Eldon E. Eckard

Published 11:59 am Thursday, January 9, 2025

Dr. Eldon E. Eckard, 82, of Bainbridge, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2024.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Chris Humphries officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery with Bo Jones, Darren Deal, Hal Burrell, Roger Edmunds, Jay Wells, Jeff Jones, and Winston Brock, Jr. serving as active pallbearers. Jerry Pollock, Jerry Henry, Jim Beck, Gene Dunlap, Winston Brock, Sr., Rick Collins, Chuck Lewis, and Ed White will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. Memorial donations may be made to: Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 www.samaritanspurse.org/donate or First Baptist Church Youth Ministry, PO Box 155, Bainbridge, GA 39818. 

Eldon Elmore Eckard was born April 7, 1942, in Hickory, NC, the son of Harvey & Ethel Mae Payne Eckard. He was a graduate of Hickory High School and Lenoir-Rhyne College, later earning his PhD from Wake Forest University. Eldon married Linda Price in 1963. After spending a few years in Athens, GA, they moved to Bainbridge in 1979 where Dr. Eckard taught math, chemistry, and physics at Bainbridge College. He served as pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and New Fountainhead Baptist Church in addition to several interim positions. Dr. Eckard was a member of First Baptist Church.

A man of great faith and wisdom, Dr. Eckard’s love for the Lord was evident in his every word and action. He was a role model as a Christian, a husband, a daddy, a “Papa”, and a man. Dr. Eckard was honored to baptize two of his children and three of his grandchildren. With teaching in his blood, he took up the reins of the Penny-Lambert Sunday School Class for a period of time and looked forward to learning from others in the Baracca Sunday School Class.

Traveling was always on the agenda especially if he could detour through his stomping grounds in North Carolina. Dr. Eckard participated in several mission trips in the continental United States as well as a memorable trip to Africa on missions. The travel logs for Bainbridge High School Marching Band and Chorus have his name penciled in many times over the years. He continued combining his love of travel and support for his family by attending all the events for the grandchildren. 

Those who knew him best can attest to his sense of humor. He would often sign his name E² or E³. Antics of his family were shared from a place of great affection with plenty of details for future ribbing. Dr. Eckard’s hobby was photography. Family, old buildings, and flowers were his favorite subjects.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Linda Price Eckard; his children, Mark Eckard (Vonna) of Dunkirk, IN, Maria Eckard of Tallahassee, and Kim Eckard Widner (Michael) of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Christy (Stefan), Eli, Hann, Kaylee, Kassidy, and Aiden; his great-grandchildren, Cassidy, Kayliegh, and Stefan, Jr.; and a host of extended family. In addition to his parents, Dr. Eckard was preceded in death by his siblings, Ruth Watson, Lloyd Wilson, Geneva Eckard, Pauline Jarrett, Harley Eckard, Clinton Eckard, Homer Eckard, and Harold Eckard.

Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)