A Lula man, who operated a number of businesses in Gainesville and Cleveland during his lifetime and served more than 35 years on the state Board of Public Safety, has died.
Wayne Abernathy died Saturday at Northeast Georgia Medical Center at the age of 80.
Abernathy began his work-life at Georgia Chair Company in Gainesville and then moved to Chicopee Manufacturing. He also worked with Jack Prince Corporation where he invented and patented a deboning machine that was sold nationally and internationally. Later he would purchase Diane Foods which became Diago Mexican Foods. He was the owner/operator of Diago until he sold to Mission Foods.
After retirement, he opened Eagle’s Nest Pottery in Cleveland and Gainesville.
Abernathy was in his 37th year as a member of the state Board of Public Safety, serving under five governors. He also served as Governmental Relations Chairman of the Gainesville Junior College (now a part of the University of North Georgia) Board, Lanier Technical College Board, and East Hall High VOT Board.
The funeral will be at 2:00 Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Victory Baptist Church in Gainesville.
The Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard will be pallbearers and members of the Board of Public Safety will serve as honorary pallbearers.
(A full obituary can be found on the AccessWDUN Obituaries Page.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/11/738250/wayne-abernathy-hall-county-businessman-and-state-board-of-public-safety-member-dies