Funeral services set for Acree Oil Co. president

TOCCOA - Funeral services for Richard Acree, president of Acree Oil Company and owner of the Hasty Mart of Georgia and Hasty Mart of South Carolina convenience store chain, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Toccoa.

Acree, 86, died Sunday, June 2, at his home.

Well-known throughout the region, Acree has served on the board of directors and as president of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

On the state level, he served on the State Board of Industry and Trade under Gov. Lester Maddox and Gov. Jimmy Carter. Gov. Zell Miller appointed him a member of the Jekyll Island Authority, a position he held for a number of years.

Additionally, he has served as president of the Georgia Oilmen's Association and remained an active member.

Acree and his wife Emily Wynne Edwards Acree were among the first recipients of the University of Georgia's Pinnacle Award for generous and continuing donations to the University's Terry College of Business. Acree retired with emeritus status from the University Foundation Board of Directors.

Acree served in the Georgia Army National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He was a former commanding officer of the Toccoa unit.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Toccoa, a member of Masonic Lodge No. 309, a Shriner, and a member of American Legion Post 104.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter, P.O. Box 2182, Toccoa, GA 30577.

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