Hubert Lovell, 92, was welcomed into his everlasting home with God on June 10, 2022. He died at his home with his wife of 70 years, Rowena C. Lovell, and family and friends near.
A lifelong native of Clarkesville, he was born on February 1, 1930, to Virgil and Irene Lovell on the land Hubert called home for most of his life. He graduated from Clarkesville High School in 1947 and was the captain of their first football team.
Hubert and Rowena married in 1951 just before he reported for service in the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson. Hubert served two years during the Korean War, manning a mortar company in combat during his final year.
Upon returning home, Hubert welcomed the support of the GI Bill and completed his B.S. in Agriculture at the University of Georgia, graduating Phi Kappa Phi/Summa Cum Laude in 1956. He returned to Habersham County where he launched several businesses before answering his true calling of land surveying in 1963. Lovell Surveying served the people of this region for over 40 years.
Hubert was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, serving in a variety of leadership roles including deacon, finance, building and planning committees, brotherhood, and Sunday School Teacher. Supporting the church in its bold move to a new sanctuary and campus across Hwy 197 was a key highlight. Hubert went on mission to Haiti twice to build a medical clinic and on numerous excursions out west to construct churches and other mission facilities. Hubert attended to the Bethlehem cemetery for 25 years, using funds to renovate the old church place as well as maintain and improve these sacred grounds.
Hubert’s service extended into the community serving many years on the Habersham Medical Center Board, the Board of Trustees at Truett McConnell College, and the Habersham County Airport Commission.
Hubert is survived by his wife, Rowena Cruce Lovell, and his children, Randall Hubert Lovell (wife, Pam), Susan Lovell Blackmon (husband, David), and John C. Lovell. He was deeply proud of his nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Hubert’s surviving siblings include Louise York, Sue Purdue, and Jewell Brown. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Wayne Popham, and a sister-in-law, Betty Cruce Watkins. Carol Popham, his youngest sister preceded him in death.
The family appreciates the love and care that has been given by Amanda Sanders, Amanda’s daughter, Abby, Amber Ivy and Katheryn Humphris.
Hubert invested fully in enjoying life and the wonders of the world. He traveled, especially by car with Rowena and across all 48 lower states on his Harley Davidson. Earlier in life, Hubert flew his Cessna to golf outings and business ventures. Hubert was so taken with golf that he built around his home place the Heritage, a challenging 9-hole course that welcomed friends and neighbors for over 25 years. His faith instilled in him a deep love of music, playing his guitar for gospel singings and square dances throughout his life. Hubert’s hands crafted kitchen tables and other gems for his family in the woodshop just below the house. When all of this allowed, he would find time for fishing on Lake Burton and along the gulf shores. In his later years, Hubert mastered the pound cake and shared these and his gentle presence with friends journeying through times good and hard.
Thanks be to God for a life well-lived, for a Good Shepherd who has kept this dear child of God and welcomed him into eternal rest.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville with Dr. Craig Ward and Rev. David Blackmon officiating. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Chip Cranford officiating and military honors provided by the Georgia National Guard and the Grant Reeves Veteran’s Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children at https://lovetotherescue.org/ or Attn: Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or to Habersham County Veterans Wall of Honor at http://www.hcwallofhonor.org/fundraising.html or PO Box 298 Demorest, GA 30535.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
