Charles L. Gruver Jr.

Charles L. Gruver, Jr., age 97, died February 16, 2024 at his home.
He was born in Savannah, grew up in Statesboro and Pembroke, GA., attended Georgia Southern University from 1943 to 1945, served in U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947, as a Sergeant in Co. C., 712th Military Police Battalion at The Army War College, in Washington D.C., and was privileged to see President Harry S. Truman in person while there. When he was honorably discharged from the military service in 1947, Mr. Gruver returned to Georgia Southern University and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. degree in Education.
Mr. Gruver taught business subjects at Terrell County High School, in Dawson, Georgia from 1949 to 1954 and was named Principal of Graves Junior High School from 1954 to 1956. While in Terrell County, Mr. Gruver earned his Masters of Education degree in 1953 from Georgia Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, which is now merged with Vanderbilt University, and returned in 1954 to be awarded his fifth year Principal’s Certificate.
After marrying in 1952, Mr. Gruver and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Waters, originally of St. Mary’s Georgia, moved to Homerville, Georgia, in 1956 when he was named Principal of the Elementary School until 1958 at which time, he was named Principal of Clinch County High School until 1965. He left the education profession then, but several years later was elected without opposition to serve on the Clinch County Board of Education and was named Board Chairman during his term of service, which all together totaled twenty years in education.
In 1965, Mr. Gruver was asked to join a group of local business people who were interested in purchasing the then only bank in Clinch County, getting others interested also thereby making it a locally owned bank. They were successful in that endeavor and the name remained the same as it had been --Empire Banking Company. Mr. Gruver served as Director, Vice President, and Secretary until 1984 at which time he remained a director and named President of the Bank and served twenty-one years in the banking community. Shortly after joining the Empire Group, Mr. Gruver voluntarily attended the Louisiana State University School of Banking over three summer sessions and completed many school banking projects during the months away from school and back at home working in the bank. He received his Certificate of Graduation from the Louisiana State University School of Banking in 1975. He remained the last of the thirteen original directors of the reorganized Empire Banking Company.
Mr. Gruver was a long-time active member of the Homerville United Methodist Church, Sunday School, and Choir, and held several Church offices while a member. His hobbies included coin collecting, working in his woodworking shop, working in his yard, and motorcycling. He particularly enjoyed good music, and playing the piano and organ in his home, attended the then weekly Locklier Prayer Group, and being with his family and friends.
Mr. Gruver was predeceased by his parents Charles Laney Gruver, Sr. and Zelma Elizabeth Rountree Gruver, and his wife of 50 and a half years, Elizabeth Pamela Waters Gruver, his sister, Ann Gruver Kearse Smith, two brothers-in-law William R. Kearse and Bird B. Smith, as well as a great nephew William J. Kearse, and a son in law Leo LaFel Lankford.
Mr. Gruver is survived by is three children, one son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Ann Gruver Butler (Carroll), Arlington, Texas, Mary Angeline Gruver Lankford, Homerville, Georgia, and Charles Laney Gruver III (Michelle), Homerville, Georgia. Five grandchildren: Morgan Michelle Gruver (Abi), Savannah, Georgia, Charles Laney Gruver IV (Heather), Tifton, Georgia, Matthew Alvin Gruver (Brittany), Tifton, Georgia, Charles Jacob Lankford (Sara), St. Augustine, Fla., and Elizabeth Rebecca Butler, Arlington, Texas, five great-grandchildren: Skyler D. Robbins, Arlington, Texas, McKenzie Leigh Lankford, and Jackson Case Lankford, St. Augustine Florida, Lucy Adelin Gruver, and Ava Jane Gruver, Tifton, Georgia. A Nephew, William R. Kearse, Jr. (Sally), a great nephew, Jeff A. Kearse, and a great niece Lilly Ann Kearse, all of Pembroke Georgia. Cousins: Bruce Riner (Kathy) and Jane Riner all of Savannah along with several other relatives.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, February 19, 2024 at Homerville United Methodist Church with interment following in Northside Cemetery in the Gruver Family lot in Pembroke, Georgia at 4:00 pm, with Pastor Joseph I. Carter of the Homerville United Methodist Church presiding. Family will receive friends one hour prior at the church.
Pallbearers are three grandsons, Charles Laney Gruver IV, Matthew A. Gruver, Charles Jacob Lankford, a granddaughter, Morgan Michelle Gruver, Nephew William R. (Billy) Kearse, Jr., and great-nephew Jeff A. Kearse.
Honorary pallbearers are all members of Mr. Gruver’s Sunday School Class, The Church Instrumentalists, Choir Members and Choir Director, Carrol B. Butler, Jr., the members of the Clinch Retired Education Association and former employees of Empire Banking Company.
Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Gruver family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services, Lakeland.