Longtime Gainesville CPA, GOP activist to be buried Tuesday

GAINEVILLE - A longtime Gainesville certified public accountant and former chairman of the Hall County Republican Party will be buried Tuesday, Oct. 7.<br /> <br /> Martin Ellard died Sunday at the age of 87.<br /> <br /> Ellard was a native of Cornelia who had lived in Gainesville since 1953. He was the founder of the CPA firm P. Martin Ellard and Associates of Gainesville. <br /> <br /> He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville where he had served as club President in 1961 and also had 63 years of perfect attendance. Ellard was among those with a perfect attendance who were honored by the club at its meeting this past Tuesday, two days after his death. Ellard was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church on Green Street and also a member of the Anglers Sunday School Class.<br /> <br /> He was a former member of the Gainesville Board of Education and ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Gainesville City Council 14 years ago.<br /> <br /> In announcing his plans to run for the city council he discussed his interest in politics by saying he always liked government and was interested in helping other people serve in government, adding that he had decided to seek the council seat "now that I have more time."<br /> <br /> The Hall County Republican Party, upon learning of the death of its former president, issued a statement saying "Our hearts are saddened to hear that former Hall GOP Chairman and long-time Republican activist and supporter P. Martin Ellard passed away on Sunday, September 28th. We will miss our friend, whose gentle smile and welcoming manner always lightened a room."<br /> <br /> Ellard's funeral will be held Tuesday at First Baptist Church at 2:00 with a private burial service to follow at Alta Vista Cemetery. <br /> <br /> (A complete obituary can be found on the AccessNorthGa.com Obituaries Page.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/10/280260