgia 30149.

Private Graveside services will be Saturday at 11 A.M. at Whitfield Memorial Gardens for family and relatives.
Rev. Robert Stitts and Rev. Eric Stitts will be officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Love Funeral Home Friday from 2 to 8 P.M.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.

Love Funeral Home, 1402 North Thornton Ave. (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.