Mr. Howard Martin Rawlins, Sr., age 85, of Pike County, passed away August 14, 2012 at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.

He was born on October 9, 1926 in Eastman, GA to the late D. B. Rawlins, Sr. and Irene Hall Rawlins. Mr. Rawlins was a proud veteran of both the Merchant Marines and the United States Air Force, serving during WWII, and a founding member of the Pike County American Legion. In 2011, Mr. Rawlins was named the “Pike County Veteran of the Year”. He worked for the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia Department of Transportation. He started the first little league team in Pike County, was elected Mayor of Zebulon, served as the Police Chief, and an agriculture and chicken farmer. He was the original owner of B.J.’s Bottle Shop in Zebulon and a member of the Zebulon United Methodist Church. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, and would boast to have “pleasure driven” in every state in the nation. He was the caretaker of his family, whom he dearly loved.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years: Margaret Miller Rawlins; children: Brenda Turner and her fiancé Tim Wood, and Howard “Buddy” Rawlins Jr. all of Zebulon; grandchildren: Michael Turner and wife Heather of Clayton, Nik Turner of Zebulon and Brigit Axton of Norman, OK; great-grandchildren: Reagan, Ty, Kiley, Carmen and Crispin Turner, Kayla Gilbreath, Lauren, Miranda and John Axton; brother and sister-in-law: Harry and Darlene Rawlins of Zebulon; special friend, Sonja Turner; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 17, 2012 at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Zebulon. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.