J.M. (Ray) McRae

Mr. J.M. (Ray) McRae, age 85 of Gainesville, GA, a civic leader and businessman, died April 16, 2009.

Mr. McRae was born on August 7, 1923 in Alton, AL, and grew up in Athens, GA, until he moved to Gainesville in 1953. He was the son of the late Oscar Brent and Lillie Williams McRae. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Jean Watkins McRae, and by his brother, Oscar Brent McRae, Jr.

Mr. McRae is survived by his daughters and sons in law, Mimi and Craig Cole of Ada, MI, and Anne and Jonathan Smith of Nashville, Tn; grandchildren, Amanda Jean, Claire, and Mitchell Cole of Ada; Tennent, Mimi and Millie Smith of Nashville, TN; sister in law, Amy Watkins Blakeman of San Fransico, CA and a number of nephews, and a niece.

After graduating from the University of Georgia in March 1943, Mr. McRae was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the destroyer USS HART (DD594) in the Pacific Theatre until September 1946. Returning to Athens, GA he began his banking career at the National Bank of Athens where he was Cashier. He was recalled by the Navy for active duty in 1951 and served in the States during the Korean War. He retired from the Navy Reserves with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Upon release from the Navy, in November 1953, McRae joined The First National Bank of Gainesville as Executive Vice President. He subsequently served as Director, President and Chairman of the Board of The First National Bank and its holding company, First National Bancorp, from which he retired in 1996. He also served on the Boards of United Cities Gas, McKibbon Bros., Inc., Elan Corporation and Greater Georgia Life Insurance Company.

Mr. McRae was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville for over 50 years, served as Deacon, Elder, Trustee and as Moderator of the Northeast Georgia Presbytery. He was a past President of the Community Chest, Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, Chattahoochee Country Club and the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce. He was a past chairman
of the Chicopee Woods golf Course Green Committee.

McRae was a member of the Board of Trustees of Brenau for a number of years. The college recognized his services by awarding him the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award and by naming of the Thurmond-McRae Lecture Hall. The Terry School of Business, University of Georgia awarded him its Distinguished Alumni Award. He was also a past member of the Advisory Boards of the Gainesville Junior College and Lanier Technical College and served as Chairman of the 9th District and State of Georgia STAR programs.

Industrial Development was of great interest to Mr. McRae. A former Vice President of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, he was for many years a member of the Governorâ