George Larry "Jabo" Welch

Mr. George Larry “Jabo” Welch, 80, of Montezuma, GA, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023, at Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins, GA. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at County Line Baptist Church in Macon County, GA, with Rev. Mark Poole, Rev. Brian Litch, and Lamar Welch officiating. Burial will follow the service at Trinity Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Mauk, GA with Rev. Jimmie Chapman officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Scotty Tarrer, Steve Bowen, Joe Harris, Carlton Rodgers, Adam Wall, and Chris Keene. The family will greet friends at Way-Watson Funeral Home in Ellaville, GA, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, from 6:00-8:00PM.

Mr. Welch was born October 2, 1942, in Sumter County, GA, to John Wesley Welch, Sr. and Mary Mathews Welch. He was a member of Concord Methodist Church of Schley County where he served as the music leader for many years. Mr. Welch had a beautiful bass voice and enjoyed singing as well as attending gospel singing. When he was growing up, he and his family sang gospel music all over the state of Georgia.  In his youth, he played harmonica. Mr. Welch was an avid fisherman and always caught a mess of fish which he would then cook share with family and friends. Growing up, his family celebrated Thanksgiving by having a fish supper on Wednesday night and then a traditional meal on Thursday.  Mr. Welch always enjoyed going out to eat with his wife.  He loved flowers and enjoyed growing tomato plants – so much so that there is a very tall cherry tomato plant growing by his back door that is overflowing with ripe tomatoes.  Mr. Welch retired from Macon County as a heavy equipment operator. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four siblings, Betty Welch Walker, James Welch, J. W. Welch, Jr., and Louie Welch, and by a step-daughter, Lynn Bowen.

He is survived by his wife Faye Bowen Welch of Montezuma, GA; a brother and sister-in-law, Lamar and Geraldyn Welch of McDonough, GA; and a sister, Linda Welch Williams of Oglethorpe, GA. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.