Mr. Horace Daniel (Dan) Forsyth, age 89 of Rockmart passed away Thursday November 9, 2023 in Rome at Atrium Health, Floyd Medical Center surrounded by his family.
Dan was born October 5, 1934 in Polk County the son of Roy N Forsyth and Eva Holder Forsyth. He was raised in the Braswell community where he attended Friendship Baptist Church.
For the past 30+ years he faithfully attended Bethel Crossroads Baptist Church in Taylorsville. Dan graduated from Rockmart High School in 1953. He attended West Georgia Junior College for two years and graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1958.
Dan began a teaching career in 1959. He taught school for ten years at Adairsville High School, Cedartown Junior High School and Rockmart High School where he taught Driver’s Education. He initiated the Safe Driver’s Club, and was also Senior Class Advisor, Key Club Coordinator and statistician for RHS football. In 1965 he and his wife Marie started an independent insurance agency, Dan Forsyth Agency, Inc. In 1969 they established Dan Forsyth Realty, which is still in operation.
He was also involved in construction and development throughout his business career having developed subdivisions, apartment complexes and single-family housing in Rockmart and surrounding counties. Dan helped organize two local banks. He was a founding director and Chairman of the Board of both United Bank & Trust and Community Bank of Rockmart.
Dan was committed to community service having been a charter member and president of Rockmart Lions Club and a member of Rockmart Chamber of Commerce, where he was instrumental in helping establish Rockmart’s first Zoning Rules and Regulations. He also served four terms on the Polk County School Board of Education.
He was a charter member and past president of Cedar Valley Shrine Club and a member of Rockmart Lodge No.97 F&AM for 63 years where he served as Treasurer for 50 consecutive years and was a past Master of the Lodge. Dan was a kind, generous man and was always willing to help others.
In addition to his parents Dan was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Marie Robinson Forsyth whom he married in August 21,1960. He was the youngest of six siblings and was also preceded by three brothers Robert Forsyth (Susie), Eugene Forsyth and Gordon Forsyth (Sarah) and three sisters Wilma Gladden (Buren), Elizabeth Hayes (David) and Pauline Hayes (Shorty).
He is survived by three sons Jon Forsyth (Debbie), Gary Forsyth and Lee Forsyth (Tammy), five grandchildren Matt Forsyth (Candice), Tyler Forsyth, Emily Forsyth, Emerson Forsyth & Brittany Waters (Nic) and four great-grandchildren Jud, Tate & Ace Forsyth and Jhett Brantley.
Funeral services will be held Sunday November 12, 2023 at 3:00 from the chapel of Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home with Reverend Greg Robinson officiating and eulogy delivered by Ricky Sorrells. Interment will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with Brother Melton Moss officiating and Masonic Graveside Rites will be provided by West Georgia Masonic Memorial Club.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 12 noon until the funeral hour at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons Jon, Gary, Lee, Matt and Tyler Forsyth and grandson-in-law Nic Waters. Honorary Pallbearers are Guy Rutland, Harold McDurmon, Ricky Sorrells, Blake Dodd, Ricky Lumpkin, Lee Cummings, Rufus Cantrell, Loyd Meubourne, Charles Allgood, Tommy Sanders, James Gordy, David Wilson, John Purser, Bruce Albea, Johnny Garrett, David Cummings, Tommy Cummings, Billy Wayne Cornwell and Masonic Brothers
The family would like to thank caregivers Terry Singleton, Helen Cole, Nancy Waddell, Polly Gibson, Betty Costlow, Sandi Atkins and Tish Burkhalter and the staff of Kimberly Personal Care of Dallas.
Alvis Miller & Son Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements for Mr. Horace Daniel (Dan) Forsyth.
