Bill Ramsey

On Saturday, November 28, 2020, we lost one of the good ones. Bill Ramsey died peacefully at his home of 30 years on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia.

Bill shined brightest on a dimly lit porch – the natural habitat of an American conversationalist. It did not matter if glasses were filled with bourbon or tea, he would get shoulders shaking with laughter.

Technology is replacing many things, but artificial intelligence will never take the place of a great southern storyteller. There is something special about hazy memories and old sayings, delivered at just the right moment.

Most of Bill’s stories came from his own adventures, created side-by-side with his friends and family. Getting robbed at gunpoint on the front nine at East Lake Golf Club, and then proceeding to play the rest of the round. Taking advantage of a rare snowstorm by towing his children behind his car using rope and a rusted-out Buick car hood as a makeshift sled. Burning rubber while doing ‘donuts’ in the blacktop parking lot of the Charlotte Coliseum before smashing the car bumper by spinning into a pesky light pole. Coming out on the right side of fistfights. Surviving a shark attack while spearfishing in The Bahamas. Using a can of gasoline to spell out his grandkids’ names on the Lake Lanier shoreline, then igniting the cursive script to get the attention of overhead planes. To name a few.

Bill was born in 1939 and raised in Winnsboro, South Carolina. He played football, ran track and played basketball growing up, and married his firecracker high school sweetheart, Lynneve. The couple lived and worked in Charlotte, North Carolina, moved to Sandy Springs, Georgia in 1968, and then to Gainesville in 1992.  A salesman early in his professional career, Bill then became an entrepreneur – he founded and operated a store fixture business for over 40 years. He attended North Springs United Methodist Church and First Methodist Church of Gainesville.

He was an avid outdoorsman that enjoyed sports, fishing, hunting, boating, diving and traveling. He liked reading good books, playing old music, learning new things and using the latest high-tech devices. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and being their biggest cheerleader. Some of his favorite family moments included: taking the in-home recruiting visit with football coach Bear Bryant before his son Skip committed to play quarterback for Alabama; watching his son Craig serve as team captain during the 1980 College World Series while playing baseball at Florida State under first-year head coach Mike Martin; watching his grandson Craig Jr. secure a two-set ‘golden match’ victory in high school tennis before heading to Vanderbilt; listening to Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig call out the name of his grandson James as a first round draft pick out of Florida State by the St. Louis Cardinals; celebrating the honor roll graduation and academic scholarship to Georgia Tech of his grandson Patrick; watching his granddaughter Barrett brutally break her kneecap playing soccer, only to return a year later and win the state championship before going to Auburn and being honored as a final round Miss Homecoming candidate. Bill swelled with pride when talking about his ‘kids, grandbabies and great grandbaby.’

Physically, Bill was a rock of a man. His many years of physical labor gave him the type of muscles that cannot be built inside a gym. In his late years, he was forced to have part of each leg amputated. Before doing so, his doctor gawked in admiration at his legs, calling his calves ‘a marvel.’ True to form, Bill found the strength to stay positive amid his health challenges and continued to inspire people through his kindness and generosity of spirit.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lynneve Ransom Ramsey, brother-in-law Roy Lionel Ransom, sons William “Skip” Glenn Ramsey, Jr and Lionel Craig Ramsey (Mary Barrett Ramsey) and their children Lionel Craig Ramsey, Jr (Alexandra Wood Ramsey), James Brogan Ramsey (Grace Snell Ramsey) & great-grandson (James Brogan Ramsey, Jr), John Patrick Ramsey and Barrett Elizabeth Ramsey.

He is preceded in death by his parents Glenn & Elise Ramsey, sister & brother-in-law Evelyn Ramsey Gambrell (Don), and sister-in-law Elizabeth “Libby” Hildreth Ransom.

Bill’s quick wit and contagious grin brought smiles to people of all walks-of-life. In his 81 years, he never met a stranger.

Bill’s family is so thankful for an outpouring of love, fond memories and prayers. The family is having a small, private service and will host a celebration of Bill’s life event in 2021.  In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to Donate Life America, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on saving and healing lives through transplantation.

Online condolences may be made at www.hillsidechapelfuneralhome.com

Hillside Chapel Funeral Home & Cremation Services 1190 McEver Rd. Gainesville, GA is in charge of arrangements.