James Ralph Etheridge, Jr.

James Ralph Etheridge, Jr., 58, died Thursday at home. He was a history teacher at Liberty County High School. Born April 10, 1956, in Nuremberg, Germany, to LTC James Ralph Etheridge, Sr., and Flara F. Etheridge, Ralph was an ARMY brat and lived in Germany, Georgia, Washington, Kansas and California while growing up. He was an Eagle Scout and a a graduate of the University of Georgia (BA in History), Columbus College (MED) and Georgia Southern University (EDS). He spent his adult life as an educator in Liberty County, teaching at Hinesville Middle School and Liberty County High School for a combined 33 years. He was a Liberty County Teacher of the Year and was also selected as a Star Teacher. For the past 15 years, he had taught college classes at night and on weekends for Central Texas College, Columbia College, and Brewton-Parker College. His favorite quote was from Winston Churchill: "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP." He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Michael Ray Etheridge, of Liberty County; uncle and aunt, Ray and Dot Etheridge of Coopers, GA; uncle, Wilbur Roberts of Marrietta, GA, and several cousins. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2014, at Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel. Graveside services will at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Westview Cemetery, Milledgeville, GA. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, or Coopers Baptist Church in Coopers, GA. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Ralph Etheridge, Jr., please visit our flower store.