Lloyd Ellsworth Eckberg

November 11, 1929 - February 21, 2022

Services for Lloyd Ellsworth Eckberg will be held Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 2:00 pm, at Thomasville First United Methodist Church with Reverend Carrie Myers and Reverend Marshall Singletary officiating. Mr. Eckberg passed away at his home on February 21, 2022. He was 92 years old. Born on November 11, 1929 in Shinnston, WV, he was the son of the late William Quinn Eckberg and Emma Rhodes Eckberg. Mr. Eckberg was the youngest of three children: a sister, Eleanor Ruth Riley, and two brothers, William and Charles. Mr. Eckberg attended East Fairmont High School in Fairmont, WV. He graduated in 1947 and attended Fairmont State University from 1948-1950 at which time his National Guard unit (150th Infantry, WV Army National Guard) was activated for Korean War service. He served on active duty with the 202nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion at Ft. Benning, GA from 1950-1952 and earned the National Defense Service Medal for his wartime service. Mr. Eckberg began his 42-year Chamber of Commerce career as Executive Vice President of the Greater Warner-Robins, GA Chamber of Commerce in 1960. He then served as the Executive Vice President of the Thomasville - Thomas County Chamber of Commerce from 1963-1988, and later as the Founder and President of the 61- county South Georgia Chamber of Commerce from 1989-2002. A visionary in community development, Mr. Eckberg became a Certified Chamber Executive in 1972. Under his leadership, the Chamber contributed immeasurably to the extraordinary industrial growth and technology transition that defined Thomasville and Thomas County during the 1970s and 1980s. During this time the community enjoyed unprecedented industrial growth from the Chamber’s strategic plans, resulting in firms such as TRW, Cives Steel, Vernay(Centek), Crellin Plastics, Kinro Industries, Georgia Pipe Co., Fairbanks Morse, Snyder Tire, Oil Dri Corp., Capital Packaging, Imperial Packaging, Trio Products and A.G. Edwards & Co. locating in Thomas County. Eckberg served as President of Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives in 1978. His planning in 1983 culminated in the establishment of the Plantation Oak Industrial Park in 1988. Other Chamber of Commerce highlights during his tenure include: Founding the Leadership 80’s program; The Economic Forum; Voice of our Members (VOOM); and the establishment of the Thomasville Daily Plantation Tour service which saw over 50,000 visitors use the service from 1968-1988. Mr. Eckberg retired in 2002 but remained active in the community. His activities included:  Member of Thomasville First United Methodist Church for over 55 years, served as Chairman of the Board in 1974-1975  Member: Thomasville Shrine Club and Hasan Temple  Member: American Legion Post 31  Member: Archbold Hospital Corporation  Authored his memoirs ‘Don’t Ever Forget’ in 2001  Served as talk show host for WPAX Radio from 2002-2005  Began a weekly political commentary on the station entitled Straight Talk in 2008. In 2019 Straight Talk expanded to a commentary and podcast on WHKP Radio in Hendersonville, NC  Co-hosted a weekly radio show “We The People” with Dr. Homer Pankey in 2014.  Columnist for the Times-Enterprise newspaper from 2008-2012  President of Thomasville On Stage And Company (TOSAC) from 2006-2009  Master Mason for 67 years. Eckberg became a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner in 1980. Member emeritus of Thomasville Masonic Lodge 369  Mr. Eckberg and his wife Marie served as delegates to the GA Republican State Conventions in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 Mr. Eckberg was married to Glenna Maxine (Tacy) Eckberg of Huttonsville, WV who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Marie Cohen Eckberg of Thomasville, GA; son Tim Eckberg (Elsie) of Ellijay, GA; daughter Sharri Eckberg Kendrick (Gary) of Clermont, FL; daughter Donna Taylor (Jack Hammond) of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by three grandsons, one granddaughter and numerous nephews and nieces. Funeral arrangements are made through Allen & Allen Funeral Home in Thomasville, GA.